My Prince Charming… turned out to be a girl.


I never knew White Bird-san’s gender, so I had sometimes wondered if she might be a princess. I never imagined, though, that the white-haired girl would transform into White Bird-san.

I gently gazed at the girl in her small, white-bird form.

“So… you were… the white bird… all along.”

A bird that can transform into a human—how amazing.

“I’m glad you understand.”

White Bird-san chirped softly.
Maybe it’s because she can speak human words that she doesn’t usually chirp like a normal bird.

Still, I can’t help but be captivated when I look at White Bird-san.
I guess it’s because she’s small and so adorable.
Not only is she cute, she can even transform into a human. Truly incredible.

“Can birds… turn into… humans?” I asked.

“No, I’m not a bird. I can transform into a bird using magic.”

Her body began to warp again.
And just like that, she returned to her original white-haired girl form.

“This is my true form.”

“So… you weren’t a… bird, but a human?”

“I didn’t mean to deceive you, I’m sorry.”


I see… so White Bird-san wasn’t a bird at all.

In hindsight, some of her behavior had seemed odd for a bird.
Even so, I never imagined that White Bird-san’s true identity was a human girl.
There was no way anyone could have known.

—Huh?

Wait a minute.
Didn’t she just say she can transform into a bird using magic?

No way.
I’ve never heard of magic like that.

Her ability to float in the air is strange too. This white-haired girl… just who—or what—is she?
She’s so mysterious, everything about her is completely unknown.

Well, since we can finally talk, I might as well ask all the questions I’m curious about.

“Why… can you… transform into a bird?”

“Because… I’m a witch…”


────A witch, you say!?

“Ah, sorry. I guess saying ‘witch’ probably doesn’t make sense to a forest-born Alraune like you.”

A witch.
No, I understand perfectly.
Even though I was born in the forest as a plant, I was originally a human saint.

Witches are, as one might put it, the natural enemies of saints.

No wonder my whole body tensed the moment I realized the white-haired girl was a witch.


Even if a witch looked exactly like a human, they aren’t human.
That was what the church taught.

On this continent, every human kingdom has a certain church as its state religion. That church teaches that witches, like the demons of the Demon King’s army, are enemies of humanity.

In fact, witch-related incidents occur quite often.
Each time, witch-hunting squads are sent. Even entire military units are deployed. It’s intense.


Among the symbols of the church that venerates the Goddess of Light, the saint is one.

Saints are favored by the Goddess of Light, can wield light magic, and are trusted by the people.
Witches, on the other hand, practice dark magic and are hated by the church and humans alike.
Thus, saints and witches are complete opposites.

Perhaps because of that, witches often targeted saints.
My predecessor, another saint, met her end at the hands of a witch.
That’s why, whenever I hear “witch,” a sense of hostility immediately springs up inside me.


“Well, even if I call myself a witch, it’s only in name…”

“What do you… mean?”

“I was originally human. At six years old, I was turned into a witch, so I’m no longer an ordinary human.”

Turned into a witch…?

“Since I was originally human, my parents were normal humans too. I’ve never lived in a witch’s village, and I don’t know witch customs. I’m just a stray witch.”


──Originally human.

Those words made me feel a pang of sympathy.
Her situation reminded me so much of my own that I felt drawn to her.

I’d never heard of a human becoming a witch.
But somehow, I didn’t think this white-haired girl was lying.

After all, even if she looked like a witch on the outside, inside she was still White Bird-san.
And I may look like the plant monster Alraune now, but inside I’m still a former saint.

I don’t want to judge someone as an enemy based solely on how they look from the outside.
After all, it’s the person being judged who ends up hurt the most…

The hostility I had felt toward the white-haired witch slowly melted away, like ice thawing in the sun.


“I may not be a pure-blooded witch, but I’m still a witch. That means I’m not an enemy of monsters like you.”

The white-haired girl smiled gently, trying to put me at ease.

Do witches not oppose monsters?
Maybe witches and monsters, both enemies of humans, actually get along.
That might be why she kept coming to the forest where I lived, even transforming into a bird to do so.


“So because… you’re a witch, you transformed… into a white bird to come… and see me?”

“I went to see the talking flower because I wanted to. I can transform into a bird thanks to the dark magic that witches can use.”

Dark magic.
Hearing that, things finally started to make sense.

I was a duke’s daughter close to the royal family, and the greatest saint of my era.
Because of that, I knew a fair amount about the world’s hidden side.


Magic that only witches can use is called dark magic.

Dark magic is said to allow one to manifest extraordinary powers.
But most of its effects are unknown.
All people really know is that witches can fly through the sky using brooms.

So, the ability to transform into animals must be yet another one of Dark magic’s undiscovered powers.

Which means witches probably still have other secrets.
Maybe that’s why she could float in the air without holding anything.

“You can fly… even without a… broom?”

“That’s just a fake. It makes humans think witches can’t fly without one.”

So that’s how it was.
I’d been completely fooled.

It had been one surprise after another, but there was still something bothering me: the purpose of this white-haired girl, this witch.


She didn’t seem like a bad witch, but she was definitely still a witch.
Despite her youthful appearance, she could potentially have an extreme personality.

For example, witches are rumored to brew suspicious potions.
I have this image of her tossing precious animals and monsters, along with rare medicinal herbs, into a huge cauldron and boiling them all together.
So maybe I’ll end up being turned into an ingredient for a witch’s concoction.

That’s probably why she helped me survive, even turning into a white bird so I wouldn’t wither away.
I’m quite confident I’m a rare plant and monster.
Thinking about it that way, as sad as it is, it all adds up.

The little witch cleared her throat softly.

“So then, here’s the main point.”

She spoke quietly, her gaze fixed on me.

“Hey, talking flower…. won’t you become mine?”

See! There it is!
She wants to capture me and use me as an ingredient!

Yeah, I figured as much.
I’d thought it was strange that White Bird-san would go so far to save me again and again.

It was all to harvest a rare ingredient, a talking Alraune.
To her, I was nothing more than experimental material…


But you know what? That’s fine.
If White Bird-san wishes it, I’m willing to become an ingredient for her concoctions.

Of course I value this life, especially after surviving so much.
But if she hadn’t been there, it’s a life I would’ve lost many times over by now.

So…
If that’s what you want, White Bird-san, then I’ll offer everything I have to you.
Because that was the only way I could repay my Prince Charming.

‘Yes, I understand.’
But before I could even say my answer, the little witch continued speaking.

And then, upon hearing those words, I was completely shocked.

“I want to raise the talking flower. So become my flower.”


────Raise me!?

What does that mean?
I’m not potion material??

“I like you, Alraune. That’s why I’m going to take care of you, talking flower. Is that… okay?”


Um, little witch-san.
Please don’t look so embarrassed.
If anything, I should be the one feeling embarrassed here.

This was completely unexpected.
What do you mean, “take care of me”?!

I’ve never, in my entire life, had someone say they wanted to raise me and take care of me!!

***

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading.

Next Time: The Witch’s Cunning Proposal