Chapter 1: The Shut-In Princess Goes to an Evening Gala

Chapter 1: The Shut-In Princess Goes to an Evening Gala

Ding, ding. The muffled chime of the midday bells echoing in the distance caused Rosemarie to open her eyes. However, all that surrounded her was darkness—so dark, in fact, that it would make no difference whether her eyes were open or shut.

(I fell asleep...)

As she counted the chimes of the still-echoing bells, she groggily arose from the patch of shrubbery where she had lain, the sweet yet bitter aroma of greenery greeting her nose. The scent was relaxing, and she breathed it in deeply. At nine strokes of the bell, she sensed someone nearby. She tensed all over.

Who could it have been? Aside from herself, only her family and a handful of other people were allowed entry into this royal villa’s garden.

“...Come now, Princess! Lady Rosemarie, where are you?” The familiar voice of her maid reached Rosemarie’s ears. She poked her hand out of her shrub concealment and waved slowly.

“Heidi, over here.” The footsteps treading on the grass drew closer; at the same time, the darkness cast over Rosemarie’s field of vision dispersed in an instant. The dazzling sunlight made her shut her eyes instinctively. The warm, gentle spring breeze calmly whisked past her cheeks.

“...Grk! My eyes, they burn...”

“They do not, milady. There you go, putting that bucket over your head again... I implore you to at least shroud yourself in a veil instead, please. Heavens be, look at these marks left on you.” Rosemarie looked on with dissatisfaction as the green-eyed maid stroked the girl’s cheek with her fingertips, brow furrowed.

“It’s not just some bucket. It carries water, soil, and grass, in addition to being sturdy enough to use as a footstool. Not only that, but if I put it over my head, it helps protect me from the sunlight and the prying eyes of strangers. So I’ll have you know it’s quite the multipurpose tool.”

“Well, I have never seen another person utilize it as headgear even once before... But, that is beside the point. Have you been off gardening yet again? You have dirt all over your dress. —Did something in this garden transpire that was bad enough to require placing a bucket over your head?” Heidi said, sighing in disappointment. Rosemarie took the bucket with the light-green ribbon back into her waiting arms and clutched it carefully to her chest. Her shoulders bobbed up and down with a twitch. She looked around her hastily, her eyes finally alighting upon the splendid violet growing just next to her.

“N-No, that’s not what’s going on. Right, Therese?”

“...While I understand that you are fond of horticulture, I would appreciate it if you would not name your violets and ask them to agree with you, milady... So, might I ask, did something happen?”

“...”

“Princess...?”

“Um, well, you see, I wouldn’t say something bad has happened... maybe that it will happen...?”

Based on appearances alone, she looked sweet as a piece of candy, with soft, flowing blonde hair. But Heidi’s expression, and her sharp eyes fixed on Rosemarie, made it abundantly clear that the young girl couldn’t weasel her way out of this with excuses. Rosemarie slumped her shoulders in defeat.

“Father, you see...”

“His Majesty has been summoning you, has he not? Ever since yesterday, might I add.” She had the words taken right from her mouth, causing her to stare in amazement while nodding her head.

“But how did you know? The court lady delivered that letter when you weren’t even around.” Yesterday, while Heidi was away from her side, a court lady brought a letter, saying it was from her father in the main court. While it did instruct her to come to his royal office, no time or date was specified. She exploited this point, as she had no desire to go, choosing instead to distress more and more over the matter.

Her father, the King of Volland, sending her a letter was a rare occurrence.

That alone was enough to make her worried that there might be some sort of issue. But seeing as how he wasn’t sending a flood of requests for her presence, she figured that it probably wasn’t an emergency.

While Volland was by no means a poor country, it didn’t have any major industries to speak of, either. It was a small country mainly focused around livestock and agriculture. Apparently, even the aristocrats lived a more reserved lifestyle than those of other lands.

Partly due to the citizens’ religious devotion and dislike for outsiders, interaction with other nations was kept to a bare minimum. And sorcerers, accepted in other nations, were reviled here—not enough to be persecuted, but reviled nonetheless.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her father. She already didn’t get to see him often, since he was so busy with his official duties. What she hated was the path to get there.

“I managed to see His Majesty’s court lady while searching for you. Oh, she was quite mad, asking how long you intended on making His Majesty wait, so this may have repercussions to my salary,” Heidi stated frankly, smiling. Rosemarie’s face went pale, and she rose to her feet.

“I will go! I will go right now, I swear!” It didn’t help matters that she was always causing issues for Heidi due to her rather troublesome physical constitution. She knew that she shouldn’t be making things any more difficult.

“In that case, let us change those clothes, shall we?” urged Heidi, as they returned from the garden to Rosemarie’s room, and she assisted the girl in changing her outfit.

“... I wonder if Father is angry with me.” The court lady had voiced her own anger, but Rosemarie didn’t think her father would be in the same mood. Even so, she murmured that thought to herself nervously. As she did, Heidi, who had been adjusting Rosemarie’s outfit, smiled softly at her.

“He is patiently awaiting your arrival, knowing full well this is always the case. It will be just fine. I know His Majesty, your family, and you, princess, all too well, after all.”

“Yes, and I am aware of that myself... but...”

“Oh, my, are you having trouble believing me? Lies and I do not mix, milady. See here, is this the face of a liar?” Rosemarie stared at Heidi, who beamed back. Her charming face with freckles from her cheeks to her nose didn’t look an iota out of the ordinary. The girl sighed in relief unconsciously.

“No, it isn’t. I’m sorry for doubting you.”

“Heaven forbid, I absolutely adore that forthright side of you, milady. —That being said, might we do away with the whole bucket headdress?”

Rosemarie was just about to pick up the bucket placed on the floor, but instead let her brows fall in a worried manner.

“N-No?”

“Absolutely not. You aren’t being told to show up to an evening gala or an official ceremony. We will reach the royal office in the main court in the blink of an eye.” Heidi swiftly confiscated the bucket, making Rosemarie lower her eyebrows in disappointment.

“I hope there is no one else walking out there... Maybe if I go after sunset, or something...” Rosemarie’s murmurs, however, fell on deaf ears as she was dragged out of her villa chambers while still mentally unprepared.

***

She wanted to go back to her room.

Not even a few moments had passed since she left the villa, and Rosemarie was already whining.

The main court was accessible by passing through a few courtyards. The courtyard gardens were the mingling areas for aristocrats, but seeing as how there were no public events scheduled for today, there were barely any people out enjoying a stroll.

That should have been the case, at least. So that left her to wonder why there was a young miss before her eyes, blocking her way with a winning smile drawn across her face.

Her modest wish of getting through this without seeing anyone else had sadly gone unfulfilled.

Unnerved by the girl’s strong, confident stare—the sort that marked her as a high-ranking aristocrat—Rosemarie’s eyes fell upon the girl’s crimson-painted lips.

Oh, how she longed for her bucket.

“Good day to you, Lady Rosemarie. It has been far too long since we’ve last met.”

“...Q-Quite.” Rosemarie didn’t remember her, so maybe it was far too long. Seeing as how she barely showed up to any of those evening galas, she had no idea who this young miss was or where she was from.

“I have not seen you for quite some time now, so I was very concerned that you were unwell.” The young miss said, showing her consideration for her well-being. However, the look in her eyes had a hint of scorn in them.

(Ah, she’s changing.) Just as an ill feeling made her shoulders jolt, it happened. Those crimson lips started to warp like rubber.

“—!!” Rosemarie stood there breathless as, right before her very eyes, huge splits formed on the sides of the young miss’s mouth. Her soft, clay-like skin began sprouting black and pale-yellow fur in an instant.

Her abundance of well-maintained hair disappeared off her scalp, and her ears shifted their way up to an inhuman height atop her head. The set of pearly-white teeth in her mouth changed into a set so sharp they could rip apart flesh with ease. Her once beautiful human female face was slowly but surely changing form into something more grotesque, which made Rosemarie tremble uncontrollably.

“It’s the perfect hour to see the roses in the east garden. Would you care to accompany me there, Lady Rosemarie? Your health will suffer if you stay cooped up in the royal villa all the time.” Despite using that wide tongue peeking through that huge, slitted mouth, her voice still rang like a bell in a fashion no different from a few moments ago. The surreal mismatch sent jolts of fear through Rosemarie’s body.

The young miss’s maid stood there behind her, not shocked at all by what was transpiring. Not even Heidi, who was supposed to move into action if she felt something was amiss, was raising her voice in alarm. That also went for the knights guarding the courtyard from afar. None of them was up in arms at the abnormal goings-on in the bright, cheery garden.

(Aah... So I really am the only one who can see it.) She was finding it hard to breathe. Rosemarie gripped her skirt and lowered her head, attempting to keep her fingers from trembling so. The young miss poked her head into Rosemarie’s line of vision—most likely suspicious of her abnormal behavior.

“Lady Rosemarie?”

“Eee...!” What jumped in front of her eyes was the face of a carnivorous feline beast. Rosemarie stifled her shriek and backed away at the sight of this grotesque form—the face of a leopard, but the body of a human girl rife with radiant youth from the neck down.

“Whatever is the matter, milady? You look a trifle pal—”

“S-Stay back! Even should you eat me, I am in no way appetizing!” Gripped with the fear of possibly getting snacked on by those sharp fangs, Rosemarie let those words slip from her mouth as a knee-jerk reaction. It wasn’t until she pushed away the nervous young miss that she started to come back to her senses. The young miss ended up on her rear end, and proceeded to look up in a flabbergasted daze. Her face was back in order—skin as smooth as silk and beautiful.

She had really done it now. The color drained from Rosemarie’s face.

“I’m, uh, oh, sorry...” Rosemarie apologized in a whimpering tone, leaving the still dumbfounded young miss behind and making a break for the main court.

(I-I did it again... Aah, even more bad rumors are going to get spread...)

The crown princess was an eccentric shut-in; she would sometimes make appearances, but made for lousy conversation—she knew that all of those rumors were in circulation.

Once she was in the main hall and the young miss was completely out of view, Rosemarie squatted where she stood like her legs had given out on her.

“Princess! Are you all right?”

“Yes, I managed to survive...” She pressed a hand to her chest to calm her still racing heart. Heidi took to her knees and stroked her back gently, prompting Rosemarie to gradually regain her lost composure.

“Today they looked like leopards...”

“I figured that was the case. Hmm, well, it is common for animosity to lie dormant behind social pleasantries, after all. Is there nothing that can be done about it? How strange, that those who house negative emotions should appear to you to have the heads of beasts.” Heidi said with a troubled smile. Rosemarie then looked back at Heidi, tears welling up in her eyes now that she was safe from what she so feared.

“This is why I didn’t want to go outside...” The head of any person who harbors jealousy, anger, or any other negative emotions would look like that of a beast to her. Regardless who it may have been—even if it was a member of her family who loved and cared for her, or her trusted maid companion.

She didn’t remember exactly when they started looking like that to her.

However, she did know that she reacted far worse back in her childhood than she did now.

Believe it or not, she had actually gotten better about it. In her youth, it was so bad that she was too afraid to even stand in the presence of other people. When forced to be near them, she would cry loudly and start having convulsions. It was such a serious condition that her parents, concerned for their daughter’s well-being after seeing her highly emotional state, allowed her to live in the royal villa, and limited access to a select few.

Her parents had their suspicions that perhaps she was under the influence of some kind of spell. They even called for a sorcerer, despite Volland’s stance on them, to check her. Even so, they still couldn’t identify the cause.

Depending on who you asked, they might have thought that being able to tell if someone was harboring any animosity was actually quite a handy skill.

Nevertheless, no matter how many times she viewed the grotesque sight of a person with a regular face morphing into something else right before her very eyes, it would still cause her crippling fear. Simply put, it was because it could be construed as the animosity in these people’s heart manifesting visibly. Their faces would be all smiles, yet they silently scoff at you on the inside. That disparity was terrifying.

“Heidi...”

“No.”

“But, I haven’t said anything yet.”

“I can tell even without you doing so. You are going to say that you wish to return to your room, correct? That is a firm ‘no.’ Also, no, you may not put on your bucket. You see? The royal office is just a hop, skip, and jump away, so just try to keep yourself together, milady. Once your meeting with His Majesty is over, I shall brew up a nice steaming pot of your favorite Kaola tea.”

Upon hearing the word “Kaola,” Rosemarie’s sunken mood started to surface ever so slightly. Even she had to admit that it was pretty childish of her, but how could one resist indulging in one of their favorite things?

Rosemarie was finally to her feet, and with her favorite drink conjured in her mind, she resumed walking once more with a heavy gait.

***

“C-Could you please repeat that again?” Going through an emotional joyride with each passer-by’s face either looking or not looking like a beast, she somehow managed to make it to her father’s office. Inside, Rosemarie could be heard raising her voice in a shrill and nervous tone. The office had been cleared of people, so her voice reverberated so well that even she could recognize how shaken up she was over what she’d heard.

Rosemarie’s father gave his daughter a cheerful greeting, despite her having kept him waiting since yesterday; he wasn’t angry at her. His face was that of a good-natured and mature man. However, the news she heard from that very man’s mouth seemed impossible.

“An invitation to an evening gala arrived from Baltzar addressed to you.” Her eyes were fixed upon her father. He repeated the news in a deep tone, his forehead furrowed. Despite hearing it again, her thoughts just weren’t catching up with her.

Baltzar was the country to the north, about two countries over from Volland. They’d been on the cutting edge of technology and civilization, far outstripping neighboring countries. They also boasted a large population of sorcerers, and had for some time now.

Seeing as the entire royal family possessed mana, and they had a literal wizard army, one might think they were feared by the surrounding nations. On the contrary, they served an integral role as mediator for international disputes. Peace was assured for any nation under their jurisdiction. On the other hand, making an enemy of them would be a grave error.

From the perspective of the tiny nation of Volland, whose main industries include agriculture and livestock, they were a force second to none on a precipice all their own. “An invitation...? For me? From Baltzar... —?!”

“Yes, from Baltzar.”

“I couldn’t! I cannot go! I am sure you realize how long it took me just to get to the royal offi—”

“I had that letter delivered to you yesterday morning, so about a day and some change. Though I must say, it’s a vast improvement over the three days it used to take you,” Rosemarie’s father said, laughing things off with a hearty chuckle. But Rosemarie shook her head violently, pale in the face.

What transpired earlier was an everyday occurrence in her life. She would positively collapse with shock and fear before she even reached Baltzar. No, if she wasn’t careful, death awaited her.

“This is no laughing matter. Are you sure that, um, well, they only want me? They are not asking for you, Elder Sister Diana, or Charlotte?” Rosemarie had an elder and younger sister, but out of the three, the only one who proved to still be a handful was Rosemarie herself. So if anybody were to represent their father, it surely would have been her elder sister. In fact, her sister had gone to foreign lands as their father’s representative several times now, which made the request for Rosemarie by name all the more odd. Her father placed his hand upon his forehead, letting out a deep sigh. He seemed extremely exhausted as he voiced his concerns.

“Apparently, these invitations have been sent to all princesses and maidens of neighboring nations who are unattached and similar in age to the nineteen-year old crown prince of their land. And, while this evening gala is being held by the King of Baltzar, the blatant pretense for the event is to celebrate the crown prince’s birthday. In other words, the star of the party is the crown prince—Prince Claudio.”

As Rosemarie tilted her head in doubt, her father suddenly leaned himself forward in his seat, filling her with extreme apprehension.

“This evening gala is a front for selecting Prince Claudio’s bride. Obviously I wouldn’t be extended an invitation. Diana is engaged, and Charlotte is barely ten years old. So, given the facts, where does that leave you?”

“...I’m not engaged, and I turned sixteen this spring.”

“Yes, you see my point, then. You have been extended an invitation because you are in the running to be his bride.”

Rosemarie clutched her head with both hands. They must have been willing to go the extra mile to get a wide variety of girls if they were reaching out to nations as small as theirs.

“But why is the literal crown prince of Baltzar not already engaged in the first place?!”

“...You’re unaware of the rumors about Prince Claudio, aren’t you?”

“I’m unaware, and I don’t wish to be aware, for that matter.” She looked at her father reproachfully as he raised an eyebrow in surprise. She already knew firsthand how unreliable rumors were. She’d heard many people spoken of favorably, only to find herself locking eyes with a beast head when she met them face-to-face.

“That fact aside, I-I’m assuming... that there is no option to decline, correct?” If she were to turn down a request from a superpower like Baltzar, Volland would be squashed flat like a flea in no time.

Besides, there were only a handful of people outside of her own family who knew of her unique way of seeing the world. The majority of people knew of her simply as an eccentric shut-in princess with a slightly weak constitution. Rejecting an invitation from Baltzar would have undoubtedly caused an outcry among the retainers.

“I’m afraid there’s not. Sending you out of the country... no, out of this castle is cause for extreme worry and concern. But as long as you are at least seen in attendance at the gala, I see no harm in you excusing yourself as soon as it gets underway.” Her father’s distressed expression made it clear: he wasn’t just feeding her lines. He really was concerned for her well-being. That put her a tiny bit at ease.

“Well, it is a country you’ve been to once before. I suppose it’s a trifle better than any other country, in that regard.”

“—Huh? Um, but I’ve never been to Baltzar before...”

“What are you saying, my child? We’ve taken you there. You came along with us to Baltzar’s National Foundation Day when you were a child. Diana also accompanied us, wanting to show you an outside land at least once in your life. Admittedly, you didn’t see Prince Claudio back then.”

She has absolutely no recollection of this. However, even if she did, it wouldn’t have altered the current situation. She had no choice but to go—to prevent any trouble befalling her country or her family.

“...Okay, I understand. I will try my best, even if it kills me.”

“Splendid. Upon your return, I will reward you with as much Kaola as you wish.” Rosemarie’s father patted her on the head like a little child, prompting a smile that sought to cover the fear and anxiety swelling in her heart.

***

Rosemarie tugged the shawl she wore over her light dress closer around her as a refreshing breeze brushed against her cheek.

Volland was in the height of spring, but it was still only early in the season in the more northern Baltzar.

The castle of Baltzar, which her father said she’d visited when she was a child, appeared to be a sturdy, stone-constructed stronghold from the outside. But the interior was breathtaking, coated in stucco with numerous intricate carvings installed. She felt as though she somewhat remembered seeing this before, but she couldn’t remember exactly.

She’d been in a state of nervous fear from the moment she’d heard of her trip to the moment she arrived. Thus, she had barely any recollection of her journey there. However, she definitely remembered that Heidi, who accompanied her as her personal maid, had been offering moral support the entire time.

“Are you cold, milady?” Heidi asked with concern from her post beside Rosemarie. In response, the girl turned and smiled stiffly.

“Oh, no, I’m fine. W-We’re about to head into the hall, anyway...” Rosemarie had been hiding in the shadows of a pillar in the cold corridor, timidly staking out the hall that was most likely filled to the brim with guests.

(I-I don’t want to go in there...)

Judging from the hustle and bustle, there were probably quite a few people attending this gala event. Baltzar’s own aristocrats would be there, of course, in addition to guests from neighboring nations, as her father had mentioned.

Those were all the people gathered here. With all sorts of expectations jumbled together, there was not a doubt in her mind that she—and only she—was about to be treated to a bizarre and terrifying menagerie of humans mingling with beasts. She had attended several evening galas in Volland before, but it was a sight that she still wished to behold as little as humanly possible.

Occasionally someone would raise an eyebrow at Rosemarie clinging to her pillar as they passed into the hall. But she did her best to avoid eye contact.

“Princess, it’s about that time...” Heidi said, her voice holding a hint of impatience. Rosemarie realized that the time for the gala to get underway was at her doorstep. Her plan was to enter the hall near the very tail end, then get out of there as fast as her feet could take her.

“Let’s give it your best, Princess. You’re so close to the finish line. You’re oh so close.”

“...I want to just turn into a pillar.”

“And how do you expect to get home if you’re a pillar? Come, now, let’s make our way in.”

At Heidi’s urging, Rosemarie walked with a heavy gait into the grand hall. The warm air wrapped around her body, but it was anything but relaxing. Her forehead broke out in a nervous sweat.

(It’s fine, it’s fine, no one is coming near me...)

Rosemarie had no desire to stand out in a crowd, but Heidi and her family were reluctant to let her go to a gala underdressed. But she begged and pleaded until they relented, allowing her to wear a simple, dark green dress. According to her younger sister, dresses with a wide-open neckline were what was in fashion. But knowing that to be out of the question, she went with a regular design with a full collar instead.

She couldn’t imagine anyone would be caught dead coming to speak to a drab country bumpkin of a princess.

As she proceeded into the hall on shaky legs, she could overhear the conversations of people here and there.

“Aah, that is a splendid suggestion. I would love to implement that in our own region right away.” The gentleman nodding his head, completely enamored, was a bear.

“My, that is quite the fetching dress. Wherever did you have it made? You simply must introduce me to your seamstress!” The madame enviously singing high praise was a fox.

“Why, the other day, his son...”

“My daughter has quite the pleasant disposition...”

She found herself passing by horses, cats, goats... ladies and gentlemen with the faces of all sorts of beasts engaged in genial conversation.

The bizarre sight was starting to make Rosemarie break out in a cold sweat. It then caused her to trip over her own feet and bump her shoulder into the gentleman that she was attempting to pass by.

“M-My apologies,” she said, extending an apology in a frail tone. The human-faced gentleman smiled in response.

“Think nothing of it. You are not hurt, are you? Such an innocent and lovely individual as yourself getting hurt would simply break my heart.” As the gentleman spoke, his face started to warp, his pupils moving to the side in a manner indicative of a mountain goat, the very animal his whole head soon morphed into. Containing her shivering hand, Rosemarie gave a haphazard response and quickly left the area.

(Why are there so many beast heads here? I just want to go back to my room in Volland...)

Almost on the verge of tears, she moved to one corner of the hall and placed her back against the wall. It was the very wall opposite to where the throne sat. There was little chance of her meeting anyone’s gaze here. Even if she saw them from behind, even if they looked like a beast.

Even if she looked at them, they had a beast head. Even if they looked at her, they had a beast head. There were some human heads visible here and there, but that was few and far between. Jealousy, heartless rumors, envy, lies... all sorts of negative emotions warped human faces into those of beasts in Rosemarie’s eyes.

(I feel sick, I’m scared...)

Their faces, words, and feelings were all mixed up, putting her on the verge of a mental breakdown.

“It would appear that Crown Prince Claudio has arrived.” Just as Rosemarie felt a wave of nausea overtaking her, Heidi spoke up from next to her. Rosemarie could sense the guests around her were standing up straight, so she forced the feeling down and raised her head so as not to appear rude.

(What...?)

There, standing near the throne, was someone clad in a set of black clothes—a human young man. She was able to make out his slick black hair and his almost sunlight-translucent white skin, but she was too far away from where she was standing to accurately make out his appearance. However, the backs of the heads of most of the people that were watching the young man—Claudio—were of different kinds of beasts.

“So, that is what they meant when they said he had a terrifying face...” Heidi murmured unthinkingly, which prompted Rosemarie to look at her in disbelief.

“You can see his face even though we’re so far away?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, I can make out his face, for the most part.” Turning away from the dumbfounded Heidi, Rosemarie turned and strained her eyes.

(Yeah, I can’t make out anything...)

She was able to tell that he had a human face instead of a beast face, but she wasn’t able to make out the structure of his face.

Usually it was the opposite—now everyone around her was able to see, but she wasn’t. It made her wonder what kind of face he had on him.

Feeling as though she’d been left behind, Rosemarie continued to stare at Claudio, stimulated by an odd sense of obsession.

The King of Baltzar entered the hall, congratulations were said, and chatting and dancing commenced. While all of that was going on, Rosemarie could not take her eyes off of Claudio.

(Why... haven’t I seen a beast head out of him even once?)

Not when he was entertaining that random royal who came up to give their congratulations, not when he was dancing with that young miss with a clear beast head on her shoulders—Claudio’s head never once took the appearance of a beast.

It wasn’t like her eyes were cured. The proof of that being that when she cast her eyes elsewhere, the hall still housed the bloodcurdling sight of these people with their grotesque features. Yet, among them all, there was only one who stood out—Claudio. He was the only one whose face remained human the entire time.

(I have never seen a person like that.)

Overcome with disbelief, she squeezed her folded hands sitting near her lap tighter. Could this sense of exaltation welling up inside her be... happiness?

Maybe it was simply because he was sociable, but Claudio was moving back and forth around the room striking up conversations—all the while, the girl was tracking him with her eyes. It wasn’t until she got close enough to distinguish his face that she realized how powerful his features were. He’d been smiling amicably as he conversed with the guests, but she could see that he looked a tad pale in the face.

“...Heidi.” Her voice cracked as she called to her maid standing just behind her. Her heart was pounding like mad. The sound of it drove her up the wall. She placed her hand upon her chest for composure.

“Yes, my princess. Might I offer you some water? Please, help yourself.”

“Huh? Ah, yes, thank you. Um, but...”

“Oh, do you feel faint? I have come readily prepared with smelling salts if need be. Or, perhaps you feel nauseous? Please, do not go anywhere. I will go fetch a bucket and...”

“No, those aren’t the issues I’m facing here...” Without an ounce of panic, her maid attempted to tend to her needs, but Rosemarie stopped her before things got into full swing. She tightened her hand around the glass of water she’d been given.

“I... I will be that man’s wife.” Not even noticing that her maid’s mouth was open wide in a dumbfounded and shameless display, Rosemarie made her way straight toward the young man. Her legs trembled in nervousness.

“P-Princess, as much as I would love to see you walk the aisle as a bride-to-be, are you truly—and I mean truly—set on that individual over there?” Her maid asked with extra added emphasis in an oddly flustered, yet hushed, tone. Rosemarie kept front and center, squeezing the glass in her hand even harder.

“Yes... he is the one. I don’t think I can settle with anyone but him.” She was doing it to have claim of peace of mind.

Besides, she would eventually need to marry for the sake of her land. In which case, that black-haired crown prince would be the one to take her hand in marriage.

She had never wanted anything as badly as this in her entire life.

“And, after all, he is the first one that doesn’t look like one of those.” The fact that he didn’t look like he had a beast head was bona fide proof, devoid of any falsehood. If she let this slip away, then she was certain that man would be gone forever.

Her soft murmur was probably too low for her maid to hear. She could hear the chatterings of disapproval still going on from behind her, but that did not stop her stride.

Claudio slowly turned around to face her, perhaps noticing someone was behind him. Even looking at him up close, it was clear that he looked far too pale. Could it be that he was feeling sick, or something to that effect?

Claudio scanned Rosemarie as she stood there, a mystified yet innocuous smile forming on his face.

“Who might you—”

“I am, um, you see...” she said, her voice cracking. Her nerves blocked her throat, keeping her words from coming out. Rosemarie stared straight at Claudio as he waited in gentlemanly fashion, pale face and all, for her to speak. She gulped, and then...

“Um, your condition is, well, um...”

“Pardon?”

“I-I think it would be best for you to get some rest!” Her pathetically shivering voice echoed through the chatter-filled hall.

Silence draped over the vicinity. The crown prince stared questioningly at Rosemarie.

Once Rosemarie had snapped back to her senses, she took a step back and hung her head.

(Wait... just a second... I... and I meant... )

What was she even saying? She completely skipped any kind of greeting or introduction.

Suspicious looks tore into her from all around. Every look was from the eyes of a different beast. Her breathing sped up, and she started to feel lightheaded. She panicked as she attempted to spin her words into something more coherent.

“Um, I saw that your face... looked very... um, pale...”

“Pale? Are you saying that you know how pale my face is?”

She was slightly confused at his doubtful tone. It wasn’t about “knowing,” per se; he was clearly pale, and in a bad way.

“Yes, I do... And, well, it looks as though you’re quite exhausted. You have... bags under your eyes...” Why was no one was telling him to rest despite him looking so clearly pale and haggard?

Her ears caught wind of the chatterings of pity seeping from the crowd watching the situation unfold, bewildering her.

(Could it be that they can’t see it? Why?)

Was she seeing something different from everyone else again? A sharp pain ran through her chest.

As if backing up her statement, Claudio suddenly laughed aloud.

“Is that so? Bags? I see. However, it appears to me you’re the one who is exhausted. You seem likely to topple at any moment. It would be best if you were to retire. Could someone... ah, yes, you.” Most likely noticing Heidi waiting in the wings right behind Rosemarie, Claudio placed his hand on her shoulder in attempt to urge her along toward her. The very next instant, it happened.

“—Ngh!” His hand was hot as it touched her. The heat almost felt as though she was being scalded by hot water, making her shake Claudio’s hand away instinctively. The momentum caused her to drop the glass that she had been holding this entire time.

Along with sound of the shattering glass, the image of a forest beyond the sturdy castle of Baltzar suddenly popped into her mind. The scenery looked somewhat familiar to her.

(What was that just now...?) She looked up at Claudio with a dumbfounded gaze, clueless as to what had just happened. He stared intently, eyes wide, at the hand that Rosemarie had brushed aside. When he pulled his gaze over to her, for whatever reason, a wide smile formed on his face.

It wasn’t an innocuous smile like earlier, but a joyful, heartened smile. She was completely caught off guard.

“Um, I’m sorry... that was rude of me...” She slowly started to pull herself back, but Claudio took her hand respectively, his cheeks tinged red. She put up her guard involuntarily, but she didn’t feel any of the heat from earlier. However, his blue eyes, half-open now thanks to his wide smile, took a sharp look at her down below. Seeing him with his lips in that smile made him as a whole look vaguely unsettling.

“You are not hurt, are you? It seems you are exhausted, just as I suspected. Allow me to send you to the waiting room. —Alto, see to her. I want you to escort her until I arrive later.”

“M’lord!” said a stalwart-looking knight, who was apparently Claudio’s aide, extending his services. She found no relief from the knight’s still human face, and instead timidly looked around her. That is when she spotted Heidi, jaw clenched and face pale for some reason. Looking at her expression slightly perplexed Rosemarie.

(Did I do something? All I did was brush away his hand... right? I mean, he doesn’t have a beast head and I’m pretty sure he isn’t angry at me... Also, why the escort?)

As Rosemarie stood there, still bewildered, Claudio passed off her hand to the knight.

“Ah, yes, how rude of me. I haven’t even asked you for your name.” Still without a clue, just as Rosemarie was about to start following the knight leading her away, she slowly turned around in response to suave voice from behind. She didn’t want to say it for some odd reason, but there was probably no point in trying to resist.

“...My name is Rosemarie Volland.”

Claudio appeared thoughtful for a moment. Then his smile grew broader.

“Lady Rosemarie... a fine name, indeed.”

Hearing him speak her name as if ruminating on it, then follow it up with a compliment, caught Rosemarie by surprise. All she could do was stare back at Claudio in utter confusion.