I Think My Fiancé Has Regressed

Chapter 45: Organize your plan

The summer of third year was a busy one, but it was also a fruitful one.

Not only did we manage to defeat a large beast off the coast of Canbina without taking any damage, but I also found out that Alex had been blessed with a prophetic gift.

While the former was a must-do, the latter was something I needed to know for the future.

If I was going to change the future without Sierra into a happy ending, it would take more than just me.

It’s good to know that there’s at least one more person who knows the future.

It’s a blessing that when I need Sierra’s light, Alex’s holy sword is there to replace it.

No more feeling helpless and powerless when I know all of my enemies’ weaknesses and how to exploit them.

Well, that doesn’t change the fact that I’ll still have to struggle to defeat enemies, and I’ll still have to rely on Alex for a lot of it.

That’s the way it is, and it’s still better than trusting Miss Sierra.

I don’t bet my life on gambling odds. If I wait and hope that she’ll do something at the last minute, I’ll only end up with a predestined doomed ending.

In this world, the only things I believe in are myself and Alex.

And I’m not just going to ask Alex to sacrifice himself, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.

“…I think that magical anomalies will continue to happen.”

One day, just before the end of summer vacation.

In Alex’s room in the royal palace, which I hadn’t visited in a long time, we held a tentative tactical meeting to plan our next move.

Perhaps because of what I’d already told him about my suspicions on the coast of Canbina, Alex didn’t hold back any longer and described in detail the future he saw.

“Fortunately, there won’t be anything as dangerous as what was on the shores of Canbina for a while, but it might be a bit much for me and Ariana to handle, at least.”

“…That might be true.”

Of course, I couldn’t let Alex know that I was from another world, so I agreed with him as much as I could.

“The trickiest of them all, of course, would be the Witch of Walpurgis, who will appear in the Eloreal Empire.”

I nodded in agreement at the fearsome name that came out of Alex’s mouth.

Excluding the final Demon Lord, who wouldn’t appear until after we graduated from the Academy, the most formidable opponent we would face in the future would be the Witch of Walpurgis, who would appear next spring.

Okay, maybe “spring” is a bit of a stretch.

More accurately, spring will be the time when the Witch of Walpurgis, born in the Eloreal Empire, will destroy the empire and invade the kingdom..

The Eloreal Empire is also an ally of ours, so we’ll need to visit them next winter if we want to kill her before she’s fully developed.

Without the power of the original protagonist, there’s no way we’ll be able to defeat the Witch of Walpurgis, who has grown up feeding on magic.

It’s best to deal with her as soon as possible, while she’s still weak.

“Magic attacks don’t work against the Witch of Walpurgis, so I’ll probably have to use my holy sword next time.”

“Alex might be a little overwhelmed by himself, so we’ll need Prince Eamon’s help this time.”

“Hmm. His skill with a spear is unparalleled, so it shouldn’t be too difficult, as long as Eamon accompanies me.”

The sight of Prince Eamon wielding a long spear that was taller than his own height with such ease, there was definitely something to be said for trusting him.

“Other than that, the only other things we need to be on the lookout for are the High Elemental Rampage next semester and….”

“There may be a new plague going around in the town of Rendi, so send an alchemist with a potion made from curio grass….”

Now that we’re putting our heads together and discussing what needs to be done, I feel like we’re definitely organizing what needs to be done.

It’s definitely a lot faster to think about things together than alone.

“…But you know what, Ariana?”

“What?”

“I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind going back to the mansion soon? As far as I know, Ariana hasn’t been back to House Anastasia since the start of this summer vacation.”

“…….”

For a moment, I was taken aback by Alex’s insight.

He had a point.

He’d been taken to the church the day before summer vacation started, and I stayed there until his wounds were stitched up.

I followed Alex to the coast of Canbina, where I stayed for nearly a month, slaying two large beasts.

I arrived at the palace in the same carriage as Alex, and I’ve been there for days, discussing the future.

…Well, that’s fine, isn’t it?

“I’ve already told Kael to pass it on to my family that I probably won’t be able to return to the mansion this summer vacation, so you shouldn’t worry about me.”

“No, but I can’t not worry about you.”

“And if I can’t go back, I’ll be spending the whole summer with Alex, so I’ve told them that I won’t be in any danger.”

“…I think that should worry you more.”

“If anything happens, Alex will protect me anyway, right?”

You’re selling yourself short.

Alex is the strongest person I know, and no matter where I go in the kingdom, there’s no place safer than by his side.

Unless it’s an event of epic proportions, like the Witch of Walpurgis, I’m pretty sure me and Alex can handle it.

“I may be able to protect you from danger from outside, but….but I can’t protect you from me.”

“What danger could Alex possibly be….?”

After I got that far, I understood what Alex was talking about.

After all, Alex is a man in his prime, and he probably has days when he wants to be overly affectionate.

Compared to the typical fiancé relationship where you meet for a set amount of time, Alex and I have certainly been hanging out a lot lately.

…I’ve said it before, I’m ready for anything.

“If that’s really what you’re thinking, Alex, you can sneak up to my room in the middle of the night without Elise knowing….”

“…You can’t say more than that. Really.”

“Okay….”

It sounds like you’re going to finish what you had to finish last time, and then somehow honor what you said you’d do after that.

I don’t hate that he cares about me, but knowing Alex’s heart condition, it makes me a little uneasy.

I’m still researching ways to help him as much as possible, but most of the options I’ve come up with have some limitations or are less than perfect.

And if I choose the wrong method, it might not even cure him, it might just go wrong and he might never wake up again.

It’s not a future I don’t like to imagine, but it’s a possibility.

Just because it’s not what you want to believe doesn’t mean you can’t look away from it.

So just in case, I want to make the most of the time we have together now, even if it’s just a little bit.

I’m not sure I’ll be capable of loving anyone other than Alex, anyway.

Even if Alex’s stubbornness prevents him from crossing the line, I’ll regret it if I don’t indulge in a little bit of deep affection.

With that in mind, I cautiously broached the subject of the progression of our relationship.

“…Now that I think about it, don’t you think Alex should get used to it?”

“Get used to what?”

“Oh, well, in just a few more years, it’ll be me lying next to Alex every morning, and I don’t want you to panic when that time comes!”

“…….”

“So why don’t we just sleep in the same room from now on, Alex’s bed is big enough for the two of us anyway!

It’s not like I’m forcing you to cross the line, I’m just trying to get you used to the idea of living together before marriage! …Well, of course, I won’t object to more than that if you want…….”

“…Stop there.”

My mouth, which had been rambling incoherently from the middle, was silenced by a single finger Alex held out.

“Waking up every morning looking at Ariana’s face….”

“…….”

“…must be bad for my heart.”

“Okay.”

Alex has been blessed with a prophetic vision of his future, so he probably knows about his heart condition.

His inability to actively express his affection for me may have been motivated by the thought that he might be the one to leave me.

In the end, I realized that if I didn’t address Alex’s heart disease, I wasn’t going to get anywhere even if we defeat the Witch of Walpurgis and the Demon Lord that would rise in a few years.

I silently carved out a plan in my mind, with Alex’s heart disease on top of it.