I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 49 - In the Flower Field, the Promise from Fourteen Years Ago

“………!”

I gasped.

When I opened my eyes, Prince Lawrence continued speaking.

“It seems the king’s younger brother still hasn’t joined up. The king already knows he entered the capital, but he doesn’t seem to think he’s planning to rebel. As for the queen… she just returned from the Duke of Zenefelder’s estate. She took a wide detour around the castle town and entered the castle through the back gate.”

“…You can see all that?”

Curious, I crouched down like Prince Lawrence and asked.

Maybe it was surprised by someone getting close so suddenly, but the white butterfly perched on his finger fluttered away.

“Ah…”

I let out a small disappointed sigh.

Prince Lawrence also watched the white butterfly’s path, just like I did.

Eventually, the white butterfly vanished into the air, as if it melted into the sky.

Everything felt so mysterious.

“…Chalize, what will you do? Will you go back to the capital? Or will you come with me to Utis?”

Suddenly, Prince Lawrence asked me.

The moment I looked at his face—

I felt a not-so-small shock.

His silvery white hair swayed right in front of me.

It wasn’t the closeness that surprised me.

I had seen his face somewhere before.

Not from when we met in Utis, but even earlier, here in this flower field—

A strong feeling of déjà vu washed over me, almost like panic.

He looked at me with pale blue eyes, like the winter lake or spring sky.

He was watching me with concern, as if worried for me.

(—I know… I’ve seen his eyes turn red before.)

That thought suddenly came to me like it was natural, and then I felt confused by it again.

(…Why do I)

know something like that?

My heart pounded.

(I know this scene.)

I remember it.

I can almost recall it, just a little more…

(In the past, just like this—)

At that moment, a conversation with someone from my memories flashed through my mind.

“Even though I…”

“Because Tino is…”

Just when I felt like I was about to grasp something, it felt like unnecessary thoughts were getting in the way.

Feeling frustrated, I looked around the flower field.

A field full of yellow flowers.

What kind of flower is this—?

Only now did I wonder that.

(When I was smaller… I came here, and then—)

I now remembered I had seen this in my dreams several times.

(Surrounded by yellow flowers just like now, and in front of me, a little boy—)

As I carefully followed the tangled threads of memory from those dreams—

Suddenly, Prince Lawrence leaned in and looked into my face.

“…Chalize?”

“Ah…!!”

His sudden voice startled me so much I gasped.

My shoulders jumped in surprise.

Seeing how surprised I was, Prince Lawrence looked more shocked than I was.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I met you here before, didn’t I…?”

My words were half a question, but spoken as if I were sure.

Prince Lawrence looked surprised and stared at me.

“You remembered?”

I shook my head in reply.

“I’m not sure… But I feel like I remember. A long time ago, here… with you… The sunset… yes, it was getting dark. You looked like you were about to cry… almost crying… weren’t you?”

I pressed my fingers to my temple.

A silver-haired boy, standing with the sunset behind him, looking sad—

That must have been Prince Lawrence.

But I don’t know why he was there, or why he looked so lonely.

(Also… I)

When I saw Prince Lawrence use his magic, I felt a sense of nostalgia.

That must be because I’ve seen it before, in the past…

(But where?)

I don’t know.

I don’t remember how I met him, why we met, or what happened.

I don’t even know why he bit me.

As I stood in silence, Prince Lawrence gave me a troubled smile.

Then he spoke.

“You don’t need to force yourself to remember. You were always gifted as a holy maiden. When you touched magic, it awakened your holy power… but that power reacted against the magic. It was supposed to bloom slowly over time, but it was pulled out too fast. That shock is probably why you lost your memory.”

“But… I want to know. What happened in the past. Why you bit me… too.”

I gently touched my neck.

There were no bite marks, but Prince Lawrence had said he could sense my life and location.

He had actually awakened the magic within me and transported me to the Zenefelder region.

So it must be true that he bit my neck.

And then, I don’t know why, but I started thinking about the history of the past.

Back before the country of Victoire existed.

When humans were ruled by vampires.

It was said that humans used the power of holy maidens to fight against vampires, but—

Until then, maybe humans had no way to resist them.

Because once you were bitten, your life and location would be known.

You couldn’t even run or hide.

It was basically the same as having a collar placed on you.

Thinking that far, I realized—

Am I now in a state where Prince Lawrence has placed a collar on me?

It was just like—

A cursed wedding ring you’re not allowed to take off, I thought suddenly.

“…………”

I smiled bitterly at that thought.

It was shocking to know I had been bitten and collared while unconscious, but strangely, I didn’t feel disgusted.

Still, it’s a mystery.

(What kind of situation made me allow a vampire to bite me?)

We haven’t known each other long, but he doesn’t seem like the violent type.

There must have been some kind of exchange, some reason that led to it, I think.

(…But no matter how much I think about it, I still can’t remember.)

If I kept chasing my memories like this, I might end up creating fake ones, and that scared me.

With a sigh, I looked up.

Whether to return to the capital or not—

To be honest, I want to go back. Right now.

Especially if the revolution has begun.

But—

“I’ll write a letter. To Noah and Louis.”

Even if I go back to the capital now, there’s not much I can do.

I’ve used up all my holy power. I’d just be a burden.

So I will wait. I will believe in them.

In Noah’s victory, and Louis’s support.

Prince Lawrence nodded at my words.

Then he narrowed his eyes, looking at me with pale blue eyes.

“…Then let’s go somewhere you can rest. Chalize, you’re more worn out than you think. You’ve used almost all your holy power. You must be near your limit just standing.”

As if he had seen it—no, he had seen it.

His words were spot on.

And again, I gave a bitter smile.

Because he was right.

Even so, I shook my head and refused his offer.

“I’m okay… Actually, if I admit I’m tired, I feel like I really won’t be able to stand up anymore. Just like you said, I think I’m really at my limit.”

As I gave a troubled smile, Prince Lawrence looked like he wanted to say something—then closed his mouth.

Then, he smiled gently.

As if he already knew I would say that.

“…Then let’s hurry to the inn. Is it okay if we go to the one I’m staying at?”

I nodded, and he started walking ahead.

To be honest, my body was already at its limit.

I used up my holy power in the temple, and even though I rested for a week, I’m still recovering.

And now I pushed myself again.

My limbs are numb, my head is pounding. There’s a ringing in my ears, and my dizziness is terrible.

I’m completely worn out.

Still, I didn’t want to give up here.

I just wanted to walk on my own feet. Maybe it was pride, but he respected that.

Prince Lawrence turned his back to me and started walking.

Before I knew it, the sun was setting, halfway hidden below the horizon.

The field of yellow flowers was dyed red by the evening sun.

It looked just like the scene I once saw in my dreams—

“…Chalize?”

I had stopped walking, so he must have found it strange. Prince Lawrence turned around.

His silver hair was tinged red by the sunlight.

Even his pale blue eyes looked red—

“─”

That moment, a flash of memory raced through my mind like lightning.

“Why are you in a place like this? Who even are you?”
“…Sorry.”
“Hey, Chalize! I can use magic now!”
“Just because you’re from an enemy country doesn’t mean I can deny your humanity…”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie!”

Whoosh—the wind blew hard.

Yellow flowers danced through the air.

Looking at those vivid yellow flowers, I gasped.

Yes… I remembered.

These flowers are—violas.

“I’ll give you this flower crown. Hey, do you know what the viola’s flower language means?”

My heart thumped.

Prince Lawrence stared at my wide eyes in confusion.

He called my name, but I didn’t have the strength to respond.

Back then, I was at an age where I wanted to act like an older sister.

Around that time, our duke’s family adopted a commoner girl named Stella.

I thought it was my job as the older sister to guide the clueless girl, and I doted on her.

And that’s when I met a lonely boy.

In front of him, I acted like an older sister again.

“Tino is a crybaby who gets lonely. So I’ll be your bride!”

Suddenly, I lost my balance.

When I came to, I was looking up at the sky.

Falling into the flower field, I saw the vivid blue sky—and the sunset beyond it.

“Chalize!!”

Prince Lawrence—no, Tino—ran up beside me.

He slipped his hand behind my back and lifted me up.

Brilliant silver hair.

Blue eyes like the spring sky.

And then—he smiled…