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Prologue
. Little As
I had a dream.
I was taking a walk with little As.
As knew a lot about flowers, and he told me about each and every one we came across.
Excited, I asked about every flower that caught my eye—what kind of flower it was, and what it meant.
Then suddenly, a bluish-purple flower blooming nearby caught my attention.
“What kind of flower is this?”
That’s what I asked, and As calmly answered.
“It’s a delphinium.”
“That’s a pretty name. What’s its meaning?”
I asked as casually as I had about the other flowers.
But unlike before, when he had answered right away, this time no reply came immediately from As’s lips.
After hesitating for a moment, the child slowly turned to look at me.
And the one who turned to me was not As, but Aces.
“Why is it that you do not love me?”
Frozen stiff, I heard Aces whisper those words.
With the feeling of my heart dropping heavily, I woke with a start.
“…Hah.”
The moonlit room around me was none other than the bedroom I had seen for the past nine years.
So it was a dream.
…Just a dream.
I murmured that inwardly as I slowly sat up.
It must have been a dream reflecting the walk I had taken with As earlier today.
Though, of course, the latter half had gotten a bit muddled.
“Phew…”
My startled heart was still pounding.
I was about to calm myself with some water when I hesitated and turned my head.
There on the bed, bathed in moonlight, lay a child fast asleep.
Soft, wavy black hair. Long, shadowy black eyelashes resting gently.
I couldn’t see the eyes hidden beneath, but I knew well they were a transparent wine-red color.
He looked so very much alike that I found myself thinking—
…No. That can’t be.
Staring blankly at As, I flinched and shook myself awake.
Yes, it couldn’t be.
Because he would never smile at me so innocently, the way As once did.
…That dream just now was nothing but nonsense.
Pull yourself together, Einra.
I shook my head, casting away the lingering thoughts.
Having no idea that before long, that conviction of mine would be shattered to pieces.
