Even without asking what happened, I could tell immediately.
Hemion’s lips rose up and down like a mountain range.
“Your Highness, I…!”
She wanted to say something, but she was too emotional to get it out. With a mixture of happiness and absurdity on her face, I gently raised my arms and hugged Hemion.
“You did well, Hemion.”
At that, the dam burst, and Hemion unleashed the words she had been wanting to say, along with tears.
“I, hiccup, passed. I passed!”
With those words, Hemion, who was smaller in stature than me, began to sob loudly in my arms.
Surprised, I patted her back to comfort her and calm her down. Despite her continued sobbing, Hemion kept talking.
“The exam was, really, really, hic, difficult… so I thought I failed…….”
“Yeah, yeah. Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Hemion.”
Some might think it’s an overreaction for just passing the training exam, but I knew how much Hemion had longed for and prepared for this.
Hemion, left alone after losing her beloved family, was a girl who dared to throw eggs at me, even knowing she might die.
Having to smile to survive despite all sorts of threats and ridicule, she had now begun to live her own life.
Unheard Words
“Your Highness, here is the list of diplomats scheduled to attend the coronation ceremony.”
With eyes half-dead from exhaustion, Julion accepted the documents. With the fast-approaching coronation schedule, his workload had been overwhelming.
He had only slept for about three hours today and had been reviewing documents since dawn.
“This is more than I thought.”
The list was filled with the names of princes, princesses, and high-ranking nobles from various kingdoms.
After quickly scanning through the list, Julion sighed and stamped the seal.
Due to the epidemic and successive rebellions that had plagued the Sertizan Empire, Julion had expected fewer visits from diplomats.
However, the list contained more names than anticipated.
Just the thought of accommodating and attending to all these people made Julion’s headache.
“There will probably be many sick people too.”
This would surely make Rohiriel even busier than she is now.
Julion glanced at the list of diplomats, suppressing her concerns. Perhaps sensing Julion’s unease, Pailson handed him the next document and remarked,
“This is all thanks to her highness.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll know it when you see it.”
Instead of answering Julion’s question, Pailson gestured towards the document he had just handed over.
It was a request for a tour of the royal infirmary.
“This is…….”
‘I’ve heard rumors of Sertizan’s medical prowess. I’d like to tour the palace’s medical wing, which the Crown Princess oversees.’
The proposal also suggested mutual medical exchanges between their own country’s physicians and those of Sertizan.
“It seems like almost every diplomat’s name is on here.”
“Yes. Her Highness’s medical expertise seems to have gained quite a reputation.”
With a proud smile, Pailson shrugged his shoulders. In that moment, Julion’s heart grew even more uneasy.
‘At this rate, there won’t be a proper time for conversation…’
At least before the coronation, he wanted to have another conversation with Rohiriel.
It’s been almost a year since they got married.
He wanted to know how their contract was progressing and if Rohiriel was truly as happy as she was now.
Of course, Rohiriel did say she would stay in Sertizan.
But that was more of a bet, and Julion wasn’t sure if it was what she truly wanted.
Maybe she’s only staying in the palace because of her mother, Shahadna. If Shahadna wakes up, they can leave anywhere they want…
‘She might want to go somewhere else.’
Could his own desires be holding Rohiriel back in the palace?
If the coronation happens, Rohiriel will truly become the Empress of Sertizan.
That would make it even harder for her to leave the palace. So, before the coronation, Julion wanted to talk to Rohiriel about this issue again.
“Sigh…”
But with both of them being so busy…
It’s even difficult to have a meal together, so Julion felt frustrated.
“Why are you sighing again? If the palace floor collapses, it would be because of you.”
“Nonsense.”
As Julion coldly cut off Pailson, who was exaggerating, he pursed his lips and huffed.
“I want to see her highness very badly!”
“……Why.”
Julion, who had been fiddling with the seal, sent a sharp glare at Pailson.
It was a vicious golden gaze, but Pailson had grown accustomed to it, so he looked away coyly.
“Your Highness is only kind to me when her Highness is present.”
It had been like this before, but it was especially severe lately.
It was all thanks to a recent dinner where Rohiriel had said, “You look good when you smile, Julion.”
Since then, whenever he stood in front of Rohiriel, Julion made every effort to be as cheerful as possible. It was only natural that he treated those around him with a smile as well.
Of course, once Rohiriel was out of sight, he returned to his expressionless self.
“Seeing you spout nonsense, it seems there’s nothing else new today.”
“Yes? No, that’s not true! There’s plenty. A lot. Please, have a seat again.”
Pailson firmly said, pushing Julion back down in his seat. Then he hurriedly handed over the next document.
“The first envoy is scheduled to arrive next week. They’re from the Kingdom of Razia, and surprisingly, there are two royals included.”
“Two royals?”
Usually, only one person comes as the representative, so this was unexpected.
Julion opened the card with the seal of the Kingdom of Razia. Along with the list, two names were written in bold letters.
Shutkatan Deli Razia. Chersoniet Deli Razia.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
“Princess, it’s getting chilly. Would you like me to close the window?”
“It’s okay, Nanny.”
The nanny said worriedly, but the princess didn’t want to close it.
The rhythmic sound of hooves and the distant landscape were too beautiful to miss.
“What’s cold about it? Compared to the winter in the north, this place is warm.”
“But you’re dressed lightly…”
“Just a little more.”
In the end, the nanny couldn’t break the princess’s stubbornness and took out a fluffy blanket from her bag.
“Then at least wrap this around you.”
“How bothersome. What are you doing?”
“If you catch a cold, all our plans will be ruined. It’s better to be safe, Princess.”
Faced with the nanny’s serious expression, the princess reluctantly closed the window.
“Put the blanket away. It’s stuffy, and I don’t like it.”
“Okay. Then let me comb your hair again. It’s a mess from the wind.”
After being exposed to the wind for a while, the princess’s pink curls were tangled everywhere.
The nanny took out a comb and slowly combed through the princess’s hair.
“We’ll be arriving soon. Just bear with it a little longer, Your Highness.”
“That’s the tenth time you’ve said that. Why is the Empire so far away?”
“If everything goes well, you won’t have to make this trip back and forth again.”
“……I hope so.”
She didn’t want to travel back and forth over such a long distance.
Of course, there was a bigger reason she didn’t want to go back to Razia.
“I wonder what kind of person he is. I hope he’s handsome.”
The princess mumbled to herself, staring through the closed window.
A man who would become the new ruler of the great Sertizan Empire. And also the man she would have in her hands.
“Don’t worry too much, Princess. Who in this world would dare reject you?”
“I know, I know. But… he has a wife.”
“You know as well, Princess. There’s no emperor who holds only one lady.”
It was a valid point.
After all, didn’t her father, the king of Razia, have dozens of concubines?
Even if she couldn’t be the empress, being the consort of Sertizan would suffice.
The nanny smiled as she placed a ruby hairpin in the princess’s hair.
“You are the most beautiful girl in the world, my little Princess Cherry. No one will ever look past you.”
Seeing the maid smile proudly, the princess’s lips curled up too.
Her eyes, brighter than the ruby adorning her head, gleamed with anticipation for the future.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
“Your Highness!”
Pitter-patter!
The sound of light footsteps came rushing from afar. Simultaneously, a booming voice called out to Rohiriel.
Rohiriel stopped tending to her herbs and looked up.
“Hemion, I told you not to run like that; it’s dangerous.”
“Hack, huff… I-I’m sorry! But there’s such astonishing news…!”
Despite the cold weather, Hemion was sweating profusely from how hard she had been running.
Rohiriel smiled sheepishly and asked.
“So, what’s going on?”
“It’s the envoy! The first envoy arrived today, and they brought rare medicinal herbs as gifts!”
“Rare herbs from the envoy?”
This was a bit of a surprise.
Typically, they would bring gifts such as gold, jewels, or silk fabrics.
Seeing Rohiriel’s interest, Hemion straightened his shoulders and said,
“That’s why I came to inform you, your highness, thinking you’d be interested!”
With a childlike eagerness, Rohiriel chuckled softly again.
“Very well, thank you. Shall we go see it together?”
If it was the first envoy, it must be from the Razia Kingdom. Thinking about the confirmed list of envoys she had seen recently, Rohiriel left the Garnet Palace.
