I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 53 - The Fated Day (2)

While I was doing embroidery — one of the tasks assigned by my governess — before I knew it, it had passed noon.

(It’s almost three o’clock… Maybe I should invite Stella for afternoon tea.)

Thinking that, I stood up.

Then, just casually, I looked out the window—and caught my breath.

That’s because I saw the very girl I had just been thinking about.

Stella was sitting quietly on the flower field in the backyard. It had started to rain at some point, and she didn’t even have an umbrella.

(What is she doing…!?)

I told her not to go outside because the magic particles are dangerous!!

With wide eyes, I quickly lifted the hem of my dress, ran out into the hallway, and went down the stairs.

Really, all I needed to do was call a maid or servant and tell them to bring Stella back. But I was confused, and before I knew it, I had run outside after her myself.

“So Lady Chalize, Lady Stella. You must never leave the mansion, understood?”

Even though we were warned so many times…

As soon as I left the house, I stepped hard into a puddle. Splash — the rainwater splashed up and dirtied my indoor shoes.

But I didn’t care about that — I only cared about Stella. I ran through the rain to the backyard.

The rain was getting heavier, and the wind was picking up too.

Still, I kept running toward the place I saw from my window. Among the yellow flowers, I saw green hair swaying in the wind.

“Stella!!”

When I called her name, she slowly turned toward me with sluggish movements.

Then, when she saw me, she looked confused and said,

“Big… sister?”

“Why did you go outside!? I told you not to!”

When I scolded her, Stella looked troubled and lowered her eyebrows.

“Teacher…”

“Huh?”

Stella opened her mouth, like she was about to say something.

As usual, her voice was vague.

She seemed to be looking at me, but not really seeing me.

Stella was the kind of girl who made you feel uneasy just by looking at her.

You never knew what she was thinking, or where her mind was.

“Teacher told me… I have to be useful.”

“…Let’s talk inside. For now, let’s go back. It’s really dangerous. If a magic beast appears—”

“I was wondering… what I really am. That’s why I went outside. It’s cold, isn’t it? Big sister.”

“Stella… let’s go back, okay? You’re my little sister. You’re a child of the Zenefelder family.”

I reached out and took her hand as she sat there.

It was ice-cold, and I gasped.

How long had she been here…?

Thinking that, I tried to pull her up and take her somewhere warm. But Stella went all limp, like she had no bones, and wouldn’t stand up.

“Come on… Stella!”

“Big sister… Big sister…”

That’s all she kept saying.

I really didn’t understand.

I didn’t know what Stella was thinking.

I felt like crying too.

While I was struggling, suddenly, the wind changed direction.

I felt a bad presence. My skin prickled.

A chill ran down my spine, and I froze.

I didn’t want to turn around.

But—before I could, I heard a growl.

“Vuh… Vuh… grrrooow…”

“─”

My body reacted before I could think. A magic beast!

I spun around—and just like I feared, a beast covered in darkness was there.

Its body was hidden by something like black smoke, so I couldn’t see it clearly, but its sharp red eyes glowed bright.

I gasped.

I knew magic beasts might appear—but I never thought I would really see one.

My legs shook, and my mind went blank.

“…What is that?”

Stella still didn’t understand and looked confused.

Her calmness made me feel something—maybe fear, maybe anger—I didn’t know.

Anyway, we had to run.

We had to get away.

If it touched us, we’d be infected by the magic particles.

Once infected, only a Saintess’s healing power could cure it.

Priests could bless and slow the infection, but that’s not a real cure.

To be healed completely, holy power from a Saintess is needed.

And no one knew when a Saintess would come to the Zenefelder lands.

What if she doesn’t come before the sickness gets worse? What if it’s too late?

All I could think about were terrible outcomes.

(Hands and feet blacken and rot… and in the end, they fall off─)

The thought terrified me.

No—I don’t want to be infected by magic particles. I don’t want to die!

I spoke with a trembling voice to Stella, who was still sitting behind me.

“Stand up, Stella.”

“Why?”

“We have to run!! You understand that, don’t you!?”

When I yelled, I felt Stella gasp.

She still didn’t understand the situation.

She didn’t know what was happening.

Anyway, we had to run.

The beast shouldn’t be able to get inside the mansion.

We had to get in and lock the door tight─

(…Really?)

Can we really do that?

Will we make it?

The back entrance is far away.

Can we make it in time?

I glanced toward the back door.

To make things worse, the beast was standing in our way.

(Where can we run…)

My mind went blank.

“Ow… it hurts… Big sister…”

Stella’s voice brought me back.

Before I noticed, I had been squeezing her hand tightly—too tightly.

Maybe it was from fear.

Stella was in pain, but I couldn’t let go of her hand.

(What should I do? What can I do…?)

That’s when I remembered the boy I always met here.

I didn’t know where he came from. I didn’t even know who he really was.

Even though he wouldn’t be able to do anything even if he came—I still found myself thinking of Tino like I was clinging to hope.

At that moment, the beast lowered its body and let out a loud roar.

“Vao!”

A black mass jumped toward us, and I quickly pulled Stella close and rolled into the flower field.

Even though I knew we’d be caught by such a fast beast anyway, my legs were frozen, and I couldn’t run.

(We’re going to be eaten…!!)

If the beast bit me, the wound would get infected with magic particles, and it would start.

Magic beasts have never eaten people before, but that’s what I thought in that moment.

I thought it was the end. I was ready to die.

That’s when the beast cried out like a puppy.

“Kyain!! Kyankyan!! Kyan!!”

The sound grew weaker.

I felt the beast’s presence fading, and that surprised me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

And there—

“Chalize!! Are you okay!?”

Tino was there.

I gasped in shock.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“Tino…? Why are you here?”

I muttered in a daze. Tino shook his head like he was annoyed, trying to shake off the raindrops.

But he couldn’t stop the drops running down his forehead. He wiped it and sighed.

“I saw your sister… I was watching her. Then, a magic beast showed up.”

“…!! Right, the magic beast—what happened to it?”

I quickly looked around, but the beast that was there just moments ago was gone.

Not just the beast—even the magic particles in the air had vanished.

While I was confused, Tino spoke in a calm voice that didn’t match the moment.

“That girl… she’s your sister, right? Chalize?”

I looked down at Stella, who I was holding close.

Stella was asleep.

She must have fainted at some point.

She didn’t seem to be hurt, so I let out a breath of relief.

Tino saw that and crouched in front of me.

“She’s sleeping?”

“Yes… Thank goodness… Thank you, Tino. Did you save us?”

When I asked, Tino looked a little troubled, but also happy.

Looking back, I think he was shy.

He smiled gently—so softly you wouldn’t believe he once called himself a vampire.

“…Yeah. Hey, Chalize, I can use magic now!”

Tino said it happily.

(You’re joking again…?)

Now of all times? I gave a tired smile and looked up—and gasped.

Before I noticed, Tino’s eyes were glowing red like the sunset.

They looked just like rubies.

“─”

As I widened my eyes, Tino, a little shy, tucked his hair behind his ear.

“Until now, I couldn’t do anything to magic beasts. Not even ones my brother raised. I couldn’t control them or even make them disappear. I just got hurt every time they attacked. But, now…”

Tino’s words didn’t really register in my mind.

I didn’t understand what he was saying.

But I realized one thing.

(What this boy said before…)

It wasn’t a lie.

It wasn’t pretend or just playing around…

It was true—he was serious.

And now, I finally understood that.

Red eyes.

He said he made the beast disappear.

He said he could use magic now.

In shock, I stared at Tino, too confused to move.

Maybe because I wasn’t reacting, Tino tilted his head and looked at me.

“…Chalize?”

“…No.”

“Huh?”

Before I could think—I spoke.

“No…!!”

Red eyes—just like the magic beast.

His eyes, usually like the blue spring sky, were now red.

That meant—he wasn’t human.

My head was spinning, and I hugged Stella tightly.

“Chalize…”

Tino tried to say something, but I cut him off.

“You… you’re a demon, aren’t you!? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie!? You said—you said you weren’t a demon!!”

“No, I—!”

Tino tried to speak.

He was probably going to explain.

I should hear his side too.

It’s not fair to only accuse him.

I knew that.

I really did.

But still, my head couldn’t catch up.

Because demons are the enemies of Victoire, this country…