Seeing Dianna unwilling to explain further, Elias, though curious, didn't push for more details.
But watching the faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips, he couldn't shake the feeling that her condition wouldn't be so simple.
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
Elias and Dianna each appeared absorbed in their own thoughts, neither breaking the quiet.
After a while, as though suddenly remembering something, Dianna broke the silence.
"Elias, if that human tried to steal you away, what do you think Diancie would do?"
Dianna's question carried an implied meaning.
Throughout her words, her gaze remained fixed firmly on Elias's face, as though eager to hear his opinion.
Surprised, Elias thought carefully for a moment before responding:
"With Diancie's personality, she'd probably explode in anger."
Actually, Cogita had already tried something similar before they left.
And the outcome had been obvious—Diancie had almost gotten into a fight with her.
Hearing Elias's reply, Dianna silently nodded.
She thought the same—and not just regarding that human woman.
Even if she herself tried it, Diancie would certainly explode. The younger princess regarded Elias as more precious than her own life.
Thinking of this, Dianna felt a strange headache coming on, a restless frustration creeping into her chest.
This was the first time she'd ever felt completely helpless.
...
[After wandering idly with Dianna for a bit longer, you proposed going to pick up Diancie for dinner.]
[After all, you'd been alone with Dianna all afternoon, and Diancie was likely already anxious from waiting in her room.]
[Any longer, and she'd probably come looking for you herself without waiting.]
[Dianna only looked slightly unsatisfied, not expressing much regret.]
...
"Elias, the ring."
Dianna glanced at Elias's hands, speaking lightly.
She'd just given Elias the ring, naturally hoping to see him wear it openly on his finger.
Besides…
Elias didn't have pockets. If he wanted to avoid losing the ring, he could only wear it.
Dianna had considered this carefully beforehand.
On the other hand, seeing Dianna's eyes shining with expectation, Elias obediently took out the ring and slipped it onto his finger.
Watching closely, Dianna quietly admired the ring on his hand, then nodded approvingly.
The ring she'd spent so much time making hadn't gone to waste—it truly suited Elias perfectly.
Most importantly, since it was crafted from the core of her own birth diamond, it held an inherent connection to her.
Thus, when Elias wore it, she could clearly sense his presence.
Perhaps… using it as a medium, she could even communicate with him at a distance.
In this way, even after Elias went to the surface, she could remain by his side indirectly.
Dianna was quite pleased with this plan of hers.
"Let's go get Diancie," she said softly, finally withdrawing her gaze, her lips curled into a small smile.
Elsewhere—
Just as Elias had suspected, Diancie was anxiously rolling back and forth across her bed.
She felt like Caterpies were crawling all over her.
Counting the time, Elias had already been gone with Her Highness for several hours.
Though it didn't sound very long—especially for mineral Pokémon, who could nap for days at a time—it was more than enough time to do anything and everything, appropriate or otherwise.
Wild thoughts churned endlessly through Diancie's mind, making it impossible to calm herself down.
What could Elias be doing with Her Highness right now?
They're probably just chatting, right?
But given how Her Highness is… I really can't say for sure.
I wonder if Elias misses me? Being pestered by Her Highness, he must be feeling troubled, right?
"…"
Tossing restlessly on the bed, Diancie murmured to herself anxiously.
Finally…
She abruptly sat up, patience utterly exhausted, determined to leave the room to find Elias.
But at that very moment—
Knock, knock—
The door's sudden knocking caused Diancie to freeze mid-action.
"Diancie, can I come in?"
Immediately, Elias's voice came from outside the door.
Hearing this, Diancie's face lit up joyfully.
It was Elias! Apparently, the conversation with Her Highness had finished, and he'd come to fetch her now.
Excited, Diancie jumped off the bed and hopped over toward the door.
Creak—
At that moment, Elias happened to push the door open and enter.
Seeing Elias, Diancie's lips immediately curled upward—but when she noticed Dianna entering behind him, her greeting stuck awkwardly in her throat.
"Your Highness…"
Diancie muttered quietly, her large, watery eyes darting instantly toward Elias.
She immediately noticed the ring on his finger.
She recognized the pink diamond ring's aura at once—it matched Her Highness's aura exactly.
Clearly, it was a gift from Dianna.
Realizing this, Diancie felt deeply dissatisfied.
She was a Diancie too, after all, and didn't lack diamonds. She could've easily made Elias a ring herself!
Puffing out her cheeks, Diancie felt her chest tighten unpleasantly.
Across from her, observing Diancie's expression, Dianna knew exactly what she was thinking.
"I hear you're planning to move out with Elias?"
Dianna spoke first.
At this, Diancie froze slightly, caught off guard that Elias had already told Her Highness about this.
But she didn't show any weakness, nodding openly instead.
"Yes. Elias and I will take good care of ourselves!"
Without realizing it, she had unconsciously defined herself and Elias as one unit, leaving Dianna to seem like an outsider—merely an elder.
Hearing Diancie speak so confidently, Elias's lips stiffened slightly.
He could already guess Dianna's attitude clearly enough.
As expected, Dianna's brows knitted slightly, her breathing visibly quickening after hearing Diancie's words.
Yet surprisingly, she quickly suppressed her anger.
"Fine. It's about time for you to leave the kingdom and gain some experience outside."
She answered lightly.
Hearing this, it was Diancie's turn to widen her eyes in shock.
She hadn't expected Her Highness to agree so easily—in fact, she even suspected Dianna hadn't heard her correctly.
"I mean, together with Elias, you know?"
I'm not leaving Elias behind for you.
She deliberately clarified to Dianna again.
Yet Dianna nodded immediately without any hesitation.
"I know," Dianna replied.
This time, Diancie was completely stunned.
She didn't think Dianna was the type to easily agree to such a request.
Seeing Diancie take the bait, Dianna's lips curled slightly in a barely perceptible smile.
"You two can go, but there's also one thing I want to discuss with you."
As she spoke, Dianna shot a quick glance at Elias.