A Choice You'll Regret
"...Huh."
The moment Clana saw Frey, she spaced out and tears welled up. Only when he began frowning at her did she snap back to reality.
"Th-this is... um..."
She frantically wiped the tears trailing down her cheeks but couldn't muster any excuse. She didn't even understand herself why this was happening.
"Ugh, uwaa..."
To make matters worse, her hands started trembling now too.
"...It's nothing."
Tormented for days by this inexplicable symptom and her inexplicably burning heart, Clana finally muttered weakly, slumping onto the sofa without resistance.
"Hmm... so it really is true."
The first princess watched with a low murmur, while Frey tossed out an indifferent question.
"So, what'd you wanna talk about? I'm kinda busy, so make it quick."
"Well, sorry, but it might take a bit."
Regaining her composure, the first princess glanced at Clana—still gripped by mild panic—and added,
"Not me, though. Looks like Clana's got plenty to say."
"Sigh... fine, can't be helped."
Sighing at her words, Frey commanded the girls sprawled before him in disarray.
"Go play in the next room with Lulu. Fighters go hungry."
His tone dismissed them as less than human, but they merely bowed with lifeless eyes.
"Lulu, catch you later?"
"Hah... y-yes..."
Frey flashed a gentle smile at pale-faced Lulu trailing them, then hardened his expression once they were gone.
"So, what'd you wanna talk about?"
"Ah, well. About the Cloud Kingdom's support request. You know there's a secret meeting at today's birthday party, right?"
"Yeah, of course."
"We came to tell you the spot."
As the first princess glanced at Clana, she slowly raised a trembling hand and snapped her fingers.
"Ah, w-wait just a sec."
Her shaky hand only leaked faint light—nothing happened—so flustered Clana snapped repeatedly.
"Chirp!"
"...This?"
After persistent snapping, a tiny canary popped out and perched on Frey's shoulder. Forcing calm, Clana said,
"Th-that bird'll guide you."
"Right, just follow it. Message delivered—we're out."
"Already?"
The first princess smirked and rose. Frey blinked puzzledly.
"Ah, I had something to say... but now it doesn't matter."
She winked with a smile.
"Keep that up from now on, Frey."
"Huh? What do you—"
Still confused, Frey started to ask, but she waved dismissively and exited.
"........"
Left alone with Frey, a heavy silence descended on Clana.
"...Been well?"
"No."
Frey feigned nonchalance, breaking the endless quiet. My curt reply drew a sigh, then another question.
"So, what'd you wanna talk about with me?"
"First, explain those girls."
Pressing him casually, he shrugged shamelessly.
"What, obvious. My slaves."
"Slaves...?"
"More like pets, really. I give 'em affection."
I replied coldly.
"Meeting on the slave market soon... and you're tormenting girls our age worse than slaves."
"Gonna assassinate me then?"
His sneer heated my heart again—like every time his voice echoed in my mind these past days.
'Again... it's starting.'
My hidden hand trembled under the desk. Clenching failed to stop it.
"Joking. Why so jumpy?"
"...Not in a joking mood."
Glare at his teasing. Raise my voice.
"You! What did you do to—"
"Oh yeah, got a gift for you."
He cut me off, pulling a box from his pocket. My throat magically sealed shut.
"Peace offering. Take it."
"Hah..."
"Clana?"
His calm words. I bowed deeply, thoughts racing.
'No doubt. Frey did something.'
His thoughts haunted me for days. Face or voice recalled: chest burns, hands shake. Suspected love at first—but dismissed. No way I'd fall for the man I hated enough to kill overnight.
Answer: grudge-fueled sabotage.
'He said "assassinate me." He knows...'
Discovered my plot? Demon King's power for revenge? Even without, reason aplenty—like vowing to toy and discard me at the ball.
"Don't open that box."
Coldly to Frey.
"What?"
"Think I'm clueless? That 'gift' strengthens your spell on me. Wrong?"
Puzzled Frey.
"Else why gift me? Speak."
"Said it: wanna make peace."
"Peace gifts packed with black magic now?"
Rage boils. Hate his detestable face holding that black-magic box—so killable. Yet heart pounds, hands shake. Brain screams hate; heart rebels.
"Got it from Kania—might have traces. Big deal."
"Liar. Think I wouldn't know?"
Shameless still. Extend trembling hand.
"Seeing you... thinking of you shakes my hands. What'd you do?"
"...Ah."
Flicker of genuine fluster crossed his face.
Snap—something inside broke.
"Put the box away. Don't need your gift."
"Refusing peace?"
"Us? Friends?"
He shrugged.
"Thought we could."
"Won't."
Rising, frown deep.
"Hate you, Frey."
"Yeah? I like you."
"Spit first."
"True."
Calm Frey.
"Dunno the shakes, but not me. Promise."
"Lies forever..."
Anger surging—then a thought halted me. Replay.
'Off... definitely.'
That fluster: not brazen or vile when caught. Genuine. No malice. Gift brazen like scheming—but that face worried, like...
'Like then? When?'
Flash: halt.
Worried for me? No reason...
"Anyway, no gift? Out."
"Won't say what you did?"
"Nothing."
Tired gesture out. Confused gaze—hands twitch. Hurry to door.
"Really leaving it?"
Doorknob. Voice behind—tremble resumes.
"N-no need. Not your gift."
Hide shake, cold reply. Flee room.
"Good job tanking things with Frey?"
"...Huh?"
Veiled figure grabs, whispers low. Startled glance—identity dawns.
"Rosewin?"
"Face says you wrecked it good."
Wink. Low whisper.
"Operation starts now."
"N-now?"
"Duh. Down guys fold to temptation easy."
Eye-smile. Heads to Frey's room.
"W-wait...!"
Unwitting stop.
Why?
"Ah, no... wait. I mean..."
"Hehe, no worries."
Falter. Her smirk.
"I'll steal Frey perfect from you."
Opens door. Enters smooth.
"Ugh, uuu..."
Clana stared blankly at the shut door, then paced anxiously nearby.
"Why... why this..."
Eyes shut, meditate. Breathe deep. Bite nails. Anxiety clings.
"...Ugh!"
Restless spell broken—hurries off.
"For Rosewin's safety. Frey might overstep."
Balcony of Frey's room. Resonates with golden canary on his shoulder.
Her lonely-days secret talk-bird—never shown Frey.
Safe. Links sight, hearing. Peers in.
"Frey, why so glum?"
"Just... stuff."
Rosewin shoulder-touch question. Clana slight frown.
"Clana dump you?"
"Nah... tried peace..."
"This the peace gift?"
Rosewin head-tilt puzzled. Frey sullen.
"Rosewin, want it?"
"Love gifts."
"...Means dating me too?"
Eyes sparkle. Frey teases chuckle.
"Take it? Nah?"
"........."
"Joke. Next info guild—better one then..."
"...Give."
"Huh?"
Shake box, pocket sullen—snatched. Fluster.
"W-wait. My gift..."
"Hmm... fancy wrap. Tough get?"
Cuts bewilder. Praises paper. Awkward Frey.
'Th-that box...'
Watching. Reaches—Clana pales mutter.
'Dangerous...!'
Black magic sensed. Open = doom.
"Op-opening..."
Urge control canary—shakes block Solar Mana. Pale turn-back.
"Oh, what's this."
"Uh... well..."
Nail-bite anxious to room—sees pull-out. Bites finger hard unwitting.
"This... for Clana?"
"Nah, flower shop front... how touch that..."
"Lying to me? Cute."
No black clump, scroll, curse necklace.
"But canary flower... yellow? Intent screams."
Just yellow canary flower.
"...Huh?"
Canary-view blank stare. Shaky mutter.
"No... no way...?"
Then Clana knew: something wrong.