My Fiancé Fell in Love with My Older Sister. After Locking Myself in My Room for Five Days, 500 Years Had Passed. - Chapter 36

Even though no one was holding it, the handle floated in the air.

As I stared in shock and couldn’t speak, Prince Lian looked at me and gave a small, amused smile.

“Lady Felicia, I believe you are not familiar with this. It is called a ‘Parasol Stone’ and is something noble ladies must have. Like this, it stands upright even without holding it.”

“…Is that also one of the five great magic types?”

When I asked in amazement, Prince Lian nodded and answered.

“It is a mix of wood and wind magic. This item was invented about fifty years ago. …Here you go.”

Prince Lian gently moved the parasol toward me.

He was probably using magic to move it.

(I still don’t really understand what magic power is…)

In this state, I cannot even prove that I was once the daughter of the Duke of Frenzel, let alone show any magic power.

It only makes me seem more suspicious.

Feeling ashamed of my weakness and uselessness, I held the parasol’s handle with heavy feelings.

At the end of the handle was a crystal-like stone from earlier.

No—it must be where the parasol stretches out from.

…I feel the progress of civilization.

As I deeply thought this, Prince Lian looked up at the sky and spoke.

“The sun is already going down… but even so, the early summer sunlight is still strong.”

“Thank you. …In Tsobellar, having pale skin was a symbol of beauty. I always cared about avoiding sunlight… Oh yes. Some ladies even did bloodletting to become paler. Because of that, it wasn’t rare for women to faint from anemia at parties—”

…Wait, what am I talking about?

I went off topic in a strange way.

Prince Lian must be confused too.

I cleared my throat, trying to change the subject.

(Wait… why did Prince Lian invite me again?)

Right, it was to continue the conversation from earlier.

(Where did we stop…?)

As I tried to remember, Prince Lian spoke.

“That was… about five hundred years ago, right? The story of Tsobellar’s high society? It’s very interesting—may I hear the rest of it?”

—His voice was full of curiosity.

I looked up in surprise, and there he was, Prince Lian, his eyes sparkling.

(…Ah, that’s right!! He has a deep interest in magic studies. That’s why he has tried to unlock the seal on the Tower of Sorrow for years.)

With such curiosity, of course he’d be interested in this country’s history from five hundred years ago.

I gave a nervous smile and tried to cover it up.

“Yes, that’s right… Um, Prince Lian, you came to continue our earlier talk, didn’t you?”

As I somehow brought the conversation back, he nodded as if remembering something.

“Yes. I had to step away for a while earlier, so we left the story unfinished. …There’s a gazebo up ahead. Let’s talk there. Lady Felicia, may I take your hand?”

Prince Lian reached his hand toward me.

He must be offering to escort me.

As expected of royalty.

His actions were smooth and elegant.

As manners required, I placed my hand in his.

Suddenly—I remembered Lord Felix.

Even though the palace and capital now are completely different from Tsobellar, I still remembered.

By the gazebo where Lord Felix took me… there was a magnolia tree.

‘As queen, I want you to help your sister… who will become the second wife.’

At that moment, a strong gust of wind blew by.

The trees shook, and leaves rustled.

My hair flew up, and I quickly held it down.

After the strong wind passed—Prince Lian smiled wryly.

“That was a strong wind. Maybe a spring storm… Lady Felicia, I love spring the most out of all the seasons.”

I looked up when he suddenly said that.

Our eyes met, and Prince Lian smiled.

“Spring is the season when new life grows. It makes me hope something new will begin. You know that saying, right? ‘Spring is the season of new encounters.’”

“─”

“…I do think I’m being a bit too romantic, though.”

As he smiled awkwardly, something inside me woke up.

Memories mixed together.

I remembered that scene.

The gazebo where white magnolia petals danced.

White petals floating in tea.

No one listened to me.

No, they never intended to listen from the start…

Everyone only thought about themselves.

Everyone cared only about their own feelings.

They tried to move me like a puppet, never thinking I had feelings of my own.

I’m not a doll.

I am my—

“…Lady Felicia?”

When Prince Lian called out to me, I found myself smiling.

“…Yes, spring really is a nice season. I like your words.”

“Eh…”

Prince Lian opened his eyes slightly.

I quietly continued speaking.

“…Until now, I hated spring the most. …Because spring was when my sister and my fiancé met.”

I know I must not stay trapped in the past.

I don’t want to keep feeling bitter whenever spring comes.

But even so, I always end up remembering that scene, those words, those emotions—without warning.

Still, I realize that it can’t go on like that.

Because spring feels so good.

The warm sunlight is bright, the breeze is gentle, and the sky is clear.

These dark feelings I have do not match this beauty.

In the garden, the flowers have already fallen, and fresh green leaves shine brightly.

Bathed in the sunset light, it feels like the end of spring is near—and with that, a little sadness too.

“…Thank you. Because of you, I think I can learn to like spring again.”

I am not a doll.

I am a person living in the present, with emotions.

I have a thinking mind.

I will live my own life—that’s the decision I’ve made.

“Not being trapped in the past, but looking to the future… I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

I must not stay in the past.

The past is the past, and I have to move on.

Because life is long.

I smiled at Prince Lian, who helped me realize that.

I felt as if something heavy had lifted—fresh and clear inside.

After a small pause, Prince Lian smiled too.

“─I see. Then, I’m glad to hear that.”

At some point, both of us had stopped walking.

Without saying anything, we started walking again.

─This time, I did not remember the magnolia flowers or that scene.