Chapter 38: Flames at Her Fingertips

‘What the heck! Why are you suddenly showing up?!’

“Your Highness?”

“Evan…!”

“Were you really planning to throw yourself under the horse?”

How long have you been here?! No, why are you even here?

No, wait, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!

Who, who would risk their life in front of everyone? There’s nothing to gain from that.

Evan was looking at me with a stern expression.

Cecilia got up from the bed she’d been sitting on and greeted Evan. On her pale white cheek, a tear seemed to be sliding down.

“You went and made your close friend cry, you know.”

Evan made a light joke, but he wasn’t smiling at all.

Hawkins entered through the infirmary door and strode over quickly.

So this is what it means to be dumbfounded!

“Are you alright?”

Hawkins asked Cecilia.

Right, Cecilia must have been really shocked. Sure. But Hawkins! Shouldn’t you ask the person lying on the bed first, as a matter of courtesy?

No, since when did I start caring about things like that.

“I’m, fine. Sob…”

“Hawkins, take Cecilia out. It would be good to calm her down a bit.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I-I’m alright…! Lian, I want to stay by Riana’s side.”

“Cecilia, you’re shaking like that. Just go out for a bit. Please, I’m asking you.”

I didn’t like it, but what else could I do? She’s shaking like that, I had to ask Hawkins.

At the word ‘please,’ he flinched. Maybe there was still some resentment left, since Hawkins didn’t reply and just put his arm naturally around Cecilia’s shoulders, supporting her as he took her out. Seeing how attentive he was, it felt like Cecilia should be the one lying in bed, not me.

I wasn’t hurt anywhere. Just a languid sense of exhaustion. Actually, if I went to sleep right now, I felt like I’d sleep like a log, and that made me feel good.

But I couldn’t show that I was feeling good… The situation was serious.

I opened my eyes wide for no reason.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“Huh?”

Huh?

The sudden sense of wakefulness made my hair stand on end.

Your Highness… Have you always just read people’s moods for a living? Why are you so sharp? Ha. Ha.

Evan closed the door, then walked over to the bed. As I tried to sit up, he frowned and shook his head.

“If you don’t want to be treated like the Crown Prince, then just lie down comfortably.”

“You’re not being sarcastic, are you?”

“Ha. You think I’d do that to a patient?”

“Well, I don’t really know you that well, Your Highness.”

Actually, I do. No, I don’t!

I know how he was with Cecilia, but with me…

No! No, some miserable memory nearly resurfaced. If I fainted in front of him, he really might interrogate me.

It’s not like I want to die… but. If I accidentally blurted out that I had a ridiculous dream, or that I’ve actually regressed, who knows what might happen.

“…I don’t think I’ve ever acted scary, have I?”

“Hmm.”

I pointed at the furrow between his brows with my finger. He looked at me, puzzled.

“Your brows, I mean.”

As I tapped him, he flinched in surprise. When someone as solidly built as Evan flinches, the flimsy chair wobbled and nearly lost its balance.

“Ugh…”

Evan fell right off the chair.

“Pfft…”

My goodness. To witness such a rare sight! The Crown Prince falling off a chair! Lying there on the floor with a dumbfounded look!

All the slickness and discomfort he used to show Cecilia, always speaking sweet words with such confidence, just vanished in an instant. W-wait, am I still not fully awake? Touching a strange man’s face! And it’s the Crown Prince! What was I thinking!

“You…”

He pointed at me, looking incredulous. I’m just as incredulous as you are!

His carefully slicked-back hair was now mussed across his forehead.

“I didn’t laugh!”

“Ha, you didn’t? Then what’s that smile curling your lips?”

Evan, still pointing at me, made no attempt to get up.

Am I really smiling?

When I touched my face, he shook his head and got up. He brushed the dust from his clothes and sat down on the bed. The bed creaked under his weight.

“Um. Maybe you should sit in the chair.”

“It’s broken. Should I stand, then? I am the Crown Prince, after all.”

“But you said earlier you don’t want to be treated like the Crown Prince…”

“Earlier?”

“No, never mind.”

Ha ha.

As I laughed awkwardly, he let out a sigh.

“Did you really jump in front of the horse?”

“Are you seriously asking?”

Ugh, my neck hurts.

I had to crane my neck to look at him, and it hurt.

Huh?

“Oh, you don’t have to do that…”

Evan stood up and adjusted the bed for me himself. As he moved the lever underneath, the upper part of the bed slowly raised, making it much more comfortable to lean back.

“Better now?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, thank you.”

Evan sat down on the bed again. The closer distance felt a little burdensome. I looked away, but he tapped the bed.

“Seriously. Did you? I’m asking you in all seriousness.”

Right. At a glance, he looked as usual, but his eyes were serious.

Um… really, it’s not like that. It’s not a big deal, but the way he’s asking makes me feel embarrassed.

“Don’t overthink it. Just tell me. I’ll help you. What’s the problem?”

“…It’s not that!”

When I hesitated, Evan encouraged me.

What on earth. Why this sudden interest! Anyone could see what happened earlier was an accident!

My heart pounded in surprise.

“I want to live better than anyone!”

“Then why did you run at the horse?”

“You were there?”

“Who are you trying to fool, Riana Credere. Should I send a letter to the Duke?”

“No, please don’t!”

No more nagging! And if it gets to Olly’s ears…

Ugh! I shook my head.

“Tell me the truth.”

Ah! This is crazy. There’s no ‘truth’ to tell! I never wanted to die! I just want to live my life right. Why do I have to explain myself for this too? This is insane, really.

The lack of memory made me so frustrated I felt like crying.

I grabbed Evan’s hand.

“What are you….”

Evan blinked blankly. His face was baffled.

Aaaah! I didn’t even know why I grabbed his hand myself.

‘I have to make him believe me!’

That thought took over my mind.

Right now, Evan was completely channeling a strict principal. There’s no way he’d be this serious and earnest about my well-being otherwise. And if my father heard about this, I might have to drop out of the Academy midway.

I still have so many regrets! This time, I want to choose a different major and get excellent grades! Not botany, I want to try something else―!

“It really wasn’t, Evan.”

Even as my mind was in chaos, I spoke to Evan calmly.

He seemed willing to listen, so I watched his reaction and took a deep breath.

Ha, my hands are sweating. Be shameless, be shameless.

I had no idea why I had to persuade him in this sudden situation, but I decided to ignore it.

“I just went on a class field trip with Daisy and Cecilia. I really love horses, you know. Evan, do you like horses?”

“…I do.”

Evan answered slowly.

His gaze traced over our joined hands, then returned to my eyes.

“I really, really love horses! I’m serious. Do you know how beautiful a horse’s mane looks when it runs?”

“Of course I do.”

Evan nodded with a serious expression. He squeezed my hand in response.

Uh, this is a bit much. Stupid Riana, why did you grab his hand?

No, no, it’s proof he’s listening intently. Good, let’s keep pushing! I’ll convince him!

“Do you know how beautiful and dynamic a horse’s muscles are when it runs?”

“Of course.”

“Right?! Evan, I love horses this much. So why would I throw myself at a horse to end my life? That’s nonsense. It would just traumatize the horse, absolutely not. If I ever wanted to do something like that, I’d just jump off a tall building at night when no one’s around, not traumatize a horse!”

“…What?”

Evan loosened his grip on my hand. The seriousness in his eyes seemed to turn to anger.

Wait, why? Weren’t you listening to my story just fine? Didn’t we have a great ‘horse’ conversation? He yanked his hand away from mine.

“Uh, Evan?”

“Say that again.”

“…I’d never throw myself at a horse because it would traumatize it?”

“The next part.”

“If I ever wanted to, I’d just jump off a tall buil—…”

Oh no! That’s not what I meant, not at all!

I grabbed his hand again.

“No! What I mean is, I have no intention of doing anything like that! And I’m not planning to die! There’s a subject I really want to study, you know?”

“What is it?”

“Riding! Horsemanship and… horsemanship!”

I couldn’t think of anything else. I haven’t even chosen my major yet!

“…Pfft.”

“Pfft…?”

What…?

“Puhahaha!”

“Are you…?”

“Hahahahaha!”

His booming laughter shook the glass bottles in the medicine cabinet like they were about to break.

What is this…?

“In my entire life, I’ve never heard such a ridiculous excuse. Really, you have no sense, do you?”

“…Get out.”

“Haha! Ah, thanks to you I—… Hey! Did you just throw a pillow at the Crown Prince?”

“I said get out!”

I shouted and threw the pillow.

So I’m being teased, right? That’s what this is, right?

Ugh, damn it!

I grabbed the flower vase next to the bed. It was pretty heavy, and my arms started trembling. Why am I like this? I hate throwing things, but I’m so mad I can’t help myself! But I couldn’t calm down.

“Aren’t you leaving? You mocked a patient just now, didn’t you?”

“Whoa, calm down. I was serious at first. But you made me laugh so hard…”

“You’re saying it’s my fault?”

“No, calm down. You’ll hurt yourself like that!”

Evan tried to wipe the smile from his face and spoke sternly, but I was just too angry. He reached out his hand, trying to calm me down.

Am I a baby? Do you think I’ll just listen if you coax me like that? Do you know how stressed out I am right now?

Suddenly, like a volcano, rage surged up uncontrollably.

I used to be so calm, so why am I suddenly this angry?

Even I was surprised by how unfamiliar this feeling was.

How can I describe this much anger?

Right! So angry it felt like flames were bursting from my hands.

Huh?

Flames, bursting from my hands…?

What… is this? What’s happening?

From both my hands, tiny flames—brilliant blue and pure white—were flickering. They weren’t red, but I could guarantee they were hotter than a campfire. The flames that had sprung up wanted to leap even higher.

“W-wait…”

What do I do with this?! Throw it? Drop it?

I stared blankly at Evan.

“Riana!”

I was so shocked, I couldn’t even scream.

So… fire was coming out of my fingertips?

“Riana! Calm down, slowly put the vase down. The glass shards could be more dangerous. That fire won’t hurt you…”

Aaaagh!

Well, I couldn’t scream, but my body was already hopping around.

So furious that I unconsciously hurled the heavy vase to the ground and flailed my hands.

Crash!

Agh! I never meant to throw that―!

“Riana!”

“Wh-what do I do?!”

“Calm down, that fire can’t hurt you!”

“There’s fire coming from my hands!”

“That’s your element!”

“What did you say?!”

“Your element! It means you have a talent for Spirit Arts!”