Diancie felt her entire body trembling.
The crisis was over. Her people had already left the courtyard, and the unrest she'd feared hadn't happened.
But…
She'd clearly heard every word Elias said just now.
Diancie didn't blame him for making promises on her behalf.
Setting aside the fact that it was a responsibility she should have borne in the first place—calming the Carbink's agitation required precisely such words.
What truly frightened her was this: if she failed, Elias would end up bearing the consequences for her.
Even though several years had passed,
Diancie still vividly remembered how Elias had drained his Life Energy to heal Her Majesty, then fallen into a deep sleep.
At that time, it had merely been overexertion. But if he really fulfilled his promise to exhaust it completely, wouldn't that mean…?
By the time that thought reached its end, all the color had drained from Diancie's small face.
No matter what, she could never allow that.
She didn't even want to risk it. She wanted only to admit to Elias that she couldn't do it, then obediently accept the consequences alongside Her Majesty.
Seeing Diancie's trembling approach, Elias smiled softly.
He stepped forward, gently placing his hand on her head, lightly ruffling her hair.
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
"I believe you can do it."
He encouraged her.
"B-But… what if I can't?"
Diancie persisted softly.
This time, Elias paused briefly before answering.
"If you can't, that's fine too. It's just that when the time comes, we'll have to leave the Underground Kingdom first."
As he spoke, he even spread his hands in a helpless little shrug.
Huh?
Hearing how relaxed he sounded, Diancie blinked in confusion.
Leave the kingdom?
"B-But… didn't you just say…"
She vaguely felt she was realizing something.
"If I really could do that, I'd have done it long ago, for you and Dianna."
"That giant diamond—apart from you and Dianna, no one can repair it. Not even me."
Elias smiled, speaking gently.
Only then did Diancie fully understand.
Elias had… lied just now!
He'd tricked all of them—every single Carbink, including her!
She'd been deceived, yet she wasn't angry or upset at all.
Instead, she burst out laughing in relief, a smile blooming at the corners of her mouth.
Thank goodness. Thank goodness.
That this was something even Elias couldn't accomplish was nearly the best news possible for her.
At least she wouldn't have to fear him doing something reckless for her and Dianna!
Even if she feared becoming her people's sinner, and even if the shattering of the giant diamond would greatly affect her health—she was far more afraid Elias would pay a terrible price because of her.
If forced to choose, she'd prefer the former.
"Elias, you scared me to death."
Diancie threw herself into his arms, puffing out her cheeks as she grumbled softly.
Seeing her emotions finally settle, Elias also let out a breath.
He didn't want Diancie carrying too much pressure.
The best state for her was the one she'd always had—training earnestly every day, happy and bright.
"Humans truly are sly. Even I was fooled just now."
At that moment, Dianna approached.
The words sounded like scolding, but there was unmistakable delight in her tone.
The queen of their people had made the same choice as Diancie.
"You two…"
Elias looked somewhat helpless at the two Pokémon's reactions.
"If Diancie can't bathe in the giant diamond's blessing for a prolonged period, her lifespan will be affected too, won't it?"
That was something Dianna had told him before.
"Even then, I can still live a long time,"
Diancie muttered.
But midway, she didn't dare finish.
True—she'd received good news, but this year she still had to give everything she had.
The giant diamond collapsing wasn't a trivial matter.
It would affect not only the Carbink people's fate but most of the ecosystem.
When the time came, the collapse of the mineral veins would undoubtedly trigger catastrophic disaster.
Her and Dianna's names would inevitably be marked forever as sinners.
This was the responsibility every Diancie had to bear.
"Elias, I'll work hard!"
Gritting her teeth, Diancie made her promise.
Even if she herself felt it was unlikely, if Elias believed she could, she'd try.
"I believe you."
Elias replied with a smile.
As he gently pinched Diancie's cheek, Elias finally noticed Cogita had stepped out of the house at some point.
She liked quiet. With the earlier chaos in the courtyard, she'd retreated inside long ago.
Now she slowly emerged, Gardevoir and Delphox accompanying her.
She must have heard what he'd said earlier.
But unlike Dianna and Diancie, Cogita's face showed no expression at all—her beautiful eyes merely studied him in silence.
Elias immediately sensed she'd seen through his second lie.
And she had—because he'd already planned his next steps.
If Diancie failed, he wouldn't truly do nothing as he'd claimed just now.
He would provoke Yveltal, force Xerneas to appear, and thoroughly cure Diancie's condition.
After a long pause—
Cogita, seemingly deep in thought, turned away and walked back inside.
Bang—
The sliding door slammed shut.
The nearby Pokémon all jumped.
Seeing that, Elias pursed his lips.
Cogita was… angry?
...
Cogita leaned against the doorframe, feeling even breathing was difficult.
She didn't know why her emotions were stirred up like this.
Perhaps because she'd guessed Elias's plan…
She didn't know exactly what he intended to do.
But the moment she'd learned the giant diamond would impact the two princesses, she'd known Elias would never just sit idly by.
"He actually learned to lie!"
Cogita gritted her teeth, clenched her fist, and hammered the doorframe several times.
She didn't recall ever teaching him such a rotten skill while raising him.
Only when her small hand was reddened did Cogita slowly sink down.
Her chest tightened painfully, and a sense of helplessness rose from deep inside her.
She knew she couldn't confront Elias—and she couldn't stop him either.
Precisely because of that, her anger grew stronger.
"Mm…"
Suddenly, Cogita pressed her hand to her head.
Vaguely, she felt an indescribable pain pulsing through her skull.
Like she was about to remember something—something churning so intensely she couldn't help letting out a quiet groan.
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T/N: heres ur updates :3 meeting the 4 chaps a week quota :3 do u think itd be better to do it earlier in the week to make u guys wait more for the bonus chapters
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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