Way to border I

"I want to talk with Dia," she pouted. Erin galloped her horse across the rolling hills, the soft grass swaying gently beneath their hooves. Gentle breeze was streaming past her ink hairs. Soft sunrays were lamenting meadow grass on the other side grass was dancing with winds.

Erin had managed to slip away from the duchy unnoticed, eager to bask in the delightful weather.

Erin glanced at the golden ball, unlike the shabby environment in the dukedom, it was peaceful here. A small desire to settle here with Diana for the rest of her life craved in her heart.

Busy in the thoughts of the future, suddenly a hooded figure came in front of her. Erin was surprised by that sudden intrusion; Using all her strength she pulled the ropes to stop her running horse. That figure fell on the ground.

"Hey." Erin jumped down quickly to help that traveller. "Are you ok?" She helped him to stand up.

That clad figure removed his hood, revealing his figure.

Erin was bewildered to see him. Soft green hair, reaching down the waist. He looked like a fallen angel, the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

"Thanks," he grinned.

"You don't look human...." Erin said in awe. Quickly understanding what she said looks like an insult; she corrected herself, "I-in a positive w-way, I mean."

That person laughed at her cute reactions. "I'm flattered, young lady."

"U..." It was awkward to continue the conversation; for some reason, she felt connected to this person. "I'm E-Erin..." She replied while stuttering.

"Ah." A wide grin spread across that person. "Just as you said, I'm not human." He replied with a smile.

"Do you think I'm a child?" She got irritated by this. "And for your information, no fairies reveal themselves."

"You're quite a kid." He was amused by her way of speaking. Though she looked 14, it seems she was still immature and innocent. "Bold of you to assume that I'm an angel."

"?" Erin got confused. He was talking in a mysterious way.

"I live near the western border," he said softly, his words accompanied by a gentle gesture as he ruffled her hair. "If you ever make a wish, I'll make sure it comes true."

"Like a demon who grants wishes?" She asked him, referring to one of the stories told by Diana.

"E"

"My lady," Diana came towards her, running fast. Erin ran towards her; she wanted to introduce this person to her.

"Dia~" Erin approached her. Just for a while her face was shocked and frightened; Diana hugged her tightly.

"Dia, you know-"Erin pointed her towards that traveller, but he had vanished. Erin was surprised to see that...

"My lady?"

"Nothing."

**

"Hey,"

Darcy looked behind; he was working on some papers. Surprised to see me at this time of the hour, he raised his brows. "What brings you here?" he asked me.

I entered the room, sitting on the nearby sofa. My gaze was looking down. "I want to know everything, each and every part of that war."

"So, you finally came to your senses?" He asked in a cold tone.

I nodded, my fingers wrapping around the nearby silver glass. "I'm certain my memories have been taken,"

"?"

"I'm too strong to suffer from a head injury to the point of losing memories; also-" I glanced at the silver glass, slowly pouring my mana, in a second unable to withstand the pressure, it shattered into thousands of pieces. "This amount of mana is inhumane."

His eyes widened; Darcy was surprised. In the history of Vallansia no heir had this much mana in possession. "Darn it."

"The only legit answer is... I made a deal with demons." I announced in a cold tone. It was tough to believe it from a normal person's perspective. But for me, who had seen a demon once in their childhood, it wasn't that unusual.

"And you would never agree to deal like that." He completed my sentence.

Looks like past me truly loved him. It wasn't a fleeting interest. But the question was, what drove me to the point of giving up the most precious memories of mine only to get ample powers?

"And the answer resides in the western border, am I right?"

"Hmm." He was a quite smart person. It would've been difficult to explain all these things to him otherwise. Not to mention the part about demons... It was surprising that he even believed that demons exist.

"From where should I start?" Darcy stood up from his chair. Glancing at the starry sky, his eyes were lifeless without any hope.

"From the beginning." I announced there was no hope to begin with. From what Cian had told, there were practically no clues. But like an optimist, I think going through the details won't do anything bad.

"It started from the western border; it wasn't even that big to begin with. Due to endless suffering from famine, plague, and exposure, the noble's citizens united in order to gain their rights. Though riots were everywhere, the west suffered the most. Riots joined their hands with neighbouring nations, making it look like a big deal."

"To mitigate the damage, His Majesty dispatched you and His Highness to address the situation promptly. As the kingdom's most skilled knight, you were tasked with handling the matter, while His Highness provided medical support."

As he continued this boring history, I listened it deliberately. There were no clues until now.

"After six months of endless struggle, war was finally at its end. You know what happened after that."

"Isn't it just the same as I've heard from Cian?" I looked at him in amusement.

He nodded. "That's what I know."

"You're useless," I snapped, frustration boiling over. I'd shared my deepest secret with him, expecting insight or guidance, but instead, he offered nothing but silence. The little information he did provide, I'd already gleaned from Cian.

"Looks like going to the border is inevitable." I sighed. So far, I've got no clue.

If this goes on, I will never be able to fulfil the promise I had given to him.

**

Back to moments ago...

"I-"

"I'm going to the border." I stopped myself from confessing; it wasn't the best time for it. Not until I find out what actually happened in those months.

My memories, which once belonged to me, had disappeared to nothing. And it's impossible to believe it's because of injuries or any other cause. Not to add the mana flooding inside me. I ought to find the answer before proposing to him.

"No," Cian gave me an affirmative answer; even though he was drunk, he still didn't lose it.

"But, your highness, I have to find those-

Cian silenced me; he kept his long, slender finger on my lips to stop me from completing.

"Those memories don't matter as long as you're with me." He answered with a fake smile.

How can he say it doesn't matter? It's our precious moments... the memories that we had created together...

And I wanted to know why I had done this bad thing to him....

"Rina..." I snapped out of my thoughts. Cian called me with a gentle tone; he was on the verge of crying. "Don't leave me alone... please."

At that moment everything, all thoughts in my mind, disappeared, and I enveloped him in my arms.

"I would never do that." I promised him, maybe past me was too selfish, but current me isn't.

"And I promise you, I'll remember you again your highness."