“Rohiriel, did something happen today?”
Rohiriel blinked in surprise at Julion’s cautious question.
Her blue eyes, hidden and revealed again, briefly glanced elsewhere before returning to Julion.
“No, it was just an ordinary day.”
But she quickly averted her gaze, making Julion even more anxious.
Julion slowly held out his hand.
“I’m glad to hear it, then. Shall we go back together?”
“Sure,”
Normally, she would have taken Julion’s hand naturally, like flowing water.
But this time, something was subtly different.
She hesitated briefly before slowly taking his hand.
Julion swallowed nervously and tightly held her hand, feeling the warmth within.
“Ouch, Julion,”
It was only when Rohiriel called out, slightly furrowing her brow as if in pain, that he regained his composure.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing that.”
“Julion, is there… something… wrong?”
“No, nothing, nothing at all.”
“Really?”
“Yes, everything is fine.”
Actually, it isn’t.
Not knowing Rohiriel’s feelings made Julion anxious every day.
If he takes his eyes off of her right now, will she disappear?
If he fell asleep at night, would he wake up the next day and be told that the crown princess had disappeared?
With such anxiety, Julion was withering away day by day.
But if he showed even the slightest sign of it, Rohiriel might just leave him again, so he could only groan inwardly about it.
Whether she knew it or not, Rohiriel quietly nodded as she looked at Julion’s profile.
“……I’m glad to hear it, then.”
At that moment, Julion’s heart sank.
It was the same thing he had said to Rohiriel just a while ago.
They couldn’t ask each other in detail or confide in each other.
Julion had a gut feeling. This situation was really dangerous.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
It was a warm afternoon.
Sunlight streaming through the window.
The fragrant, bitter, refreshing smell of herbs.
Everything was going smoothly.
But for some reason, I continued to feel uneasy.
It was an ordinary day, but it felt like a heavy weight was lodged in my heart.
“Oh, Your Highness, th-th-the, the potion is overflowing!”
Hemion’s frantic voice snapped me out of my reverie.
But by then, half of the potion had already spilled onto the floor.
“Your Highness, is there something troubling you?”
Zenid calmly asked, quickly bringing a cloth to clean up.
She could feel Hemion’s ears perk up as she deftly took it and cleaned up.
“No, I was just lost in thought for a bit.”
“What were you so deeply thinking about?”
“That’s right, Your Highness. If you have any worries, you can confide in this Hemion! I’ll give you advice!”
“It’s not like that.”
“You didn’t get into a fight with the crown prince, did you?”
The question slipped out casually as she finished up the cleaning.
No one, really, would have thought that I had a fight with Julion.
But I couldn’t immediately deny it.
Sensing my hesitation, Hemion and Zenid’s gazes turned to me.
Giving a slight laugh, I waved my hand at their questioning eyes.
“As if that could be the case? Let’s just finish up here.”
Why did I feel so unsettled, even though we hadn’t actually fought?
The last time I saw Julion was about a week ago.
He came to greet me at the palace infirmary entrance, and we talked as we walked back together.
We had a good conversation and even said our goodbyes.
‘His expression did seem a bit off, though.’
If there’s something bothering me, it’s Julion’s expression.
I was worried about his slightly gaunt appearance, probably due to the preparations for the ceremony.
And there’s one more thing.
‘It was definitely Princess Chersoniet.’
As we left the infirmary, I saw the two of them together in the garden.
Julion’s back was facing me, so I couldn’t see him clearly, but I could see Princess Chersoniet’s face well.
She was beaming with joy.
Moreover, didn’t Julion attach Freck to the princess after their conversation?
I was curious about the reason but couldn’t bring myself to ask.
I know I should just ask if I want to know.
But for some reason, I couldn’t speak, so I ended up changing the subject.
“Your Highness.”
Did Julion notice that I was acting strangely?
Was that why his expression was also dark?
Maybe we hadn’t had a proper conversation in a long time, so I couldn’t even ask a simple question properly.
After meeting him a week ago, I’ve been so busy that I couldn’t see him again.
I should definitely try to have a meal with him at least once a day again…
“Your Highness!”
Suddenly, Hemion’s loud voice echoed in my mind.
Only then did I realize that I was lost in thought again.
When I looked up, Hemion and Zenid were looking at me with worried expressions.
“What’s going on?”
“That’s an empty cup, Your Highness.”
At Hemion’s point, I looked at what was in my hand.
I was trying to mix the medicine, but I was holding an empty cup.
“Oh, um…….”
I awkwardly raised the corners of my mouth, looking at their worried faces.
“I guess I’m a bit tired.”
I knew this excuse alone couldn’t fully explain my feelings, but I couldn’t find the right words to say.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I felt uneasy after seeing Julion with the princess… it just wouldn’t come out.
Luckily, Zenid spoke with a small smile.
“It’s understandable. You’ve been working tirelessly. Since you don’t have much planned this afternoon besides the palace tour with the envoy, it would be best if you took some rest.”
“But, Zenid, besides being tired, it seems like she has something on her mind…”
“If it gets too noisy, it might disturb Her Highness’s rest, so why don’t you come out with me, Doctor Hemion?”
“Ah, no, I’m just worried… Ouch! Zenid! My robe is stretching! My physician’s robes!”
Zeniel hurried out of the room, practically dragging the disgruntled Hemion away.
Hemion’s voice, grumbling about her robes, echoed behind the closed door.
I felt sorry for causing worry for both Zenid and Hemion.
“Really, Zenid can be quite forceful.”
She was incredibly perceptive.
Leaning back against the chair, I sighed.
Julion’s unsettled golden gaze kept floating around in my mind, as well as the princess’s smile.
I closed my eyes out of frustration, but the images only became more vivid.
“Why am I like this?”
I’ve lived half of my life burning with revenge.
Now that I’ve achieved what I wanted, I thought I could finally live comfortably.
Do what I want, pursue my happiness, just like that.
So, I was really grateful to Julion for asking me to stay.
Thanks to him, I gained a new loving family, I can delve into medical and pharmaceutical research to my heart’s content, and I can also take care of my mother.
But is this really enough?
[Even after one year, ten years, or even a hundred years, wouldn’t it be better if you continued to stay as Sertizan?]
Julion’s words to me in the Hail Mountains.
At the time, I took it as his confession.
But now, I’m not so sure.
To others, we may seem like a harmonious couple, but there’s still so much we don’t know about each other.
Moreover, we’ve never spent a night together, and all we’ve done is hold hands.
Maybe back then, that statement was just his wish for me to stay as the crown princess.
‘Come to think of it… I’ve never heard his honest feelings.’
I’ve never heard Julion’s sincere feelings.
At the same time, I realized something else.
I’ve never truly expressed my own feelings.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
As the afternoon arrived, the foreign physicians who were part of the coronation envoy gathered for the Palace of Medicine tour.
Surprisingly, not only the physicians but also some nobles had accompanied them.
“You look even more beautiful today, Miss Rohiriel.”
Even the peculiar prince from Razia was there.
And the owner of the face that had been constantly on my mind—Princess Chersoniet—was also there.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Your Highness.”
Chersoniet gracefully bowed, accompanied by a delicate smile.
I responded in kind, putting aside my inner turmoil to match her elegant greeting.
“Welcome. How have you been faring? Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything troubling you.”
“Not at all. Rather, I am grateful for the wonderful treatment I have received. His Highness Julion has also been most kind in looking after me, leaving me unsure of how to properly express my gratitude.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, since His Highness is such a warm person, Sertizan will surely prosper. I offer my sincere congratulations in advance, Your Highness.”
I felt strange.
A compliment that didn’t sound like a compliment.
Yet, from any perspective, they were kind and congratulatory words.
Chersoniet’s crimson eyes, which met mine, seemed to flicker subtly.
They appeared as transparent as rubies yet held an enigmatic gaze.
In those unwavering crimson eyes, I sensed a hint of provocation.
‘She’s provoking me.’
Even though I’m living a leisurely life these days, filled with happiness.
There is no need to shy away from the battles I have fought thus far.
