Chapter 5
I was listening to people’s conversations in order to gather more information.
The target of this investigation was Signus, and the location of this investigation, without a doubt; My bed.
I couldn’t walk around with this body just yet.
“His Highness? Are you serious?”
“I told you so.”
“How could this happen…”
A young maid could be heard sobbing along with the sighs of the other maids.
“What to do with our miss….”
There was one more thing to find out.
What about me?
***
“Have a good night.”
A sigh surged as I watched Anna walking out of my room.
‘I can’t hear a damn thing.’
I couldn’t help it.
They were always whispering or crying when I’m not looking, but when I woke up, they pretended to be cheerful as if nothing happened.
‘What is it this time?’ I clicked my tongue as I tried to pull myself up.
This very stiff body cried out, but I endured it and lay both of my legs on the floor.
I turned my head and saw the dark blue night sky stretched out of the window.
‘Nobody’s coming.’
I’ve been stuck in bed for days.
Every time I looked out the window, I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened it, it’s already morning.
At this rate, it won’t be strange to say that I possessed this body just to sleep.
I didn’t know if it’s because of the sunlight, the soft bed, or it’s simply an ideal place to settle, but I kept on falling asleep so I grew impatient.
I turned around with my feet spread shoulder-width apart.
I was going to practice walking from now on.
It was a waste of time to clung to the inevitable.
I had a lot of work to do.
‘I am the vice-general of the greatest Dojino Knights of the Empire! I’ve been on active duty for over six years!’
How many steps did I take?
My legs trembled. It was so frustrating and ridiculous that it drove me crazy.
‘The yellow butterfly that brings victory? That nickname itself is so ridiculous.’
My vision turned yellow.
Not gonna lie, I’m about to die.
“Huuu, ugh…goddammit…”
Eventually, I dragged my heavy legs and fell on the bed.
Soon, I heard a small knock.
“Navian, are you sleeping?”
I breathed loudly and quickly as I listened to the Marquis’ whisper.
I had to fill up the insufficient air into my lungs that were shocked by the strenuous exercise.
As soon as my loud breathing calmed down, the door quietly opened.
“You must have fallen asleep.”
Two men were seen through the open door.
The Marquis had to bend his large body to enter the room, followed by Ulysee behind.
I looked at them through my narrowed eyes and hurriedly closed my eyes when they got closer.
Then, a warm hand patted my head.
“It’s a little hot.”
My warm body temperature went away when the cold hand gently smoothed my forehead.
“She doesn’t have a fever yet, but I’ll have to check just in case.”
“Go ahead.”
I could hear someone fetching something from under the bed.
Perhaps he sat on the chair, but not long after, my clothes slipped off.
The noise was very small and his action was very careful.
“I’ll take care of Navian, so you should go to sleep, father.”
“No, you must sleep. I heard you have to go to the north again.”
The northern part of the empire was famous for its constant blizzard throughout the year. Many soldiers would have been lost in the blizzard.
“Can anyone fall asleep after hearing that story?”
The silence ensued and I could feel two pairs of eyes pointed on me.
This must be the result of endlessly honing and polishing my skills while I was a knight.
I was curious about the story that Ulysse lamented earlier.
“Navian is going to be The Crown Princess.”
What did you just say?
I almost jumped up reflexively.
‘But Signus has a fiancèe.’
I was reminded of her charming crimson hair.
Ayaran, my dear friend who cried, laughed and got angry instead of me, who didn’t express much emotion.
Although I didn’t really get along well with Signus, I would always get caught up between them.
‘She’s my knight.’
‘She’s my friend.’
‘I met her first.’
‘No, I met her first.’
They would always bicker like that, however, we were always together.
Signus was cold and Ayaran was like a fire.
These polar opposites individuals would always fight fiercely whenever they met each other, and it was always me who mediated them.
Thanks to Ayaran’s father or Duke Cyben’s suggestion, the two archenemies became engaged.
Because there were three princes, the faction was formed.
However, the most powerful major player of the Empire, Duke of Cyben, swore allegiance to Signus and the faction almost disappeared.
‘So you broke your engagement.’
Engagement is a political affair. The higher the status, the more they do so.
Now that Signus has become the Crown Prince, there was no reason to proceed with his engagement.
Now that I’m dead, there was no one to stop them.
I could easily foresee what had happened, but it didn’t make me feel better.
It was saddening to think that these two had changed for a reason that I didn’t know while I was away.
So I sighed quietly.
‘Alright, let’s say they broke up.’
Then there was only one major problem left.
‘Suddenly, taking the esteemed daughter of Yeronimo as the Crown Princess? How does Signus know about Navian? I doubt he knows her face.’
Although I lived in a palace, I didn’t know that Navian existed.
The Marquis of Elaine had an official position, but he kept his neutrality by not joining any factions. Unless there was a special day, it was difficult to see his face.
No different with Ulysse, who worked as the Palace’s doctor.
Those people did not attend any social gatherings and even small parties held in high society.
There was no way that these two men, who treasured her more than anything, would brag about Navian.
‘Do I need to go to the palace then?’
But entering the palace requires permission.
The palace was only possible to enter if there was a justification, unless there were big parties or festivals held there. Even if I had to go, there was something hindering my path.
‘I’ve been struggling to leave my bed, I’m sure I’ll die before I arrive at the capital. I’m not even kidding.’
In the past, I would have asked if it makes sense to die while walking, but when I experienced it, I’m really convinced that I could die.
It’s a good thing that Yeronimo residence was located in the south east part of the empire, which was quite close to the capital.
‘What am I supposed to do? Just how…’
Two pairs of eyes still touched my face, quietly organizing their thoughts.
It was Ulysse’s voice that broke the silence.
“Honestly, it’s rather confusing. Marriage without any discussion. What the hell is he thinking?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask,” The Marquis spoke in a worried voice.
“It was strange that they kept telling me to come to the palace. We had no business whatsoever, but he kept calling me so I wondered if something happened.”
“So it’s because of this.” There was a moment of silence, and the Marquis opened his mouth.
“We’re going to start with the engagement.”
The royal edict came down. It was a serious felony to reject an order issued by the Crown Prince himself.
This was way too serious compared to Signus being a tyrant himself.
‘What are they going to do? What should I do?’
***
My head hurts.
My throat was dry and my whole body was throbbing.
I was lost in thought while looking at the dark ceiling and the little furniture.
‘It’s a dream.’
This was the mansion of the Million family that I used to live in when I was young.
The hard mattress touched my small hand.
I didn’t know if it was because of the fever, but the air that touched my flesh was very cold.
I sat on the bed and looked around.
My high fever distorted my vision.
My legs couldn’t touch the floor, so I knew that I had a small body. This was a memory when I was just five years old.
I went down from the bed since my throat was dry. I walked to the door and opened the tightly closed door. Because I knew there was no water on the table.
‘Let’s drink water and come back quickly.’
My parents were the kind of people who hated commotion.
I could feel people’s presence in the center of the mansion.
The brightly lit place looked very warm.
My thirst deepened at the sound of people’s laughter.
Was it water that I needed? Or was it human warmth?
At that time, I couldn’t be sure.
I walked through the dark hallway and arrived at the table where the water was placed.
My fever kept deterring my vision.
I forced my eyes to open and poured the water into the glass.
As soon as the hot little hand touched the glass, it slipped.
Crash-!
I felt a sharp pain in my foot.
This was because I had no idea that the glass containing water would be this cold.
‘Why did you come out?’ I turned back to the cold voice.
I could see my father sitting on the top seat and my mother sitting next to him.
‘I was thirsty…I’m sorry.’
Then my father spoke with his icy voice.
‘Get rid of those things.’
I was stunned at his word. Because I was included in the things that he wanted to get rid of.
‘What are you doing? Ugh, seriously.’
As I stepped back at the nervous tone of the nearby servants, I fell in a dark corridor. Light and darkness were just one step apart.
‘Go to your room. I’ll get you some water. Sorry.’ He turned his back as he murmured to me.
I couldn’t drink any water that day. Because I lost my consciousness in front of the door.
My cold had worsened to pneumonia.
The doctor came, but I didn’t see my parents’ faces.
They had already left the mansion. The so-called god of war, my father, went to his public office.
Along with my mother who happily supports him.
They were disappointed when I was born. It was because I couldn’t become the successor.
‘My master and madam couldn’t come to the mansion. So, miss, you shouldn’t catch a cold.’ I only nodded.
I thought it was fortunate that the face of the servant who just delivered the message looked very bright.
I waited for my parents and kept on inconveniencing the servants, but they didn’t come. Eventually, I went to the academy and learned swordsmanship.
This was because I thought I should succeed my family.
I didn’t even know that my younger brother was in my mother’s stomach.
Like a fool.
The life of wielding the sword was more enjoyable than I thought.
I was talented and capable enough.
I was the youngest vice-general of Dojino Knights, the most prestigious Knight Order of the Empire.
However, I always dreamed about the day when I was in a terrible state.
I was just like the broken glass that they need to get rid of.
I’m as broken as a shattering piece of debris.
However, I had no choice but to open the door.
I was scared to open my eyes.
If I saw that cold and dark room once more, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to withstand it anymore.
‘Lerine.’
When that happened, Signus always came. I didn’t know how.
I didn’t know how he climbed over my window’s room, an accommodation which was heavily guarded by knights, on the third floor at that.
‘It’s okay. Nothing happened.’
When I opened my eyes at the touch of someone’s hand stroking my head, I saw Signus.
I was always saved by those friendly golden eyes.
‘That was not possible anymore.’
Heated breath came out of my small open mouth.
I was aware I was dreaming, but I was afraid to open my eyes.
I thought I would never get up like this.
Then, someone touched my forehead.