Hemion’s Tears
“The Crown Princess has returned—!”
The imperial palace was abuzz for quite some time with the return of Julion and Rohiriel.
Everyone knew the news, but voices relaying the information kept coming from all directions.
“Hemion, have you heard the news?”
“Hey, apprentice! The Crown Princess has finally returned.”
“Hemion Hemion, they say the princess has come back!”
People swarmed around Hemion, who had returned to the palace infirmary after handling matters in the Golden Garden under Rohiriel’s orders.
Everyone knew Hemion was close to Rohiriel, so many wanted to benefit from her. However, Hemion remained silent, her expression unreadable.
“Hemion Martin, what are you doing?”
A familiar voice cut through the crowd.
Turning towards the voice, she saw a head of golden hair tied high.
“The Crown Princess is now in Garnet Palace; aren’t you going?”
“…Sir Ares.”
Unlike the cheerful greeting from Ares, Hemion bit her lip; her eyes were complicated. Seeing her like that, Ares let out a small, troubled sound, then smirked.
“What are you thinking about with that small head of yours? Go quickly! The Crown Princess must be waiting.”
Ares spoke energetically and patted Hemion’s back lightly.
Hemion took a few steps forward and then abruptly stopped again.
“I’m sorry, but I still have work to do.”
“Eh? No, wait, Hemion Martin!”
Hemion quickly bowed her head and hurried into the palace as if she had no more business with Ares.
Left alone, Ares scratched the back of his head with a puzzled expression.
“She wanted to see her so much.”
She used to cry every night wanting to see the Crown Princess, but now she seemed upset.
Ares turned his heels and strode toward the Garnet Palace.
Inside the palace infirmary, Hemion shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off the oppressive emotions.
The distinctive smell of medicinal herbs cleared her mind.
“Your Highness…”
She was really glad Rohiriel had returned safely.
She had worried so much about something terrible happening, fearing she might never see her again.
‘I want to see her right away.’
But she won’t.
Although Rohiriel wasn’t her lover, Hemion couldn’t explain the complex emotions she felt.
She had come to rely heavily on Rohiriel.
Her entire family had died at the hands of Cassian, but ironically, she found herself drawn to Rohiriel, who was of Cassian’s blood.
Perhaps that was why.
It pained her that Rohiriel had left without a word to her.
She had often blamed herself, wondering what she had done wrong to lose Rohiriel’s trust.
Now she was afraid.
‘What if she treats me just like any other palace servant…’
It would be really awful.
Hemion needed time to prepare her heart.
She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and began to walk.
First, she decided to focus on preparing for the upcoming exam to become a licensed physician.
Once she became an official doctor, then…
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
As I entered Garnet Palace, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
I had been away for quite a while.
Yet, the palace was spotless, as if I had used it just this morning.
“Your Highness, we have been waiting for you!”
“Welcome back, Your Highness.”
“Have you eaten? Shall I bring you some refreshments?”
“We have already prepared warm bath water!”
In the palace garden, guards and gardeners, and inside the palace, maids, greeted me with smiling faces.
Almost all of them were familiar faces.
“……Thank you.”
You stayed behind and waited.
Feeling a sudden rush of emotion, I quickly headed to my bedroom.
“I’ll take a bath first. Please help me.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The smiling maids bustled about with Zenid to assist me with my bath.
As I took off my outer clothes and dipped my feet into the steaming bathwater, I asked.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see Hemion. Is she in the palace infirmary?”
Hemion was one of the people I had in mind even as I left.
She was such a resilient child that she would surely have adapted well to palace life.
A maid who was arranging my outer clothes answered my question.
“Yes, she probably is. She practically lives in the medical wing these days.”
“Really……?”
She must know I’m back, yet she hasn’t shown her face.
“She must be studying hard.”
“That’s right. With the medical training exam coming up soon, she’s been working very hard.”
“She hasn’t visited Garnet Palace in a long time.”
Listening to the maids, I slowly let my body relax.
The tension and stiffness from the travel were melting away.
“Is that so?”
With her usual enthusiasm, Hemion would surely do well.
I wondered how happy she would be to see me or how much she would vent her resentment.
Still, I should go see her right after my bath. Or maybe I should suggest having dinner together.
‘No, would that make Julion feel left out?’
Then maybe all together…
Blink, blink, blink.
My eyelids felt heavy.
In proportion to their weight, my vision darkened.
“Your Highness, just close your eyes for a moment.”
With Zenid’s gentle whisper, I fell into a light sleep.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
To cut to the chase, I didn’t get to meet Hemion.
I slept longer than intended, and by the time I woke up, dinner was being prepared.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting.”
“What, here, in the Garnet Palace?”
“Yes, Your Highness. He has come to have dinner with you.”
It was just like Julion insisting on dining together.
As I quickly got ready, I heard a knock on the door.
“Rohiriel, it’s me.”
The door opened, revealing Julion’s neat face.
He must have bathed at the palace too; the dusty look from earlier was gone, replaced by the fully presentable Crown Prince.
“Julion, have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here.”
“All right, let’s go downstairs.”
With a thick shawl over my shoulders due to the winter chill, I took Julion’s extended hand.
His warm touch made me feel calm.
“Julion, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. Taking care of Garnet Palace while I was away, among other things.”
“It’s not just me; the Emperor and Empress have also taken care of the Garnet Palace.”
“Their Majesties……?”
They must have been preoccupied with Duke Cassian’s rebellion.
Yet, to have them pay so much attention to me as well, it stirred up a strange, indistinct yet warm emotion within me.
Something dull yet warm.
“By the way, you seem to have lost more weight. Even though I made sure you had proper meals during the journey, how is this possible?”
Julion’s eyes held a hint of displeasure as he gripped my hand tighter and looked at me.
His intense golden eyes seemed to see through me, bringing memories to mind.
[Rohiriel, eat more.]
[This is by no means a large portion; you must eat more.]
[You can’t skip lunch. Even if we stay in the village today, you must eat.]
[Even if it doesn’t suit your taste, you should eat a bit more. The journey to the palace is tough.]
He gave me snacks before I had even digested my previous meal, and when the taste of one snack was still in my mouth, the next meal would be served.
Although my illness had been cured, eating so much inevitably led to indigestion.
When I said I couldn’t eat, Julion would sulk and worry all over again.
‘Such a headache.’
What should I do with this man?
Now that we were back in the palace with its abundant food supplies, I shuddered at the thought of how much more he might try to make me eat.
“That’s not true. I’ve gained weight. Anyway, I’m hungry, so let’s go, Julion.”
At the mention of hunger, Julion led me to the dining room without further comment.
The room was filled with the aroma of various dishes.
I could guarantee that the chef had poured their heart and soul into preparing this feast.
I was worried about how much more I would have to eat and cautiously took my seat.
‘Even if all the maids of Garnet Palace ate together, there would still be leftovers…’
When I glanced up at Julion’s face, the displeasure from a moment ago had vanished, replaced with satisfaction.
I sighed softly and picked up my fork.
I’d have to seriously discuss the meal situation with him soon; this couldn’t continue.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
“Whew. I’m exhausted!”
After sending a disappointed Julion away, I threw myself onto the bed.
My stomach felt like it was bulging.
I ate and ate and ate.
Indeed, after eating outside food for so long, the palace cuisine tasted extraordinarily different and much better.
“By the way, Zenid, is Hemion still in the medical wing?”
Even after dinner and into the night, there had been no word from Hemion.
She must be studying so diligently if she was really stuck in the medical wing.
“I believe so. Shall I summon her?”
Zenid asked as she tidied up my outer garments.
I thought for a moment and shook my head.
“No, I don’t think so.”
Hemion, who I expected to come running out to greet me first, hadn’t shown up at all. It was strange.
I grasped my full belly and got up from the bed.
“I should go to the medical wing myself. I can check out the new place while I’m at it.”
