TGPFC 11

Chapter: 11

Prim spoke calmly once more.

“But Rosien, I’ll be back soon.”

“…What?”

“We said we’re family, even if we’re apart. Right?”

“No! We said we wouldn’t separate! You promised me! That we wouldn’t separate…!”

Rosien dropped to his knees on the floor in front of Prim. His desperate, urgent voice made Prim’s heart sink and feel as if it were shattering.

It was like an ice pick had been driven into the back of her head, sharp and piercing.

He had kept his promise. The promise not to separate—he had upheld it throughout his previous life.

“Rosien, do you remember what happened before we came to the orphanage? You tied our wrists together when we slept.”

“Th-that was because I thought you might run away…”

Rosien’s voice trailed off, as if he thought she was blaming him, hastily offering an excuse.

Prim brought his wrist onto her lap and placed her own wrist next to it.

Looking at the smooth, unbound wrists, she said,

“That string was never undone even once.”

“……”

“I’ll really be back soon.”

“…What exactly are you going to do?”

Rosien’s voice trembled slightly with unease. Prim couldn’t help but smile faintly at his youthful appearance.

In her memories, he had been strong and capable, understanding her thoughts better than anyone. Now, he was just a young boy.

“You’re laughing now?”

“N-no. I’m not laughing. I’ll be back soon, and then…”

Prim swallowed the rest of her words.

Perhaps the curse on my legs will also be lifted. It was a curse for you too.

Then the invisible thread binding him and me now might also be undone.

He could be free.

“Prim?”

“Nothing. When I come back, push me on the swing again.”

“…I could push you a million times without going, even right now.”

Finally, Rosien returned to his sulky expression, muttering as he spoke.

“If you go, does that mean I can’t push you?”

“Even if I go, you’ll have to push me again. No choice. I’ll let you push me a million times.”

Until the bell announcing a visitor rang, Rosien continued to push Prim on the swing.

Chapter 2: Luna Ether of the Silver Poplar Forest

“Oh, Prim! From now on, you will be our daughter!”

Prim could have found a thousand faults in the perfume the Corvas baron and baroness had sprayed side by side, but she held herself back and quietly leaned into their embrace.

Priest Marceria bowed deeply before the couple.

“Please take care of her. Barin will also bless your generosity.”

“Haha, it’s nothing. If you have, you should naturally give.”

“Oh! I almost forgot something. Prim has shown an interest in perfumery.”

Startled by this sudden announcement, the Corvas couple looked at Priest Marceria.

“Excuse me? Perfume… her?”

“So, Prim is planning to take the perfumer’s qualification exam this time.”

“Wouldn’t she need a recommendation for that?”

“Yes, each diocese can issue a recommendation, and we are able to provide one as well.”

“A recommendation… even in such a crumbling temple… oh, forgive me, I tend to speak frankly. No offense intended.”

“Of course, we understand your meaning.”

Priest Marceria smiled calmly, not flinching at the slight insult. The baroness of the Corvas couple gave Prim a somewhat reluctant look.

“My goodness. I didn’t realize she even had such talent.”

“That is thanks to Barin’s blessing. So she will likely visit before winter passes.”

To participate in the perfumer’s exam held in Castellanza early next year, they would need to depart while the weather was still cold.

The Corvas couple exchanged glances.

Even for nobles, the experience of having someone in the family take the perfumer’s exam was no small honor. There was no reason to refuse.

While the Corvas couple completed the adoption procedure, the coachman helped Prim into the carriage. From above, large crows circled, cawing loudly as if watching them.

Prim glanced at the crows, then turned her head inside the carriage—and her eyes widened.

There sat Bianna, wearing a triumphant expression.

“Bianna? How are you here?”

The coachman seemed unconcerned about whatever conversation the two orphaned girls might have and simply closed the door.

Bianna glared at Prim with slightly reddened, wet eyes.

“Why? Am I not supposed to be here? Or is it unfair that not only you are being adopted, but I am too?”

Prim ignored Bianna’s words and simply asked what she needed to know.

“They’re taking you too?”

“Of course! I know them better! I’ve known them longer!”

However, Prim replied swiftly, without letting any emotional disturbance show.

“Go back. Say you won’t go.”

“W-what? Why? Hmph, did you think I wouldn’t say no?”

At first, Bianna seemed flustered and resentful, but soon, thinking that Prim was jealous, she narrowed her eyes.

Prim, however, paid no attention to Bianna’s expression and sighed inwardly.

‘What am I supposed to do with her?’

She had thought she had calmed Rosien well, but an unexpected obstacle had appeared.

And now she understood why they were taking Bianna along for the adoption.

Priest Marceria would visit when it was time for the perfumer’s exam, so they could not leave marks of abuse on her.

In that case, they needed another child to draw tears and extract suffering. Since they had Bianna in mind until Prim appeared, deciding to take two children was probably not difficult.

‘Now what should I do?’

She wanted, if she could, to push Bianna out of the carriage to prevent her from coming—but she didn’t have the strength. Even if she did, it would likely cancel her own adoption.

Yet further conversation was impossible. The baron and baroness returned after finishing their discussion with Priest Marceria.

“Prim! Were you surprised to see Bianna in the carriage? She might be lonely, so we brought a sister for you.”

“Get along. Bianna, listen to your sister.”

“Yes!”

Bianna bit her lip hard, but when her eyes met the baroness, she quickly nodded. Seizing the moment, Prim said:

“Yes, you’d better listen to me, Bianna.”

“…!”

Bianna stared at Prim in shock.

All this time at the orphanage, she had pretended to be quiet and obedient, but now, adopted and receiving attention, she revealed her true colors immediately.

Yet Prim’s light green eyes were serious.

‘You’d better listen.’

‘W-what…!’

Bianna clenched her teeth and cursed internally.

Once, Rosien had said that the new sprouts after a spring rain looked exactly like Prim’s eyes.

At the time, Bianna had mocked him silently, but now, she felt as if those eyes could rain curses upon her.

What kind of eyes are these—like spring sprouts? More like the eyes of a man-eating demon!

But there was no way to quarrel here. Even the baron and baroness were watching, waiting for Bianna’s response.

Clenching her lips tightly, Bianna said:

“I-I’ll… listen…”

“Good, good.”

As the couple smiled in satisfaction, the carriage began to make its way to the Corvas estate.

The Corvas estate lay on the outskirts of the Sanbertal territory, nestled within the silver poplar forest. Strong winds shook the silvery-white trees violently, making them shimmer in the gusts.

“No, no! This isn’t right either!”

Crash!

In the perfumery, where the air was cool and crisp, Baron Corvas swept the flasks and beakers off the desk, clutching his head.

“I knew it! It can’t be made with these ingredients!”

Baroness Corvas covered her nose with a handkerchief at the sharp scent of the raw materials, glancing around.

This perfumery had been built with all the money they had.

The baron had been confident that with this perfumery alone, he could craft a perfume to captivate the emperor and all the nobles of the empire—but now, he wailed again that ‘these ingredients just won’t do.’