‘He is the man from yesterday.’

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him, my mind replaying the scene from that moment — the orange poppy he handed me.

He had the same genuine smile that he had yesterday as he tried to earn my trust.

‘It was partially my fault to have sniffed the flower.

What was his name again?’

Just as the thought surfaced, the room burst into greeting.

“Good afternoon, Prince of the Ephamour Empire, Denver Achlys.” The voices echoed off the walls in unison, and I finally had my answer.

‘Ah, Denver.’

I looked at him with the word ‘not trustable’ written all over his face.

My eyes gradually narrowed, carefully scanning him.

“You should finish the food in your mouth, you look like a bunny with those overloaded cheeks.

Hard to have a conversation like that, don’t you think?” He teased, amusement dancing in his voice, knowing that I was devouring the food on the table a second ago.

From the tiny shock of finally meeting prince Denver, a knot formed in my throat, not just from the food but from his presence.

I couldn’t seem to chew or digest the food well.

My eyes darted on the glass jars filled with those juicy liquids, while my cup was empty.

I couldn’t speak and hesitated to make a noise or make a move to get something to drink.

“Please, give the lady a glass of fresh mango juice.

She must be having a hard time chewing all that food.” I watched as a man in a black suit approached, filling my glass with the golden liquid, tiny bits of mango and apple floating to the surface.

Prince Denver settled into the chair opposite me, a casual, almost lazy posture that felt deliberate.

The man finishing to fill in the glass finally gave it to me as the last drop was poured.

I quickly started drinking the sweet, flavored mango-apple juice, washing down the lump in my throat.

Unconsciously finishing the beverage, I led out a loud sigh of relief.

It felt like I was about to suffocate as I saw the man in the green tuxedo, while looking at me with those mischievous eyes.

“Is the lady fine now that she has had her breakfast?

Did the lady sleep well last night?” He asked as he crossed his legs, while putting a hand on his knee, while the other leaned lazily back.

I tried to keep my hands steady as I hid them beneath the table, squeezing them into fists.

His casual posture, the way he spoke—it felt like he was trying to lull me into a sense of comfort.

Waiting for my answer, he chuckled before leading with a sigh.

“I will take that as a yes.

-Of course, i had a great morning!-“ He talked in a childish way, with a high pitched voice, while carelessly moving his hand that was laid back, as if he was trying to imitate me.

After doing so, my eyes could no longer look at him, so I stared at the ground instead.

It grated on my nerves.

“Well, I thought that would have made you smile a bit.

I guess I had quite embarrassed myself.” He sighed softly, his smile never faltering.

My eyes kept looking at the ground, as prince Denver waited for me to say something.

I couldn’t say anything, though earlier this morning I wanted to talk to him, waiting for those answers to my questions.

But I was also a bit angry to how it seemed like he was having fun.

“If the lady allows me, I would like to talk to you about how my morning went.”

‘That was… unexpected.’ I blinked in confusion.

I thought that he came here to talk about something serious, though his whole persona doesn’t look serious at all.

My eyes instantly shifted to the plate in front of him, before taking an immediate glance at his green clothes, due to the confusion and trouble I was having.

He placed both of his hands on his knee, while his mouth still continued to give a smile.

After being in silence for a few seconds, I realized that he was anticipating my answer.

“Ah, yes.” I said somewhat in a hurried way.

He hummed, almost thoughtfully.

“Well, I woke up after just one hour of sleep.

Didn’t get much rest—some troubling events, you know how it is.” He chuckled softly.

“Skipped breakfast to get some work done.

Had a long two-hour chat with my uncle, discussed some important matters, regarding a unique and strange case.

Exhausting, really.

Then, of course, I had to spend time with the Imperial Knights, planning out what needs to be done.

And after all that, I came here.

To see you.” He leaned forward and exhaled.

He took a spoon from the table, to which I never noticed, and started to slice a dessert that was in front of him.

“This is actually my favorite cake, lemon velvet.

The nice flavor of the dense and sour of the lemon, combined with layers of vanilla frosting that gives the final touch of sweetness.

What a coincidence, it’s placed right where I am seated, haha.”

The white layered small cake, covered on top with a bright yellow, sliced in two, showing the inside that was filled with more vanilla frosting and tiny bits of lemon.

It looked very appetizing as prince Denver took the first bite.

“Do you have any favorite dish, dear?” He said while he wiped some of the white vanilla on the corner of his mouth.

“Iced tea…”

“Oh, not a dish, but a beverage?

What type of iced tea do you like?” He took another slice from the cake, making it crumble down.

“Just iced tea, the flavor doesn’t matter, I like iced tea.” It was true though, whatever the flavor of the tea was on the iced tea, it was always good no matter what.

Two days ago, sir Exios made me try another type of tea, which was made from roses.

Bitter, but sweet at the same time, very light and perfect for the after lunch or dinner.

Sir Exios would always make several iced teas, and I have liked every single one of them.

“What about a dish?

Any meal you go crazy for?

Just like how I love this lemon velvet?”

No matter how much I think about it, I have always finished the dishes sir Exios prepared at the tavern, I liked them, but none of them were my favorite.

“I don’t think I have a favorite dish.” The lemon velvet cake was almost finished, one last slice and the only thing that would be left was the vanilla frosting.

“I see.

Oh, would you like to try it?

I’ll give you the last piece as a taste test.” A man in a black suit that was behind prince Denver gradually took the plate, slowly walked to me and placed it in front of me.

I silently looked at the cake, suspicious to what his intention was, to eventually finally looking at prince Denver’s eyes, whom I avoided for the whole time.

And of course I knew that my reaction was clearly shown, as I didn’t even try to hide it.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Is there a problem?”

‘Problem? This is the problem.’ I analyzed the cake attentively and remained silent.

“Oh, I assure you that the cake is absolutely exquisite-“ He stopped all of a sudden, as if he recalled something.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

“Ah.

Right.

I must have scared you now, didn’t i?

I forgot about it for a second, I am sorry.” He gave a small laugh.

“The orange poppy, you must have some type of grudge against me, and that’s totally fine, I wouldn’t trust me either.” He exhaled for a moment and lazily tilted his head.

“Yes, I tricked you, I shouldn’t have.

I did put you to sleep with that unique flower, brought you here against your will and I am sorry for that.

In all honesty i also did it because I hate when kids cry or throw tantrums… well I hate children in general.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“But you seem to be such a good kid.

You did not scream or cry when I found you inside the closet.

You unintentionally did what I wanted you to do, which was to sniff the flower that caused you to fall asleep.

And you were well behaved in the palace.

Oh, and also now that you have met me, you’re just staring at me with those confused and upset eyes quietly.

I thought you would have bawled your eyes out of fear, or scream at me or the lady-in-waiting.

Unusual response to a kidnapping situation, don’t you think?” His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, suspicion lingering in the corner of his gaze, that I was unable to identify before.

“Or is this on purpose?” He muttered, while his gaze wasn’t focus on me anymore for a second.

He remained silent, while I was confused to what he said.

Regardless I took the courage to speak up.

“Ms. Vesta told me that you can answer all of my questions.” I led out a small cough after that.

Though his attention was back to me in an instant as I spoke.

“All of your questions?

Well it depends to what those questions are.” He smiled.

I gulped, while my eyes looked around for a bit, thinking of the questions I wanted to ask earlier.

The questions fluttered in my mind like a storm of leaves, scattering with every heartbeat. Finally, I forced one out, my voice trembling due to the nervousness.

“Ahem, why am I here?” I started with the simplest question.

Asking one question at a time was ideal, maybe he wouldn’t have responded to all of my questions if I had asked them one after another.

He took his time, adjusting his sleeves, before giving me an answer.

“Mhm… do you remember how my morning went?

How I did not sleep quite well due to some troubling events and how I talked with my uncle for two hours about an important case?

Exactly that, you are related to it.

You, dear, are the reason of the distress of everyone in the Imperial Palace.”

A simple question, led to a complicated answer.

“What do you- I don’t understand.”

“What is it that you don’t understand?” He leaned forward, placing both of his arms on the table.

“I don’t understand how I am intertwined to all of this.”

He looked up and exhaled.

“All right, let’s put the pieces together and think it thoroughly.

Do you remember a meadow of violet spider lilies?”

A vivid image flashed into my mind.

The place where I woke up for the first time.

Where violet lilies swayed gently in the wind, the shimmering lake just beyond them.

“Yeah… I do.”

“Very well.

Can you tell me what happened?

Why were you there?”

I sighed and looked at him.

“I woke up there.

I didn’t know where I was.

I looked ahead of me and saw the violet lilies and a giant lake.

Though as I stood up, I stumbled a bit and fell down from the cliff, I didn’t know I was at the very edge of the cliff.”

“How did you survive the fall?”

I didn’t want to answer the question for a moment, I couldn’t trust him.

And the reason was also to protect sir Exios.

“Someone saved me.”

“Oh, you mean uncle?” he said, a sly smile creeping across his face.

“Uncle?” Unclear to what he meant.

“You don’t call him uncle?” Amusement in his voice was heard distinctly.

“Who?”

“Uncle Exios.” A loud thump from my chest was felt.

I blankly stared at him, while my hands that were clenched tightly, softly loosened.

‘Uncle Exios?’ An echo filled my thoughts.

I was baffled to what I had just heard.

The food became cold as the time went by.

“I guess you didn’t know.

Well you didn’t have to know, it was just a fun fact.

My uncle sure doesn’t want to reveal his true self.” He briefly gave me a look with a grin on his face and exhaled.

“Where were we?

Oh right, you fell, and my uncle saved you.

But let’s go back to the part where you woke up.

How did you get there?

Why did you sleep at that place?

It must have been bloody freezing at night.” He grabbed a glass and swiftly shook it, asking for the man in the black suit to pour him a drink.

The man slowly grabbed the glass from his hand.

The sound of the liquid pouring into the glass felt like it was filling the empty spaces in my mind.

I was still, my thoughts disconnected from the reality unfolding in front of me.

As he finished, he put the glass on the table, in front of prince Denver.

“Mhm, I guess you’re thinking on how to explain the long journey that you had?

Or maybe just not talking at all?

It would be nice if you could give me some information, it would really help me sleep peacefully for some hours.” He drank the glass.

I felt a sense of lostness for a moment, as my vision was focused on nothing.

I couldn’t understand the situation at all, but I didn’t think about it.

My head was just filled with void, but I could hear every word he was saying.

Keeping my eyes still, and not looking at prince Denver, I finally gave him my response.

“When I woke up, my memory, everything that I know about myself, was gone.

I don’t know who I am and how I got here.

I don’t know what happened before waking up.” An honest response, but will he believe it?

“Huh, memory loss?

That would make a good excuse.” As expected, he didn’t believe it.

He remained silent for a while and drank the glass of red juice again.

“Let’s say that you do have memory loss.

But do you recall some parts?

Like fragments of your memory coming back?

For example, do you remember what core is within you?”

“Core?” My eyes and eyebrows twitched in confoundment.

“Yes.

Do you remember it?”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“Oh.” He said as he placed the glass on the table.

“Well, it might be a bit troublesome.” He softly spoke in disappointment.

“I see.

You are willing to tell me nothing.” He leaned on the table, putting his two hands together.

“I told you; I don’t remember anything.” I looked at him with seriousness on my face.

“Even so, I doubt you’d tell me anything at all.” He smiled recklessly.

I scratched my eyebrow and gave a loud sigh.

A lot has happened, and a lot has been said, though my questions remained unanswered.

“Would- would you please tell me what is happening?

What is this case that I am related to, what is the core you are talking about?

Where is sir Exios and what happened to Ms. Crimson?”

“Dear, might as well do something that both of us can gain.

I answer your questions, you answer mine.”

“I did answer your questions.” I looked up at him, my patience wearing thin.

“Well, those aren’t answers.

You might be telling or not telling the truth, so until you will tell me what really happened, I won’t give you my answers to those questions of yours.” And again, he continued to smile, as if he was teasing me.

“What am I supposed to do?

I can’t remember anything.

It’s the truth.” I started to get annoyed by him that I raised my voice a bit.

He drank the last bit of juice from the glass.

He sighed and placed the glass on the table.

“Very well.

We will just have to wait for your memories to come back.

Oh, don’t worry, I will call someone for a bit of help.

Also, as we wait, I will have to check on you and inspect you.

I need to understand how your energy and mana regulate.

Right now it seems like both of those are quite weak and inconsistent.

I guess uncle must have camouflage it, I don’t know how, but that’s why in about…” He raised his left arm and pulled out a silver black watch on his hand.

“5 minutes I’ll have to go and see how they are doing.”

He kept a smile on his face for the whole time, I don’t even know why he keeps an ingenuine smile.

He waited for me to speak up, but I just stared at him as I was speechless.

‘If he won’t respond to my questions, then there’s nothing I can do.’ I thought as I just wanted for him to go away.

“Mhm…” He hummed as he thought of something for a second.

“If your memories are truly gone, then you deserve to know the basics.

I’ll send an expert later and he will tell you in detail everything you need to know about a core.

It will be intriguing, as if you are at school, attending an interesting lesson with a passionate professor.” He stood up and fixed his attire.

“I will hop off now.

It’s almost time for lunch, but I think the food here is enough to be a brunch.

The workers here will heat you up the meals, so eat well.”

And again, he smiled at me before walking ahead of him.

And as his figure was slowly vanishing through the greenery of the place, the workers started to do their job on heating the meals.

He left, but the feeling of unease stayed.

-----

Denver walked through the greenhouse towards the exit.

His steps deliberate, his expression unreadable.

But inside, his thoughts churned, analyzing everything that had just transpired.

‘She is telling the truth.’ Denver recalled the moment where he used his power to detect Liliana’s consciousness, whether she was telling the truth or not.

And every time she said something, Denver’s powers did not perceive it as a lie.

‘Good thing I’ve studied and practiced it, otherwise I would have just straight up believed that it was a lie.

All those years were finally worth it for something like this.’

‘I still need to be careful.

Her memories are gone, but they might return anytime.’

He knew that she was telling the truth, but told her that he didn’t believe in her.

‘Or her memories are intact, but she’s trying to hide it.

She might have been able to pass through my power, surpassing it.

But that would require a higher grade of power.

Is a child capable of such thing?

She is an unusual child, after all.’

‘Now I just need to check if the facts are straight by questioning uncle and his accomplice, Crimson Ardit.’