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.