[After breakfast, you and Diancie prepare to depart for the underground kingdom.]
[Cogita has decided not to accompany you.]
[She seems quite averse to the dark and damp underground environment—especially unwilling to touch any dirt that might soil her.]
...
"I don't want to touch the dirt—you two go ahead."
Cogita shot a meaningful glance toward Diancie as she spoke.
Diancie, who'd grown up underground, immediately bristled at her remark.
She glared fiercely at Cogita, puffing up her cheeks slightly.
"I'm more worried that the dirt might get dirty from touching you…" Diancie murmured quietly.
"What was that?"
Cogita immediately cast a sharp look in her direction.
Knowing she'd inevitably lose if she continued, Diancie quickly snapped her mouth shut and turned her head away without another word.
Watching this scene unfold, Elias couldn't help but smile faintly.
"In that case, Diancie and I will leave now. We'll be back tomorrow at the latest," he said, looking toward Cogita.
As long as Dianna didn't delay them, they wouldn't remain in the underground kingdom for long.
"Mm, be careful along the way."
Returning to her usual lazy demeanor, Cogita looked Elias up and down briefly before waving her hand in farewell.
Since Elias had already promised her, she naturally trusted he wouldn't break his word.
But…
"If Her Highness tries to detain you, I'll personally come rescue you."
Cogita curled her lips slightly as she added this.
As she spoke, she gestured toward Tornadus standing quietly beside her.
She believed that after issuing such a blatant warning, Diancie wouldn't dare entertain any strange ideas.
Indeed, Diancie gulping nervously in response confirmed Cogita's suspicion.
...
[After bidding Cogita farewell, you and Diancie finally set out for the underground kingdom.]
[Nearly a hundred years have passed, and even the underground layout has seen many changes.]
[You feel quite intrigued, especially by several tunnels personally carved out by Diancie herself.]
[Soon, after navigating a series of winding tunnels, you and Diancie arrive at the heart of the Carbink settlement.]
[Compared to the past, not much has changed here.]
[The massive diamond still floats high above, illuminating the entire subterranean world.]
...
"I'll create one someday, too."
Noticing Elias's gaze, Diancie spoke quietly.
Although such a goal still seemed impossibly far away, she didn't want Elias to feel disappointed in her.
"That day will come," Elias replied gently.
Despite his comforting words, he also understood how challenging achieving that goal would be for Diancie.
After all, the issue lay in her inherent physical limitations rather than insufficient training.
Thinking of this, Elias narrowed his eyes slightly.
Previously, he'd fallen into a long slumber after expending his Life Energy to heal Dianna.
But now that he had awakened, perhaps it was finally time to genuinely seek a way to heal Diancie herself.
He wondered briefly…
Would supplying Diancie with Life Energy in the same manner be effective?
As Elias pondered this, Diancie also fell silent beside him.
She seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts.
At that moment—
"Princess!"
A Carbink suddenly came bouncing hurriedly toward them.
Stopping before Diancie, it panted heavily as it caught its breath before saying:
"Princess Diancie, Her Highness the Queen is looking for you."
"And...she seems really angry this time," the Carbink added anxiously.
Given how often Diancie used to wander off, the Carbink had grown quite accustomed to delivering such messages.
Hearing this, Diancie nodded calmly.
"I see. I'll go meet Her Highness right away."
With that, she started walking deeper into the settlement.
Watching Diancie's retreating figure, the Carbink tilted its head slightly in confusion.
Was it just its imagination… or did the Princess seem unusually calm today?
...
Deeper within the kingdom—
In an open area enclosed by enormous diamonds, Dianna stood quietly in place.
She stared blankly at the crystal before her, a faintly dazed expression on her face.
As Queen of the Carbink Kingdom, she rarely appeared this way.
But seeing her own shimmering reflection in the diamond, she involuntarily recalled that ghostly figure from nearly a hundred years ago.
"Has it already been nearly a hundred years…?"
She softly murmured to herself.
Even for mineral Pokémon, a hundred years wasn't a short time.
Or rather… aside from the top-tier Legendary Pokémon, a century was a long period for any living being.
Yet strangely enough, whenever she quieted her mind, Elias's figure inevitably appeared before her eyes.
That ghost-form had left an indelibly deep impression on her.
As if remembering something else, Dianna narrowed her eyes slightly and gently pressed her palm to her chest.
"If only you could awaken sooner…"
She softly whispered her wish.
Unfortunately, based on her earlier estimation, Elias would likely need at least a thousand years to wake.
By then, she herself would have long reached the end of her lifespan.
Pushing down the sadness that rose in her heart, Dianna raised her head again, gazing indifferently toward the distance.
Diancie still hadn't returned…
Thinking of this, she furrowed her brows slightly.
In recent decades, apart from idling away her earliest years, Diancie had become exceptionally diligent. Dianna had taken note of this with considerable satisfaction.
Moreover, Diancie had already informed her about Elias's location.
Thus, she could easily guess that Diancie had sneaked out yesterday to visit Elias at that human's cottage.
Truthfully, Dianna wasn't particularly upset that Diancie had left without notifying her.
But…
For some inexplicable reason, just knowing Diancie had secretly visited Elias without telling her made Dianna feel a surge of irritation.
"If she doesn't come back soon, she might as well not come back at all!"
Dianna scoffed coldly, deciding to personally retrieve Diancie.
Perhaps then she might conveniently take the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Elias herself.
However, right at that moment—
"Your Highness!"
A familiar voice suddenly called out from a distance away.
Judging by the sound, it was still some distance off.
Dianna halted her movements, realizing Diancie had already returned.
Yet instead of relief, she felt a strange sense of disappointment.
Another legitimate chance to see Elias had slipped through her fingers…
An inexplicable restlessness surged within her, leaving Dianna standing frozen for a long moment, unwilling to immediately turn around and face Diancie.