Chapter 36
That night, in the sweet memories that Oliver glimpsed as he drifted in and out of sleep, there were two people—a man and a woman—leaning in close to each other.
—
It was himself and Leefe in their past lives. In the garden of a brick house standing deep in the forest, they were enjoying tea time at a table adorned with colorful baked goods, black coffee, and tea.
In his past life, he called Leefe by her then-name, “Laurie.”
“Laurie, the small bottles of magic potion you carry around have slightly different-shaped lids. Isn’t it risky not to label them? You might mix them up in an emergency.”
“I never make mistakes. Besides, I don’t use magic potions myself. It’s faster to use magic directly, and these potions are for giving to someone else.”
“Is that so? Even though I’ve said I’d be your friend and lover, doing everything for you?”
“!”
When he smiled and picked up a small bottle from the table, Laurie’s confident expression faltered, and her blue eyes darted around nervously.
After this, she would abruptly change the subject. It was her endearing habit when she was overwhelmed by confusion or embarrassment.
Sure enough, Laurie shifted her gaze to the cup in her hand. Blinking rapidly in a way that seemed almost unnatural, she tried to appear calm as she asked,
“…Hey, isn’t that black water really bitter? Its smell is kind of strange too… I can’t drink it.”
“Who went to the trouble of getting the beans needed to make this black water? You know I like it, right? Laurie, you’re really cute.”
“!? You’re the only one who would say such things to me, who’s feared as the most wicked woman of our time!”
“I honestly think it’s good that Laurie looks like that.Your cuteness is something only I need to know, and I don’t want anyone else to find out.”
When he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her, her face turned bright red, and her eyes filled with tears, as if she were about to cry. It was hard to believe that people feared this pure and lovely Laurie as a villain.
“The magic potions you make are top-notch. It’s foolish for people to run away instead of accepting them. Such people aren’t worth having as friends.”
“You, who are always loved by everyone, wouldn’t understand my feelings… But whatever you do, never drink a love potion in front of me, okay? It would be disastrous if you did.”
“It’s insulting. Do you think my feelings could be overwritten by a love potion? After all I’ve told you, do you still not understand my feelings?”
“N-n-n-n-n-n-n-no, it’s not like that, but the love potions I make…”
He didn’t hear the rest of her answer. He kissed her again, making the explanation of the potion irrelevant.
—
When he opened his eyes, he saw the canopy of his bed. The colors and design were those of the Shinwood Empire, not Distoria. Through the gap in the curtains, a blue light peeked in. It was morning.
“…A dream.”
That nostalgic and sweet dream was a happy memory that only he had.
“I should have listened carefully to the effects of the potion back then.”
He never expected that the love potion she made would intensify his feelings for the person in front of him. Moreover, the effects were so strong that it made sense why she had strictly warned him not to drink it in their past lives.
(Even though she used to always say harsh things, she really understood my feelings back then.)
As he chuckled bitterly and got up, Lara appeared.
“Good morning, Oliver-sama.”
“Lala. Is the investigation I requested about the lives of past Enchanting Saintess completed?”
“Yes, everything is in order.”
Saying this, Lala handed over several fortune cookies. Inside them were the reports.
“Thank you. I’ll check it later.”
“But are you sure about this? Yesterday, you told her, ‘I’ll tell you the truth if you fall in love with me.’ Leefe can be pretty clumsy, you know. I’m worried she’ll start pretending to love you, and you’ll end up troubled by it.”
Lala seemed concerned that Leefe, desperate to know the truth, might start pretending to love Oliver.
However, for Oliver, the mere thought of that was endearing and delightful.
“Wouldn’t that be a rather luxurious problem? If that happens, I’ll just get to be by her side more.”
“Enough already! Oliver-sama!”
When he answered with a chuckle, Lala pouted and puffed out her cheeks.