The room Elias usually kept spotless for Diancie was now a disaster.
Wet tissues littered the floor, leaving obvious damp marks.
The blanket on the bed was nearly twisted into a lump, pillows thrown carelessly everywhere.
By the headboard lay a small heap of shiny pink diamonds.
When Dianna stepped inside and took in the scene, her brows furrowed without her realizing.
"Diancie. Explain what happened."
Dianna approached the bedside, asking sternly.
Elias had only been gone a bit over a day, and Dianna herself was still in the territory—yet Diancie had already allowed things to deteriorate to this point.
If Dianna weren't here someday, would Diancie simply fall apart?
Yet…
When Dianna saw Diancie's swollen, reddened eyes brimming with tears, she froze in place.
"What's wrong?"
Dianna asked, surprised.
Diancie had stayed in the room most of the day; logically, no one should have disturbed her.
And Elias had been away for a day or two before, yet she'd never reacted like this.
As Dianna wondered, Diancie, seeing her arrival, grew teary-eyed all over again.
Her lips trembled, as though she wanted to say something.
But before she could speak, tears spilled first.
"M-Majesty… w-wah… wah…"
A muffled sobbing emerged from her throat, like a small, hurt animal—helpless and lost.
That was enough for Dianna to realize something serious had happened without her knowledge.
Otherwise, given Diancie's personality, it was difficult to imagine her acting this way.
"What happened? Slow down and tell me."
Dianna gently wiped Diancie's tears with a tissue, comforting her softly.
With Dianna's coaxing, Diancie sniffled and spoke in a tiny, broken voice:
"E-Elias… he… he doesn't want me anymore."
As she said it, Diancie was overwhelmed with grief.
Hours had passed since her first call.
No matter how urgent, it should have been resolved by now.
At the very least, Team Flare should have replied.
Yet Elias still hadn't responded.
Every message was like a stone sinking into the sea, each call unanswered.
Her last bit of hope had snapped, and Diancie felt as if the sky was falling.
Was it because she was useless and troublesome—and now there was the enormous diamond issue as well?
So Elias had abandoned her… right?
Leaving the Poké Balls behind was probably the best proof.
With that thought, Diancie's tears fell uncontrollably, like beads from a broken string.
After hearing Diancie's fragmented explanation, Dianna finally understood.
Indeed—aside from Elias, nothing else could make Diancie this heartbroken.
Or rather…
Not only Diancie.
Dianna's mind went blank too, her heart clenching as if a large hand squeezed it tightly, a sharp ache stabbing through her chest.
Elias had abandoned her?
Her face paled as she reflexively glanced at the two Poké Balls set aside, recognizing them as hers and Diancie's.
Given that Diancie couldn't reach him by phone either, the guess did seem… plausible.
But…
Remembering everything she'd shared with that Ghost Form, Dianna simply couldn't believe it.
A queen's composure and reason compelled Dianna to calm herself, swallowing back tears that were forming in her eyes.
"Don't panic. Elias probably has something going on and didn't see your calls."
Dianna softly comforted Diancie.
At the same time, her mind raced, recalling possible clues.
He had even kept the diamond she'd given him—there was no way he'd discard her that easily.
Dianna shook her head, dismissing Diancie's assumption.
Then, struck by a thought, she suddenly paused.
Right—the diamond!
The diamond she'd given Elias was from her birth.
Though not particularly useful, it remained closely linked to her.
Even at a great distance, she could faintly sense what was happening around it.
With this realization, Dianna narrowed her eyes, focusing deeply, attempting to connect with the diamond she'd given Elias.
As expected, she quickly formed the connection.
It was extremely faint, just enough for a sliver of perception.
What was occurring around the diamond gradually flowed into Dianna's mind.
The first thing she sensed was Elias himself.
Dianna released a small breath, her heart easing slightly.
He hadn't discarded the diamond after all…
Her lips curved slightly as she concentrated, sensing further.
Due to the great distance, most information remained beyond reach.
Yet…
That fleeting weakness—and the deathly aura so dense it almost stole her breath—came through with cruel clarity.
Instantly, Dianna's expression went blank.
The slight smile at her lips froze completely.
Then, processing what she'd sensed, the color drained entirely from Dianna's face.
It felt as though her strength had vanished—her knees almost gave way.
Something had happened.
Dianna understood this instantly.
Only Elias could be weakening; the diamond wouldn't sense anyone else.
And that suffocating aura of death, cold enough to freeze her limbs, sparked the same terrible guess in her mind.
"Please… don't let it be…"
She murmured instinctively, voice trembling.
All Elias's earlier odd behavior suddenly connected clearly in her mind.
Yet Dianna felt no joy—only a desperate hope that she was mistaken.
"M-Majesty?"
Seeing Dianna's lost expression, Diancie wiped her tears, tentatively calling out.
Snap!
Dianna shot abruptly to her feet.
"I'm going up to the surface."
Panic had overtaken most of her reason.
Dianna found it even difficult to breathe.
She'd always believed the ultimate sacrifice would be hers.
The one with mere days left… was supposed to be her as well.
Yet…
Only now did she realize she might have been deceived.
Deceived by the illusion created by that cunning Ghost Form—hidden so cleverly from her eyes.
"No… you can't… how could you… no…"
The words escaped Dianna as a helpless whisper.
---
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