Side Story: Black Memories
HARSH breathing echoed in his ears.
The world was swaying, and an unpleasant warmth spread from his chest. His ears were ringing. He knew the end of his life was near.
“No hard feelings; I’m just following orders,” the man before him said without emotion.
He felt a cold blade against his neck, and a slight pressure was enough to end his life.
Even so.
Your Majesty…
Clovis looked over the man’s shoulder at the fallen queen, and his expression twisted in pain.
Why were the memories coming back now?
Why was his very last living memory that of the sole encounter he had with her many years ago?
When he’d told her a lie…
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🌹🌹🌹
“WAIT, Clovis! Oi, I said, wait!”
A strong hand on his shoulder forced Clovis to stop. All around him, the nobles dressed in gorgeous gowns and suits whispered, wondering what had happened. Reluctantly, he turned around to see an unusually serious expression on Robert’s face.
“Are you stupid? Are you really planning to run away now?”
“…No. I’m just going back to where I belong.”
“That’s the definition of running away!”
He grimaced as Robert’s grip on his shoulder tightened, then shook the other man off. Looking over Robert’s shoulder as his friend glared at him, he caught sight of that red-haired man.
The man with hatred and contempt in his eyes, who’d told him to get lost.
“No,” he said again. “I don’t belong here. I knew it from the start. And now, I know that this is my turning point.”
Before Robert could argue further, Clovis turned around with fierce determination and continued walking away. This time, his friend did not give chase.
A ceremony was organized by the king to personally welcome the return of the inspection squad from Erdal. It was supposed to be a high honor for a young man like him to be invited, yet Clovis felt lighter the moment he left the room, standing alone in the deserted hallway.
Then he laughed.
He’d known that he would be bombarded with heartless words. Riddhe had spoken nothing but the truth, which the king was probably well aware of. Clovis had no ground to stand on.
No, he wasn’t upset.
He’d just realized his own foolish dreams.
It was a short dream, but it was nice while it lasted…
He laughed softly again, shaking his head to clear the foolish dream away. Serving under the respected king, under the chief adviser, and carving out an endless path with them. He threw it all away.
With the most important part of the ceremony over, he shouldn’t get into trouble if he left the castle now. He stepped forward, heading out to look for House Cromwell’s carriage.
“Who are you?”
He stopped at the sound of a sweet voice as light as a bird’s. A girl was peeking at him from behind a pillar, staring at him with sky-blue eyes full of curiosity.
“Who are you?” she asked again. “Are you lost?”
Clovis placed a hand on his chest and bowed to the girl.
“I-I am Clovis of House Cromwell. Please forgive my rudeness…!”
While some nobles had brought their children along to attend the ceremony, there was no way they’d be wandering about the castle unattended. Besides, those sky-blue eyes and hair were a dead giveaway.
There was no mistake. The girl was Her Royal Highness Princess Alicia, the only daughter of the king.
In contrast to Clovis’s internal panic, Alicia nodded at his answer, walking towards him with curiosity evident on her face as she stared.
“Clovis… Clovis… You have black hair. I’ve never seen that before.”
“Well, that’s because…”
The princess tilted her head in confusion as Clovis’s voice trailed off. Judging by her innocent manner, she probably had no knowledge about Graham’s scandal.
Suddenly, Alicia stiffened and turned around. Then, before Clovis could wonder what was happening, she jumped back behind the pillar with a whispered command, “Don’t you tell!”
Not a moment later, a stern-looking lady appeared around the corner.
“Apologies, I am Chief Lady-in-Waiting Fourier. You must be an honored guest at the ceremony,” she stated as she stopped before Clovis.
“I am Clovis of House Cromwell. I was just heading out to my carriage.”
“Thank you for your efforts in Erdal, Lord Cromwell. By the way, did you happen to see Her Highness Princess Alicia pass by here? She has blue hair and is about this tall.”
“Erm…”
Glancing towards the pillar, he saw Alicia shaking her head vigorously while trying to remain hidden.
“…No. I haven’t seen her since I left the throne room.”
“I see. Thank you.”
With a curtsy, the chief lady-in-waiting continued on her way. Alicia only emerged after she was out of sight.
“Thanks, you saved me.”
“Please don’t mention it, Your Highness, but why are you running away?”
“Because Lady Fourier wants me to rest until I get better. I’m tired of resting.”
“Are you unwell?!”
Clovis panicked again, realizing he was now an accomplice to the princess’s misbehavior. However, Alicia seemed in perfect health and fully capable of running and jumping as she pleased.
The princess stuck out her tongue.
“I’m fine. I just pretended to be sick, so I didn’t need to attend the ceremony.”
“I see…”
“I hate those. They’re so long and boring. It’s much more fun to play with the maids. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes?”
Clovis had only been listening half-heartedly and gasped as he realized what he’d just agreed with. Alicia looked up at him, her sky-blue eyes wide.
“You left the ceremony, right? Were you bored, too?”
He gaped at her innocent question. After a moment’s thought, he gave a bitter smile.
“No, not really. It was a wonderful ceremony.”
“Really? Then why didn’t you stay till the end?”
“It was too beautiful a place for me,” Clovis whispered as he looked up at the ceiling.
It was a beautiful, fleeting dream. That he could overcome his cursed past and be accepted as a normal person.
But at the end of the beautiful dream was an ugly wish.
He had to leave before it got to that.
“—vis, Clovis!”
Clovis was snapped back to reality. Looking down, he saw the princess tugging on the hem of his ceremonial robe.
After a moment, he crouched down, unsure of her intentions. Now, he had to look up at her. She was staring at him again, but before he could avert his eyes in discomfort, she threw her arms around him.
“Your Highness…?”
“Come to see me again, Clovis.”
He stilled at the sound of her voice in his ear. The princess’s arms around his neck tightened.
“If you don’t want to attend the ceremony, you don’t have to. Be like me. You can come talk to me, right? I’d be happy to be your friend. So you must come back,” she concluded with a smile.
A warmth filled his chest, and Clovis lowered his eyes to hide his embarrassment.
It was eye-opening to see how free-spirited yet intelligent this girl was. Above all, her heart was full of kindness. Her essence would be a treasure that would surely help the kingdom.
Joy flooded his heart, together with a tinge of sadness that he wouldn’t be present to witness her growth. Amid all these complicated emotions, he spoke a lie.
“Yes, of course.” He smiled as he pulled away to look into her eyes. “Let’s meet again, Your Highness.”
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🌹🌹🌹
NOW, the day had come.
Ironically, the promise he never intended to fulfill had become a reality when he again met Alicia at Egdiel Castle—her as the queen of ruin and him as the revolution mastermind sent to arrest her.
As he watched Heilland struggle over the years, he was filled with increasing frustration, anger, and irritation because, in his heart, he’d somehow always believed in her.
Perhaps it had been a wish. A wish that the kind and intelligent girl was worthy of inheriting the late King James’s legacy and rising up in response to the suffering of her people. Or maybe it had been a prayer.
The former members of the inspection squad were working in secret to oust King Fritz, but the people had had enough. Riot after riot broke out across the kingdom, and they were forced to carry out the revolution before Heilland collapsed into ruin.
Now, they finally met again, but she had changed.
As his senses slowly faded in death, he realized their defeat was decided that day when he’d turned his back on Heilland, run away, and lied to the princess.
Your Majesty, I…
Their paths crossed only once by chance, but he had believed in the brilliance he felt in her at that moment. It was probably a selfish idea, but he couldn’t help but imagine what could have happened if he’d taken the first step that day and accepted her outstretched hand.
Would it have resulted in a different future for him, for her, and for Heilland?
Summoning his remaining strength, he moved a heavy hand to his chest. Closing his eyes, he felt for the wooden cylinder hidden in his clothes—the kaleidoscope that was his talisman.
Prayers were useless, and wishes were foolish. This wish would never come true.
But if only he had a chance at a reprise.
He would surely…
With a final wish, his world fell into darkness.
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🌹🌹🌹
“…WAIT, Clovis Cromwell!”
A voice as light as a bird’s, echoing on the high ceiling, and a tiny warmth wrapped around his right hand. He stopped in shock, turning around with wide eyes.
There, Clovis met her again.
Him, unaware that this wasn’t their first meeting.
Her, unaware that he’d wished for this reprise.
The mischievous gears start turning.
And the story of two individual paths, once separated but converging again, continues…