[After breakfast, you and Diancie prepare to depart for the underground kingdom.]
[Cogita has decided not to accompany you.]
[She seems quite averse to the dark and damp underground environnt—especially unwilling to touch any dirt that might soil her.]
...
"I don't want to touch the dirt—you two go ahead."
Cogita shot a aningful glance toward Diancie as she spoke.
Diancie, who'd grown up underground, imdiately bristled at her remark.
She glared fiercely at Cogita, puffing up her cheeks slightly.
"I'm more worried that the dirt might get dirty from touching you…" Diancie murmured quietly.
"What was that?"
Cogita imdiately cast a sharp look in her direction.
Knowing she'd inevitably lose if she continued, Diancie quickly snapped her mouth shut and turned her head away without another word.
Watching this scene unfold, Elias couldn't help but smile faintly.
"In that case, Diancie and I will leave now. We'll be back tomorrow at the latest," he said, looking toward Cogita.
As long as Dianna didn't delay them, they wouldn't remain in the underground kingdom for long.
"Mm, be careful along the way."
Returning to her usual lazy deanor, Cogita looked Elias up and down briefly before waving her hand in farewell.
Since Elias had already promised her, she naturally trusted he wouldn't break his word.
But…
"If Her Highness tries to detain you, I'll personally co rescue you."
Cogita curled her lips slightly as she added this.
As she spoke, she gestured toward Tornadus standing quietly beside her.
She believed that after issuing such a blatant warning, Diancie wouldn't dare entertain any strange ideas.
Indeed, Diancie gulping nervously in response confird Cogita's suspicion.
...
[After bidding Cogita farewell, you and Diancie finally set out for the underground kingdom.]
[Nearly a hundred years have passed, and even the underground layout has seen many changes.]
[You feel quite intrigued, especially by several tunnels personally carved out by Diancie herself.]
[Soon, after navigating a series of winding tunnels, you and Diancie arrive at the heart of the Carbink settlent.]
[Compared to the past, not much has changed here.]
[The massive diamond still floats high above, illuminating the entire subterranean world.]
...
"I'll create one soday, too."
Noticing Elias's gaze, Diancie spoke quietly.
Although such a goal still seed impossibly far away, she didn't want Elias to feel disappointed in her.
"That day will co," Elias replied gently.
Despite his comforting words, he also understood how challenging achieving that goal would be for Diancie.
After all, the issue lay in her inherent physical limitations rather than insufficient training.
Thinking of this, Elias narrowed his eyes slightly.
Previously, he'd fallen into a long slumber after expending his Life Energy to heal Dianna.
But now that he had awakened, perhaps it was finally ti to genuinely seek a way to heal Diancie herself.
He wondered briefly…
Would supplying Diancie with Life Energy in the sa manner be effective?
As Elias pondered this, Diancie also fell silent beside him.
She seed preoccupied with her own thoughts.
At that mont—
"Princess!"
A Carbink suddenly ca bouncing hurriedly toward them.
Stopping before Diancie, it panted heavily as it caught its breath before saying:
"Princess Diancie, Her Highness the Queen is looking for you."
"And...she seems really angry this ti," the Carbink added anxiously.
Given how often Diancie used to wander off, the Carbink had grown quite accustod to delivering such ssages.
Hearing this, Diancie nodded calmly.
"I see. I'll go et Her Highness right away."
With that, she started walking deeper into the settlent.
Watching Diancie's retreating figure, the Carbink tilted its head slightly in confusion.
Was it just its imagination… or did the Princess seem unusually calm today?
...
Deeper within the kingdom—
In an open area enclosed by enormous diamonds, Dianna stood quietly in place.
She stared blankly at the crystal before her, a faintly dazed expression on her face.
As Queen of the Carbink Kingdom, she rarely appeared this way.
But seeing her own shimring reflection in the diamond, she involuntarily recalled that ghostly figure from nearly a hundred years ago.
"Has it already been nearly a hundred years…?"
She softly murmured to herself.
Even for mineral Pokémon, a hundred years wasn't a short ti.
Or rather… aside from the top-tier Legendary Pokémon, a century was a long period for any living being.
Yet strangely enough, whenever she quieted her mind, Elias's figure inevitably appeared before her eyes.
That ghost-form had left an indelibly deep impression on her.
As if rembering sothing else, Dianna narrowed her eyes slightly and gently pressed her palm to her chest.
"If only you could awaken sooner…"
She softly whispered her wish.
Unfortunately, based on her earlier estimation, Elias would likely need at least a thousand years to wake.
By then, she herself would have long reached the end of her lifespan.
Pushing down the sadness that rose in her heart, Dianna raised her head again, gazing indifferently toward the distance.
Diancie still hadn't returned…
Thinking of this, she furrowed her brows slightly.
In recent decades, apart from idling away her earliest years, Diancie had beco exceptionally diligent. Dianna had taken note of this with considerable satisfaction.
Moreover, Diancie had already inford her about Elias's location.
Thus, she could easily guess that Diancie had sneaked out yesterday to visit Elias at that human's cottage.
Truthfully, Dianna wasn't particularly upset that Diancie had left without notifying her.
But…
For so inexplicable reason, just knowing Diancie had secretly visited Elias without telling her made Dianna feel a surge of irritation.
"If she doesn't co back soon, she might as well not co back at all!"
Dianna scoffed coldly, deciding to personally retrieve Diancie.
Perhaps then she might conveniently take the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Elias herself.
However, right at that mont—
"Your Highness!"
A familiar voice suddenly called out from a distance away.
Judging by the sound, it was still so distance off.
Dianna halted her movents, realizing Diancie had already returned.
Yet instead of relief, she felt a strange sense of disappointnt.
Another legitimate chance to see Elias had slipped through her fingers…
An inexplicable restlessness surged within her, leaving Dianna standing frozen for a long mont, unwilling to imdiately turn around and face Diancie.
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