“…I don’t know what you want me to be honest about. As you said, I know my place, and I’m rightfully receiving punishment for breaking the taboo.”

If you become indebted, you’ll eventually be controlled. Though the stares pouring down were burdensome, Hari continued her assigned tasks without wavering.

“You don’t need to help me.”

“Does it seem that way? I want to properly examine cause and effect, Margharita. Did you sneak into the orchard of your own will? I don’t think so.”

“I have nothing to say about that matter. Please leave now.”

Hari found the man uncomfortable. His face full of arrogance brought back memories of being forced to kiss him. From his retreating back as he turned away, leaving her in the rain-soaked grass as if his business was done, to her own stained face reflected in the puddle.

While suffering from severe fever after being caught in the rain, Hari thought. What remained for her, who was no longer the heir of Lagonia nor the princess of Galate? Reality pushed to the cliff seemed to mock even the preservation of final dignity. Should she then let everything go? If she could deceive that man and escape from here.

“It was Selina’s doing, wasn’t it?”

There was still one last move left.

“Princess, I deeply despise liars.”

“I had a dream.”

After composing her expression with a deep breath, Hari looked straight at the man before her. She needed to deceive him into believing her words were the truth.

“On the last day of the festival, a great fire breaks out in the Cradle of Stars. Near the sacred artifact storage.”

Achilleon raised an eyebrow askew, urging her to continue.

“I’m not sure if it’s an accident or arson, but I saw the sixth sacred flame of the shrine topple over.”

The sixth sacred flame was the fire commemorating Achilleon’s coming of age ceremony. The sacred flame was like its owner’s heart. Though it couldn’t be extinguished by water, it would turn to ashes when its owner’s life ended.

“I think someone was there, but I can’t remember the face.”

“Tell me properly.”

“That’s when I woke up.”

Hari recalled the memory. The silhouette that quickly passed through the flames – at first she thought it was Achilleon, but no. Similar, but different.

“Were there many prophets like you in Galate?”

“In the past.”

Hari hesitated before asking.

“Why did Your Highness spare me instead of choosing a Hitais priest?”

Instead of answering, he stood up. Unable to keep up with his long strides, Hari had to hurriedly follow without knowing why.

As they went deeper into the corridor, the torches decreased and the darkness thickened until it became difficult to see ahead. Her feet kept catching on the uneven floor several times. The man who caught her stumbling hand walked through that darkness as if it were bright daylight without any hesitation. After following the snake-like damp passage for a while, they arrived at a prayer room connected to the sacred hall. The first thing that caught her eye was the wooden carving that stretched from the floor up the walls to the dome-shaped ceiling.

The sole deity worshipped by the city-states of Rodos, the world tree Igrito. Placing his hand on the trunk studded with dark red fruits, Achilleon spoke.

“You must know that the snake Radamut, blinded by greed, was struck by divine punishment for trying to take Igrito’s daughter, and the tree was split in two by lightning.”

The lifeless tree took away even the vitality of the surrounding land. That territory that turned from verdant land into barren desert was Lagonia.

Achilleon approached the fountain connected to the statue. The water flow must have been cut off long ago, as only a small amount remained like a trace.

“No matter how excellent a Hitais priest is, there are no humans who can hear divine words. Half of the tree tainted by the snake’s venomous fangs is stuck in Hitais’s land like a curse. No one can hear the voice of god. They can’t see memories either.”

Achilleon turned to look at her. His dark green eyes gleamed like evening dew.

“Place your hand.”

Hari placed her hand on the holy water basin carved with Igrito as instructed. In the center of the intricately expressed tree texture was a crystal that shone in five colors. As she was thinking that the jewel seemed familiar somehow, she met pitch-black eyes reflected in the clear water. At that moment, a fierce wind blew through the temple pillars. Her skirt fluttered, blocking her view.

“What do you see?”

Large hands gripped both her shoulders firmly. The whisper clinging moistly to her ear added weight, pressing down on Hari’s body. The temple that had brightened for a moment with white lightning sank into darkness.

In that instant, a flash-like vision, along with the darkness, dyed Hari’s eyes.

* * *

[Let me have just one taste.]

She looked down primly.

Ah, again. It’s that dream again. Today too, that black snake is raising its creepy head under the tree.

[You’d fit in one gulp, wouldn’t you?]

She peeked her head out from beyond the light green leaves to observe the snake’s movements. Thinking it was a thousand blessings that she was hanging from such a high branch.

If she had been born among the bushes or grass sprouting from the ground, she would have been swallowed immediately by that gloomy snake’s maw.

[Then when you grow a bit more.]

The snake came every day to admire her well-colored body, then retreated while licking its lips.

Hari was a tiny fruit, just the size of a fingernail. Bright red, with delicious juice flowing.

Moreover, since she contained a sweet scent that could enchant all the beasts of the earth, the snake wasn’t the only animal courting her.

[Child, you must never give yourself to them. The cunning snake won’t stop at one bite but will chew you up whole.]

While hiding her tiny body with leaves, ‘Mother’ warned again.

[Even if animals intoxicated by your scent and effects try to tempt you with all sorts of words, you must never listen. The snake carries terrible poison.]

[Yes, Mother.]

She faithfully followed her mother’s advice.

As the moons changed and she grew vigorously until finally becoming the size of a baby’s fist. She noticed something strange.

The beasts that had wandered around the tree trunk waiting for the fruit to drop had all disappeared at some point.

Except for the black snake.

That day too, the snake, coiled around the tree trunk without fail, whispered tenderly to her.

[You look so delicious.]

Yellow pupils curved narrowly.

She felt a slight curiosity toward the beast that visited her tirelessly. However, she had not even the tiniest intention of getting close to the wicked beast, ignoring her mother’s warning.

[Do you know why we want you?]

We?

Rustle, as the leaves parted, the reddish fruit poked out its body. She carefully looked around.

Ah, come to think of it, there was one more.

On the opposite side of the grass where the black snake had settled, a white snake with two heads was gazing up at her.

Eyes as black as night and round. The curious pupils blinked slowly.

When their eyes met, the round head tilted, cocking to one side. It had a face that seemed relatively harmless compared to that black snake head that licked its lips whenever it saw her.

The snow-white snake would crouch around the pond, then slither out stealthily when the sun set. Then it would coil its long body under the trunk and just stare at her.

Without speaking, just quietly.

[If we eat you, we can become dragons.]

The black snake’s hissing sound cut through her thoughts.

[Really just one bite is enough. Even just tasting the juice would be fine. Besides, you’re no longer just one bite-sized.]

No, compared to the snake’s cave-like gaping maw, she was still small enough to be swallowed in one bite.

She quickly hid her body between the leaves.

[Are you afraid of me?]

[……]

[Alright, then at least let me smell you.]

[Smell?]

[Yes, I’m going crazy, you see. I want to smell your scent up close. That much is fine, right?]

[You’re going to climb up here?]

[I have to come up. Unless you want to fall into my mouth? You wouldn’t like that.]

She pondered for a moment.

No beast had ever existed that made it from mother’s feet to her crown. This snake too would tire out and collapse halfway. Then it would slam its head on the ground and die instantly.

With its head shattered into ten pieces.

She snorted and said arrogantly.

[Try eating me if you can.]

At that moment, an eerie light frosted over in the snake’s eyes.

It was an irreversible mistake.

The earthly beast yearning for the heavenly thing showed its long venomous fangs and began climbing up the tree trunk. It was an act no one had ever attempted before.

Mother’s body was as thick and long as seven palace pillars combined. That massive trunk began to move little by little as long scales covered it.

The leaves trembled at the scratching sound of scales against the rough surface.

[I’m scared!]

[Don’t come!]

[No!]

The leaves screamed silently. Their trembling appearance made her afraid too.

Glancing down, she caught glimpses of the white snake’s head, standing stiffer than usual.