Chapter 2: Matrimony Mired in Objections

Chapter 2: Matrimony Mired in Objections

On that day, extravagantly-dressed people gathered at Baltzar’s Royal Chapel for the wedding ceremony of Crown Prince Claudio.

People dressed in multicolored outfits lined the pews like a human flower garden. On the upper stage, the Archbishop was reciting a passage from scripture in front of the sublime white altar that sat opposite the guests in attendance. In front of him stood a man and a woman, shoulder-to-shoulder, both dressed in wedding attire.

Soft light poured over them through the church’s skylight, almost as if they were accepting the blessings of the gods upon their very forms—a sight so surreal and inexplicable that it left anyone who saw it breathless.

The bells chimed and resounded so close they were practically echoing through her head, a far cry from the muffled sounds from afar she came to know in the past. As the soft warmth that she felt on her forehead grew further away, she opened her eyes.

That was when a figure popped into her field of vision—a young man with slick black hair. Claudio stood before her, slender and beautiful in his black formal attire, far more splendid than that of any of the royals or nobles in the pews.

He hovered over her, a docile look in his eyes.

“My bride, you are quite adorable when you’re bashful.” His sweet voice spilled from the set of elegant lips that had just planted a kiss upon Rosemarie’s forehead not two seconds ago, which made the girl feel lightheaded. He wore the same sharply-featured human face he always had. Which meant that his words were more than likely honest.

(How did I get myself into this...?)

It all happened just the other day—actually, it was three months ago by this point. Claudio’s aide escorted her to the waiting room, where—for whatever reason—the prince gave her a warm, courteous reception. Then, while she was stunned over it all, he proposed that they get engaged. Afterward, before she could even comprehend what was going on, negotiations with her homeland went through. Before she knew it, she was the distinguished fiancee of the Crown Prince of Baltzar.

And so, unbelievably enough, that is where we are now—right in the middle of the wedding ceremony.

The chapel built within Baltzar’s royal castle was far grander than the one in Volland; it had a surreal, yet inexplicable, air of mystery about it. Even with the slew of people there, the mood remained pure and slightly tense.

(Oh, God, I want to go home... Why does the prince want to take a princess from such a small nation as his wife, anyway...?)

She was gung-ho to nominate herself to be Claudio’s bride, but now that she had actually come to fill that role, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to run away.

She wasn’t particularly beautiful. She was socially awkward. And she was a cowering introvert of a girl. The diplomats that arrived with her from Volland had been in a panic, checking Claudio’s intentions again and again. Even the people of her motherland thought that she wasn’t a proper match for him, a fact of which she herself was well aware.

“I was attracted by your tender care—the same that showed concern after noticing how pale in the face I was.” Rosemarie hid this bit of reasoning she had heard from Claudio from the diplomats—a piece of reasoning that made her, for the first time, want to wear a bucket over her head not out of fear, but out of embarrassment.

“Mind your feet, now.” It would seem that while she had been locked in deep thought, the ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Claudio presented his arm and she grabbed on to it awkwardly, to which he smiled in satisfaction at her.

“I have finally managed to make you my queen. You have no idea how I have longed for this day to come,” he whispered, his mind in a dream-like trance. Rosemarie responded with a bewildered smile.

Rosemarie had never been able to reciprocate the sheer amount of affectionate words with which Claudio showered her constantly. Even so, even now, neither his patience nor his love grew any thinner.

It didn’t stop there, as in the three months leading up to the wedding, he did not allow her to return back to Volland even once. When she’d said she needed to return home as she’d only packed enough to attend the gala, he’d had whatever essentials she needed prepared for her. When she’d asked to go home to say farewell to her parents, he’d sent for her mother and (of course) her siblings well in advance of the wedding.

She missed the flowers in the villa’s garden. But after hearing Claudio beg her not to return home because he would feel empty inside without her, she didn’t have the heart to make any more selfish demands than she already had.

(It doesn’t seem like he’s telling any sort of lie, but...)

Ever since the night of that gala, his head hadn’t appeared as a beast—not even once. However, he seemed absolutely opposed to sending her back to Volland. That one thing didn’t sit right in her stomach.

As Claudio escorted her down the aisle between the rows of guests, she caught faint glimpses of their beast heads between the flower petals they tossed into the air. Every time she did, her shoulders gave a pathetic little jolt. Without thinking, she caught herself squeezing Claudio’s arm tightly. In response, and most likely sensing her nervousness, he stroked the back of her hand for support.

“What is your favorite color?”

“Huh?” She had no answer for the rather abrupt question. Pressed for time, she looked into Claudio’s blue eyes.

“It’s... blue.”

“I see. Blue, is it?” Claudio nodded once, then glanced behind them. Close behind was the sorcerer who also acted as their attendant. They wore a gloomy-looking indigo hood and mantle quite unbefitting a wedding. As it covered their head and body, their face, gender, and even age were a complete mystery.

She had heard that a sorcerer affiliated with the royal palace and the state church’s bishop would be present at the royal wedding. But, bishops aside, sorcerers were something that she wasn’t familiar with even in her motherland, so they were a bit of a mystery to her—and a scary mystery, at that. A grand sigh poured out of that wizard’s mouth.

“...Such a slog.” The barely-audible yet weary-sounding voice definitely came from the sorcerer.

As Rosemarie’s eyes widened in surprise, Claudio wrapped his hand around hers to get her attention.

“Please, behold.” Claudio then extended his free hand above him and waved quickly.

“—?!”

The next moment, the multicolored flower petals being thrown by the guests suddenly transformed into a flock of small blue birds. A sudden mix of gasps and cheers erupted from the crowd around them.

The small blue birds chirped loudly as each flap of their wings scattered the same vibrant flower petals as before down to the earth, leading them to eventually melt away into the breeze. The sight was extraordinary... almost otherworldly.

(I almost forgot; the prince is a sorcerer himself...)

He apparently had the greatest mana of anyone in the nation, as well. This was probably nothing more than child’s play to him.

After watching the flock of small birds in awe, Rosemarie softly turned her attention to Claudio standing by her side. As their eyes met, he smiled at her.

“Has that helped relieve your nerves?”

“—Oh, yes. Thank you very much.” The care that he was showing for her seeped into her body and filled her heart with joy. A tickle started to form in her chest and her pulse quickened, but the feeling of being devoid of tension and fear was not in the least unpleasant.

“You’re finally smiling, I see.”

“W-Was I not smiling before?”

“Well, you were, but it seemed somewhat insincere. I was a bit pushy in my proposal for matrimony, so I can’t say that I blame you for resenting me.” She didn’t resent him. She had just been at a loss as to how she should react.

Claudio let out a chuckle before leaning over ever so slightly.

“I will care for you. Every waking moment dedicated to you, never looking away, I swear,” he whispered quietly into Rosemarie’s ear. She blushed.

(Someone, bring me a bucket...)

For one thing, she wasn’t accustomed to receiving such words of affection. But, too, it didn’t seem like the sort of thing to say in front of such a big crowd. Not to mention, they were just about to pass in front of her family. This was not the right time to get embarrassed.

As she timidly looked their way, a pair of dog ears, the same brown color as his hair, had sprouted up on her father’s head. Next to him, her mother wore a white pair of rabbit ears atop her head. She couldn’t quite see her sisters, as they stood behind her parents. Her parents were smiling, but seeing as how they their heads had started to turn beastly, chances were that they weren’t actually pleased with this matrimony. In brutally honest terms, this was akin to a superpowered nation exerting its dominance and gaining an engagement as spoils, just as Claudio had mentioned.

Her face still red, Rosemarie smiled at her parents to reassure them.

She was going to be all right. Claudio was an honest person who didn’t lie. Which is why it would all be all right.

(Which is why I need to tell him straight about my eyes...)

She saw the head of anyone who harbored animosity as that of a beast—she has yet to tell that to Claudio. She had made it this far, yet it was still extremely difficult to speak up about it.

She found herself perplexed that she was so biased in Claudio’s favor that she was worried about the consequences of him potentially getting sick of her.

The chamberlain slowly pushed open the chapel’s double doors. Suddenly, the ivory engraving above the door caught her eye.

A gallant lion rampant, with curly goat horns extending from its head, and elegant wings on its back. That was the creature placed on Baltzar’s national flag—the silver lion, renowned as a sacred beast.

Squinting against the light of early summer beaming through, Rosemarie silently prayed for the silver lion to give her courage.

***

“I may still not approve of this, but if this is what you want, then that is just how it will be, princess.”

Rosemarie left the evening wedding reception thoroughly exhausted and returned to the room she’d been provided. Now, she was trying to keep her tired eyes open as she listened to her trusted maid’s complaints.

Said trusty maid sat Rosemarie down in front of the vanity and slowly combed her hair, inviting sleep all the more.

“No matter how scary one’s face may be, no matter how suspicious one seems, so long as they do not harm a hair on your head, I do not mind.” Seeing as how she did not specify “who” she was talking about, Heidi probably wasn’t particularly upset.

She had been against the marriage to Claudio. But at the same time, she respected Rosemarie’s decision—not that it stopped her from being outspoken about it, though.

“I love that you’re so frank about these sorts of things, Heidi.” Rosemarie admired the fact that Heidi could say what she herself couldn’t. And since Heidi had been so unreserved in voicing her mind, Rosemarie felt she could be at ease, with or without the presence of a beast head. Having a mismatched heart and face is scary no matter what.

“Indeed, I also like how forthright you are, milady.” For the final touch, Heidi ran a floral pomade through the girl’s hair to set it, causing Rosemarie to let out a huge yawn. She wanted to just go ahead and fall asleep, but she knew she shouldn’t yet. According to plans, Claudio was supposed to visit after this. If she were to fall asleep, then she would have humiliated him.

(I’m going to tell him about my eyes, and then...)

She didn’t really want to think about anything after that.

Suddenly, a cup with a hot brown liquid was presented her. The sweet vapors that rose from it made Rosemarie’s eyes light up.

“Kaola! Why do they have Kaola here? You can’t export it from Volland, so I had all but given up on trying to get any.” Now completely awake, Rosemarie took the cup, practically giddy.

The Kaola fruit, which could only grow in Volland’s soil, was banned from being transported into other nations. The tea was made from the seeds of the dehydrated Kaola fruit. But not only was the manufacturing process only passed down verbally through skilled artisans, it was also extremely difficult—so much so that it proved impossible for amateurs. Also, most importantly, the country had almost completely expended their supply of the fruit. Thus, as it was such a rare commodity, export of it was outlawed.

“His Majesty.... your father seems to have negotiated with the Union. According to him, he can ship however much you want to drink from now on.”

“So, that’s how. I ought to thank Father...” This was something she had been accustomed to drinking since her childhood. It brought a smile right to her face.

She inhaled the sweet aroma of Kaola tea, missing from her life for three whole months, and took a sip. Its distinctive bitterness and acidity spread through her mouth, leaving a faint, savory sourness in its wake. It seemed to soak its way through her weary body. Apparently, it actually had fatigue-healing effects.

“My, you surely can put it down. I’m unable to stomach it without any sugar. Though, the aroma alone is quite sweet.”

“Um, well...” Rosemarie turned to look at Heidi, who was busy being impressed.

A knock at the door echoed, causing Rosemarie to tense and stiffen her face in surprise. Heidi grimaced for just one second before fixing her face the next, walking over to open the door for the visitor.

Rosemarie stared nervously into the brown, swaying surface of the tea, her body even more tense as she sensed someone entering the room.

“I bid you good night.” Rosemarie heard Heidi saying her farewells for the night, and jolted her head up just in time to see her worried maid disappear out the door. The maid had been chatting about completely unrelated matters to take Rosemarie’s mind off her impending honeymoon night... and now she was out of sight.

Rosemarie couldn’t help but feel forlorn, sparking the urge to follow after her, but she managed to quell that urge after her eyes caught sight of Claudio standing by the door, clad in his nightclothes and robe.

The door was completely shut, and Heidi’s footsteps were slowly slipping off into the distance. Claudio didn’t budge from the doorway, regardless. He seemed to be checking outside the room.

(What do I even do in this situation...?)

After doing an awkward job of standing up, Rosemarie’s eyes met with Claudio’s as he turned around suddenly. He gave her a smile, causing her body to go stiff.

“What have you been drinking, if I may ask? Whatever it is, it has quite the sweet aroma.”

“Oh, forgive me. I will finish the rest off right now.”

Claudio looked on in bewilderment as Rosemarie brought the cup of Kaola to her lips in a rush, only for her to realize that it was too hot for her to drink. Claudio then came over to her, taking the cup from her with a wry smile on his face.

“You needn’t hurry yourself. I simply asked what you were drinking.”

“—Oh, um, it’s Kaola.”

“Kaola? That is a drink I’ve never heard of.”

Looking at Claudio in profile as he peered into the cup atop the vanity with great interest, Rosemarie clenched both her hands and took a gulp. Hoarse from tension, she slowly opened her lips.

“Um, Your Highness. I have something I’d like to talk about, actually...”

“Yes, what might that be?”

Her throat trembled at the sight of Claudio smiling at her, but Rosemarie focused herself and formed the words.

“T-This may come across as somewhat unsettling, but...” As she said that, her heart was beating so loudly that she felt likely to pass out right then and there. Just imagining what would happen if she were to pass out was enough to make her poor heart feel like it was getting crushed.

“You see, I see the faces of people who have negative emotions, such as anger and envy, as beasts. It is so frightening that I can’t contain myself. But yours is the only face that has looked human the entire time...”

Claudio quickly wiped the smile from his face. The fear of this news possibly making Claudio’s face turn into that of a beast reared its ugly head, causing Rosemarie to look away suddenly.

“I am so sorry for not telling you! I have not been trying to deceive you; I just thought that you might end up hating me, so I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you...”

“—This problem... how long have you had it?” Claudio asked her in a tone that was so indifferent, she couldn’t tell whether he was angry or surprised. A cold sweat started to run down the length of her back.

“I am not sure. All I know it started sometime when I was still young...”

“‘Sometime,’ was it? —Sometime after attending Baltzar’s National Foundation Day seven years ago, you mean?”

“...Huh?” Rosemarie widened her eyes in surprise. She looked up timidly to see that Claudio was glaring at her with a furrowed brow, which made her gaze in even more surprise.

(Is he... angry? But, I don’t see a beast head on him... Also, “seven years ago”...?)

Considering Claudio usually had a smooth demeanor and polite way of speaking, his coarser tone caused Rosemarie to sink back in fright. For one thing, it was rare for her to see someone look angry while still retaining a human face.

“What’s the matter? Do I scare you? If I am the only one whose face looks human to you, then you shouldn’t be scared, right?” Claudio said, the corner of his lips pushed into a smirk. His expression was so brooding that it was hard to believe that this was the same person who had been smiling kindly for her up until a few seconds ago; the extreme and complete shift in tone left her speechless.

Claudio drew even closer to her. Fearful, she sank back. Her hand suddenly hit the cup that had been placed atop the vanity. The cup made a clanging sound before the sweet aroma of the Kaola enriched the room even more. Rosemarie looked that way involuntarily, but what made her freeze stock still wasn’t the spilled Kaola, but what was being reflected in the vanity mirror.

“What...?” The tense, pale-faced, mahogany-haired young girl was herself. However, what stood next to her wasn’t the black-haired crown prince.

Reflected in the mirror was a person with the face of a lion, its coat as silver as moonlight, and a pair of dark goat’s horns with a sheen like black obsidian. In other words... the exact same face as that of the sacred beast she’d seen engraved above the chapel door. There was just one thing. Even in the dimly-lit bedroom, she could see that they had the same pair of blue eyes from when they were human.

“A... silver lion’s head...?” She never once saw a beast head on Claudio before, so this was quite the shock.

The sudden disappointment and realization that this person was no different whatsoever from anyone else hit her like a ton of bricks. Her lips trembled.

The mouth of the lion in the mirror moved as Rosemarie continued to stand still in shock.

“Ah, so, you can see it when it’s a reflection in a mirror. Makes sense, seeing as how a mirror only projects the truth. What does my face look like to your eyes right now?” His overbearing tone forced Rosemarie’s timid gaze back over to him. His face was still human, albeit scowling at her, which allowed her to regain a tiny bit of composure.

“I see... a splendid gentleman.”

“And what about in the mirror?”

“A silver-haired... —?!”

If he said that a mirror only projects the truth, then... this reflection of a silver lion must be...

“Your Highness, does everyone else... see your face as that of a silver lion, then...?”

—Claudio, the Crown Prince of the Magical Nation of Baltzar, boasted the greatest mana of anyone inside and outside of the country. He was famed for his accomplishments as a warrior, as well. If one were to bring up a demerit in regards to him, it would be that his face is so terrifying that one look at it would be enough to haunt your memories.

She suddenly remembered the rumors. That was why her family and Heidi had looked so disappointed, and why Claudio had remained unengaged despite being of age.

The crown prince was deformed—his head was that of a lion. Just as she had always been in fear of beast heads, the people who saw Claudio were naturally afraid of him.

Rosemarie clasped her hands over her mouth, hardly able to believe what was happening.

“The reason for my deformed state and for your eyes’ unique problem is the same: seven years ago, you stole my treasure—my mana. Return the mana you stole from me, you ingrate!” He roared at her, exasperated and resentful. In response, Rosemarie shook her head vigorously. She had no memory of any such thing!

“I haven’t done anything. I never even met you until I attended the evening gala. I don’t remember ever stealing your mana, either. You must have me confused with someone else...”

“No, you and I have indeed met. I would know my own mana anywhere. That is why you see me as having a human face: you have what was once my mana. It wouldn’t be reacting to me if it was actually yours.” Although his scowl was focused on her and she was cringing in fear, Rosemarie tried desperately to remember.

When she saw Baltzar Castle, she felt as though she had seen it somewhere before, but she didn’t remember a thing once she saw Claudio’s face.

“I-I remember my father telling me he once brought me to Baltzar, but—I apologize, I just don’t remember any of it.”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m sure if you remembered, you would have made contact with Baltzar at once, or some such thing. You have no idea how I’ve had to live with myself for these past seven years. I saved you in the Forbidden Forest, and how do you thank me? By robbing me of my mana, forgetting you ever did so, and then locking yourself away from the outside world. No, you couldn’t know what I’ve been through.”

Claudio pursed his lips tightly. Rosemarie could sense the rage seeping from his eyes, narrowed at her in hatred, and kept her mouth shut.

He could call her an ingrate and claim to have saved her all he liked; she still couldn’t remember it. Her father had mentioned bringing her to Baltzar, so there was at least some precedent for what Claudio was saying. Even so, she couldn’t know if he was lying. His head would remain human either way. Was it safe to just take Claudio’s words at face value? If there was an off chance that her decision would bring about terrible consequences to Volland, she wouldn’t be able to live it down.

“B-But... how would someone like me be able to steal mana from you? I’m not a sorcerer...” When she looked up to Claudio in a pleading manner, he fell silent, looking as though he might click his tongue in disgust at her. Silence befell them for a short while. Then a loud, dissonant laugh echoed out, almost as though it had been calculated.

“—That is a fair question, I’d say.” The unfamiliar sprightly voice caught Rosemarie by surprise. She looked around the room for its source when, suddenly, someone rappelled down from the ceiling.

“...?!”

The person who landed before her was a man a few years older than Claudio, with golden-brown hair that fell in loose waves. The distinctive mole under his right eye gave off a somewhat amorous vibe to his persona. However, for some reason, he was clad in gaudy priest’s attire.

“What are you doing here?”

“I get the impression, Your Highness, that if left unchecked, you would simply remain angry. I can understand that you’re upset. But you’ve spent so much time wooing the princess and showering her with kindness that this sudden shift makes very little sense.”

Unperturbed by the sudden intruder in his room, Claudio replied with a nonchalant tone and a cool expression. His behavior made Rosemarie’s eyes dart around in surprise. Who was this person who wasn’t afraid of Claudio in his deformed state? More importantly, what was he doing dropping from the bedroom ceiling of a married couple?

“Wooing her? Enough of your misleading phrasing. I have obviously been putting up a well-laid front. The girl has my mana. So, of course, I needed to say whatever would keep her within Baltzar and in a good mood.”

“Isn’t that being a little too candid? You shouldn’t go saying that in front of your wife. Right, milady? It’s quite cruel of him, don’t you think?”

Rosemarie stood dumbfounded at the somewhat casual conversation unfolding before her. When the topic suddenly shifted to her, she came back to her senses. She had the feeling that she heard some wild things being said, but she put it on the back burner.

“Excuse me... who might you be?”

“Oh, me? Why, I’m...”

“No introductions will be required. Don’t show yourself when you’re not even invited, you rotten priest,” Claudio said, interrupting the man before he could introduce himself. He then grabbed him by the collar and tried to drag him toward the door, but the man shook him loose.

“At least let me tell her my name, will you? After all, we’ll be seeing each other’s faces pretty frequently from now on.”

“There’s no need for you to hold a conversation. You’ve said more than enough already.”

“So, you’re not going to let me talk to your wife? My, what a possessive prince you are. Kinda off-putting, if you ask me.” As the man in priest’s garb shook his head in disappointment, Claudio silently pulled out a knife from his breast pocket and tossed it at him.

The knife sunk into him—or nearly so, as the man casually bent backwards and kicked off the floor like a regular acrobat.

“Hup! Whoa, there. You’re as dangerous as ever, Your Highness.” The man who avoided the knife with the greatest of ease landed nimbly behind Rosemarie.

“I’m Fritz. As you can see, I’ve taken up the cloth for the state church. You can confide in me if you have anything troubling you, so feel free to come to me without hesitation, milady.” Turning around, Rosemarie blinked at the man. He stood there, smug yet debonair, winking at her.

“You are actually a clergyman? I was convinced that was just a costume...” All her life, both at home and at the ceremony earlier, Rosemarie had only seen no-nonsense, straight-and-narrow sorts of clergymen. Honestly speaking, not only did he wear his formal priest’s garb in a rather casual manner, but he was a far cry from Rosemarie’s impression of the squeaky-clean clergy lifestyle.

Fritz’s eyes widened in shock, and Claudio, in what could only be called an unexpected twist, started chortling.

“A costume! Pft, hahah, you should really quit your day job.”

“Well, I’m not. In the daytime, I carry out my duties with my attire shipshape.”

Rosemarie bowed in apology to Fritz, flustered, as he let out a huge sigh.

“I am so sorry for my crass remarks...” If the tables were turned, it would be like someone telling Rosemarie she wasn’t actually a princess. And if it were her, that would have brought her down.

“You don’t need to apologize. He’s the sort of man who comes to volunteer his services as my spy within the Church.”

“Well, Your Highness, I can’t just rest on my laurels. You are quite reviled in the Church, after all. Plus, believe it or not, I am a capable and popular individual. Remember that I have connections both inside and outside this nation. So instead of wasting away in some corrupt church, I would much rather have you put any of the intel that I’ve painstakingly gathered to good use.” The face bearing that frivolous smile had not appeared beast-like in the least this whole time. Everything he said was the truth. Nonetheless, she was shocked that such a carefree clergyman could exist.

“I more or less understand circumstances, Sir Fritz. But why the ceiling antics...?”

“Mostly for the fun of it, I suppose. Also, I was worried that Your Highness might lose control of himself with the fated young miss finally within his grasp, so I was keeping my eye on—! Your Highness! Could you please stop tossing those knives?!” Fritz slapped down the knives that came careening at him a second time. At nearly the same time, he grew a long muzzle, and his head transformed into that of a light orange fox. Rosemarie found herself going tense in fear.

Not even caring that the now anger-morphed Fritz was lashing out at him, Claudio scoffed in displeasure.

“What else do you expect? You’re saying things to earn my ire. Now, leave. This conversation is going nowhere.”

“My leaving is certainly an option. But what about your inability to prove how your non-sorcerer wife stole your mana? I believe that instead of losing your cool and threatening her, it would be easier and more helpful to make sure she can properly comprehend the details.” Now that he’d calmed down, Fritz’s face reverted back to human form—the same human face as before, with its amorous vibe (despite him being a man) thanks to the mole under his eye. Claudio reluctantly nodded, his face contorted into a sour scowl.

“—I get it. Let’s do that, then.” Claudio consented to the idea, ordering Fritz to bring something to him. Once Fritz exited the room, Claudio silently sprawled on the sofa nearby.

Rosemarie shuddered, her shoulders shaking as she watched Claudio timidly. As Claudio sat with one elbow perched on his lap and propping his head up with his hand, his face exuded fatigue from every pore.

“A-Are you tired...?” In response to her simple, instinctive question, Claudio glared back at her as if possessed. It seemed she had touched on a sensitive subject. A chill ran down the course of her spine.

“Oh, I’m tired, all right. So very, very tired. And you’re the main culprit.”

So, she was the root of the issue again? She’d had so many accusations slung at her, she just wanted to curl up and clutch her head.

“Um, I hate to ask you this while you’re so tired, but would you mind explaining the situation in a little more detail? Like, how I managed to steal the mana from you, maybe? I may not be very smart, but I’m not making heads or tails of any of this, you see...” She said this in a subdued voice, standing idly in place.

Maybe the fatigue from earlier today was partially to blame, but she knew that her head wasn’t working at full speed.

“There’s nothing to explain. ‘Since you stole my mana, I’ve been unable to use sorcery, have had my head turned into a silver lion’s, and have grown ill as a result. You’re not going anywhere until I reclaim my mana.’ Simple enough, what’s there to understand?” Claudio said, knitting his brows in exasperation. The delicate care that he had shown to Rosemarie up until a few moments ago was gone as if it never happened. For as much as Claudio’s care and attention filled her with joy, Claudio himself actually didn’t mean a single bit of it—it was a fact that made the girl’s heart ache.

“... I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. I beg of you. Please, tell me.”

Claudio stared at her, silent and unmoving, as she pressed him for answer. Finally, he opened his mouth, extremely displeased.

“—Sit there.” Claudio gestured to the seat in front of the vanity with a jerk of his chin. Once she’d seated herself there hesitantly, he let out an exaggerated sigh.

“The Seed of Mana-Sealing is within me.”

“The Seed of Mana-Sealing?” She tilted her head in confusion upon hearing the piece of unfamiliar vocabulary, which prompted Claudio twitch an eyebrow, so she rushed to shut her mouth.

“The Seed of Mana-Sealing is just what it sounds like: it is designed to suppress one’s mana. My base mana was quite strong. And by drinking the Seed of Mana-Sealing, I suppressed it. Had I not drunk of it, my mana might have ended up hurting even myself.” Claudio dropped his gaze slightly. He looked vaguely sad for a second before his sharp gaze immediately fell upon her.

“On our National Foundation Day, I saw a child going into the Forbidden Forest. You do know what I mean by ‘Forbidden Forest,’ I take it?”

“Yes, you’re referring to the sea of trees in the back of the castle, correct? I was taught in my royal training that it is the place where they enshrined the remains of the Silver Lion, the sacred beast that helped the foundation of Baltzar with its powerful mana while the nation was still forming. However, I remember hearing that those without mana who enter the forest blindly disappear... Could this child who entered the forest be... me, by any chance?” She recalled that she had been far more interested in the sea of trees she saw upon her arrival in Baltzar than in the sturdy castle opposite it. Seeing as she’d been an energetic bundle of curiosity in her youth, it wouldn’t have surprised her at all to hear she’d wandered into that forest on her own.

She clenched her hands tightly in her lap, waiting with bated breath. Claudio, on the other hand, continued nonchalantly, ignoring her question.

“—I chased after the child. I was already old enough to know that, on the off chance that it were the child of an official guest, their disappearance could develop into a diplomatic issue. Although, now that I know it was the princess of a fledgling nation, I wish from the bottom of my heart that I had left you be.”

“...Yes, you’re right.” Rosemarie slumped her shoulders dispiritedly, to which Claudio only gave a perturbed “humph.”

“I found the child up in the tallest tree of the Forbidden Forest, her face scrunched up in an unattractive mess, on the verge of tears. And when I attempted to rescue her, I had my mana stolen from me.”

Rosemarie felt Claudio’s strong gaze fall upon her, making her shoulders jump. To say that she was used to being stared at by the eyes of beasts would be an understatement. Being scowled at by a pair of human eyes, though, was a new experience altogether.

“After my mana had been stolen away, I gradually began to take on the form of the Silver Lion. First, my hair turned silver overnight. The next day, my skin became covered in silver-white fur. The day after that, the horns followed.”

That seemed to be the same process by which people’s heads turned into beast heads before Rosemarie’s eyes. The only difference was that it was a slow transformation over time as opposed to changing before one’s eyes. She had to wonder which was more frightening—witnessing it happen or having it actually happen to yourself.

It wasn’t clear if he was suppressing his anger, but the nonchalant way he was talking indicated how immense his anger was.

“All a destructive culmination that sprouted forth after the Seed of Mana-Sealing within me hungered for mana.”

“Sprouted forth...” Rosemarie suddenly remembered a flower she’d grown hydroponically once before. She could sense the flower’s energy and liveliness as she watched the white roots grow every day behind the glass of the bowl. At the same time, she could also sense something unsettling about the tangled, encroaching mess of roots. It made her shudder to think that the same thing was possibly happening inside of Claudio. She rubbed her arm, a chill running through her body.

“—That very Seed of Mana-Sealing is why His Highness’s life is in danger.”

Rosemarie jumped in surprise and turned toward the door upon hearing Fritz, who had made his return unannounced.

“If you’ve already made it back, then you should be quicker about entering.”

“Well, I figured far be it from me to go barging in when you’re finally in the mood to explain matters. This’ll do, right?” Paying no mind to Claudio and his displeased glare, Fritz smiled bewitchingly and held up a broom.

“Yeah, that will do,” Claudio said with a nod, turning his sights toward Rosemarie. She cowered at both his cold stare and unamused expression.

“You were able to rob me of my mana because you have a physical trait that allows you to do so. I shall prove that to you now.”

“Huh? Wha, um, me... huh? Physical trait?” What she was being told made no sense. In fact, she had never been told that in the sixteen years she walked the planet. Rosemarie rose to her feet in shock, nervously patting herself down. Fritz stood before her, holding the broom upright.

“I’m sending some mana into this. Would you be a dear and touch it?” Even faced with a flustered Rosemarie and a grim, tight-lipped Claudio, Fritz was unfazed. He squeezed the handle of the broom, then let it go.

Just when she thought the broom would drop, it suddenly stood right back up. It was bobbing a little and seemed ready to fall at any moment, but it was most certainly hanging above the ground on its own.

“...?!”

Surprisingly physically adept for a clergyman, an inside informant with mana, and an even shadier customer than Claudio. Rosemarie shot Fritz a shocked, bewildered look. He just stood there and shrugged.

“Yup, this is about the best I can do with my garbage-tier mana.”

“Oh, no. I think it’s incredible. I feel this would do wonders for housekeeping.”

“Ahaha. Let’s let it loose in the castle, then, shall we?”

“You will do no such thing,” Claudio said in a peeved tone. “What kind of imbecile are you? You’re testing my patience. Hurry up and get this over with.”

Fritz replied with a few halfhearted “Yes, sir”s, cleared his throat, and fixed his posture in his seat. Rosemarie, too, found herself straightening her spine in the midst of the serious mood.

“All right. Just give this a little touch, would you? This broom is currently imbued with mana, so if the broom falls once you touch it, you’ll have stolen the mana from it. That should be enough to convince you.”

Rosemarie gulped and reached nervously for the broom. She’d never heard of someone with a physical trait that caused them to steal mana, or whatever it was. If that really were the case with her, it would feel as though she had mutated—a terrifying thought, indeed.

Her fingertips touched the handle. As they did, an odd feeling coursed through her, as though she had touched lukewarm water. She jerked her hand away. The broom tottered dangerously in the air, then fell straight to the floor.

The solid noise that echoed in Rosemarie’s ears made her grab her hand in a flabbergasted daze. Her shoulders twitched as she was left speechless. The broom remained motionless on the floor. It didn’t rise back up.

“That... can’t be.”

“Now do you see? There is a trait in you that extracts mana from others. Do you believe me now?”

Rosemarie watched Claudio as he sat there, his hand resting on his face. She felt herself go limp and sank to the floor, sitting where she’d stood.

“—B-But Your Highness, you used magic at the wedding.” Rosemarie grabbed for one last contradiction. “I had a sorcerer by my side, remember? It was their magic.” The contradiction was shot down immediately. All she could do now was hang her head in disbelief.

Everything Claudio said was true. While she couldn’t feel the mana she stole from him in her body, what she just saw explained everything.

“A prerequisite for becoming crown prince is that you have mana. No matter how small in quantity it may be. In my current condition, I run the risk of being cut off from the throne. —Now do you get it? Do understand the severity of what you’ve done?”

Rosemarie’s eyes widened and she squeezed her folded hands tightly. “W-Who knows of this...?”

“My father, King Baltzar. Fritz here. Alto Clausen, Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard and my personal aide. And Archmagus Edeltraud. There are a few chief retainers who also know, but those are all the people you need to be concerned with.”

Rosemarie could read between the lines. Those are all the people you’ve inconvenienced. She had stolen Crown Prince Claudio’s mana and caused his disfigurement. It was also apparently putting his life in jeopardy. It was no small wonder why he hated her.

“I am so sorry. I have been such a major inconvenience without ever even knowing. I will return your mana to you right away, Your Highness!” Rosemarie jumped to her feet and squeezed Claudio’s hand with both of hers.

Claudio’s icy expression tensed, as though he’d just been lied to. “...What are you doing?”

“Huh? Well, I’m trying to return your mana, so...”

“If all you had to do was hold my hand, then my head would have returned to normal long ago. That would make marrying you pointless.” Claudio glared at her; she could practically hear him tutting at her, unamused. She lowered her eyebrows as a feeling of guilt washed over her.

He had a good point. If all he wanted was an apology and a quick turnaround of his mana, he’d hardly have to go to the trouble of marrying someone he hated. In that case...

“Um, could the way to do it be, by any chance...” She looked up slowly at Claudio, her eyes wide and innocent as a puppy’s.

There was only one reason he’d have to marry her. Once it hit her, her face flushed with heat.

A vein bulged in Claudio’s forehead as he spat out in a gravelly tone, “No, conjugal intercourse is not the way.”

“Oh, of course it isn’t!” The mere thought seemed to annoy Claudio. Meanwhile, Rosemarie covered her face with her hands, unable to hide her embarrassment. She was ashamed of herself. How could such an indecent thought cross her mind?

“Well, she’s bound to get the wrong idea. Look at the situation she’s in,” Fritz quipped with a wry smile. Rosemarie nodded slightly, still hiding her face. She then heard Claudio let out an exasperated sigh.

“I still don’t know how to get my mana back from you. However, there is a limit to just how long I’d stand keeping you as a guest. And having you taken prisoner would require fabricating charges, which is more trouble than it’s worth. So, marrying you was the quickest and easiest way to keep you here in Baltzar without inciting any public outcry. A wife is her husband’s property. Not to mention, no matter how I treat you, divorcing me will prove quite difficult.”

Rosemarie stared at Claudio blankly, her face tensing. She was told she had to return something, and had rather optimistically thought that meant she could do so right away. It seemed, though, that things would be a little more complicated than that.

“Once I get my mana back, your vision will also return to normal. Like it or not, until that time comes, you will remain here as my wife. —Then again, when I’ll be able to find a way to get things back to normal remains up in the air.” He flashed a cruel smile Rosemarie’s way, making her shudder. If he didn’t know the way, that meant he might look for a way, turning her into his own human test subject.

“I will stay here, but... y-you won’t hurt me, will you...? I beg of you, please don’t do anything bad to me.” Tears formed in her eyes out of fear. The mental pain of seeing someone’s head turn into that of a beast was something she had some resistance built up against, but physical pain was uncharted territory.

As she sat there, staring at Claudio’s silent and emotionless face, Fritz, who stood right by his side, started to smile.

“Isn’t this starting to sound, well, you know—more than a little indecent?”

“The only indecent thing here is your cesspool of a mind!” With a voice so low it practically skirted the ground, Claudio threw his third knife at the clergyman. However, Fritz gleefully and casually evaded it, followed by his exit from the room.

“Well, I did promise you at the wedding ceremony, didn’t I? ‘I swear to spend every waking moment dedicated to you, never looking away.’ Of course, since you’re my mana vault. I’m going to dedicate everything I can to you.” A sarcastic smile draped across his face, Claudio rose to his feet, and calmly walked past the frightened Rosemarie. With his robe waving behind him, he headed toward the door.

“Ah, yes. You are not to breathe a word of what I’ve told you to anyone. Unless it is one of the three I mentioned before, you will not speak of my lack of mana under any circumstances.” He shot a dreadful look Rosemarie’s way, and she nodded her head up and down like a berserk bobblehead.

(Of course, my lips are sealed! But I want to go home soon...!)

“—Well, then, my royal wife, I hope you have a pleasant night.” Claudio smiled affectionately, just as he had earlier that day, and exited the room.

***

Once he was clear of Rosemarie’s bedroom, Claudio placed a hand wearily on his forehead and drew a long sigh.

“Never would’ve imagined Your Highness to speak to such great lengths. Weren’t you supposed to be playing the role of the kind husband?”

He heard the voice of Fritz, who had exited before him. And when he looked in the direction of the voice, he saw the clergyman grinning broadly, with the handle of the broom from their previous experiment balanced on his forehead.

“You think that I can play the part as a kind husband when I’m dealing with someone who is nothing more than a living mana vault? Preposterous,” he nonchalantly replied, proceeding to walk down the hallway.

“All that aside, who or what was on the roof?” Not even Fritz was devoid of enough common sense to go barging into a married couple’s bedroom without adequate reason.

Fritz threw the broom over his shoulder and followed along, humming like he was in thought.

“A spy, I’m thinking. I was able to nab them, so they weren’t a trained assassin.”

“Granted, you get assassins foolish enough to get caught by you every once in a while. So, what happened to said spy?”

“I turned them in to Alto and he hauled them away.”

“Ahh. That’s why you came back.” That explained why his knight aide was absent from his post outside the door. Fritz must have handed the captive off to his aide, then returned to the roof. There was no guarantee that the spy came alone. He had come back to keep guard just to be extra sure.

“I swear, those people never learn.”

“They will probably stop at nothing to figure out my weakness.” He sighed, murmuring his annoyance under his breath.

For a long time now, there had been some desperate to remove him from his position as Crown Prince of Baltzar. There was no indication of what they disliked about him, but they were persistent.

“They try to kill me from both outdoors and in, but I’m not taking my leave from this world so soon. I have this life of mine because of my parents and so many other people who have rallied to save it. I will not be killed without accomplishing anything.” From within, the Seed of Mana-Sealing; from without, the warped desires of humans. His life was at stake on two fronts, but he was in no way prepared to give it up without a fight.

“Standing strong as usual, I see, Your Highness. That is the quality that makes me want to lend you my help.” Fritz patted Claudio on the shoulder with a wry smile. “Well, seems we’ll manage this Seed of Mana-Sealing. I’ve collected intel at several different evening galas, but I never would have expected that the shut-in princess was the one who had your mana. Though, given her circumstances, I can see why she can’t be brought outside. If her fear back there was any indication, it’s going to be rough moving forward.”

“You’ve got that right. I’ve lost count of how many times she’s gotten under my skin.” Suddenly, Rosemarie’s pleased-looking expression from the wedding popped into his mind. Even though something had been threatening his life back then, her overly carefree, aloof attitude had disgusted him. It took all he could to suppress his rage. The same went for the three months prior, as he treated her with care leading up to their wedding day. The experience had practically been torture.

“Oh, our boy Alto’s made his way back, so I’ll mosey. I’ll keep trying to gather that information you asked for.” At the sight of a knight approaching them, Fritz waved good-bye and made his exit through the nearby window.

Claudio didn’t stop to see him off as he faded into the shade of night, and instead continued walking to meet up with his knight.