The Gatekeeper Chapter 17- Determination.

"Oi! Snap out of it lovebird!!"

I came to, after my best friend and sister called out to me in an angry voice.

"W-WHAT!! What do you mean by lovebird!?"

"Sylvia… ever since you returned home yesterday, you've been in a daze. It's really creepy how you've been grinning and giggling like a total weirdo, and you haven't even told me anything… I'm worried about you."

I do know the reason… But, should I tell her?

It's not as if I don't trust her or anything. It's just that, I am not so certain about what is to come.

"Well… You are right, Celice. I've... fallen in love…"

Yes, that is the only reason I could think of. No, it's not a 'reason' it is a 'fact' that I am in love with 'him'.

"Oh… You have, huh. Wait, didn't you tell me that you'd only marry if your partner was stronger than you?"

She took it surprisingly well.

"Yes, I did. That is the reason why I've been turning down marriage proposals since I was 11. There were only two people stronger than me in the whole Kingdom, and I couldn't marry either of them, could I?"

"But you just said that you've fallen in love. You're contradicting yourself, you know that?"

"You didn't hear my words clearly, I said that there 'were' only two people stronger than me."

"Don't tell me… You fell for a woman!!!"

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

My face was dyed red a minute ago when I told her that I'd fallen in love. But now, it's just that I am kinda sorta angry.

I raise my hand, curl it into a fist, tighten my grip, and smash it into Celice's head.

"Ow, ow, ow. It hurts you dumbass!"

"You're the dumbass!! Ahem! Let me rephrase that. There were only two 'men' stronger than myself."

"So… You're telling me that, you found a man who is stronger than you, got to know him and fell in love with him, all just in one day?"

Celice looked at me with eyes filled with anxiousness and confusion, her hands, on top of her head, caressing the bump.

"Well, yeah..."

I stand up, walk towards the huge glass window in my room, place my hand on the huge transparent glass pane, and gaze out into the rustling city.

"..It was just one day, no, it was actually less than five hours. But, the time I spent with him, the memories he gave me, the way he treated me, all of them are now an important part of my life."

"The way he treated you?"

"Yes. He treated me like a 'princess'."

I just can't stop smiling, thinking about him makes my heart flutter, he treated me how I've always wanted to be treated. Even when he found out that I was a princess, he still treated me as an equal. That is the kind of man I want.

"So, Sylvia, what do you want to do?"

This expected question is thrown at me from behind.

"It's simple, I want to get closer to him. Even though he's a commoner, I don't want him to be 'mine', rather, I want to be 'his'."

Yes, these are my honest feelings.

"This is anticlimactic. Shouldn't you be more embarrassed and lie to yourself? Shouldn't you discard this 'fateful encounter' just as a fluke? At the very least, I expected you to be a little shy and reluctant about it, you're not even blushing while saying such things."

"Why should I? I love him, that's that. Life's too short for unnecessities like these. If you love someone, you should confess. If you hate someone, you should tell them to their face. If you want someone to be yours, you should do everything in your power to get them. That is life, Celice."

Why do I have to lie to myself? Why do I have to hold myself back? My happiness is in my hands, and I'll do whatever it takes to achieve it.

"You do realize that you just met him once. And how do you even know that he's stronger than you?"

"Oh, that-"

Wait!! I can't tell anyone about this! If people around me knew that I was almost killed, my freedom will be restricted, and I won't be able to see him again.

"U-Umm. You see. Yeah! He defeated the oldest son of the house of Ellis like it was nothing."

"Uh-huh. Sylvia, do we know of someone who accomplished the exact same feat?"

"I-I-It w-was not that easy for me!"

"You know, he has to prove his strength to your father, or you would never be allowed to marry. Sylvia, not all nobles are like you. You are the only person I know who doesn't despise commoners. If I am being honest, I am a little reluctant regarding this matter as well. But, that smile that has been stuck to your face since yesterday, it's, beautiful…"

"Ceclice…"

I am so happy that she is my best friend.

"But, how should we prove his strength to your father?"

"You know about the Athena festival, right? Seems like my Big Brother is conducting the festival early this year. He says that it will begin in about ten days. Why don't we let him participate in the festival and prove his strength on the big stage?"

"Sylvia, I heard that the tournament participation was exclusive to nobility and adventurers who are Platinum ranked or higher, right?"

"I-I-Is t-that s-so……."

"But, if a person is recommended by nobility, he or she is free to take part in the tournament, regardless of their adventurer rank."

I turn around and look into Celice's eyes. I run towards my bed on which Celice was sitting with her legs folded, and jump on her, I bury her head in my chest as a sign of affection.

"H-Hey! Stop it idiot!! I can't breathe!!"

Celice pushes me away, her breathing is heavy and ragged, guess I went a little overboard.

"Are you even a human? What is with those huge boobs? They look like two watermelons hanging from your bosom, are you sure that you 'Prince Charming' will like them."

"He… he doesn't care about superficial things like beauty and figure. Yesterday, he didn't even falter once. The only time he truly 'looked' at me was when I was being a clutz and a glutton (from his perspective that is). All the men I've encountered until now couldn't even last a full minute without getting flustered. They just approach me for my beauty, none of them see me for who I truly am. It was the first time I received a comment on something other than my external appearance."

"Well, he doesn't get flustered, but what about you? You do realize that your face, ears, and even the neck is red, right?"

"W-Well, I am a maiden you know? I-It's completely justified."

"A maiden in love, that is."

"Jeez Celice!"

She looks at me, I look at her.

"Hahahaha."

"Kukukufufufu."

Both of us laugh until we get tired and fall asleep.

Chapter end