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IBP 93
Chloe kept her eyes closed, barely managing to breathe.
After what felt like an eternity.
Finally, a small cluster of light appeared in Chloe's blurred vision.
A very faint light was shimmering in Coco's hand.
Then, a slight warmth was felt in Coco's body...
A pale glow settled into the body that had been growing cold.
Warmth began to fill the body that had been filled only with chill.
Seeing this, Chloe let out a sigh of relief and quickly wiped away her tears.
If Coco were to come back to life...
She didn't want to meet her with a tear-stained face.
She forced the corners of her trembling lips to curl upward.
“Coco.”
Then, she hugged Coco's small, dirt-stained body tightly and whispered softly.
“Coco, I love you. Big sister loves our Coco so much.”
In the same voice she had whispered in Coco's ear when she was first dying, so that her desperate heart would be fully conveyed.
Before she knew it, the body held tight in her arms changed.
Coco's body, which had been that of a puppy, slowly transformed back into a child.
For a moment, Chloe sat frozen in place, unable to even breathe.
Her dress was a mess, stained with dirt, but she didn't even care.
“My baby.”
Chloe pressed her forehead against Coco's, tenderly sharing her warmth.
It was a warm expression of affection they often shared.
Perhaps her desperation had reached her. Coco slowly opened her eyes and soon mumbled in a low voice.
“Wow... big sis... it's you.”
The moment she heard those words, the memory of when she first met Coco flashed through Chloe's mind.
“Wow! Big sis!”
Yes, that's what you said.
In a lovely and cute voice, resembling your voice from when you were a puppy.
“Hmph, even after all this... you didn't recognize me...”
But you know, Coco.
Now, big sister can finally give you a proper answer to those words.
Chloe whispered to Coco in a trembling voice.
“Yes. It's big sister. Our Coco, big sister knows now. Who you are...”
“Eh...?”
Despite having no strength in her entire body, Coco's eyes widened slightly.
“Big sis... me...”
“I'm sorry I recognized my baby so late. I'm so, so sorry I was late...”
“...You recognized me?”
Coco blinked her hazy eyes repeatedly. Chloe nodded vigorously.
“Of course, of course. My little one, my baby. How did you get here? Your hands are so small and your feet are so tiny.”
“I...”
As if in pain, Coco let out a few strained, small coughs.
Chloe fixed her trembling gaze on Coco. Then, barely suppressing her cough, Coco closed her eyes tight and murmured.
“I walked... very bravely... to get here.”
“Wasn't it hard? How did you come alone, how...”
Coco grabbed Chloe's trembling hand with her tiny hand and whispered sweetly.
“I missed big sister so, so much that I crossed the bridge to come here... Big sister, I'm really strong, right...?”
Even as she said this, Coco still looked frail.
Chloe forced herself to speak brightly.
“Yes. Our Coco is the strongest in the whole world. The smartest puppy in the world. The bravest person big sister has ever seen...”
As soon as she heard that, Coco burrowed into Chloe's arms and gave a little giggle.
“You know, big sister. Do you love me?”
Truthfully, when she was getting close to the child-version of Coco, Chloe had been afraid.
She feared that as time passed, her memories of her baby, Coco, would fade, and she would eventually come to love this sweet little girl more than the original Coco.
That was why, even though she liked Coco, she had restrained her emotions when answering.
But, Coco. Now, big sister...
I think I can finally tell you, now that you've opened your eyes again.
“I love you.”
“Yeah.”
“Big sister loves our Coco more than anyone in the world.”
“Mm, big sister...”
“Yes, Coco.”
“I... I'm happy that big sister recognized me.”
Despite her pained expression, Coco returned the world's most beautiful smile to Chloe as her answer.
“But you know, big sister, I just...”
As she finished speaking, Coco's forehead furrowed as if in pain.
“What is it? Does something hurt?”
“My head is spinning. I... big sister, I'm going to rest for a bit.”
Soon, Coco fell asleep with a soft, snoring sound.
She had merely closed her eyes, but Chloe was suddenly seized by fear and urgently hugged Coco.
Then, she pressed her ear against the area of Coco's heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
She could hear the sound of a small heart beating.
'Coco's heart is beating.'
Only then did Chloe let out a long sigh of relief, and while hugging Coco tightly once more, her eyes finally reddened.
Finally, the tension in her body released, and she became aware of her surroundings.
Dahlia, collapsed haphazardly on the ground. A shadow moving frantically near her.
And...
In the distance, she saw Grand Duke Rivera and the kitten-like boy, Caligo, walking toward them.
* * *
The moment Caligo saw Coco collapse through the shadow's vision, he ran madly down toward the lake.
And it was perhaps a stroke of luck that he encountered Grand Duke Rivera while running so frantically.
“I thought you went to find the ribbon, but the knights were surprised you weren't returning and came to find me. Why are you here?”
“Brother, Coco. Coco is...”
Seeing his younger brother mumbling in a half-conscious state, the Grand Duke instinctively knew something was wrong.
“The adults will handle it from here, just show me the way.”
And at the lake they reached following Caligo's steps, a devastating scene unfolded.
The barrier stone was destroyed, and Dahlia was curled up on the ground, unconscious.
However, no one paid any attention to Dahlia's well-being.
Chloe, who always maintained a noble dignity, was sitting slumped on the ground, clutching Coco.
And, seeing the brothers of the Grand Duke Rivera's house finally approach, Chloe barely managed to compose herself.
“Grand Prince Rivera. Your shadow remained with my baby the whole time.”
“...Ah.”
“The Grand Prince helped Coco, didn't he? First, thank you.”
Returning to her calm expression, Chloe bowed her head toward Grand Prince Rivera.
“And soon, the Grand Duke, you, and I—the three of us—will need to have a conversation. Regarding... this incident.”
Chloe looked at the ten-year-old boy who could not take his eyes off the sleeping Coco.
“Of course. Because I'm going to protect Coco.”
Caligo had a look on his face like a cat whose territory had been attacked.
“...I see, very well, Grand Prince.”
Chloe also raised an eyebrow slightly while holding Coco in her arms.
Chloe thought that the prickly kitten was finally starting to let her in, little by little.
“I'll handle the cleanup for now. Starting with Lady Dahlia Melomande.”
Chloe's gaze swept over Dahlia coldly.
The sight of Dahlia collapsed on the ground unconscious looked somewhat pitiful at a glance, but...
“Fine. I'll leave the aftermath to you. If it were up to me, I'd want to crush that vermin right now... but for now, I think I should take our Coco home first.”
Dahlia's end would be more terrible and agonizing than this.
Revenge against those who dared to kill Coco had to be carried out properly.
“...Let's talk again soon.”
She grinned as she roughly shoved the bead Dahlia had left behind into her pocket.
“Since I've secured the evidence.”
Yes, the revenge was only beginning.
She calmly stood up, holding Coco tightly in her arms.
'...So light.'
As if she might disappear at any moment.
She pulled Coco deep into her embrace.
Leaving the simple cleanup to Grand Duke Rivera, Chloe did not falter once as she carried the unconscious baby back to the mansion.
Because she now had someone she had to protect, even if it meant risking her own life.
* * *
How much time had passed?
'Ah, my head hurts...'
I opened my eyes while clutching my aching head.
Everything in front of me looked blurry.
'I feel like half my memories are gone.'
I wasn't exactly sure why I was here.
I had a splitting headache, and my whole body felt like cotton soaked in water.
Still, for some reason, I felt a bit more comfortable.
Because whoever it was, the arms holding me were so warm.
After a bit more time passed and my vision focused, I tilted my head.
The window where bright sunlight poured in, the cozy bed, and the doorway where I used to always stay when I was a puppy.
'It's my room!'
No, it's big sister's room now, right.
The sweet smell of sweet potatoes reached my nose. Even though I hadn't eaten any, my mouth watered.
But, but you know.
'I liked that dream more than sweet potatoes.'
The dream where big sister recognized me and asked how I came back from the rainbow bridge...
The dream where big sister told me, “Big sister knows now who our Coco is.”
I was shivering because it was so cold, but I became warm because big sister hugged me tight.
'I want to dream it again.'
I let out a soft sigh and murmured.
“That dream was nice...”
So, I decided to close my eyes tight and go back to sleep.
Hoping to feel big sister's warm embrace again.
But it was right then.
A warm voice echoed in my ear.
“...What do you mean, 'dream'?”
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