7. The Butterfly Dream (胡蝶之夢) - 05
7. The Butterfly Dream (胡蝶之夢) - 05
House Castana had several small guest rooms. They weren't the kind of rooms reserved for distinguished guests such as nobility, but they weren't shabby servants' quarters either—just ordinary, modest rooms. They were given to people deemed "guests" of House Castana, but not important enough to warrant special effort.
And in one of those guest rooms, a white-haired girl sat quietly on the bed, doing nothing but gazing out the window.
"....."
The white-haired girl said nothing. Perhaps because it was early morning, a cool breeze drifted in through the window. She paid no mind to the wind scattering her hair, only gazing at the scenery outside with melancholy eyes.
Everyone who had come here to question the white-haired girl simply stared at her in silence, as if spellbound by the sight. It was something truly beyond words. The white-haired girl's sculpted features were striking enough, but something transcendent radiated from her—a beauty that effortlessly surpassed mortal standards.
Looking at the white-haired girl, Iris found herself recalling the image of the Winter Goddess she had once seen in a temple mural as a child. Gazing at the girl who emanated a spiritual energy at once sacred and incomparably solemn, Iris acknowledged that no name could possibly suit the white-haired girl better than "Aria."
Just as a long silence had settled over the room, the one who shattered the quiet hush was none other than Marquis Castana. This was because mages, by nature, were mostly antisocial figures markedly lacking in sensitivity and empathy, and Marquis Castana was a typical mage who was no exception. The only thought occupying his mind was the practical desire to get to the point as quickly as possible.
"...Your Highness. I beg your pardon for the impertinence, but did you not say you had questions for that girl?"
At Marquis Castana's call—his voice laced, however faintly, with Magic Power—everyone gathered was finally able to break free from the spell cast by the white-haired girl's appearance. Iris was no exception.
...But Iris simply regarded Aria with a gaze somewhat different from the others in the room. She was strengthening her conviction once again: the maid Kain kept at his side was unquestionably a woman who must not be taken lightly.
"You said your name was Aria, I believe. We are old acquaintances, are we not?"
At the Imperial Princess's question, Aria quietly closed her eyes, then gave only the faintest nod. It was an attitude that could not have been more insolent as a response to the Imperial Princess of the Empire.
"...Such insolent—"
Witnessing Aria's behavior, Chris—who could be called the Imperial Princess's loyal hound—flared up and moved to snap at her, but Iris restrained him with a glance. In the current situation, Aria's attitude toward her did not matter in the slightest.
"Very well. I have something I wish to ask you personally. What exactly happened to you and Lord Kain that night, during the procession to House Estel?"
At Iris's question, the light went out of Aria's eyes. A moment later, Aria's body trembled faintly, and she hung her head, murmuring in a small voice.
"...I don't."
"...What did you say?"
"I don't remember anything. Nothing at all."
In that moment, Iris did not miss how Aria clenched her fist tightly.
"...Lord Kain and I were on our way back to House Estel by carriage. Then suddenly, the carriage shook, and the sounds around us died away. And then..."
"And then?"
"I don't remember anything from that point on. It's as if someone carved out the memories of that moment."
"....."
At Aria's answer, Iris glanced sideways at Marquis Castana. He, having swiftly caught the meaning in her look, merely gave a quiet nod. Aria's words were the truth. His father, the former head of House Castana, had also confirmed that Aria was not lying.
"...Just as I thought."
Yet Iris simply accepted Aria's words without any hint of disappointment. She had not expected to gain anything from Aria in the first place. A thorough woman like Bianca del Castana would never commit such an amateur mistake as leaving a witness behind.
'So the situation returns to square one.'
But it had not been entirely fruitless. She could now be certain that Bianca del Castana possessed some technique capable of interfering with human memory. That alone was a significant gain, but it was equally true that it was useless information for breaking through the current predicament.
"....."
Marquis Castana simply watched Iris in silence as she sighed, clearly displeased with how things were unfolding. From his perspective, he could not fathom why someone of the Imperial Princess's stature would visit House Castana without any prior notice or show such fervent interest in rumors about Young Duke Estel and Bianca disappearing together.
To begin with, Marquis Castana did not feel any great alarm about this incident. He simply could not imagine a scenario where Bianca del Castana—the masterpiece House Castana had cultivated over a thousand years—would fall victim to anyone. He had likely concluded that Bianca, taking advantage of being alone with Kain von Estel, whom she was utterly smitten with, had simply gone off traveling somewhere.
But House Castana was also a prestigious family with a storied history, one that had safeguarded the empire alongside the Four Great Ducal Houses for the past millennium. He felt the need to resolve this matter as swiftly as possible, if only to prevent the unseemly spectacle of the Imperial Princess snooping around House Castana.
In his view, there was only one easy way to remove the Imperial Princess from House Castana: divert her attention to an entirely different place.
"Your Highness, in that case, how about visiting House Estel?"
"...House Estel? And why would that be?"
"Because by now, news of this incident should have reached Duke Estel's ears, yet House Estel has shown no movement whatsoever. The Duke Estel I know is a man who dotes terribly on his young lord. The fact that he remains quietly in place suggests he may hold some information that we are not privy to."
It was not entirely without reason. Marquis Castana, with a mage's reasoning, had become somewhat convinced that a clue lay at House Estel.
"Perhaps House Estel holds the answer Your Highness seeks. Would that not be a possibility?"
****
Utterly indifferent to the fact that figures standing at the apex of imperial power—the Imperial Princess and Marquis Castana—were conversing right before her, Aria stared blankly at her own hand.
Blood was seeping from the center of her jade-white palm. When the Imperial Princess had questioned her moments ago, she had been unable to control her emotions and clenched her fist so tightly that her nails had dug into her palm.
Aria had given the Imperial Princess this answer: as if something had carved out that moment, she remembered nothing.
...In truth, that wasn't quite accurate. It was not a lie that she lacked memories, but there was one scene she remembered with perfect clarity.
A colossal sun falling toward the earth, the stench of death thick in the air everywhere, and amidst that despair, the face of Kain von Estel, who had saved her. She still remembered it vividly.
Again. She had been helped again. She could no longer even muster a laugh. How many times had it been now? How long would he continue reaching out his hand to her, and how long would she simply cling to the hand he extended? How much longer would she do nothing but receive his help?
Shiver.
Her body trembled. Shame, humiliation, and the guilt of being the only one left in a safe place mixed together, making Aria's body tremble involuntarily.
...But this time, her eyes did not well up with tears as before. And she would not despair. Because Aria had steeled her resolve. Sitting quietly on the bed blaming herself or shedding tears would not change anything. The power to change the situation was a privilege reserved solely for those who acted.
And so, firm resolve kindled in Aria's eyes. Yes, she would admit it. Bianca del Castana. You won the first round. It is undeniably your victory. But from the second round onward, I have absolutely no intention of letting you have your way. The next time, Bianca del Castana. When I meet you. When I face you. That will be the moment I repay today's humiliation without fail.
And I swear I will witness with my own eyes your face twisted into a wretched grimace.
Yes, without fail.
****
"...Mm."
I open my eyes. As I do, consciousness slowly surfaces. Once I come to, I realize I have opened my eyes in an unfamiliar space I do not recognize.
"...Ah."
A throbbing pain pulsed in my head. A strange sensation occupied my mind, as if I had been in a long, long dream.
"...Where is this place?"
I propped myself halfway up from the bed I'd been lying on and examined the space around me. In a word, this place was a cozy cabin. The cabin itself, along with every object adorning its interior, was so charmingly snug it looked as if it had popped straight out of a storybook.
There was just one problem: I couldn't remember anything. From why I was lying in a place like this, to the larger question of who I even was—I remembered nothing at all.
"What, amnesia?"
I let out a dry laugh. I had never imagined I would experience the cliché of amnesia that pops up in every old tale or folk story. Should I take comfort in the fact that I hadn't forgotten everyday knowledge? If I'd forgotten that too, I might have ended up like a dementia patient who no longer remembers how to hold a spoon.
'...No, did I really lose my memories?'
Something felt off. A part of my head had been tingling for a while now. To put it metaphorically, it felt as though my head was so stuffed with something that I couldn't retrieve my memories. It seemed like with just some small trigger, I might be able to resolve this sense of dissonance—
Creeeak—
That was when it happened. The cabin door opened, and a woman stepped inside. The moment her eyes confirmed I had raised myself up on the bed, she smiled brightly and slowly walked toward me.
"You're finally awake. I thought you'd be waking up soon, but you were a little faster than I expected."
"...You are."
The instant I saw the face of that woman with crimson hair and crimson eyes, my head throbbed again. It was clear. I knew that woman. I couldn't recall the nature of our relationship at all, but I knew with certainty that she and I were not ordinary acquaintances.
"Don't push yourself. You've been lying in bed for over three full days. Honestly, you're a man who's hard not to worry about."
Her eyes, as she spoke those words, clearly held affection for me. Her gaze was so blatant that even I, who am hardly perceptive in such matters, could easily recognize it. And seeing her like that, I found myself speaking.
"...There's something I want to ask you."
"What is it? You can ask me anything. I'll answer anything for you."
Looking at her as she still directed that lovely smile at me, I carefully posed my question.
"...Who are you? And what is our relationship?"
At my question, the woman's smile deepened. She raised a single finger, gently brought it to my lips, and with a soft laugh, answered, as if she had been waiting for me to ask that very question.
"I am your one and only lover in this world. And..."
Her finger left my lips, and she raised her right hand slightly, gently stroking my cheek. Her touch was as careful as if she were handling the most precious treasure in the world.
"We are in love with each other."