Some time had passed since his master’s engagement had been decided. She seemed as cheerful as ever on the surface, but something had changed.
“Lady Candy!” She had started regularly meeting with a certain noble lady.
“It’s nice to see you, Lady Ixeris.” She was a girl in her late teens with long, white hair. According to Theophilus’s memories, the woman called Lady Candy only met with his master privately in her room, and he wasn’t allowed inside. In fact, he was barely even given the opportunity to greet her. However, he did have a memory where he happened to exchange a few words with her, so I was able to glean her appearance from that.
Her features were strikingly similar to Astrantia’s and Orlaya’s. Is she the witch?! Instinctively, I could just tell. Her clear skin, ample bust, and beautiful face were all similar to the princess’s, yet they could never be mistaken for each other.
The girl I’d sworn to spend my final moments with never wore the expression of a harlot who enjoyed toying with others, never smiled to manipulate people’s hearts, and above all else, didn’t have such dead eyes.
Ixeris invited the girl into her room and told Theophilus to wait outside. Just before the door closed, the girl looked at him.
“Does a conversation between maidens tickle your curiosity, Mr. Knight?”
“Certainly not.”
She giggled. “I’m only kidding. Besides, even if you listen in, the future will remain the same.” Her eyes were clearly fixed on Theophilus, yet it felt like she was speaking directly to me.
“I need to speak with Lady Candy. Wait here, Theo,” said Ixeris.
“As you wish.”
Welcomed by the lord, the white-haired girl ended up staying in the city for a while. Ixeris opened her heart to the girl like she was an old friend and grew more cheerful by the day. It should have been a cause for celebration, but anxiety gradually filled Theophilus’s chest—like the emptiness of a bowl after water slowly leaks out.
One day, he was visiting the estate’s garden with Ixeris.
“I love these flowers. They’re as beautiful as the sun.” Ixeris was quite fond of a certain yellow flower. “Theo, did you know that long ago, a poet compared a place where these flowers bloomed in abundance to gold? The story spread so widely that some even believed it really was gold.”
“Yes, I am aware. The rumors attracted not only miners but bandits as well, leading the knights of the day to have to subdue them.”
“I wonder why that poet would compare such beautiful flowers to something like gold.”
“I haven’t the slightest clue how poets think.”
“I guess you wouldn’t. Though if they really were gold, they’d never wilt.” Ixeris’s eyes turned vacant, as though her previous smile had all been a lie.
“Flowers may wilt, but then they bloom again,” said Theophilus, trying to bring some life to her eyes. Ixeris looked from the flowers to Theophilus as though hoping for something.
“Then will you continue to come look at these flowers with me every time they bloom?”
“Certainly.”
“Really?”
“I am your knight.”
Ixeris giggled. “Then it’s a promise.” Her smile didn’t hide her still-empty eyes.