The woman who is smiling like the sun
The princess reached out her hand. Riella grabbed the hand without realizing it and hurriedly pulled it away in a moment of panic.
‘Is it okay to touch the royal body like this? What should I do when shaking hands with royalty?’
“haha. Don’t panic. You don’t have to be so polite. this isn’t a royal palace.”
Riella blushed at the princess’ innocent laugh.
She thought that the princess not only has a pretty face but also has a good personality.
“Besides, I heard Riella is close with Fabian. Fabian’s friends are my friends too. So please be comfortable with me.”
“Alright, Princess” Riella replied shyly.
However, after answering, turning around, and thinking about it, it was a little strange.
‘Does that mean that Fabian and the princess have already become friends? At what point?’
Confused, Riella glanced at Fabian and the princess, who were standing next to each other and seemed close to each other.
If Riella thinks about it, ever since the princess got off the carriage, the princess exchanged her eyes with Fabian, whispered something, and laughed among themselves.
‘Something….something is weird…’
While thinking that, Liella shook her head.
Fabian was originally a man who was recognized everywhere and by anyone. He must have been extremely polite even when escorting the princess, and it was natural that the princess would like him.
Thinking so, Riella became proud of Fabian. Not only did he get such a great job, but he was recognized by the royal family
After all, Fabian was the best man in the world. He was the coolest ‘my man’
* * *
There was going to be dinner at night. Princess Greta said it was a place she personally arranged to praise the hard work of Hank’s mercenaries who completed their mission.
People were excited at the news that the whole of the best restaurant in the area had been rented, and they had already gone to the restaurant. She was the only one who hadn’t left the camp in the woods yet.
‘I can’t believe I met the princess like this?!’
Inside her tent, Riella was sighing while looking at the small mirror.
‘Compared to the princess who sparkles like a star, I was so unattractive.’
‘Hank and Fabian were also mean. If they had informed me in advance that the client was a princess, I would have bought a neat new set of clothes.’
It was then that she heard a rustle outside.
Riella’s face blossomed like a watered-down flower as she peeked out.
“Fabian!”
Riella ran to him and hugged him, forgetting to change her clothes. It was only then that she was snuggled into Fabian’s wide arms, and it seemed that her body, which had been tense all along, felt warm.
“Riella? Are you still here?”
“Yes. What did you come back for? Didn’t you go with the princess?”
“Oh, I forgot something.”
Fabian’s hand naturally rested on Riella’s back. Only then did Riella smile and raise her head.
Soft brown hair. Green eyes that were clearer than green. And that smile, the way he looked at her so warmly.
‘You don’t know how much I missed you.’
Even though they were only two and a half days apart, Riella felt lonely and anxious, as if she had been separated from Fabian for years.
“It’s too much.”
“What?”
“To think this was a request from the royal family! Why didn’t you tell me something so great?”
“Haha. that’s…”
In response to Riella’s complaint, Fabian calmly explained the reason. What about the oath of confidentiality with the royal family, and what kind of problems arise when the client’s identity is exposed.
Riella tries to get angry but fails. It was partly because Fabian’s reason was so logical, and also because his hand stroked Riella’s cheek throughout the explanation.
furthermore.
“I’ll offer this as a bribe, just look at this once, hm?”
Riella was startled by the single flower that Fabian gave her with a proud smile, and she forgot all my previous upset.
“Are you sure this is Vivian Rose…!”
“Yes, it is. I told you I’d get it for you.”
“Did you come this late to get this?”
“Of course. how is it? Isn’t it so pretty that it can’t be compared to the one you saw in the book, right? Because of this, I searched all the flower shops in the village.”
It was clear that he was sweet-talking.
I’ll do anything for you, I’ll bring you everything, I’ll protect you… and so on.
But what was funnier than Fabian’s sweet-talking was Riella herself, who always fell for it.
Riella’s cheeks were as red as the pink rose in her hand.
She couldn’t help but feel ashamed that for a moment she had compared herself to a princess and considered herself shabby.
‘How could I feel shabby when such a dazzling person is by my side?’
It was such a stupid thought.
“Thank you…thank you so much. Fabian.”
“Pfft. How cute.”
Fabian’s kiss landed lovingly on Riella’s forehead. Riella smiled and bowed her head.
The floral scent was sweet. Just like this moment with Fabian.
* * *
Dinner was bountiful. Plates were never empty, new food was brought out, and glasses were constantly filled.
In the corner, a musician continued to play a song sweetly, but everyone’s conversations were loud enough to drown out the music.
Among them, Princess Greta looked elegant all the time. She never frowned even though it was a rather unpleasant disordered table for the royal family. Somewhat, she smiled beautifully and led the conversation in a friendly manner.
“So, have you decided on all your plans for the future?”
“I’m still thinking about it. It’s the first time I’ve ever been paid this much…People who have spent money say they know how to spend it.”
“Anyway, it’s certain that I’m going to end this boring life”
At someone’s cry, the colleagues sitting next to Riella laughed out loud. Starting with that, colleagues began to reveal their aspirations. Some say that they will open a store, some will set up a formal guild, and some will get married and enjoy life for the rest of their lives.
“How about taking this opportunity to move to the capital? If you want, I can arrange a place for you in the Royal Guard.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Because everyone has done great things to help the royal family.”
The dining table heated with the princess’s unconventional proposal that followed soon after.
Riella was the only one who was not excited at the thought of entering the royal castle, which was said to be difficult for most nobles to enter.
“You don’t like Riella?”
“Ah! I’m sorry. It’s not that…The royal castle is good, but I have other plans in mind before that.”
“Is it so? What is your plan?”
Seeing the princess’ eyes sparkling with interest, Riella hesitated as to how far she should answer.
She hadn’t even told her colleagues yet that she planned to marry Fabian on her own.
“That is…”
Riela’s gaze fell on Fabian, who sat across from her, next to Princess Greta. He looked puzzled.
‘Ah. I guess this is something we shouldn’t talk about yet.’
Fortunately, Princess Greta smiled and waved her hand. She said that it seemed to be a secret plan, so she would not force herself to listen, and that she was sorry for burdening Riella.
Riella once again admired Princess Greta’s thoughtfulness.
‘If you grow up in a good place and get a good education, will everyone become such a dignified person?’
Anyway. If that’s the case, I’ll have to think of another reward for Riella.”
“No. It’s already too much. Princess.”
“It’s because I want to do it for you. I’m especially grateful to Liella.”
“What did I do…?”
“footing. Something like that.”
Princess Greta smiled without answering anymore. The conversation ended there.
“Excuse me for a minute.”
After a while, the princess stood up gracefully, and Fabian, who had a good eye, immediately followed her as if to wait on her.
“Everyone is eating comfortably.”
After Fabian and the princess were away, the tension seemed to ease. Riella, who had shut her mouth the whole time, finally picked up and ate a few pieces of food.
But that comfort didn’t last long either.
The time the princess was away took longer than expected. Wondering what had happened and why Fabian wasn’t coming back, she began to worry.
‘A little bit more. a little bit more.’
Liella, who had been waiting for such a long time, finally stood up from her seat. Her colleagues were already so drunk that they didn’t even notice Riella getting up.
On the outside, the carriage the princess would have ridden in was still there.
‘This is strange. I thought she said she wasn’t going any longer….’
She was a princess who even left her royal servants to meet the mercenaries.
‘Could she have gotten into a fight with the villagers who had discovered her identity?’
Riella’s anxiety grew, and she began to circle the area more urgently.
It was then that she noticed a couple of familiar pink petals lying somewhere along the narrow path behind the building.
‘Vivian Rose? Why is this here?’
Riella cautiously followed the petals. As she got closer, more petals fell to the floor.
Eventually, when the corner was completely turned, the floor was covered with so many Vivienne Rose flowers that she couldn’t even hold them all.
“Ah….”
Riella gave a low sigh without realizing it.
A place where flowers rained abundantly. Among them, Princess Greta, hugging Fabian and kissing him, found Riella, and she smiled like sunlight again.
Compared to Riella, who had hardened like a stone, Greta did not lose her composure and even returned her lips to Fabian.
Cup!
While kissing Fabian again, Greta was looking over his shoulder at Riella.
She whispered something in Fabian’s ear after she’d finished planting the most vicious kisses she could muster. The shape of her mouth formed the name “Riella,” roughly.
“….!”
Only then Fabian turn around with a surprised expression.
Riella’s heart sank more when she met Fabian’s eyes than when she saw them kiss.
She hadn’t heard anything yet; she could be mistaken, or there could be a misunderstanding.
But strangely, she had a strong feeling that there would be no further reversal. The look in Fabian’s eyes said it all: he had already let it all go.
“Then I’ll move out of here.”
Greta smiled and left first.
Riella couldn’t even catch Greta as she shamelessly passed her. Even in the midst of that, she was a noble ‘princess’ to the extent that Riella couldn’t reach out her hand carelessly.
* * *
