Chapter 34: New Man
Rihannan slept through the night alone and with a heart full of worries.
And then… night passed and morning arrived peacefully.
Rihannan journeyed to the princess’s palace. Inside the walls of the palace was Helena wrought with considerable shock. Soon as she saw Rihannan, the girl who looked confident, Helena immediately rushed towards her and wrapped her arms around the silver-haired girl for a tight hug.
“You heard the news last night, didn’t you?” Helena said. “What do you think will happen to us now?”
“Don’t worry too much, princess. Arundell’s king must know that it’s dangerous to turn Chrichton into their own enemy. He’s not a fool.” Rihannan patted Helena’s back and comforted her gently.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes, and above all, the threat of the Toulouse Empire hangs above us. In the first place, he never liked Chrichton’s constant interference in Arundell’s internal affairs. Waging an all-out war provides no benefits to both parties.”
Rihannan did not console the princess with words of lies for she believed it herself. She saw no logical reasons for Igor to wage an all-out war with Chrichton for their conflicts would only benefit the Toulouse Empire. Arundell had given Chrichton enough shame by crushing their ego and confidence. Igor’d surely step back and give Chrichton face and possibly… a letter of apology.
Helena recovered from her anxiousness and looked at Rihannan, her gaze profound and deep.
Rihannan tilted her head. “Why do you look at me that way, princess?”
“So that’s what you think of yourself all this time.”
“….What?”
Rihannan was confused.
“I mean Chrichton. You don’t believe you’re a Chrichton.”
It was a mere thought. Rihannan looked at Helena and sighed.
“Princess, that’s…”
“Rhia, it’s not that I blame you. I know you’re not an Arundell but a Chrichton… you keep repeating this far too frequently, but… I feel as if you don’t think you belong anywhere. And I’m afraid you’ll end up leaving solely because you don’t know where you fit in…”
Rihannan smiled bitterly. “Where would I go? I have nothing in Arundell. I feel more at home here.”
“Then get married!” Helena raised her voice a pitch higher. “Marry a man from Chrichton and settle down once and for all!”
Rihannan laughed. “You keep pestering me about this. I don’t want to get married.”
“Rhia, why won’t you marry? There’s a whole line of noblemen anxious to speak to you! Or… do you have someone in mind? Let me know. I’ll drag him to you and have him get on his knees asking for your hand in marriage!”
“I’ll be counting on you.” Rihannan chuckled.
“Be prepared. Once all this chaos is over, I’ll introduce you to a new man every day until love blossoms in the air.” Helena snickered.
“Yes, yes. Now come here. Your hair is messy. Let me comb it again.”
Rihannan picked up the comb resting on the table as Helena sat down on the chair. The princess, she loved when Rihannan brushed her hair. She was like a meek puppy who loved to be petted. With her voluminous platinum hair combed, Helena closed her eyes and enjoyed the pleasant feeling.
“You know, Rhia, I feel like you’re much older than me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t think it’s about personality. You’ve always been like this. And a little bit weird.”
“In what away?”
“Always aloof? It’s like you don’t look forward to what tomorrow will bring and what the future holds.”
Rihannan paused for a moment then continued brushing while a bitter laugh escaped her mouth. She did try her best to act like a child of her own age, but she failed. She could not perfect it for she had already experienced a lifetime of pain. Fortunately, the people in Chrichton helped to ease the pain that was caged in her heart. Though most think of her as a child mature far beyond her age, but in the past, she was just a normal child, one much more timid, weak, and tearful.
“Rhia, I wish I could stay with you like this for the rest of my life.”
At the princess’ words, Rihannan burst out into laughter. “Didn’t you urge me to get married right away a little while ago?”
Helena snorted. “Well, if you get married, you won’t need to go to a faraway place.”
“But what if the princess has to go far away because of her husband?”
“Impossible. Mother, father, and brother wouldn’t do that, would they?”
Rihannan nodded. Helena was right. The king treasured her and her brother loved her dearly. They’d never do such a thing.
Finishing up, Rihannan and Helena heard a clamor outside and the door suddenly burst open. It was the princess’ nanny. She looked rough and haggard.
“Nanny?” Helena said.
“Princess!” the nanny cried.
“Nanny, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“Princess, what should I do?!” The old nanny dashed towards Helen and burst into tears.
Rihannan knew something unusual had happened and so she approached the old nanny and asked, “What’s going on?”
The nanny looked at Rihannan with tearful eyes and said, “Arundell has demanded a state marriage to the princess in return for the loss of this naval battle…”
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