When Diancie heard Elias persuading her, she first froze in place, then felt a wave of disbelief rush over her.
Elias… is siding with Her Highness… and driving me back into my room?!
Clearly, these two were her closest companions, but seeing them side by side, Diancie suddenly felt as though she couldn't read the situation at all.
Not only was she confused, but she even felt a tightness gripping her chest, and her nose began to sting.
She'd never imagined her own Ghost would actually speak up the queen.
And even less clear was what Elias and Her Highness wanted to do privately.
If it was just to help with something ordinary, wouldn't it be the same if she stayed here?
Why must she return to her room first?
"Elias!"
Diancie seemed to have built up quite a bit of anger.
She called Elias sharply, though immediately afterward, a conflicted look flashed across her face, apparently regretting her earlier tone.
But then, she hardened her heart and glared firmly at Elias, determined to demand an explanation.
"What exactly are you helping Her Highness with?"
She pressed further.
This answer was all she needed.
If it was just ordinary assistance, she'd still feel a bit reluctant—but not petty enough to refuse.
Hearing this, Elias felt himself facing a massive dilemma.
Using the [Power of Viridian] to relieve Dianna's physical strain—this alone was something Diancie absolutely couldn't know.
So when confronted directly by her now, he didn't even know how to answer.
"Diancie, it's just ordinary help. I promise I'll explain later."
"So please, don't cause a scene right now."
As Elias struggled for an answer, Dianna stepped forward, softening her tone as she spoke to Diancie.
She herself had just realized that she was acting too hastily today.
Normally, she wasn't like this—perhaps due to the strain on her body, or maybe because of certain thoughts she herself couldn't quite grasp…
Before Elias and Diancie had even returned to their room, she'd already hurried to meet them.
But explaining this entire matter to Diancie really was difficult.
Luckily… she'd thought of another approach.
Meanwhile, seeing that neither Dianna nor Elias were willing to give her a proper explanation—
A mist of tears clouded Diancie's large, watery eyes.
She was now completely certain that between Her Highness and Elias, there was definitely some secret she didn't know.
The Queen wants to steal my ghost…
This was her first reaction.
Though the idea felt absurd, Diancie was no longer in the mood to consider other reasons.
"Your arm…"
She extended her arm towards Elias, mumbling softly.
Confused, Elias obediently stretched his arm forward, unsure what Diancie intended.
Immediately afterward, Diancie grabbed his arm, opened her small mouth, and bit down fiercely.
Though as a Ghost, his sensitivity to pain was naturally very low, this time he still managed to feel a faint sting.
Clearly, Diancie really was furious this time—not simply pretending for show.
"Diancie!"
As soon as Diancie's bite landed, Dianna's reprimanding voice rang out unhappily.
Perhaps startled awake by the rebuke, Diancie quickly reduced the pressure of her bite.
She didn't dare look at Elias's expression, knowing only that she had probably bitten him too hard at first.
After lightly licking the spot she'd bitten like a dragonfly skimming water, she let go and swiftly dove into the room, slamming the door behind her.
Bang—
The wooden door slammed shut, leaving Dianna and Elias locked outside.
Seeing this, Dianna opened her mouth slightly, speechless and unsure of what to say.
She turned her gaze toward Elias, eyes filled with a hint of apology.
It seemed because of her, he'd been dragged into trouble.
"I should heal you first."
After hesitating a bit, Elias finally spoke to Dianna.
Right now, Diancie was at the peak of her anger, and approaching her would only make things worse.
Besides, only once Dianna's condition was stabilized could he explain the truth to Diancie.
When that time came, this misunderstanding would naturally clear itself up.
Hearing Elias's suggestion, Dianna nodded lightly, softly replying:
"Sorry for the trouble."
...
"All done."
Elias withdrew his hand, speaking gently to Dianna.
Hearing this, Dianna slowly opened her half-closed eyes, filled with visible contentment.
As expected, his power really does feel so comfortable…
Each time that gentle green energy flowed through her body, it brought forth a soft, warm sensation tinged with tingling numbness.
Her body, long tormented by suffering, rejoiced like parched earth receiving long-awaited rain.
But unlike Dianna, Elias gently furrowed his brows.
He'd noticed Dianna had begun developing resistance to the [Power of Viridian].
The last time he'd used this power, he could clearly sense Dianna's health improving.
But this time, although there was still positive change, the effect was greatly diminished.
At this rate, it probably wouldn't take more than a few more uses before his power became completely ineffective.
Then Dianna's fate wouldn't differ much from before.
When Elias shared this discovery, Dianna's expression remained calm, unsurprised and unmoved.
"I understand."
Dianna nodded gently, neither disappointed nor overly emotional.
"You're not surprised?"
Elias asked curiously.
Shouldn't anyone, human or Pokémon, hearing their last lifeline wasn't reliable, react with something more?
"I foresaw this long ago."
Dianna shook her head slightly, voice soft as she replied.
From the very start, she'd only hoped Elias could buy her a little more time.
She had never expected he could completely heal her.
After all, the root cause of her condition traced directly back to that destructive deity.
If a mere ghost could erase the effects of a Legendary Pokémon's curse, that would've been truly strange.
She'd never harbored such unrealistic hopes.
She'd merely assumed Elias's power could grant her just a bit more time.
But clearly, she'd still underestimated Yveltal's strength.
"Let's keep things as usual from now on. Sorry for troubling you…"
She brightened her spirits and looked gently at Elias.
Though it felt as if she were stealing away her Successors's Ghost Friend, she really did feel warmly toward Elias.
Compared to the healing itself, even simply chatting daily with him was comforting enough.
Thinking carefully about her dwindling days, Dianna had already found a good way to spend her remaining time.
"You can explain things to Diancie later."
She instructed Elias calmly.
But for now, she didn't want Diancie knowing the full truth about her condition.
Seeing Dianna already arranging what would come next, Elias opened his mouth, hesitating again before falling silent.