"Let her live, in exchange for my life." The brave swordsman's heart cried and tightened as he said these words. Kneeling on a floor of salt, he reached out fot the apple in front of him. Upon touch, the apple gave the swordsman's hand a shiver. It looks ominous, as if it was the bad omen itself.
Without any second doubt, the swordsman took a bite of the poisoned fruit.
The apple fell as his hands froze. The man can't feel any pain. He was numb all over. He couldn't speak, but at least his eyes were spared. The swordsman fell with a smile as he saw his lover's body, inside a coffin, rise.
"Are you awake now, Princess?" A hoarse voice echoed the dark room.
"Where...am I..." she slowly opened her eyes, struggling as if she was lifting a sack full of metal. Her body was immovable, her head was heavier than herself.
"Do not fret, you'll feel better soon enough. The aftereffect of the potion is quite unbearable, you see."
Letting out a quarter of her current strength, the Princess questioned, "What...do you...mea.."
The wizard in his ragged clothes chuckled, "How unfortunate, your death was. Do you remember? You were shot by a palace guard when you sneaked out with your forbidden lover, the swordsman."
"...Hi..karu..."
"Yes, he was devastated and blamed himself for your death. And guess what he did? He came to me, to the wizard who was shooed away by the King!"
Princess Yoshina's eyes widened. This wizard was once known for his incredible magic and potion-making skills, but was pushed out of the kingdom after attempting to resurrect his dead wife.
Which means...
"Yes, my resurrecting potion was successful. You, the dead princess who came back alive, is my living evidence! All of mankind should acknoledge this!" the wizard shouted like a maniac.
"Then, where is Hikaru..." a ray of hope shone on Princess Yoshina.
Suddenly, he became quiet. All of the happiness inside that room vanished into thin air. The princess looked at the same direction as the wizard is looking, and there they saw...
...a woman's body in an expensive gown, lying inside a wooden coffin, rotting.
"Your body was undeniably impossible to use again. You've been dead for 2 months."
"Then, who... who am I?!" Although weak, she tried to touch her face and body. And there, in her now unusually big hands, she saw Hikaru's ring that she gave him.
Clearing his throat, the wizard said, "That body... is your lover's. He has become you, you have become him."
"Your father... the King, and the kingdom, killed the both of you. Why did they interfere with you love just because you are not socially equal? Isn't it cruel?" The wizard whispered to the Princess' ear.
Tears, mixed with blood, flowed from her eyes. "Yes... it's cruel..."
"Do you despise them?"
"Yes.."
"Do you want to revenge your lover?
"...Yes.."
"Do you want to kill them?"
The Princess did not answer. She looked far away.
"If you managed to kill the royal family, I can roam freely around the kingdom, and I might find the right ingredients to resurrect the swordsman again."
At that moment, Princess Yoshina's mind went completely blank. And then, all she could think was the wizard's agreement.
With her now black eyes, she answered "I'll kill them."
The wizard grinned in his head. Finally, he thought.
He got his revenge.