Ayame lay in her bed, her eyes darker and more sunken than usual. Her face showed exhaustion, fear and perhaps faint echoes of madness.
None of them know. None of them remember.
Why am I the only one who does?
I can't just go back to normal. I can't pretend to live an ordinary life again, side by side with the others.
I need to find out what the curse really is, what attacked us yesterday, and how the gods were involved…
Ayame grimaced in pain.
…Right. I forgot. Those days never existed.
But I know the truth.
Trembling, she got out of bed. She changed out of her nightgown and into her usual clothes: a cloak, light armor and dark pants. Then she went to the desk opposite her bed. A single sheet of paper lay on the surface, next to a quill dipped in ink.
Ayame thought about what to write.
No matter what she wrote, she knew there was no way to justify it.
As the only living relative of the prince, she wouldn't be at his wedding.
Ayame sighed, then began to write with a heavy heart:
Forgive me, my dear brother.
My dreams have led me down a path I can't turn from.
I don't know if you'll forgive me, but I can't return to our everyday life just yet.
I need knowledge. I must learn what our curse truly is.
I'm sorry, but you know I will always support you.
Your loving sister, Ayame.
Without thinking further, Ayame left her chamber and pinned the note to her door. She managed to leave the palace while the servants were still asleep, slipping away through the passages only members of the royal family knew.
*
A few hours later…
"Haru, stop squirming already, for heaven's sake!" Maldie scolded, irritation creeping into her voice.
"It's hard not to! I've been sitting still for hours, my butt feels soooo numb! And Gari tied this corset so tight I can barely breathe!"
"Beauty takes pain, sweetheart. This is your one and only day. Just hold on a bit longer, I'm almost done."
Haru sighed.
Suddenly, a loud thump echoed through the room. Both he and Maldie turned their heads.
Bored out of her mind, Gari had been rocking on her chair – and lost balance, slamming hard onto the floor.
"Ow. Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt!"
Haru burst out laughing, while Maldie only sighed in annoyance.
"Well, stupid lizards will be stupid," she muttered under her breath, returning to stylizing Haru's hair.
"Hey, Maldie," Gari spoke up again, "wait, doesn't this mean we're gonna get a promotion? I mean, if Shion marries Haru, they both will have the right to coronation, right?"
"Huh? So that's the difference between a prince and a king?" Haru asked, confused. "I didn't really pay attention in history class… it was so boring."
"Exactly. The rules differ by culture, but our ancestors kept it simple: a prince is a ruler who's yet unmarried. Once he ties the knot, he becomes king. Right after the wedding comes the coronation of the married couple."
"S-so that means I-I'll be the second k-king?" Haru stammered shyly.
"More like a queen. Need me to remind you who's wearing the dress here?" Maldie teased with a grin.
Haru puffed his cheeks and turned redder.
"Gari, look outside and tell me what's going on."
"Yeah, yeah," Gari said lazily, getting up and peeking out the window. "Hmm… the ministers and servants are starting to gather in front of the palace. The prince is already waiting – oh! Someone else just arrived! Some official and his wife with long brown hair…"
"That's my parents!" Haru gasped in surprise. "How did Shion bring them here so fast? There's no way I can let them see me like this! They… they have a son, not a daughter!"
"Well, it's a bit late for that, sweetheart," Maldie said in a playful tone. "They should be proud they made such a pretty kid, heh."
"That doesn't help!" Haru's face flamed even more.
Calm down!
It's not that I'm ashamed of how I look… I'm just nervous.
I can't believe I will be someone's wife after less than a month of relationship!
Isn't that insane? Still, I wonder what my parents will think when they see me…
…like this.
"Haru, your parents are entering the palace. Shion is taking them somewhere," Gari said.
"P-probably to m-my room!" Haru yelped, embarrassed.
Oh god, what am I going to tell them?!
"How many times do I have to tell you not to move? Geez, hold still – it's just the finishing touches!"
The moment Maldie said "done," Haru heard voices outside his door. Shion said goodbye to his parents, telling them that tradition didn't allow him to see his spouse until the official greeting Moments later, came a knock at the door.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Haru didn't even look in the mirror. He rushed to open the door.
"Well, that didn't take you long," his mother joked as she entered. "Seducing a prince that fast – pretty impressive."
"I'm proud of you, son," Haru's father said, then froze, jaw dropping to the floor.
His mother's purse slipped from her hands and hit the ground with a thud.
"H-Haru…" his father stammered, unable to form words.
"Do I look that bad?" Haru asked. "You got here so fast I didn't even have time to check the mirror!" He turned toward it, then stopped in shock.
Haru was speechless.
He wore a lace gown with a soft corseted bodice and intricate embroidery. The corset made his waist look strikingly feminine. A delicate veil was woven into his hair, which Maldie had carefully brushed and styled. Most of it flowed freely, but two small braids circled the top of his head like a crown, meeting at the back and bound together with a silver, butterfly-shaped clip dusted in glitter.
The gown revealed his smooth shoulders, which looked almost too graceful for a man. Long, floral-patterned sheer gloves emphasized that fragile beauty. His makeup was vivid but not overdone – Maldie had outdone herself.
The smooth, delicate features of his face were enhanced by Maldie's makeup. She used three eyeshadows—gold, red, and silver—blending them into a soft gradient across his eyelids, finishing with a touch of glitter. His lashes were thickened and lengthened, making him look even more dazzling.
"T-that's… really me? N-no way!"
"Maldie, did you use magic?" Gari asked just as amazed.
"Just pure skill, honey," the maid said proudly.
"H-Haru," his mother said, eyes glistening, "you look just like me on my wedding day, only so much prettier! Oh my goodness, we have such a beautiful son."
"Y-yeah," his father added, still not sure how to react to any of this. "If you're ready, it's time. Tradition says the bride walks to her groom accompanied by her parents, closest friends, or servants."
"You two ready?" Haru asked Gari and Maldie.
"Hell yeah," Gari smiled.
"Sure. Just give me a sec to clean up."
Moments later, Haru stepped onto the courtyard. His parents held his arms, while Gari and Maldie followed behind. He had to watch his steps, balancing on thin white heels as he walked the stone stairs.
Outside, ministers and servants stood in two facing rows. White and pink petals showered them as they walked.
At the end of the path stood Shion, dressed in elegant purple robes lined with golden patterns.
The prince turned toward him and smiled warmly.
Haru blushed all over, his heart pounding faster.
I can't believe this is really happening! In less than a month…
…I found myself a husband.