【Chapter 6】
“Young lady!”
I’ve never seen Esadien’s eyes widen like this before.
‘Ah, please just stay still for a moment!’
In the meantime, as he seemed to be trying to move forward again, I hugged him tightly. In my embrace, Esadien’s body stiffened.
I didn’t have any legendary power or anything like that. I didn’t even expect my martial arts technique, which at best could only induce a nosebleed, to awaken now.
Instead.
‘It’s because I have a really strong guardian on my side!’
On the day before I left the temple, the High Priestess, who had an unpleasant feeling, gave it to me as a farewell gift.
“Don’t go out and get into trouble.”
“I’ve never been like that. Was I a really good kid?”
“There will be a hundred wrinkles that I almost got because of you.”
In recent times, the High Priestess has been paying extra attention to moisturizing and wrinkle prevention. Despite directing her anger towards Flendena, she gave me that very thing.
“This will protect you when you are in danger someday.”
“Still, I didn’t expect that moment to come so quickly!”
At that moment, there was a sudden “thud” sound and the scream of the assassin was heard.
“Kugh.”
As I opened my eyes, I saw a blood-soaked assassin flying to the other side.
“Wow, the guardian is really amazing…?”
However, my admiration was short-lived as I screamed.
“Kyaa!”
I didn’t expect the law of action and reaction to be applied here.
Both Esadien and I were unable to overcome that power and were thrown out of the boat. A sense of weightlessness brushed past me, and soon a strong shock and a whirlpool of water engulfed me.
“Ugh, Phua!”
I’m screwed. I can’t swim!
They say you should relax when you got into the water, but I couldn’t do that. Even my heavy dress weighed me down, and I had no choice but to sink helplessly as if someone was pulling me down.
‘Ah, am I going to die like this?’
That thought came to mind first.
‘Am I going to die like this without kissing Esadien?’
As I slowly closed my eyes while swallowing the bitter lake water, there was a firm grip on my waist.
“…Nuelle!”
An urgent cry was heard, along with the feeling of being pulled up.
“Wake up, Minuelle!”
However, my hazy mind couldn’t accept it. In my past life, I died in a fire, and now I’m drowning to death.
‘Life is…’
I let out a hollow laugh. That was the end.
💧
I heard a faint rustling sound, as if something brushed by me. I heard the sound of water trickling down. I heard the sound of tree branches outside the window clashing against each other in the wind. The first sense to return was my hearing. Then, I felt a sensation. I felt a cool towel touching my forehead as I slowly opened my eyes.
“Sister Elga…..?”
“Are you awake?”
I thought I was dead this time, but human life is tougher than I thought.
‘It’s embarrassing.’
Despite already feeling unwell with a cold, falling into the water had made my physical condition even worse. I groaned and moaned in pain before finally regaining consciousness. When I opened my eyes, my eldest sister was looking down at me with tears in her eyes.
‘My sister had a job in the estate, so she went up north a month ago.’
Did the work finish earlier than expected? My head felt too heavy to continue thinking deeply.
“You’ve been sick for three days, Minuelle.”
“I’m sorry… How is the prince doing?”
“The first thing you’re asking is not about your health but about the prince’s condition.”
I smiled weakly, and my eldest sister, who was looking at my face, gave me an inevitable answer with a small sigh.
“He’s fine without any injuries, as far as I know.”
“That’s a relief.”
Even if it was the imperial garden, there must have been knights who concealed their identities, so they probably rescued me.
“You’re too close, Sister. You might catch my cold.”
“I’ve never caught a cold before.”
“Still…”
I weakly lifted my hand and tried to push her away, but she was not the kind of sister to be pushed away by someone like me. I laughed softly and asked again.
“How is my brother-in-law?”
“He’s always the same. Still pretty like you.”
“Oh, come on. In my sister’s eyes, my brother-in-law is the prettiest.”
My eldest sister’s husband, Sodiem, is as beautiful as my father.
One of our family’s vassals fell in love with my eldest sister because she saved him from the monster, pursued her, and ended up marrying her. My eldest sister got a big scar on her face because of that incident.
“No, you’re just as beautiful as him.”
They love each other so much.
I used to be happy when I saw them, but now I was a little envious. It reminds me of Esadien.
“Anyway… I wish you came with him.”
“He actually said he would come with me next time.”
And Sodiem treated me very well, like a member of our family. Well, if he hadn’t treated me well, my sister wouldn’t have accepted him in the first place.
“Our youngest, they said you’ve woken up!”
Sister Juella came to visit after hearing the news. As I sipped the soup little by little, my sisters watched me with their chins resting in their hands, and asked me.
“Hey, what do you want to do today, little one? Your sisters will do whatever you want.”
“Sisters, are you taking the day off today?”
Asking with vacant eyes, two beauties with black hair, like mmother, nodded their heads at the same time. My older sisters, they’re so beautiful, aren’t they?
“Then I want to be with my sisters…..”
“It’s natural.”
“Well, of course.”
What should I do?
Wondering what to do, I cocked my head and suddenly remembered that I had been sick for three days. I sniffed my arm to check if there was any smell. It seemed like there was.
“Then I’ll take a bath with my sisters.”
“Oh? great.”
Sister Juella, who nodded, flicked her finger. Then, the door opened, and the maid came in and said,
“It’s ready, My Lady.”
Oh? Did you prepare in advance?
My eyes widened, and Sister Juella smiled.
“Since it’s a precious time spending with the youngest, we can’t waste it. We have prepared everything that you would like.”
“Oh no, that’s too much….”
“Oh my. Just enjoy yourself, dear.”
I couldn’t say anything more, so I nodded my head a little uncomfortably, and then Sister Elga, who smiled, hugged me tightly.
“Ahhh!”
“Stay calm.”
“…..”
My sisters… They’re so energetic.
Sister Elga’s arms were as firm as if she were wearing armor.
‘Did I become a crumb because my sisters were born with all their coolness?’
How fast her steps were.
Before I knew it, we had already arrived while I was lost in thought.
“Ah, it feels refreshing.”
My sisters all said the same thing as they soaked their bodies in the water. It was a hot water though.
“Is, Is the water hot enough to make your skin tingle?”
“If you stay still, it will cool you down.”
Why did my sisters act like elderly people inside, unlike their beauty…?
I was startled and tried to get out of the tub, but failed as Sister Juella held me tightly.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah! Ahh…..”
I immediately gave up and relaxed my body. It’s better to stay still rather than move around, so I can adapt faster. Like a frog gradually getting used to the water temperature…
“Minuelle.”
“Uh, yes?”
“Do you plan on continuing to meet with the Third Prince?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
Why are you asking that?
As I tilted my head, the hair that had fallen out of the towel flowed into the water. Sister Elga and Sister Juella exchanged glances without saying a word, then asked me carefully.
“Minuelle, do you like the Third Prince that much?”
You say the same thing as Ramande.
Even Sister Juella seemed a bit uncomfortable about it.
“I thought everything would be fine as long as you were happy, but you almost got hurt because of the Third Prince.”
“Did that assassin target the Third Prince?”
“I heard so.”
“Who?”
Who the hell is he? I was shocked.
“How could anyone try to kill such a beauty? If the Third Prince dies, it will be a loss for all of humanity.”
I couldn’t believe it. How dare they!
My sisters looked at each other for a moment before laughing as if they found it amusing.
“You sounded like a priest of Flendena just now, Minuelle.”
“Oh, really?”
Did I get too excited?
“Rather than worrying about finding someone who is a beauty or anything like that, I hope you meet someone who will make you happy.”
“If you don’t feel like it, just break up. Anytime.”
I just laughed.
“I really like the Third Prince.”
“Minuelle…”
I still liked Esadien no matter what. I wanted to believe that he would smile at me someday and that his sea-blue eyes would shine warmly.
“I like him, really.”
My sisters didn’t bring up the topic of Esadien anymore when they saw my face. While I was getting ready in the bathroom, they served me mango pieces like maids, placing them gently into my mouth.
“Come on, ah.”
“Ah.”
“Right.”
“It’s delicious!”
I just have to take it and eat it like a baby bird. Stomping their feet, everyone laughed with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the maid brought amazing news.
“My Lady, the Third Prince has visited.”
💧
“Esadien.”
Mother.
“My dear son.”
A frail body, a withered face. My beautiful mother, still beautiful despite the madness that had stained her. My small world.
“Come here.”
I couldn’t refuse your call, even though I knew I’d be strangled if I approached you.
‘Again?’
With a throbbing headache that felt like a needle piercing through his temple, Esadien furrowed and pressed his temples.
Since the accident in the garden, memories of the past, which he had buried, kept coming up to his consciousness.
This is probably….
‘It must be because of Lady Karinen.’
Her eyes, which were tightly closed no matter how many times I called her, and her skin, which became pale, so pale that the blood vessels were visible, remained vividly in front of me.
“My dear son.”
The pale, lifeless face with no color reminded me too much of my mother’s final moments. Although I knew I should express my gratitude, I couldn’t even muster the courage to step into the Karinen residence until now.
“Your Highness?”
“……”
The headache was not relieved, no matter how much I pressed my temples. It was the same when I took the medicine that the doctor gave me.
The servant spoke anxiously to Esadien, who was constantly suffering.
“They said that Lady Karinen was already awake.”
“…..”
“Wouldn’t you need to go visit her to give your condolences?”
I didn’t want to go. Every time I saw the weak and fragile Minuelle, it reminded me of my mother.
“I will go.”
But I couldn’t delay it any longer. I had to fulfill my duties as her engagement partner, even if it meant seeing the Emperor and the Grand Duchess. I steeled myself and opened my eyes, and in front of me, a large bouquet of flowers was extended. The flowers were in full bloom with a pink color, like Minuelle’s hair.
“I knew you would, so I prepared it!”
For some reason, the servants seemed even more excited. Come to think of it, everyone except for him liked Minuelle.
“Esadien, Esadien, Esadien…..”
Despite carrying the things he received along with the flower bouquet, Esadien was tormented by his mother’s voice, which he couldn’t hear anymore.
“Please stop.”
Did he get the wrong date? Esadien, who thought he would show a bad appearance, jumped up from his seat.
But at that moment.
Step, step.
Light footsteps were approaching.
💧
Thank you for reading!
