Champagne High
You've left me undone...
I only showed up because Lina made me.
Leave it to that flat-chested pain-in-the-ass to hunt me down and force me to do the one thing I would have rather died than go through with.
I could tell that Gourry understood better than anyone. He knew that Lina was punishing me. I think he even felt bad about it, but I guess even he figured I deserved it.
When I first received the invitation, I think I must have blacked out in rage and pain. I remember crumpling it up and Fireballing the damned thing, but then everything else is a blur.
I started walking. I know that much. I walked for days without stopping. I was delirious.
I couldn't believe that she would hurt me in the worst possible way.
Hadn't I lost enough?
There had been a little personal note inside the invitation. Written in the princess' own hand, it begged for my forgiveness and explained that she had been forced to move on from me and marry a Duke or something, for the good of Seyruun.
What had happened to the girl I knew? The girl I knew wouldn't have stood for such a thing. It was a great injustice, after all, to force someone to marry.
Or maybe that's just what I had always told myself. That it couldn't happen, she wouldn't let it happen, so I could wander for as long as I needed to.
I thought she would always be there, waiting for me.
I was a fool.
So I showed up to the goddamn wedding. I fidgeted in my seat and pulled at the collar of my fancy clothes. I had to, because Lina Inverse is a scary bitch.
Haven't I been punished enough?
She looked beautiful, of course. Amelia, I mean.
Her white dress actually made me smile. I hadn't smiled in ages, but the irony tickled me.
Let's just say, I know for a fact she shouldn't have been wearing white. We'll leave it at that.
She didn't exactly look happy, so I took some comfort in that. Then I hated myself a little bit more, because I should want her to be happy.
At the reception, she and her new husband formed a receiving line. Lina stood next to Amelia and eyeballed me. I swear, I think even Phil was looking at me with pity.
Amelia never looked at me. Not until I reached her, and took her hand.
"Princess," I said, formally and without emotion. I kissed her hand.
When I finally looked up at her face, I saw that her eyes were filled to the brim with unshed tears.
"Mr. Greywords," she said, her voice cracking a bit.
I had wanted to hate her. I had wanted to blame her.
But I couldn't.
I could only blame myself.
...Where will I be when I stop wondering why?
Smile and remember it all...