I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 16 - The Forest of Utis
“…What?”
I was stunned, but even then, Prince Lawrence did not take back what he said.
He continued speaking naturally.
“That’s why I know you. And the reason I came here is to deal with the problem in Utis.”
The topic changed in an instant.
He spoke quickly, and I blinked in surprise.
“…You’re saying we met? Fourteen… years ago? Is this… some kind of joke?”
At the very least, I have no memory of that.
It’s hard to believe I’m being teased.
His eyes were entirely serious, and I couldn’t sense any deception.
Still, I know well—
There are people who can lie without showing it on their face.
“You don’t remember.”
“…Fourteen years ago, I was six years old. I still remember that time. I don’t recall meeting you.”
When I was six—
That was when I awakened my Saint’s power and became engaged to Henry, the crown prince at the time.
I remember that clearly—after my power appeared, I was taken to the temple and officially became a saint affiliated with it. I signed the engagement papers at the ceremony.
I remember everything. He and I never met.
As I spoke more firmly, Prince Lawrence looked straight at me.
“You fainted from the shock of your powers awakening… Fourteen years ago, do you truly remember everything from when you were six? Maybe there are parts missing.”
“Well… I was very young. Of course, there are many things I don’t remember. Isn’t that the same for everyone?”
Prince Lawrence shook his head, as if to say, “That’s not it.”
Then, he placed a hand on Louis’s shoulder, who was standing between us.
It was a silent request for him to step aside.
Louis gave Prince Lawrence a sharp glare. His eyes were full of challenge. Prince Lawrence responded quietly.
“I won’t harm her. I swear it… in the name of Arcana.”
“….”
Louis didn’t answer.
He stayed silent, seeming to try and read Prince Lawrence’s true intent.
So I answered in his place.
“Understood… Louis.”
“But, Lady Chalize—”
I gave Louis a look to tell him I was fine.
Prince Lawrence swore in the name of Arcana. If that’s true, he wouldn’t break that vow—he wouldn’t disgrace his country.
He is a prince of Arcana.
I don’t know much about him personally, and maybe I’ve forgotten, but I really don’t remember him.
Even so, I do know how proud the nobles of Arcana are.
For them, the name of their empire is not something to take lightly. It’s not a name they swear by casually.
That’s why I decided to trust him.
I also had questions I wanted to ask.
Louis stepped back, and Prince Lawrence stood before me.
He’s quite tall—maybe the same height as Noah, or even a little taller.
At this moment, whether we met in the past or not isn’t the most important matter.
What matters most is the fact that Prince Lawrence is here now—
Here in Utis, where minor conflicts with the Arcana Empire happen frequently.
“…Prince Lawrence. Why are you here?”
“I came to talk to the king about the Utis situation.”
“To His Majesty?”
Then why are you here in Utis, and not in the royal capital?
When I asked, Prince Lawrence shook his head.
“There’s no point in talking to that man. And Prince Noah, the likely successor, is too busy right now, isn’t he? So, I came to you.”
“…But I’ve lost my position as queen.”
“That may be true, but the fact remains that you were once queen. And more importantly… at a time like this, status doesn’t matter. You are the one who loves this country, Victoire, more than anyone. That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
“…I don’t understand your intention. What exactly do you want me to do?”
As I pressed for the real reason, Prince Lawrence looked slightly surprised—then smiled faintly.
As if he were looking at an old friend.
…It was unsettling.
He seemed to know me, while I didn’t know him at all.
“I want you to purify the magical energy of Utis—the forest of illusions.”
“Purify Utis…? Wait, the ‘Forest of Illusions’?”
I instinctively turned around.
There it was—a vast forest stretched out behind us.
It was hard to tell whether this was considered mountain or forest, so overflowing it was with greenery.
And yet, there had never been any reports of magical beasts or magical contamination in this area.
I had found that strange before, but with the constant emergence of monsters and the urgent need for purification and healing, we never had the time to investigate the forest.
As I looked at it, Prince Lawrence spoke quietly.
“Utis, the forest that belongs to no one. In Arcana, we call it the ‘Forest of Illusions.’”