I Have a Stalker of Noble Status. And to Make Matters Worse, their Numbers are Increasing (BL) - Chapter 31

He’s going to ask why I’m crying, isn’t he…?

I wiped my tears with my hands, trying desperately to piece together a coherent reason from the chaos in my head.

“…Shall I tell you my story?”

…Wait.

Did he seriously just start talking about himself!?

I stared at Prince Chrisford in disbelief. Here I was, struggling to make sense of my own thoughts, and meanwhile, he had decided this was the perfect time for a personal monologue.

Chrisford had always been a talker. Or rather, after spending years with no one to listen to him, he was starved for conversation.

In the beginning, he had seemed so desperate for someone—anyone—to hear him out that his nonstop talking nearly drove me to a breakdown.

I thought he had finally calmed down these past few weeks… But looking at him now, I realized that this wasn’t his usual idle chatter.

There was something different about him.

Because in his eyes—those warm, understanding eyes—I saw nothing but quiet compassion.

“There are times when I, too, feel uncertain about my own existence. Right now, I’m nothing more than a drifting waterweed, floating unanchored on the surface.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

It was almost as if he knew I had been crying because I was questioning my own existence.

**“I went to the palace to learn more about your twin star…

It seems I might have once had a connection to the royal family.”**

…Chrisford’s route is progressing!

The realization hit me hard, stirring up another wave of complicated emotions.

**“For years before I met you, I wandered alone. Looking back, I realize that despite having no memories and being invisible to everyone, I never lost my mind.

And now, I think I understand why.

Deep down, my true self must have wanted this.”**

His true self… wanted this?

**“I must have wanted to be free. Free from obligations, free from fear, free from the chains that bound me…

And ironically, isn’t that exactly what I am now?”**

…

“The second prince, poisoned and left in an eternal slumber.”

The weight of those words finally truly sank in.

A chill ran down my spine, making my entire body go cold.

The person standing before me…

Someone close to him had tried to kill him.

—And they had nearly succeeded.

Idiot. Idiot. I’m such an idiot!

The tears that had finally stopped came rushing back, spilling over uncontrollably.

**“I don’t know why you were crying before, Ricky…

But these tears—these are for me, aren’t they?”**

His voice was so gentle, his smile just as soft as always.

I wasn’t kind.

Not in the way he thought.

And yet, he looked at me as if I were.

**“You are too kind, Ricky. It worries me—so much that my heart trembles.

But… I know you’ll be fine.

Because the stars surrounding you will always protect you.”**

What was this feeling?

His voice was warm and comforting, yet beneath it, there was something else—something resolute.

As if he had made up his mind about something.

It unsettled me.

**“Fufu, you should have seen how your stars reacted when you were taken.

It was absolute chaos.

Don’t worry.

Even if the darkness tries to consume you—

The stars will always light your way.”**

Oh, that’s right.

That day… everyone rushed to my side.

I remember the overwhelming relief and happiness I felt when they came to save me.

**“You have such warmth around you, Ricky.

I’ve been like this for years, but I’ve never felt anything like it before.

…If only I could have met you all while I was still alive.”**

Chrisford smiled sadly.

And in that moment—

I wanted to shout.

“Prince Chrisford, you’re still alive!!”

But… was that really the right thing to say?

Something told me that if I blurted it out, I might end up interfering with whatever decision he had made for himself.

**“No matter who I once was… I am still me.

I can’t just keep drifting like this forever.

It’s time for me to stop running and face my fate.”**

So that’s it.

Chrisford has made up his mind.

Smiling, he held out his fist—a rare gesture from him.

I couldn’t help but grin as I lifted mine in response.

Our fists never actually met.

But even so, I believed—I knew—that my feelings had reached him.

**Thank you, Your Highness.

I’ll make my choice too.**

It doesn’t matter whether I’m a protagonist or just extra content.

It doesn’t matter if I’m the heir of a baron or just another student.

Because, in the end—

What I need to do will always stay the same.

I am who I am!!

◇◇◇

Thanks to Prince Chrisford, I felt completely refreshed.

And from the next day onward, I was able to return to my normal school life.

At the moment, the hottest topic among the students was the upcoming long break.

“Pat, you’re returning to your family’s barony for the break, right?”

Ray asked, looking oddly restless.

“Yeah, my family’s territory is far from the capital, so I don’t get to visit often unless it’s during a long break. It’s been ten months since I last saw my younger brothers, so I’m really looking forward to it!”

“I see… Well, um… You know, at the academy, it’s common for close friends to visit each other’s estates during the break, and… uh…”

“Ray, do you want to come with me? To Humming Barony?”

He probably never expected me to be the one to invite him.

Ray’s head shot up, his face filled with shock.

But the next second—

His entire expression lit up with pure joy.

Yeah, I think I’m finally getting used to seeing him without sunglasses.

“Oh? Now this is a surprise. It’s rare for you to be the one inviting Raymond somewhere, Rick. What’s gotten into you?”

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my head.

When I looked up, Max was grinning, resting his arm on me.

“Ugh—Max, you’re heavy!”

“Haha, my bad, my bad. Your head’s just at the perfect height for it.”

Tch. Don’t underestimate growth spurts!

I am still growing, you know!?

…Probably.

“So? If you’re inviting Raymond, then obviously, I’m included too, right?”

“Wait, Max… Do you want to come?”

“Oh? Look at you getting bold!”

He ruffled my hair playfully, which made Ray immediately jump in to stop him.

As the three of us started our usual playful scuffle, Theo, who had been watching nearby, laughed and said—

“Ah, I see! So, you’re all going on a dungeon raid together!”

…

No, Theo.

That’s not what’s happening.