The Reincarnated Villainess Whose Romantic Trauma From Her Past Life Is Too Strong Is Sweetly and Painfully Doted On by the Prince of the Neighboring Country - Chapter 35

“Prince Salute will release my Flower Lantern, and I will release his…?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Cherie repeated his words like a parrot, and Salute gave a firm nod.

“Don’t you think a wish is more likely to come true if you pray for someone else’s happiness while sending it up, rather than just wishing for your own?”

“…I suppose so?”

Convinced by his logic, Cherie found herself agreeing, thinking, He might have a point…

“But if we do that, does it mean we have to reveal what we wished for to each other?”

If that were the case, Cherie would have to confess to Salute that she had wished to ‘stay by his side forever.’ That was something she felt a great deal of… no, an immense amount of resistance toward.

(Even if… it’s 99% certain that Prince Salute has already seen through me, confessing it with my own lips is a completely different story!)

Just thinking about it was mortifying. How could she, the woman who had personally rejected his proposal, then turn around and say, “I wished to be with you forever”?

As Cherie braced herself, Salute laughed casually.

“No, we don’t really need to tell each other, right?”

“The wish itself is already imbued into the Flower Lantern. We just have to pray, ‘I hope the wish inside this lantern comes true,’ as we release it. Wouldn’t that work?”

“I… I see…”

It did sound logical. They say selfless prayers are more likely to be granted than those mired in personal desire. Cherie thought that Salute’s “reciprocal wish system” wasn’t a bad idea at all.

Besides—it made it feel more like a special event, which was exciting.

(By the time next year’s festival rolls around, I’ll have graduated and moved to Trigea. I might not have another chance to release a Flower Lantern with Prince Salute like this. If so, it might be good to do it now.)

Having made up her mind, Cherie answered, “I understand,” and they exchanged their Flower Lanterns.

“Alright, I’ll go first.”

After getting her okay, Salute channeled his Floral Power into the Jasmine he had received from her. The flower lit up with a gentle glow and floated softly into the night sky.

The moment Salute’s power activated the flower, the sweet, fragrant scent of Jasmine filled the air, striking a chord deep in Cherie’s heart for some reason.

“Now it’s your turn, Cherie. Make sure you pray hard so my wish comes true.”

“I will.”

Following his playful prompt, Cherie gently lifted the white roses one by one from the wicker basket Salute held out.

One, then two, the white roses began to drift into the sky.

Nine white roses.

Their flower language—“I want to be together forever.”

Unaware of the specific meaning he had intended, Cherie released them high into the air, praying for his wish to be granted.

(—I hope Prince Salute’s wish comes true.)

The only person capable of fulfilling that wish prayed for it from the bottom of her heart. Eventually, after Cherie had sent all the roses into the sky, they leaned against the terrace railing, shoulders touching, watching the flowers dance in the air.

—I never want to forget this night.

Holding that thought, and both regretting that this time had to end, they continued to gaze at the endless stream of Flower Lanterns rising into the night.

◇◆◇

“—Phew…”

After releasing the lanterns with Salute, Cherie returned to her waiting room to change before heading home. She sank into a sofa and let out a long breath.

(…No, Cherie. You decided. No more falling in love.)

Burying herself deep in the cushions, she covered her face with both hands.

—Love always ends eventually.

That’s why she chose friendship over romance. Yes. That was the plan.

As she let out another heavy sigh at her own foolishness, a knock came from the door.

“Lady Cherie. I’ve come to assist with your change of clothes. May I enter?”

“—Yes, come in.”

While Cherie was still mired in self-loathing, the door clicked open and a servant entered. Seeing the figure, Cherie felt a flicker of doubt. (—Wait?)

“Are you alone? Where are the others?”

“Th-the others said they would be a little late, so they told me to go ahead and begin preparations.”

There was a strange awkwardness in the servant’s hesitant reply. She was certainly wearing the uniform of the Flower-Sowing Church staff, but she kept her hair tightly tucked under her maid cap and kept her head down, obscuring her face.

Just as a sense of alarm rose in Cherie and she tried to put distance between them to head for the exit.

“—Don’t move!”

Shhh! A misty liquid was sprayed at her, and the figure blocked the door. Hearing that voice—Cherie realized exactly who the servant was.

“…Miss Lily…!”

“Don’t shout. Though I doubt you’ll be able to once this kicks in.”

Saying this, Lily brandished the spray bottle and pulled off her maid cap.

“…Is that… Poppy…?”

“Exactly. As expected of Lady Cherie.”

The flower language of the white poppy is “Sleep.” Whether she did it herself or had someone help her, she had clearly synthesized a form of Flower Magic essence. As a sudden, violent wave of drowsiness hit her, Cherie dropped to her knees and desperately tried to reason with her.

“You! It’s dangerous for you to stay here…”

“Dangerous? What’s so dangerous?”

“You’ll become the sacrifice for the World Tree…!”

“…Oh, I see. So, you really are a reincarnator, Lady Cherie.”

(—Eh?)

Cherie knit her brows, her breathing becoming heavy.

“No wonder everything was so different from the original game. Huh? Does Salute know you’re a reincarnator too? No, you probably wouldn’t tell him. That you’re a person who reincarnated from another world.”

(—What does that mean? Then, after all…)

“You… are a reincarnator too…?”

“…………”

Lily, who had been muttering to herself, curled the corners of her mouth into a grin at Cherie’s words. That reaction spoke more eloquently than any verbal answer.

(Miss Lily is definitely a reincarnator…? Then why…!)

“Why…!? What are you thinking…!? To throw everything away and run at such a critical moment in the final stage…!”

“Oh? Are you worried about me, Lady Cherie? How kind! But don’t worry. I won’t be the one who becomes the sacrifice.”

“What…?”

With that, Lily sprayed the poppy essence directly into Cherie’s face once more.

With the additional mist, the consciousness Cherie had been fighting so hard to maintain began to vanish rapidly.

“Did you know, Lady Cherie? In this world, there’s a very convenient hidden item.”

“Guh…”

Lily grabbed the front of the fading Cherie’s dress and pressed her own forehead against Cherie’s. Through her blurring vision, Cherie noticed that Lily was holding a large, blackened leaf in her other hand.

(…That… leaf is…)

“…I’m grateful, Lady Cherie. Thank you for piling up so much virtue for my sake. But this is goodbye.”

As Lily spoke those final words, Cherie felt a violent wave of vertigo as if her brain were spinning, and then everything went black.

The last thing she heard, sounding like it happened to someone else far away, was the heavy thud of her own body hitting the floor.