The Withering Rose
Two days after visiting headquarters, I headed straight to Charlotte. It was to keep the promise I'd made a few days earlier. Since we had to be wary of prying eyes, we met in a deserted slum. A secret rendezvous.
"You're here."
"I did promise."
"Right. This way."
A carriage waited in the alley. We climbed into the cabin without a word and set off toward our destination. The scenery outside the window blurred past. Feeling the swaying of the carriage, I gazed at the princess seated across from me.
This summons was for one reason alone.
The words I'd promised her at the cathedral. The voice of the girl who had begged so desperately. I recalled her eyes filled with sorrow and quietly mulled over the original novel's setting. The young prince's only wish was one thing.
The empire's second princess, suffering from an incurable disease. With her life declared limited, Charlotte prayed for a miracle. It was a sister's heart thinking of her younger sibling. For the past few years, countless attempts had been made to cure the illness, yet no herb had ever restored vitality to the rose. Even renowned physicians had all shaken their heads.
Unable to abandon hope despite repeated failures, the girl reached out in every direction in search of a cure. That was also why she had pursued the black mages.
While the primary goal was eradicating the cult, there was also the hope of finding clues in the confiscated research materials. A desperate situation that warranted even glancing at forbidden knowledge.
'At this rate, the rose has roughly one year left.'
It wasn't much time. Despite the deadline steadily closing in, there had been no tangible results, so her impatience only grew. While she spent every day in anxiety, she discovered me.
My unusual power was enough to draw attention, and with a faint hope, she had delved into my inner self. Until now, she had only observed while assessing the situation, but after witnessing me rewind the thought-form a few days ago, she seemed convinced of my abilities. That scene had been an undeniable miracle, after all.
'Of course she wouldn't be able to resist.'
It had gone according to plan. With eyes watching, I had displayed my power more flamboyantly than usual and manifested an impossible miracle, leaving a strong impression. For Charlotte, it was bait she couldn't ignore. Blinded by the intoxicating scent, she had stepped into the trap to take a bite. Perhaps she saw it as her last hope.
"Heh."
Everything was proceeding smoothly. As I smiled at the thought, a voice reached me from across the carriage. A pair of blue eyes now looking my way.
"...Can you really cure her?"
The question drifted faintly. Charlotte wore a rare, complicated expression. Perhaps because it concerned her ailing sister, anxiety showed through her usually stoic face. I responded with a calm smile.
"I'll need to examine her condition first. My abilities aren't omnipotent, after all."
"I see."
"Please wait until the examination. I'd appreciate it."
"Sorry. I was being hasty."
Charlotte nodded as if she understood. Meeting her gaze, I soothed the girl in a gentle tone.
"Still, I'll do my best. Please don't worry."
"..."
"You can trust only me, Your Highness."
"...Okay. I understand."
My lips curled with insincere charm. I forced away the ominous air and whispered as if biting my own white earlobe. After that, we sat in silence. The carriage raced along without rest until it reached its destination. It was several hours later that the rolling wheels finally arrived.
Meanwhile, around the time the snake and the princess arrived at the palace, the rose lying in her room received the news. The girl looked at the maid with weary eyes.
"The princess is coming...?"
"Yes. She said she's heading straight to the detached palace without informing His Majesty in advance."
"When will she arrive?"
"She should be here soon."
"Ha."
The rose let out a hollow laugh. As she slowly sat up, her red hair cascaded down. She brushed it aside leisurely. Only the maid's face was reflected in her deep green eyes.
"What's her business?"
"She said she's bringing a new doctor."
"Another pointless act."
"This time she said there's real hope..."
"I wonder how long she'll keep this up. Doesn't she ever get tired?"
"You shouldn't speak of Her Highness that way."
"So what if I do... *cough*!"
She responded with a furrowed brow, her tone bristling with thorns. As a sudden cough escaped, she covered her mouth, and red spots bloomed on her white sleeve. Her green eyes looked away as if accustomed to the sight.
"You're coughing up blood again... Your condition seems much worse lately."
"I should just die already."
"...Please don't say such things."
"What does it matter? If you're going to meddle in everything, then get out too."
"H-Hiee..."
The maid wilted at the harsh words. Regardless, the rose wiped the blood from her lips with a cloth. She bit her lifeless lips, her expression irritated. Then she muttered quietly.
"...Please just give up already."
No light entered her empty pupils. Sitting still for a moment, the rose eventually pulled the blanket over herself in irritation.
We crossed through the detached palace. The rose's abode. Because it was somewhat removed from the imperial palace, it lacked the splendor of the nearby residences. The garden, where not a single flower bloomed, was especially desolate.
"It's far too modest for the residence of an imperial princess."
"...Yeah."
Mulling over the plain observation, we moved along side paths to avoid encountering others. As we walked in silence, I felt as though we were thieves, but knowing the circumstances here, we had no choice but to comply. The detached palace did not welcome outsiders.
*Thud, thud.*
We passed between the low buildings. Under the faint sunlight, we walked the long corridor to its end. By the time we reached the most secluded room, Charlotte's steps gradually slowed.
"..."
She gently bit her pale pink lips. Perhaps she was nervous. The girl took three steady breaths, then knocked on the door before her.
It was a dark room where almost no sunlight entered.
*Knock, knock.*
The clear sound of knocking echoed, followed by spreading silence. Though no answer came, Charlotte opened the closed door as if accustomed to it. She seemed to know the deliberate ignoring was intentional.
"I'm coming in."
*Creaaak.*
Leaving the softly groaning hinges behind, the girl stepped inside. The gloomy air greeted us. The interior was a simple scene. In a good light, it was neat; in a bad light, it lacked any striking beauty. It merely fulfilled the role of a room.
As I briefly scanned the surroundings, Charlotte stopped in place and offered a greeting. Toward the bed visible between the shadows.
"It's been a while, Elise."
Atop the blanket bloomed a single rose. Long, flowing red hair and green eyes holding a decadent light. I recognized her at a glance.
'Elise Rose von Staufen.'
She looked exactly as she did in the original novel. Dark circles hung heavily beneath her eyes. Her haggard complexion gave off a frail impression, yet it still held an indelible beauty within. It was like looking at a flower on the verge of being torn apart by a storm.
"I greet the empire's second star."
I knelt on one knee. It was a formal display of courtesy. I bowed first upon entering. However—
"..."
Again, no reply came. Only a cold silence flowed. The rose merely glared at us from her seat on the bed. Her pupils, fixed on the young prince and the snake in turn, dripped with some unknown hostility. Even the maid standing behind swallowed hard.
"Elise."
"..."
"This is the person who will cure your illness."
Perhaps trying to ease the awkward air, Charlotte stepped forward. She added an introduction about me.
"Yes. I can vouch for his identity. I've watched him for quite a long time."
She seemed to think her sister wouldn't welcome an unfamiliar face. It wasn't entirely wrong. I had felt her blatant wariness since earlier. But what Charlotte missed was that Elise's hostility also extended to her.
The rose uttered a single word.
"Get out."
It was the first voice she had spoken. Yet the tone was endlessly cold for words directed at family.