In Diancie's restless expression, the other party finally shifted her gaze away.
Seeing this, Diancie couldn't help letting out a long breath of relief.
Just now her heart had nearly stopped, thinking Elias had been discovered by her predecessor.
Fortunately… it seemed she had only been overthinking.
Thinking so, Diancie scratched her head in puzzlement.
Even if Elias were discovered by her predecessor, it probably wouldn't lead to anything serious.
But for some reason, she didn't want anyone—human or Pokémon—besides herself to know of him.
What a petty little Pokémon I am…
Diancie felt a touch of shame, yet deep down she had no intention of changing.
"Predecessor, so that means I passed?"
Suppressing her strange thoughts, Diancie asked softly.
"Mm."
When her words fell, the other lightly nodded, and encouraged her:
"You've improved compared to before. Keep it up."
At that, Diancie proudly lifted her head, then sneaked a glance toward Elias.
When their eyes met, she narrowed her own slightly, lips curving in an unconscious smile.
Surely this was the reward for all the good deeds she'd done—gaining a ghost like Elias to follow her.
Noticing her expression, Elias also gave a gentle smile.
But at the same time, he looked ahead.
The Queen of the kingdom seemed to have turned her gaze toward him once again.
Has she discovered me?
Elias wondered.
By now, the timing was about right.
After all, as Diancie's strength rose significantly, he too had accumulated more life force.
With power growing, his form became increasingly solid—being noticed by a sharp-sensed Pokémon was inevitable.
But seeing Diancie still looking so oblivious, Elias chose not to remind her for now, in case she worried too much.
---
[After receiving permission, Diancie immediately pulled you away from the spot.]
[Since she had just undergone the Queen's trial today, you gave her a day off, without arranging any training.]
"Elias, how much longer do you think it'll take before I can become Queen?"
Walking along, Diancie held a freshly bought berry in one hand, curiously asking Elias.
Though she always said she didn't care, truthfully she did want to be Queen.
Especially after hearing the elders say—the Queen has the right to choose the finest partner first.
If it were before, that rule wouldn't have stirred any particular feelings in her.
But now, whenever she thought of it, Elias's figure would jump into her mind.
And that left her heart itching, as though scratched by tiny kitten claws.
Only, since Carbink lived long lives—hundreds of years weren't unusual—each Queen's reign was terrifyingly long.
Barring surprises, she likely wouldn't ascend to the throne for centuries yet.
Seeing Diancie hesitating with words, Elias didn't answer right away.
He recalled the current Queen's condition.
If nothing unexpected happened… Diancie might not have to wait that long at all.
But when that time came, she would probably feel more sorrow than joy.
Noticing Elias seeming lost in thought, Diancie realized her question had been odd.
After all, who could predict things hundreds of years away?
So instead…
"When I become Queen, I'm going to set new clan rules!"
Patting her chest, she declared to Elias.
She had already decided: when the time came, she would allow Carbink to have ghost-type partners.
As Queen, she would lead by example!
Seeing her cheeks suddenly blush crimson, Elias felt puzzled.
Why does making rules make her blush?
Instinct told him Diancie must be thinking of something else entirely.
---
[Only when Diancie grew tired did you return together to the room.]
[Though there was no sun underground, the Carbink's great diamond served a similar role.]
[As time passed, the light from that diamond would also shift from bright to dim.]
[From this you grasped just how important that diamond truly was—and why Diancie was so valued.]
[Sitting by the bed and watching her fall asleep, you decided to read for a while.]
Taking out a book brought back from the human world, Elias prepared to continue studying.
As a spirit, he needed no rest at all—an advantage no living creature could match.
Fearing the sound of turning pages might wake Diancie, he decided to read outside the room.
That spot happened to be the furthest he could go; any farther, and his consciousness would blur.
However…
Just after stepping out and shutting the wooden door, a cold voice rang from behind.
"A human book, drifting through clan grounds in the middle of the night—don't you find that strange?"
At the words, Elias froze.
He recognized it—the voice of the Queen.
So she had indeed noticed him during the day… and now had come straight to find him.
Knowing there was no use hiding, Elias closed the book in his hands with a sigh, then slowly turned.
In the faint light, the diamonds on her body glowed more beautifully than before.
In the dark, tiny motes of radiance drifted through the air.
As one of the same species, she resembled Diancie greatly.
But on closer look, the two could never be confused.
Compared to the still-young Diancie, she was steadier, her eyes lacking any trace of childish blankness.
The difference between Princess and Queen—plain as day.
"You can see me?"
Elias asked curiously.
He wasn't sure whether she could truly see him, or just some vague outline.
At that, she replied coolly:
"I can also hear you speak."
With her reminder, Elias realized he hadn't been using telekinesis just now.
By rights, in his current state, no one but Diancie should be able to hear him.
So—it was certain. He had fully manifested before her eyes.
As Elias paused in thought, the Queen's icy expression softened ever so slightly.
She didn't know why, but she had just felt a flicker of satisfaction.
"Who are you? What purpose do you have in approaching that child Diancie?"
Suppressing the odd feeling, her gaze sharpened as she questioned Elias.
Diancie might be a little slow, but she was still Princess of the kingdom—and the Queen's successor.
To anyone approaching her with hidden motives, she would show no mercy.
Before she learned it was her successor who had "picked up" Elias and brought him home, that was how she thought.