Curse 16: The Sun Raise, A Heart Fall

The Next Day

"Yawwwnn!!" I stretched out my arms after yawning.

I scratched my hair and smacked my lips. I looked around, trying to figure out what was up and down.

I looked to my left and saw a giant mirror near the window area.

Oof.

My hair was a mess. All kinds of hair strands were popping up like flowers in a garden.

Eh.

I'll fix it later.

Looking at the room some more, I realized that I wasn't home anymore.

"Oh, right. I'm a guest in the castle." I muttered sleepily.

Looking at my body, it seemed like I had white pjs on. Originally, I only had a long white shirt, but Peri noticed my sleeping habits and told Amissus to fetch some pjs for me to wear.

... Yeah, a long shirt works better in my opinion.

But I'd live with wearing pjs so that I don't get kicked out of the castle.

I kicked off the sheets and stood to stretch some more.

"... So it's the first day of me officially teaching, huh?"

Last night's dinner was great.

It was a bit nerve-racking to see so many eyes watching me eat, but Peri did help with the cooking, so it was delicious!

The king and the two princes had meetings, so they couldn't eat with us last night, but they mentioned to Amissus that they'd be joining us for breakfast.

Hmm. I wonder if I should wear something to impress them?

But this was me, after all.

I don't think I would look good in anything.

I placed my hand under my chin. "... What to do, what to do."

My usual wear was old rags of clothes I took from my Mom and Dad. I mean, they did buy cleaner clothes, but I always stuck with the old and not the new. I guess you could say that I was a stick in the mud when it comes to fashion.

"... But I find looking for pretty clothes kind of annoying." I scratched my head.

For starters, it gets in the way of my research to break the curse. All of that time my Mom takes me shopping and picking which skirt looks cuter than the others really made me hold my head. She even told me that Dad and I did the same movement whenever she was shopping like crazy.

I exhaled and sat on my new soft bed.

"Looks like I need help finding clothes to wear from someone," I admitted to myself. I turned my attention to my brown bag.

I grabbed hold of it and took out my notebook.

I opened it up to the page with the dark petal. And to no one's surprise, it still said 'One remaining'...

Hmm?

I took a closer look at the bottom, and it said 'Charging complete. Ready to replace when the last one was finished'.

"... That's scary." I closed the book shut.

I do NOT want to find out what happens after that last one is used up. I had a feeling that if I 'sleep', it would fill back to '3', but I'm not going to off myself to prove my theory. Plus, I don't know if I'll travel back again since there's no dark flower around here. For all I know, I could 'sleep' for days and end up being buried if Peri can't explain my magic properly.

I put the book inside my brown bag and folded my arms.

Not like I'm hoping for one to appear either.

Indeed.

Because I realized that every time one appears, that dark cloak appears as well and kills me.

So, I should thank my lucky star that I didn't see one anywhere in the castle.

I shook my head and formed both of my fists.

"Maybe some fresh air would do the trick!" I said excitedly!

I hopped off my bed and race-walked towards the window. Once I was there, I opened it and let all the nice and cool morning breeze enter the room. I leaned on the window and inhaled.

"Phew! Nice breeze!" I sang in delight.

I looked out and saw the beautiful sun rising from the horizon.

Wow. The color of the golden sun was truly inspiring! Painting the place gold, having a sign for the living to wake up and do their daily lives, and shining its light for all of us to see.

Truly, this is the life!

"Mm! I could get used to this life!" I laughed.

I wasn't sure before, but waking up without any fear of the outside world is the life—

Look down...

My eyes widened. My hands were shaking on the window's bar.

... No way, right?

My mind was playing tricks again. Gulping, I slowly retreated—

Stop.

My body halted on its own. Almost like I was in a trance?

Come. Come.

I slowly gripped the window and leaned out once more.

"Why? Why am I doing this?" I whispered in fear.

Good, girl. Good girl, Tristis.

Now, Look. Down.

Now.

I tried my very best to ignore the voice in my head. The very voice that got me killed many times before.

Why does that voice sound so familiar? Whose was it?

Before I could answer my own questions, my eyes slowly lowered.

No... no...

I begged my body to stop.

No, no, no. NOOOO!!!!

Please. Please, don't do this to me!

No. NOOOO!!!

I looked down.

I looked down and saw it.

It was the thing that I didn't want to see.

I had hope. I had prayed.

I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to believe.

Yet.

Here it was.

One of the very things that was tied to my side.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness!

I felt tears start to form in my eyes.

The cause of it?

It was that dark flower that was planted in a small flower garden near the window.

Congratulations, Tristis! You'll be asleep very soon!

And it'll be a very delightful sleep! Hehe~!

"Ah... ah..." Tears fell down my cheeks.

No. No, no, no!

No, it can't be...!

"Mm!" I covered my mouth.

I could feel something coming up from my throat. I tried my very best to hold it in.

However...

I launched my body forward... vomiting all of my insides out of the very window I was using to admire the sunrise...

"Urghhh!!!!!"

***

I didn't really remember a whole lot.

I think I was vomiting a lot and ended up hanging almost lifeless on top of the window bar.

Amissus found me and went to get Peri, along with Prince Clarus and the King.

They brought in a doctor to check up on my health. So far, it seemed like a reaction from eating too much at dinner. After that, the doctor gave me some more meds to take between meals alongside my normal ones, too.

Currently, I was wearing the usual dress that Peri bought for me.

I felt like wearing something familiar to ease my mind.

I was also sitting next to Peri since I wanted to feel safer with someone I trusted the most in the world. Amissus was standing right behind me while the other maids and butlers were standing on the other side of the dining table with the king and his two sons.

The King and Prince Clarus looked worried about my health, and Prince Matthew seemed annoyed that he had to see someone like me reacting the way I did a little while ago.

I was eating Peri's breakfast.

I requested it so that I didn't vomit up any other food that I might not like.

It was kind of a stupid reason, I know. But still... I'd rather have things that were familiar...

I used the fork to cut a piece of Peri's homemade pancakes.

... It was good.

It was so good.

So... good...

I lowered my head, staring at the food that was supposed to make me feel safe. But even this pancake tasted very 'dead'—

Huh?

I meant to think of the taste as bland.

I shook my head and held it. Why the hell did I compare pancakes to dead?

Am I losing it?

Come on, Tristis! Keep it together...!

"Mistress Tristis. How's Sir Peri's pancake? He made it just like back when you two were living in the village." Amissus asked, trying to lift the mood.

I placed down the fork on my plate.

"... It's delicious." I whimpered.

"... Are you sure you're alright? You're looking pale today." Peri asked me.

"I'm fine..." I whispered my answer to Peri.

... Even I knew for sure that I wasn't fine. I was lying to myself...

"Um... young maiden? Maybe I should introduce you to another famous doctor we got?" I heard Prince Clarus.

I flinched and clung to Peri's shirt.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to calm myself down.

"... Or, we could do that later." The prince whispered, and I could hear him sitting back down.

Once I knew that he did, I slowly opened my eyes and let go of Peri's shirt.

"... I'm sorry, Prince Clarus. It's just that... I'm sorry!" I closed my eyes tightly. I was gripping my dress and grinding my teeth in frustration.

Am I going to 'sleep' again? But it's too soon! I don't wanna see the darkness again!

I'm scared! I'm so scared!

I pulled Peri's hand and wrapped mine with his.

I'm scared! I'm scared!

Please, please help me, Peri!

I know thinking it and not speaking won't help, but I don't want Peri to get hurt! But still!

But still!

No... no!

... I ... I need to cool off my head!

"I'm going to the restroom, Your Highness," I spoke softly, still holding on to Peri's hands.

"... Very well. You may go." The king announced, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Thank you. And... I'm sorry." I bowed to them and dragged Peri with me.

"Hmph... what a weak-minded fool. That girl is nothing but a waste of time!" Prince Matthew spoke.

"What did you say—!"

"Peri... please. Come with me to the bathroom. I'm scared..." I pleaded with all my might.

I didn't want him to cause any more trouble. Nor did I want to go to the bathroom myself.

I bite my lip, trying to hold on to tears that seemed to want to fall.

Damn it.

Damn it!

Damn... it...

I'm going to 'sleep' soon. I'm going to 'sleep' soon!

Peri... Peri!

Peri please! Please help me!

But I swallowed those words. Because no matter what, Peri was precious to me. If something were to happen to him, I... I...!

I don't even wanna think about that.

For now, let's go to the bathroom to wash my face and clear my mind...