Chapter 12
"It’s wonderful to see you two getting along so well," were Bernard's first
words upon discovering Eric and Elisha in the Prince's palace. At that moment,
Eric lifted his head and stared at Bernard, his face full of indignation. How on
earth did this look like they were getting along!
"Greetings, Your Majesty," unaware of Eric's indignation, or perhaps ignoring
it, Elisha offered her greeting with a calm expression. Her small hands were
still moving busily. Over Eric's head, to be precise.
"What were you two doing?" Bernard then knelt to meet the children's eyes and
asked. Elisha cast a glance at him and began to speak. "I was picking flower
petals from His Highness's hair." "Flower petals?" "He tripped and fell into a
flower cart." "Oh, my."
For a moment, Bernard's gaze shifted to the flower cart beside the wisteria
tree. He had ordered the Imperial Palace to be decorated for Eric's upcoming
birthday banquet; it seemed the workers left the cart there while taking a
break. It was a relief the boy didn't seem hurt, but... "Couldn't you have left
this to a lady-in-waiting, Elisha?" Bernard's gaze then shifted to the
lady-in-waiting and guard standing near Eric and Elisha. It was a clear look of
blame.
"I said I would do it," at that, Elisha looked directly at Bernard and spoke.
Only then did Bernard fix his gaze back on the two children. "I said I didn't
want you to do that!" "You were quiet and didn't say you hated it until His
Majesty arrived, Your Highness." "T-that’s because it’s embarrassing......"
"There is nothing to be ashamed of. You are pretty, Your Highness," Elisha spoke
with a soft, soothing tone, as if comforting a small child. It was the same tone
Bernard often used. That’s exactly what I hate! And when did she learn to talk
like that!
"You......!" finally, his face flushed, Eric muttered something unintelligible
before swiping Elisha's arm away and shaking his head violently. Elisha simply
tilted her head and commented nonchalantly. "It’s not like I said something
strange." "......" "The flowers are pretty, and you are pretty, Your Highness."
Although the flowers are prettier, of course. The girl added with a few blinks,
her expression indifferent as always.
Watching them, Bernard's expression softened into a smile as he spoke. "So you
like flowers, Elisha." "I like all pretty things." At Elisha's perfectly calm
remark, Eric's fair cheeks suddenly flushed. She just called me pretty, and now
she says she likes all pretty things. Is this a confession? She’s confessing
that simply? I’ve told her I hate her so many times, but she loves me? Of
course, I’ve also grown to like Elisha a little bit more than I did when we
first met, but... the boy's blue eyes began to waver endlessly.
Unlikely to miss such a reaction from his son, Bernard smiled gently and
continued. "If there is a color of flower you desire, just let me know."
"......" "When the time comes for your marriage, I will have the entire Imperial
Palace decorated with your favorite color of flowers." You can even put a flower
crown on Eric if you wish. As he finished speaking, Bernard's eyes crinkled in a
smile as he stole a glance at his son. Eric was blinking rapidly, his face so
red it looked as if it might explode at any moment. He’s about to burst.
Just as Elisha and Bernard were watching Eric and secretly counting down in
their heads. "I, with Elisha......!"
"Your Majesty," suddenly, a low, deep voice echoed from nearby. Bernard slowly
turned his head toward the voice's owner. It was the Grand Chamberlain, Fernandi
Colin. "The meeting will start soon. You promised you wouldn't be late this
time." "Ah, that’s right. I suppose I should go." With a booming laugh, Bernard
straightened from his kneeling position. Elisha slowly waved to Bernard's
receding figure.
It was after Bernard had completely vanished from sight. "No matter how much you
love me!" Eric suddenly shouted. At the same time, the surrounding
ladies-in-waiting and guards bit their lips. Our Prince is about to say it
again. He even added a cute little intro today!
"You won't marry me, will you?" but before Eric could open his mouth, Elisha
interrupted him. Her expression was indifferent as always. The onlookers held
their breath without realizing it. Lady Elisha's expression was good a moment
ago, but it soured suddenly. Don't tell me......!
"I already know." "......" "Who would want to marry a stranger like me," Elisha
continued, her voice perfectly calm. At the same time, everyone around her
stared with wide eyes. Eric was no exception. He had expected more of her usual
pointless chatter. He thought she’d say something like, "I still don't hate you,
Your Highness," as she always did.
"I heard what Fernandi Colin said. That a strange monster like me cannot be
allowed to stay here," Elisha continued, her voice perfectly calm. At the same
time, everyone around her couldn't believe their ears. The Grand Chamberlain
said something like that? No, more importantly. She heard that and hasn't shown
any sign of it until now?
"Ah, Lady Elisha. That......" just as one of the ladies-in-waiting began to
speak, her face terrified. "Why are you a monster?" Eric lifted his head to meet
Elisha's eyes. As he did, a few petals that had been stuck in his hair scattered
on the ground. "I asked why you are a monster." "......" "You are not a monster.
They only say that because they are jealous of you," his eyes, as deep and blue
as the sea, were fixed on Elisha. All traces of anger and embarrassment he’d
shown just moments ago were gone.
The girl asked, meeting his gaze, cautiously. "......Really?" The boy in front
of her confirmed. "Really." The guards and ladies-in-waiting who were watching
internally cheered. Our Prince, finally!
"But it’s true that you are strange." Just when we thought he was getting
better... Just as they were about to let out a collective sigh. "......Haha."
Suddenly, the sound of soft laughter reached everyone's ears. It was a clear,
bright voice, like the chirping of a small bird or the ringing of a distant
bell.
"Haha, ahaha." The girl who hadn't laughed out loud once burst into laughter. A
bit awkwardly, as if she wasn't quite used to the sound. Eric stared blankly at
her. Her eyes, curved like crescents; her long white lashes, fluttering
slightly; the bright smile blooming on her lips. For some reason, he felt as if
they were tickling his heart without stop.
Maybe it was because a strand of Elisha's hair had touched his cheek. Or maybe
it was because her laughter was so faint, and seemed as if it might stop at any
moment. If not that, then maybe a delicate flower petal had somehow found its
way inside him and was tickling him from within. Whatever the reason, one thing
was certain...
"Then, Your Highness," the girl, cool as an autumn breeze but stirring as a
spring breeze, asked, her eyes still curved in a smile. "Can I continue to play
with you like this, Your Highness?" "......" "Can I... continue to stay here?"
Unable to steady his pounding heart, Eric stammered. "T-that......"
At that moment, everyone in the back garden, except for Eric and Elisha,
swallowed hard. Our Prince, finally. His last answer had been a bit off the
mark, but this time, for sure...
"Ask Father!" but shattering their hopes, a disappointing answer came from
Eric's lips. Those around him bit their lips to stifle a moan of disappointment.
And in their midst, only Elisha. "Fine, I will," simply nodded her head with a
bright smile. Smiling brilliantly, as if that answer alone were enough.
Eric met Elisha's smile, his lashes fluttering several times. For some reason,
she didn't look like the Elisha he knew. He felt as if if he blinked, she’d
return to her usual stern expression, as if the smile had never existed. But
however many times he blinked, Elisha's bright smile remained. It was an
unfamiliar sight, but it suited her perfectly as he’d always imagined. An
expression that suited her much better than her usual scowling or sulky face.
Eric stared at Elisha's smile and thought. Fernandi Colin was wrong. Elisha was
strange, but in a way that wasn't strange at all. And she certainly wasn't a
monster. What kind of monster in the world could laugh like that? What reason
was there for Elisha not to stay in this Imperial Palace?
It was an autumn evening, with thunder and lightning as relentless as the
falling rain. In the aftermath of an unexpected military defeat, the young Crown
Prince, who hadn't sustained a single scratch, spat at the woman in front of
him. His eyes, colder and harsher than ever, were fixed on her. His voice was
harsher than the raging storm outside.
"You." "......" "You are someone who should not have been in the Imperial Palace
in the first place."
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