On the way back, Diancie didn't feel nervous at all.
If she'd sneaked out for fun like usual, she might have worried that Her Highness would scold her.
But today, she was bringing Elias back with her!
She could have spent seven days and nights playing outside without returning, and even smashed Her Highness's precious diamonds when she got back.
With Elias here, Dianna surely wouldn't punish her at all!
Confident in this thought, Diancie held tightly onto Elias's hand as they walked toward the deepest part of the kingdom.
As expected, a familiar figure soon came into view.
Seeing Dianna, a flicker of nostalgia flashed through Elias's eyes.
It seemed the healing he'd performed before his sleep had truly helped—Dianna's diamonds now shone brighter than ever.
Not only that, but perhaps it was his imagination—had Dianna grown taller?
Indeed, compared to Diancie, Dianna's changes seemed even greater.
"Your Highness!"
At that moment, Diancie's voice rang out clearly.
Elias noticed that she glanced at him from the side and subtly winked, as if hinting at something.
He immediately understood her meaning.
On the other side…
Dianna, who had originally planned to seize the chance to see Elias herself, paused when she heard Diancie's call.
So, Diancie was back…
She felt a spark of irritation in her chest.
Not taking me along when she left was one thing, but coming back at such poor timing…
Dianna clenched her teeth, resolving to scold Diancie fiercely.
With that thought in mind, Dianna slowly turned around.
Immediately, she saw Diancie bouncing energetically toward her, not a shred of guilt or panic in sight.
On the contrary, the young princess seemed excited, as if expecting praise or a reward.
Seeing this, Dianna's brow furrowed in displeasure.
"Where did you go last night?" she asked calmly.
"To see Elias," Diancie admitted immediately, sticking out her tongue without hiding a thing.
As expected…
Dianna nodded secretly; Diancie's behavior matched her guess perfectly.
"Then why didn't you inform me?" Dianna inhaled sharply, questioning Diancie severely.
She needed the younger Pokémon to understand the mistake she'd made.
If something similar happened again, she had better remember to invite Dianna along.
"Because I was afraid you would come with me…"
Diancie murmured quietly at first.
Realizing how inappropriate this sounded, she quickly covered her mouth with her tiny hand.
Yet Dianna's expression had already darkened considerably.
"You think I'd compete with you over him?" Dianna asked meaningfully.
She felt deeply dissatisfied with Diancie's obvious suspicion. If Diancie was even wary of her, Dianna shuddered to imagine her next moves!
This thinking had to be corrected immediately.
Yet, to Dianna's shock—
After hearing her question, Diancie actually stared directly into her eyes for a few seconds, then nodded shyly.
"Diancie!"
Dianna sharply raised her voice.
"Is that really how you see your Queen?"
"Let me state it clearly: even if Elias himself were suddenly standing before me now, I would never compete with you for him."
"I hope you clearly understand this."
Dianna maintained her usual composed and graceful demeanor.
Diancie being suspicious of her was seriously troubling.
It meant, for a very long time, Dianna likely wouldn't be able to convince Diancie to bring her along to meet Elias—much less fulfill her plan of inviting Elias here to care for him personally.
Yet…
Dianna's words sounded more like a cover-up to Diancie.
The younger Pokémon leaned forward, peering curiously as she asked doubtfully:
"So, if Elias appeared here right now, you really wouldn't compete with me?"
"Absolutely," Dianna promised confidently without hesitation.
It had only been a hundred years, after all—far short of the thousand she'd previously estimated. There was no worry about Diancie accusing her of lying at this point.
Yet, what puzzled Dianna most—
After her firm declaration, Diancie patted her own chest lightly, visibly relieved.
"When it comes to Elias, of course I believe you, Your Highness!"
"Right, Elias?" Diancie asked lightly, her lips curving into a delighted smile.
At first, Dianna didn't pay much attention.
Was Diancie teasing her intentionally?
She strongly suspected that possibility, because after all, it was simply impossible for Elias to be here right now—
Before she could finish the thought, Dianna's expression suddenly froze completely.
Those gemstone-like eyes widened instantly, staring in disbelief.
With a gentle, familiar smile, Elias had suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Their gazes met, and he even waved at her with a smile.
Dianna could hardly trust her eyes.
But at that very moment, Diancie happily jumped into Elias's arms, turning to Dianna with a cheerful grin.
"Your Highness, Elias woke up!"
"I brought him back!"
Dianna barely heard the second half of Diancie's words clearly.
All her attention locked entirely on Elias's sudden awakening.
Swallowing lightly, Dianna stepped forward slowly, her usually calm breathing noticeably quickening.
She carefully extended her small hand, lightly grasping one of Elias's fingers.
Cold, soft—
Exactly as she remembered from so long ago.
Most importantly, she felt that the Life Energy within her—originating from him—stirred restlessly the instant she touched Elias.
It was as if it recognized its true master, sending her heart into turmoil.
"Your Highness?"
Seeing Dianna motionless for so long, Diancie gently waved her hand, softly calling out.
Yet as she spoke, Diancie's gaze remained firmly locked on Dianna's hand, still holding Elias's finger.
Hearing Diancie's voice finally brought Dianna back to her senses.
She cast a brief indifferent glance toward Diancie, her earlier urge to scold the younger Pokémon entirely forgotten.
Still, that didn't stop Dianna from finding Diancie increasingly irritating at this moment…
"You sneaked out for an entire night—don't you think you deserve some punishment?"
"From now until dinner tonight, you're not allowed to leave your room."
As she quietly tugged at the arm Diancie had wrapped around Elias, Dianna sternly issued the command.
Diancie: ?
She suddenly felt she'd been tricked.
Watching Dianna firmly grasp Elias's other hand, obviously intent on competing with her, Diancie abruptly realized:
—Just because she said she wouldn't fight me over Elias didn't mean she couldn't punish me!
As long as she sends me away, Elias has no choice but to stay by her side!
"Your Highness! Elias is mine!"
Realizing she'd been deceived, Diancie immediately puffed out her cheeks in protest, hoping desperately that Dianna might back down from her bluff.
---
Diancie: Didn't you say you wouldn't compete with me?! Beware of scams!