“Kathia?”
Suddenly, she heard Deon’s voice outside the bathroom, calling her. Why, of all times now? Kathia chewed on her lips.
“Kathia. Are you ther—”
“Don’t come in!”
The sounds of footsteps halted outside.
She knew she was letting her anger out on him, but Kathia insisted once more, in a quieter tone.
“Don’t come in…”
“Understood.”
Feeling a bit shameful hearing the cooperative reply, Kathia turned on the faucet water.
She rinsed her mouth with the cold running water and continued on to wash her face.
Then, like a marionette doll released from her strings, she slowly collapsed onto the floor.
Water droplets slowly dripped down her expressionless, pale face. Only her sky-colored eyes drifted into space without focus.
How tiresome.
Even if it was just for a little while, she didn’t want to think about anything. Nothing at all…
How many hours passed by in this manner?
Then, around the time when the sound of water from the sink, which she couldn’t hear well at first, gradually grew louder.
‘He wouldn’t be here— He probably got sick and tired of waiting and left,’ Kathia thought as she instinctively moved her lips.
“…Deon.”
“I’m right here.”
He answered and came back quickly. He’s here. To the simple, but not in light of his reply, Kathia slightly smiled.
“Can you help me up?
Deon didn’t blame her for being temperamental. He came quickly, and as if willing to carry her, he kneeled on one knee and asked,
“Should I carry you? Or should I just help you up?”
To his polite gesture, Kathia’s smile grew.
“Helping me up is more than enough.”
Kathia took his hand without hesitation and stood up. She stumbled slightly, but she was able to walk on her own.
His hand was not warm.
It was quite cool but for Kathia who had a light fever, the temperature felt just right.
Deon brought Kathia to her bed. She laid in bed with the help of his large hands.
Suffering through a wave of vomiting, her body sank into her bed.
At that moment she had no thoughts. There were still questions erupting and spewing out of her head like a volcano, but as to whether or not she would ever be able to get a definite answer, she would never know.
But at least she was able to put a pause to them.
Nevertheless, Kathia loves Hannah.
That alone is undeniable. Of course, she briefly had her doubts, as she had had a short-lived taste of her entire world falling apart…
Even so, the truth is defined as the truth does not change.
It’s so obvious. In the morning, the sun rises and in the middle of the night, the stars shine. In winter, it’s cold and during summer, it’s hot. Like all of those things, Kathia loves Hannah.
How in the world that is, she does not quite know.
“Shall I call over the maids?”
“…It’s ok. I can bear it.”
While giving a strange answer to Deon’s question, Kathia beamed, brightly and beautifully. The smile of a well-drawn portrait.
However, her elegantly curved eyes didn’t even smile one bit.
After that, Kathia faithfully carried out what she had said. It was a pain that was bearable, and she felt better soon after.
Excluding how busy Deon was with preparing the delegation, it was back to normalcy. It was so normal that it was actually dangerous, unbeknownst to her.
Many days had passed by in that manner, and finally came the departure date of the delegation.
“Wait, please wait a minute. I will clean up here and then…”
Madam Murphy, who had firmly clung onto Kathia for a long time, who changed into a maid’s outfit and cloak early in the morning, spoke to herself and tried slipping out of the detached palace.
Although Kathia trusted and depended on Madam Murphy, Kathia didn’t expect her to follow along. Later on, she realized that was the biggest mistake she made.
“It’s cold.”
Whoosh, a white breath puffed away. As Kathia walked towards the Palace Gate, she gazed at the winter sky that came in the blink of an eye.
The color of the clouds were quite opaque.
“Will it snow?”
As if her predictions were the same as what they were talking about, members of the delegation rubbed their reddened hands for warmth.
Kathia, who wove through the crowd with ease, glanced around.
There was almost nothing to see except for a carriage with a boarded-up window and a locked latch on the outside.
Including the imperial delegates and knights, attendants, servants, and maids, there could have been about 70 people, give or take?
Considering that it was a delegation from an empire, it was relatively small. They needed to cross the desert, minimizing cargo and people.
Of course, the number wasn’t so small that it looked pathetic but… Uh. She noticed a familiar figure in the distance.
Rather, they faced one another.
Their eyes met.
“Servants, this way. And the maids, ride that carriage.”
Those black eyes could easily spot Kathia among tens of people. Without hesitation, Kathia followed the crowd.
Soon after, the Palace Gate slowly began to open.
“The beloved Brezina Empire wishes the delegation good fortune.”
The departure of the delegation was sent off by the Second Imperial Consort, Emily. The Emperor didn’t even bother showing up.
Kathia thought that was actually for the better.
If the Emperor showed up, she could’ve turned violent, just like Hannah, beating him with a fire iron.
“Imperial Prince, since you are still young, I am concerned about your long journey ahead, however, I have faith that you will pull through.
“I will do my best to not dishonor the Empire.
“Oh my, I am so proud of you.”
Emily held Deon’s hand. After she let go, nail marks remained, intentionally or not.
As soon as Deon boarded the carriage prepared, pretending he didn’t feel anything, Emily whispered with a simmering smile.
“Please return safely…”
Those words were the cue for the length procession.
Until all the carriages and cavalry exited and the enormous Palace Gate closed, Emily stood in place and waved her white handkerchief.