Being This Captivating Is A Curse...

Hey there, Ratchett.

Oh, hello, Aldo. Keeping well, I hope?

Is this lady a friend of yours, Aldo? Wow, I had no idea you were so well-connected.

Well, Ratchett is really knowledgeable about magic. I've asked for her help with it a bunch of times.

Really? You know a lot about magic?

Well, somewhat. I'm a court magician by profession.

Then... Are you familiar with stuff like hexes too?

That all depends on what kind. Can you give me an example?

Excuse me. I'm looking for Ms. Ratchett.

Yes, hello.

I was hoping we could go over the marriage rites ahead of my wedding next week.

Ah, yes, you did make an appointment to do so prior. My apologies. Could I ask you to wait until I've finished speaking with these two?

Of course. I'll be right outside.

Sorry for delaying your appointment.

O-Oh, no, it's fine. Oh... Oh!

Hey, you okay, buddy?

My, what a beautiful creature! Could it be? Is this fate?

Oh, n...

M-M'lady, we may have just met but... Will you marry me?!

...What?!

Hey, behave yourself!

You're engaged, right? What would your fiancée have to say about...

What's all the hubbub, honey?

Crud.

Oh, hi, darling. Sorry, wedding's off.

"Off"? But, What– What do you mean "wedding's off"?!

I mean I'm gonna marry HER instead!

Excuse me?!

Darling, you can't be serious! Is this some kind of horrible joke? You're tearing me apart!

Madam, I'm so, so sorry! There's a reasonable explanation for this, I swear.

Ms. Ratchett, I'll tell you everything I know but for now, just get him out of this room!

A love charm?

That's right. A Mage cursed me with it when I was little.

Any and all men who come near me fall under its spell. The extent of its effect varies from person to person, but in really bad cases like this the guy falls head over heels instantly.

For such a powerful hex to work I assume you've been branded with a hexing sigil?

A hexing sigil? I've never seen one of those before.

It's on the back of my neck. Could you take a look at it?

Of course. Let's see here...

Hey, I want to see what it looks like too.

No, Aldo! Don't look!

Wargh! I-I'm sorry!

...No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, shouting like that.

But I have to keep the sigil from being seen by any man, no matter what. If I didn't, they'd fall under its terrible spell forever.

Wow. Don't apologize, now I see why you got so worried there.

Yeah...

So Ms. Ratchett, if you would?

Yes, of course.

...This is powerful magic indeed. I'm afraid there's no easy way to break it.

No! Does that mean my dearest... The love of my life is lost to me now? Forever?

No, don't worry. We can still help him.

With enough time and distance away from me he should return to normal on his own but... Your wedding's right around the corner, isn't it? I don't know if it'll happen by then.

Well, thankfully the delusion is still fresh. All you have to do to snap him out of it is to make him remember his feelings for you.

How do I do that?

Why not try showing him a bouquet like the one you arranged together?

The one we made right after he proposed? Yes, that's it!

That just might work.

But it's too dangerous to go pick the flowers I need, what with all the monsters about...

Don't worry, I'll get them for you. Leave it to me.

And I'll help.

Then it's settled. When you have the flowers, bring them to me. I'll arrange them perfectly.

Here's where you can find them. The first location is Lake Tiilen. Good luck!

According to Ratchett's list we should be able to find the first flower we need here. It's a Peach Flower.

Um... Is that it, maybe?

I think so. Yeah, it has to be.

Whew... I really hate that I've caused all this trouble. Not just for this couple, but for you too. I'm sorry, Aldo.

No need to apologize. This hex must cause you the most trouble of all.

I guess...

You know how you said you were cursed by a Mage? You never said why. What happened?

Like I said, it was when I was a kid. I didn't have any family but there was one boy who became my best friend. But then one day, out of the blue, he just started ignoring me.

How come?

Who knows. We were so little, maybe he was embarrassed to be seen by other boys with a girl all the time.

But at the time, I didn't care what his reason was. I just felt so sad and alone... All I did was hide away and cry. That's when the Mage found me and asked me if I "wanted the boy to be my friend again." He was offering me what I wanted so of course I said yes. Next thing I knew I was hexed... Real ironic, isn't it?

I'm sorry to hear that.

In hindsight, I was a complete dunce for falling for it. Anyway, from then on life was, well, as you've just seen.

Always?

Yeah. Every man and boy I've ever come into contact with has been taken in by the spell. It caused a ton of problems back home. It got so bad I decided to leave my hometown. I've been on the road ever since.

So that's why you seem so used to sleeping rough.

Mmm-hm. Anyway, we shouldn't keep that bride-to-be waiting too much longer. Where to next?

Next is the Derismo Highroad. Let's hurry.

It says here we're looking for a Blue Flower this time.

Like these ones right here?

Huh, yeah. Who would've thought.

Yeah, it's pretty lucky they were so close by! All right, just one more color to go.

Right. By the way, I've been wondering about something you said earlier. The love charm works on every guy you meet, no matter what. Right?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure about that. Only the strength and duration differ depending on the individual.

Then how come I feel completely fine right now?

I've been wondering about that too. It really is out of the ordinary.

But that's one gift horse I ain't looking in the mouth. I can be myself around you, and that's nice. It's almost like you're my kid brother, actually. That's something I'm really truly grateful for.

Really? Heh, when you put it that way I guess it does feel like I'm your kid brother.

Heheh. So absolutely no peeking at my sigil, no matter what! Got it?

Got it. Of course.

Good. All right, let's get back to business. We've got a buncha flowers to pick!

Mmm! What a lovely scent.

......

What's up?

Nothing... It's just, as you were smelling those flowers... I thought of this toy flower we used to play pranks with as kids. It was this toy flower that sprayed water, so when you went to smell it...

Hee hee...

Hey, don't make me start laughing! It's so hard to stop once I get started.

W, What I said wasn't that funny, was it?

It totally was! Hee hee... It just sounded so silly and yet so cute! Ahahaha!

I-I guess it was... Er, anyway, next stop: the Keruri Highroad! (Man, I don't know if I'll ever get her sense of humor...)

The last flower should be here. It's red, I think...

Hey, there it is!

Ohhhhhh, I see. So THAT'S why they chose these three.

What do you mean? They didn't just choose them because they're pretty?

Nope. This particular combination of flowers has a really special meaning behind it.

Special meaning?

I'll tell you later, okay? Let's get back to the palace first!

Look out!

Huh?! Hey, pal, you gotta take me out to dinner first! It's a little thing called romance. Haven't heard of it? That's fine. Maybe you'd stand to learn some tough love!

You're not hurt, right? Thank goodness.

Yeah, thanks to you and your Magic Blade. Seems like it really packs a punch. And it looks cool, too!

You think so? I'm not so sure I'm all that great at using it though. Having this curse around means I had no choice but to at least try to get good.

Oh? Why's that?

Well, some of the situations it's gotten me into have been pretty sticky, to say the least. So learning how to defend myself was... unavoidable.

No way, you're saying you're completely self-taught?

Oh, no, not entirely. I trained under a couple of people I met along my travels, when I could. I even did a little official training one time, but I picked it up fairly quickly and, well, that was that. You know, you could probably learn what I know easily enough, Aldo, with a bit of practice.

Really? How about a crash course then?

Sure! Trust me, the fundamentals of Magic Blade combat are surprisingly easy if you...

...Oof. I don't think I've got it.

Ohh, my bad. Maybe I didn't explain it well enough?

No, you explained it really well. I just don't think I'm cut out for that style of combat. (She has no idea she's practically a Magic Blade prodigy, does she?)

...Anyway, we've got what we came for. Let's get these flowers back to Ratchett.

Sorry we kept you waiting!

Ah, welcome back. I see you found the flowers.

I thank you both. Ratchett and I will start arranging these right away.

Sure. I know he'll just love them. And, by the way... I really am sorry.

It's okay, I don't begrudge you or anything. I know why it's not your fault now.

That's a relief to hear. Thank you.

Aldo, when they finish the bouquet could you bring the groom here?

No problem, just say when. I'll be waiting outside.

Something to show me, you say?

Here. Remember this, darling?

...Flowers?

That's right. One flower for each aspect of our love. Pink for the moment we swore our affection. Blue is the purity of our hearts. And red for true love that never ends.

"This bouquet represents the true and everlasting love we pledged in our youth."

We've always been together, ever since we were little. And we wanted to keep being together as we grew older. Even when we're old and gray, we'd still be walking on the beach holding hands. That was our promise. Remember?

AH! These memories... It's all coming back to me...

Huh? I... What?

Why was I calling off our wedding again? And for someone I just met in spite of my lifelong feelings for you?

Because you've been a filthy, no-good flirt ever since we were kids, that's why!

ACK! N-No! Forgive me, my sweet honeybuns!

Ahaha! All's well that ends well, then.

Yeah. I wish them well.

Yep! ...Childhood sweethearts, huh? And true love... Must be nice.

Hm?

I'm sorry I couldn't dispel your hex, Shanie. I wish there was something I could do.

Oh, don't worry about it. It'd be nice to never jeopardize a wedding again, but even if I never get rid of it I'll be fine.

(So she says, but all this drama was a real headache. It can't be easy going through life like that. There's got to be a way to free you from this curse, Shanie. I'll find it for you, one day...)