Ch. 1: Pain on a Moonlit Night
Crawford in the Land of Time, Month of Shadow…-.
(How beautiful…)
As I looked around, a silver world spread out before me, the ground covered in a gentle coating of snow that shone in the beautiful moonlight.
I had come to Crawford of the Land of Time at an invitation from Drei.
Inside the room I had been guided to, I felt my whole body wrapped in warmth.
(It’s so warm.)
A fire was already burning in the magnificent brick fireplace.
(I need to find Drei.)
OO: “Excuse me, where is Drei?”
Servant: “Prince Drei… I believe he’s in his room at the moment. There are plans for breakfast tomorrow, so you should be able to see him then.”
OO: “Oh, I see…”
Servant: “Please rest and relax for tonight.”
OO: “Thank you.”
Saying as much, the servant left the room.
(But I really think it would be better if I could see him now. I shouldn’t just go off on my own but… it’s probably alright.)
I arrived in front of Drei’s room and knocked on the door…
??: “You need something from me?”
As soon as I turned towards the voice, both of my hands were grabbed and I was pushed against the wall.
(…!)
Sleek pale hair, and a slightly pale face…
Even though I was startled and afraid, I knew the person in front of me was Drei.
OO: “I-I came to see you…”
Drei: “…oh, it’s just you.”
Drei suddenly let go of my hands.
Then just like that, he went into his room.
(That was scary…)
I felt a slight pain at the points were Drei had grabbed me.
(Drei…)
I stood there, frozen and alone.
Ch. 2: At His Place
The next morning…-.
I headed to the breakfast hall on directions from one of the servants.
(Drei should be at breakfast too.)
As I remembered his threatening attitude from the previous night, I felt a sense of gloom.
Filled with unease, I kept going towards the hall.
When I arrived, a diverse array of fruits, fresh bread, and other foods were already set out on the table.
(To think that so many royals would gather here just because of me.)
First there was the king, then a large group of more of Drei’s relatives who had come for breakfast.
(It seems kind of tense…)
Royal 1: “How about trying some of these fruits?”
Royal 2: “This bread is quite delicious.”
OO: “Thank you.”
The royals all talked to me one after the other.
Within the crowd, Drei was the only one to stay silent, and he ate nothing besides drinking a coffee.
(Drei…)
I was concerned as I looked at him and…
(!)
Suddenly, our eyes met.
Though I was nervous, I still smiled and nodded slightly to him.
Drei: “…”
But he immediately turned away from me and went back to drinking his coffee.
(Drei…)
Throughout breakfast, that was to be the end of our exchange…
When breakfast had finished, I walked down the corridor to head back to my room, but…
(Drei’s the one who called me here after all. But I don’t feel like I can talk to him… what is going on here?)
As I started to feel a mounting sense of distress, the king happened to pass by with his retainers.
King: “Lady OO, did you enjoy yourself at breakfast?”
OO: “Your Majesty… yes, it was very delicious. Thank you for going to so much trouble for me.”
King: “Oh no, I’m just glad you enjoyed it. Other than that, did he do anything rude to you?”
OO: “By he, you mean…?”
King: “Drei. He’s always been a little odd. He regularly goes without meals and just locks himself up in his room.”
OO: “…I see.”
King: “Like this morning, he never joins the conversation… it’s quite embarrassing.”
OO: “I didn’t interpret it that way.”
King: “You are a kind girl Lady OO. I thank you for your consideration.”
OO: “It was a little regrettable since we couldn’t talk…”
King: “Goodness, that boy. Even after you saved him…”
OO: “Oh but… it wasn’t anything like that. I did something quite discourteous last night…”
King: “What are you referring to?”
OO: “I unexpectedly called on Drei at his room and put him in a bad mood.”
King: “I see…”
OO: “…”
King: “Well, Drei was always one who never showed much interest in the people around him.”
OO: “Oh, so that’s what it was…”
King: “I apologize if he offended you. However, please make yourself at home while you’re here.”
OO: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
King: “Now, I must take my leave.”
I bowed to the king and started walking again.
(More and more… I don’t understand why Drei called me here.)
While thinking about it, I found myself lost within the castle.
(Where am I?)
For a moment, I turned to go back the way I came, but then I caught the sweet scent of flowers drifting on the air.
(That smells nice… is it coming from outside?)
Despite my hesitation, I was lured by the scent and ended up in a field of flowers outside the castle.
(How beautiful… I didn’t know there was a place like this so close to the castle.)
The different flower spread all around me, covering the ground like a carpet.
(I wonder which flower is giving off this fragrance.)
I took in my surroundings, and the second I reached out to take a flower from near my feet…
Drei: “…what are you doing to that flower?”
OO: “…!?”
I jumped at suddenly hearing a voice from behind me.
Turning around, I saw Drei laying in the flower field.
OO: “Drei!? Why are you here…?”
Drei: “That’s what I want to ask. This is my place.”
His disinterested voice punctuated the silence of the flower field.
Ch. 3: Tempted by the Flower's Fragrance
The wind blew gently through the field of flowers…-.
Having suddenly had Drei speak to me, I found myself at a loss for words and unable to speak.
OO: “Um…”
————————
Drei: “That’s what I want to ask. This is my place.”
————————
(He said this is his place so…)
OO: “Do you always come here?”
Drei: “Yeah.”
OO: “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
Drei: “…”
OO: “Um, Drei…”
Drei: “…”
Drei closed his eyes without responding.
Then I suddenly remembered what the king had said.
————————
King: “Well, Drei was always one who never showed much interest in the people around him.”
————————
(I need to apologize for yesterday…)
OO: “Um… I’m sorry for suddenly coming to your room and surprising you yesterday.”
That was when Drei slowly opened his eyes and looked at me.
OO: “Drei…?”
Drei: “…why are you apologizing?”
OO: “Huh? I thought I had upset you so…”
Drei let out an exasperated sigh.
Drei: “I’m the one who hasn’t been very courteous considering you released me from the ring.”
OO: “…you did surprise me a little.”
Drei: “…sorry.”
As he spoke, he shifted slightly and plucked a nearby yellow flower.
(What a cute flower…)
I reflexively moved in closer to the flower he was holding.
Drei: “…!”
OO: “That’s a cute flower. And… it smells lovely.”
A faintly sweet smell drifted from the small flower petals.
Drei: “…”
When he didn’t respond, I looked at Drei’s face and found his expression stiffened in surprise.
(It’s because I suddenly got so close.)
OO: “S-sorry.”
Drei: “…don’t apologize for every little thing.”
OO: “…right.”
Drei: “…”
(What should I do… about this silence?)
The only sound was the ticking of the pocket watch on Drei’s chest.
OO: “Um…”
I spoke, unable to stand the awkwardness.
OO: “Why did you call me here to your kingdom Drei?”
Drei: “Because my father told me to. …I think he wanted me to get along with the Princess of Traumere. But it was too noisy during breakfast, don’t you think?”
(S-so that’s what it was.)
My shoulders dropped in disappointment…
Drei: “I do too.”
OO: “Eh?”
Drei: “I want to get along with you too.”
Drei sat up and looked directly at me.
OO: “Drei…?”
I blinked, not having expected him to say those words…
Drei: “…”
He took my hand and placed the yellow flower into it.
OO: “Ah, um…”
Drei: “Did it go up?”
OO: “Huh…?”
Drei: “My relationship status with you. It should go up if I give you a present, right?”
(Relationship status… like in a game.)
Drei: “Well?”
But seeing Drei look like he was enjoying himself a little…
OO: “…I’m not sure but I think it went up… a little?”
Confused, that was the answer I gave him.
Drei: “A little huh…”
Drei’s brow knit together, then he stretched out again in the field of flowers and went to sleep.
OO: “…yes! Quite a bit.”
(This is a little exciting.)
Drei: “…good.”
Drei appeared satisfied, then he stretched out again in the field of flowers and went to sleep.
(I thought he was a bit difficult but…)
I felt myself smile as I looked at the flower Drei had given me.
(I wonder if he views everything like a game.)
Even still, I felt a sense of relief at having been able to talk with him.
Ch. 4: Which is Real?
The next morning…-.
OO: “Nn…”
Waking up, I looked to the window and saw a cloudless sky.
(The weather is really nice today.)
The yellow flower Drei had given me the day before sat in front of the window.
(I wonder if Drei will be in the flower field again.)
As I thought that, there was a knocking at the door.
OO: “Yes?”
But there was no response.
(…what was that?)
I opened the door and stepped in the hallway where…
(Ah…)
In front of the door was a lovely candle and a neatly folded letter.
(I wonder what this is?)
The scent of flowers drifted up from the candle.
(This scent… it smells like the flower Drei picked yesterday.)
I spread open the accompanying letter to read it.
[Come to the flower field. Drei.]
Happiness spread through my chest.
I hurriedly got changed and heading for the field.
I arrived with a spring in my step, however…
(Drei doesn’t seem to be here.)
No matter where I looked in the flower field, I didn’t see Drei anywhere.
Then…
??: “That was careless, coming alone.”
I turned towards the voice and saw multiple men in black suits, seeming very out of place as they stood amidst the flowers.
OO: “…!?”
Feeling something strange was going on, I took a step back, but…
The men quickly moved to surround me.
Man 1: “There’s no mistake, this is the woman Drei invited.”
Man 2: “I can’t believe that gloomy prince would be with a woman.”
OO: “Wh…who are you…”
Man 2: “Well whatever, you’re coming with us.”
OO: “Ow! …let me go!”
As one of the men violently grabbed my arm…-.
Drei: “Bingo!”
OO: “Drei!?”
Drei stood behind the men, a bold smile on his face.
Drei: “It’s rude to call me gloomy.”
OO: “H…help me…!”
Drei: “Don’t rush me.”
OO: “Drei, what on earth is…”
Drei: “It’s fine, just stay there.”
Drei: “I know, OO, bend down a little if you don’t want to get hurt.”
OO: “Eh…?”
The second I bent down, Drei pulled out a crossbow from somewhere and pointed at each of the men in turn, letting the arrows fly.
Each one hit without the tiniest error…
Man: “Uwaa!”
Screaming, the men turned and ran.
OO: “…!”
As the crossbow bolts flew about, I instinctively crouched and covered my head.
Drei: “Simulation complete. But my accuracy was only 95.5%. I’ll need to make some modifications. But pulling it off so easily was kind of disappointing.”
As silence returned, I nervously lifted my head…
Drei stood there, holding something that looked like a remote control.
(D…Drei?)
OO: “U-um…that was…”
Drei: “Assassins, sent by the guys who are in the succession dispute.”
(Succession dispute…?)
Drei: “Didn’t you hear? There are more countries than mine in the Land of Time. Among them, one is supposed to stand at the top and unify the others. It hasn’t been decided yet but the one that comes out on top will be the one led by the most outstanding prince. There are always conflicts like this. Well… I think it’s more thrilling that way.”
OO: “…are you always being targeted then?”
Drei: “It’s a fun game.”
(A game…)
Drei: “First I gave you a present to raise our relationship status. That summoned the enemies to the flower field. Then the route where they take you hostage started. So I waited in ambush.”
(…what the… I don’t really get what’s happening, but I feel like I should at least say thank you, right?)
OO: “Um… thank you for saving me.”
Drei looked at me, slightly surprised.
Drei: “…you do realize I used you as bait, right?”
OO: “Still… it doesn’t change the fact that you saved me.”
As I said it, Drei looked displeased and turned away from me.
(Oh right, I need to thank him for the candle.)
OO: “Also… thank you, for the candle.”
Drei: “…that was for the game.”
OO: “But I really like the fragrance.”
Drei looked back at me, his eyes wide.
Drei: “…”
OO: “Drei?”
Drei: “…whatever, I feel like I’m going crazy.”
Drei scratched his head then left.
(A game… but…)
The same sweet scent continued to drift from the candle.
A series of complex emotions filled my heart as I watched Drei go back inside the castle.