“I memorized it. “
“Then … here’s the second lesson. This time it’s about the child of prophecy.”
My ears pricked up at Ehin’s words. Everyone called me the child of prophecy, but I didn’t know what it was. I focused on Ehin.
He said, “The child of prophecy is very precious and special. But there is evil in all places. There are groups that hate the child of prophecy.”
“Do they hate me?”
“Yes, so this fact should not be known as much as possible. It’s dangerous until you get full protection.”
Ehin’s words were a little difficult. He explained softly.
“Because the Princess needs to know right now. I don’t want to scare you, but there are those who want to kill the Princess.”
Ehin’s tight gaze made me flinch for a moment.
‘Death.’
It was a cold corpse that passed by my eyes. I was young, but I knew death well.
The continent was at war. Corpses of soldiers who died cruelly. People on the street who died of thick blood. Funerals are held everywhere.
The blood that moistens the soil, the empty eyes of the body, the twisting insects, and the peculiar smell.
A crow looking for a chance.
No matter who talks to them, they can no longer answer, their heart is solid, and they can’t escape even if they are bitten by an animal. That it’s death.
“…why are they trying to kill me?”
Did I do something wrong?
When I got scared, Ehin seemed a little bit sorry. He chose his words.
“Um, there are many countries on the continent, right?”
“…yes.”
“The Haspelt Empire wants the Princess. They can stop the war if they have you, Princess. In short, the child of prophecy is a symbol of peace. However, some people don’t want peace. They want to keep people dying and killing each other.”
My eyes opened wide.
It was called a war, a fight between countries that erupts every year. A lot of people died. They will still be dying now.
The children at Panaso orphanage also lost their parents in the war. I was also a war orphan.
[ I found you, a newborn baby, on the battlefield. An embroidery called’ Adele’ was engraved on the cloth wrapped around you. So I called you Adele. ]
That’s what the director said.
A winter night, a ruined battlefield. I was sleeping quietly, not crying, wrapped in a cloth. He said he thought it was a miracle because I did not lose my warmth alone among frozen bodies.
[ It was unbelievable. It was an exceptionally barren winter. ]
It was the story that I never forget because it was the only trace of my parents.
‘Maybe they didn’t abandon me.’
Maybe they lost me because it was a dangerous and chaotic war. So somewhere in the world, there might be a family looking for me.
I had such a small hope.
[ I tried to find your family, but I couldn’t. There were mountains of bodies. Your parents are probably dead … or they just ran away because they couldn’t handle it. ]
The details are unknown, the director added.
I was not hurt by the realistic words. I just thought about the fear of war. They make people fight for their lives over moldy bread, and the soldiers who had a lot of laughters come back with their arms and legs cut off, and the smell of blood becomes a daily routine.
That was the war I knew.
‘Why are they fighting?’
It was hard to understand. Why do some people want the war to continue?
Everyone will be sad. Everyone was sad.
“…Do you understand a little now? How precious the Princess is.”
I looked up.
I could feel Ehin’s sincerity. The eyes that looked up at me were good and clear. The first impression that he seems to be a good person was right.
Ehin was my hero.
“You are very special and chosen one, Princess. We’ve been waiting for hundreds of years. It’s the only hope that can stop this war.”
….that’s why some people like me for some reason.
The war took something precious not only from me but also from many people.
Whether it’s sadness that you don’t want to lose anymore or desperately want to keep what you have. I could see how they felt.
“So we have to take care of the Princess more.”
“I … me?”
“Yes.”
It’s a difficult word. How do you do that? How could you treat me so dearly?
I gawked my head. Ehin smiled and said slowly.
“You will learn more about the child of prophecy in future classes. But first, the important thing. First of all, I think I have to tell you that the escort has been set for the safety of the Princess.”
“What is an escort?”
“It refers to a knight whose main duty is to protect the Princess.”
Like that. I listened to Ehin.
“Even on the continent, the power of the Duke of Alcibiades is well-known. They are the followers of the strongest Duke in the Empire.”
The strongest Duke in the Empire. I was so proud of the title.
“A total of five people will escort the Princess in the future. All of them belong to the Duke’s Knights Division.”
Ehin added.
“You’ll be formally introduced after class.”
There are five knights.
I was surprised. Every knight would be especially valuable during the war.
‘Is Michael there, too?’
…I wish he is there.
I suddenly thought of the purple eyes. The only knight I knew by name was Michael.
“Teacher, while on the subject. What does it mean to take care of me?”
“Good question, Adele. Let me tell you an easy rule. You just have to keep this promise.”
When I blinked, Ehin asked kindly.
“Princess, what is a princess?”
“…”
I was a little shy to answer.
“…the Duke’s daughter.”
Ehin nodded with admiration, even though he might not have been able to hear it well because of my low voice.
“That’s right, Princess is a title for the Duke’s daughter. He’s the highest nobleman in the Empire except the Imperial Family.”
“…”
I’m still not used to it. Especially in front of Sarina.
“The aristocracy should talk informally to its employees. Even to the maid, servant, and knight. That’s the etiquette.”
“…Ah.”
That’s why everyone had a strange face when I was talking politely to them. I blushed my cheeks. It was both embarrassing and awkward. No matter how may I was called a princess, I didn’t feel like a Princess. I am still like an orphanage girl.
“Shall we practice? First, talk to the maid next to you.”
Ehin turned his head and looked at Sarina. I followed Ehin’s gaze. Straight clothes without wrinkles. Hair neatly tied up. Sarina stood in front of the wall with a blunt face.
‘He told me to talk to her, didn’t he?’
I hesitated and opened my lips.
“Um….”
“You have to call her name, Princess.”
“Sa-Sarina.”
“Yes, Princess.”
As Ehin said, Sarina turned her body towards me and bowed her head. Ah, she greeted me. What should I do now—?
I glanced at Ehin. He nodded his head as if it was all right.
“Say whatever you want to say.”
“…”
What I wanted to say … I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry too much?
But I could never do it in front of Ehin. I spoke slowly.
“I like Sarina.”
“…?”
I often say this to Madeleine. However, Sarina paused as if it was an unexpected statement. The mixture of strange emotions and embarrassment seemed to be puzzling.
“Is that so.”
“Uh-huh.”
“…”
Sarina seemed to have a lot on her mind. I felt a rise.
‘I know.’
I heard what Sarina was saying yesterday. You hate me, don’t you? But I don’t hate Sarina. Being hated doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to hate the other person.
I don’t hate it. I don’t hate you.
Sarina’s expression looking at me became so complicated that I didn’t know how to explain it. ‘Is that so‘ Sarina only said one word, but she didn’t respond further.
I was ashamed and wanted to bite my lips.
“Well done. You can keep talking like that in the future.”
I managed to turn my attention to Ehin’s words. Fortunately, he was not able to read the subtle atmosphere, just vague.
“Then, now that we have learned the three most important things, shall we learn to write and read letters now?”
Ehin handed me a pen. Like the dress I wore today, the feather on the pen was yellow. He had long been covering up a golden book with lots of letters.
“Yes, teacher.”
“I’m glad you’re so cooperative. I’ll report it to the Duke and tell him that you have an excellent class attitude.”
I was excited at the words and pressed the pen harder without saying anything.
The class continued nicely.
***
“Princess, earlier….”
Sarina called me hesitantly. I raised my head.
The class is over. Ehin left, saying he would visit again tomorrow. Ehin was nice, but he was strict.
‘There’s so much homework.’
I was thirsty for learning, too, and it was so much that I couldn’t wait a bit. I was holding my breath as I looked at the papers piled up on my desk.
Sarina paced around me because the words she heard from me in class was impressive.
“You said you like me.”
“…”
“…Did you mean it?”
I wish I had a pillow. If I hug my arms and bury my head, she won’t see my face.
I blinked at Sarina’s gaze. My cheeks were hot.
“Yes, because I don’t hate you.”
“If you don’t hate me, do you like me?”
“What’s the difference?”
Sarina seemed confused.
“Then why did you have to express it like that? It’s all right to said that you don’t hate me.”
“If you like someone, you have to express it. She said you have to say it when you can, so you don’t regret it. You may not have a chance later.”
“…Who is it?”
“The aunt at the fruit store taught me.”
I was not good at speaking informally yet, but I tried.
Speaking informally is proof that I am the Duke’s daughter.
The fruit store aunt lost her husband in the war. She didn’t say that she loved him properly, and now that he husband has died, she regretted it.
“So, Adele, I asked you not to have that kind of regret.”
“You have to tell it anytime you can. That’s why I said it.”
“…”
Sarina looked speechless as she looked into my eyes. As if it’s something she’s never thought about before.
“I’m….”
Sarina, who had never avoided my eyes, avoided this time. She swallowed her words and bowed her head.
“I’ll bring—I’ll bring the tea.”
Would it have been uncomfortable to be with me?
Sarina hurried away from me.
‘She hates me, too‘
I accepted the fact that Sarina was trying to avoid a conversation. I was looking at my homework again without saying anything, but Sarina stopped for a moment.
“…the most precious tea in the continent.”
Tea.
It is also the most precious tea on the continent. It was a small voice, but I could hear it clearly.
When I looked up at her, she had a bright face. Sarina soon turned her head and quickly disappeared.
Left alone in the study room, I hesitated for a moment. I didn’t know what this feeling was like.
‘It’s soft.’
It’s tickling and warm. I don’t know what I was feeling, but I felt like I had become a light cotton candy.
T/N: I don’t have anything to say but … merry christmas!