“No... It’s not in here!” Cecily said in despair, after flicking through the pages of a book in the castle library.
She had spoken these words louder than she’d intended, and a number of other people in the library glared daggers at her. She shrank into herself and bowed in apology.
Over the past few days, Cecily had been reading through the many books in the library.
The recipe wasn’t in the ones mom gave me so I thought it might be here, but...
Her face screwed up in disappointment.
The book laid out before her was a book of potion recipes that had been in storage in the castle. The recipes within included well-known potions as well as ones that would fetch a good price. However, even if you followed the recipes to the letter, the potions would have no effect unless their creator had magical abilities. Due to this, all this knowledge that some witch had passed down from long ago was nothing more than an unusable relic from another age. And unfortunately for Cecily, there wasn’t the faintest sign of information on an antidote for the love potion in this book.
In all honesty, Cecily wasn’t even sure if such an antidote existed in the first place. Witches simply made potions as their whims took them—Cecily doubted there was any witch before her who had wanted to make an antidote for a love potion. Even with all the recipes Cecily had seen in her own time, she hadn’t seen a single one for an antidote, for any of them.
All the same, she continued to rifle through the pages, but there wasn’t even a footnote containing any useful information.
Should I go back to my old house and ask mom?
It was possible that there might be some information among Greta’s many recipes. However, Cecily hadn’t even been exiled from her village for a year yet. Going home now would be against the rules. It was something she ought to use only as an absolute final resort.
“I wonder how Zeke’s doing...” Cecily murmured to herself.
Cecily hadn’t seen Zeke in two days now. She knew that she shouldn’t let her thoughts wander to him, but when she relaxed, she just couldn’t help it.
No, that wasn’t right. She was constantly thinking about Zeke—it was just that she was forcing herself to ignore it. And when she stopped focusing on ignoring those thoughts, her real emotions slipped out.
Zeke’s heart had been twisted by the love potion. Just like the princes in her picture books and fairy tales, he had used sweet words and kind actions to express his newfound love for Cecily, taking her by surprise.
But this love was different from true love.
Cecily was more than surprised when Nora had appeared that day. But if Nora hadn’t appeared, then Cecily may have ended up marrying Zeke and maybe even having a child with him in a happy future together. In this sense, perhaps it was a good thing that Nora had shown up when she did. After all, Cecily had no idea when the effects of the love potion would wear off.
How much of a shock would it be for Zeke when he finally came to his senses and it was too late to undo anything? He would be full of despair at having committed a mistake he couldn’t come back from.
“Everyone deserves the right to be with the person they actually love.”
Cecily was trying to do the right thing for them both.
“To be honest, I don’t even think Zeke is my type,” Cecily said, folding her arms and trying to lie to herself.
“Really? Then what kind of man do you like?”
“Let’s see... A blue-eyed, blond-haired prince, like the ones who appear in fairy tales. Someone who’s handsome, kind, strong, brave, caring, with a fierce look in his eye, but a warmth behind it. Someone...”
Someone just like Zeke.
...is what she was about to say, but, sensing something was off, she pursed her lips instead. She looked up and across the table...and froze as she saw Zeke standing there with a stony expression.
“Ze—”
Zeke placed a hand over Cecily’s mouth, stopping her words as she began to call his name.
At least, that’s what she expected, but in the next moment, he had lifted her up in his strong arms, and the shock of being carried like a princess caused the word to falter in her throat.
He managed to put away the recipe book that was resting on the table, returning it to its shelf, before leaving the library with Cecily still in his arms.
Filled with guilt, Cecily was all in a tizzy.
“Y-You’ve got the wrong idea. I just had something I wanted to research in the library, I wasn’t trying to avoid you...and the stuff about a blond prince with blue eyes didn’t mean anything.”
Cecily couldn’t afford to upset Zeke while he was still under the effects of the potion. Zeke’s eyes narrowed as he watched the flustered Cecily, keeping up his steady pace.
They soon came to a stop in a corner of a garden with no one else around, flowers of all colors blooming around them and filling the air with their fragrance.
Zeke gently set Cecily onto the ground.
“Cecily. I’ve got something I need to talk to you about.”
At Zeke’s unexpectedly serious manner, Cecily froze up. Zeke went on.
“I and the other knights will be heading up to the northern mountain range tomorrow to quell some magical beasts.”
“What?”
This mission for the Celestial Knight Brigade had come directly from the king himself. The northern mountain range contained a great forest of trees that covered the border with the neighboring country to the north, and many violent magical beasts were said to lurk there.
The magical beasts had kept to themselves for a long time, but recently, more and more of them had been descending upon nearby villages and causing havoc there. As such, the Celestial Knight Brigade was being dispatched in order to fend them off.
“I’ll be leaving three of my knights behind to guard Princess Charlotte, but the rest of us will be heading out on this mission.”
That means that this mission will be rather dangerous.
It was true that Zeke was a skilled knight, but even he couldn’t prevent injuries from happening. Should the battle get particularly messy, it was even possible some knights might perish during the mission.
However, Cecily couldn’t allow her emotions to drive her response to this. Zeke had given her so much. She had lived her life with her head bowed beneath her hood, but now, thanks to Zeke, her horizons had broadened, and her world filled with color.
Even though it’s only been half a month since I met him...
Zeke had really had an undeniable effect on her life.
I at least need to see him off with a smile!
After all, Zeke Stein was a man honest and sincere enough to seek Cecily out in the library to tell her about his mission, straight from his own mouth. Cecily wanted to be someone that he could be proud of too. Even though their relationship was built on a lie, this feeling wasn’t.
“Please take care, Zeke. I want you to come home safe.” She smiled and her eyes crinkled, the corners of her lips slightly raised.
Zeke was silent, his eyes wide open in surprise. Then, in the next moment, he embraced her small body with his own.
“Whoa!”
Cecily’s cheeks grew red. This display of affection made her tremble.
“P-Please, Zeke. Let go.”
“No.”
“C-Come on...”
She was serious—if Zeke held on any longer, it would make it harder to leave his side.
Perhaps sensing she was being serious, Zeke let her go sadly.
“Then let me see your face, at least.”
However, Zeke wasn’t about to let her go so easily. He took her cheeks in his hands as if holding a fragile object, and lifted her head up so that their faces were almost touching.
Zeke was often labeled scary or intense, but right now, he was unbearably handsome. As he looked at her with those sharp, hazel eyes of his, Cecily felt something in her chest ache.
“Ah...”
“What’s wrong, Cecily?” Zeke asked, looking at her with concern.
Cecily stood strong—but there was no way she could remain so under Zeke’s intense gaze.
“...Sorry.”
“Cecily?”
She had begun to cry.
“I’m sorry, Zeke... I’m so, so sorry.”
She wanted him to be happy—more than anyone else in this world. Even if that meant not being by his side anymore.
Yes, Cecily loved Zeke so much that she honestly wished this for him. This was a love that would stand firm, even if she had led Alphonse or Cyril to also drink love potions and came to be the target of either of their affections.
I wish Zeke would love me.
Her love potion had succeeded because of this burning desire in her heart. And now, even more so than then, she loved him.
She loved Zeke—who worked so diligently to lead his knights and care for his wyvern as the captain of the Celestial Knight Brigade, even if it meant getting less sleep.
I suppose this is what love is.
Cecily hadn’t drunk a love potion herself, yet she felt that she loved Zeke far more than he did her. Her life had been without romance, despite her long-held desire for it. Now that she finally had someone that she well and truly loved, her heart was filled with joy, but also a deep loneliness.
Not wishing to be seen with her eyes full of tears, Cecily hugged Zeke tightly.
“Zeke,” was all she could say.
“Cecily. I love you.”
It was as if he were speaking on behalf of Cecily’s emotions. He gently stroked her back.
But you don’t love me, Zeke. Not really.
She wanted to tell him this, but even if she had, Zeke wouldn’t accept it while still under the love potion’s effects.
Cecily took a deep breath.
I’ll have the antidote finished by the time Zeke returns from the northern mountain range.
Cecily was worried for Zeke’s safety, but the brigade was comprised of the best knights. They wouldn’t lose to some magical beasts. And without Zeke by her side, Cecily was sure she wouldn’t falter, wouldn’t hesitate. She could do this.
She looked up at Zeke and steeled her resolve.
“When you’re back, Zeke, I have something I need to tell you.”
Zeke seemed surprised but gave a big nod.
“Cecily... I’ll have something I need to tell you as well.”