“… Yes, did you call me? ”
“I don’t think he called you just for a cup of tea. As far as I know, the emperor never breaks any promise he has made. You don’t have to be so scared. Just go there with a light heart.”
“Sure, will do, daddy. Thanks. ”
Although I felt nervous, I smiled at him because I didn’t want to worry my father. I went up to my room with a heavy heart and prepared to go to the Imperial Palace.
I sighed a little while looking at my makeup and hairdo done by the maid. Unlike my gloomy look, my outfit was very colorful. Touching my braided hair tied on both sides, I headed for the Imperial Palace.
“This way, Lady Monique.”
Guided by the attendant, I headed to the imperial garden. Recalling my past memories when I was 17, I looked around. By the time I reached there, I could see a white table. When I greeted him cautiously, he smiled at me tenderly. At that time, I thought highly of him who was kind enough to care for me who was hungry for affection.
I sat down with bitter feelings. I thought my meetings with him were very precious back then.
What happened since then? Who knew that a day would come when I felt so uncomfortable about meeting him?
While I was fidgeting with a teacup, I stood up when I saw something blue far away. Looking at the shadow getting closer to me, I suddenly stiffened. Why did he come here?
“…How come you are here again?”
His dark eyes reflecting the deep sea were looking straight at me. The moment I saw something scary in his cold eyes, he frowned. He was standing there and pulled me after scolding me.
“Go away. I don’t have time to talk with you long now, so I’ll rebuke you for your rudeness later. ”
“…”
I heard his cold voice ringing between the buzzing sounds. When I opened my eyes after breathing out nervously, I felt something hot flowing between my fingernails. I came to my senses, still feeling scared about him.
“I felt it before, but you are really arrogant. Why are you still there? I clearly told you to go away.”
“… Your Majesty.”
I barely opened my mouth, and I took a deep breath to calm my troubled mind.
‘Hey, stay calm, Aristia. You vowed you would accept the fact that you’ve earned a new life. You made the firm vow that you would lead a different life from your past, right?’ I murmured to myself.
“Oh, are you going to reply to me this time?”
“I am just…”
I swallowed dry saliva.
‘Do not be afraid, Aristia. You can live quietly without being noticed until Jiun comes. If you can avoid the fate of being the emperor’s concubine, at least you won’t repeat the same thing as you did in the past.’
But the more I thought I had to act calmly, the more I was breathing irregularly. Over and over again, I tried to pull myself together to stay alert. I kept thinking that the body standing before me was not not the man from my memories. He just looked like him. Without thinking like that, I felt as if I had been thrown into a vortex of scary feelings.
“I’ve come here at the order of His Excellency.”
“His Excellency’s order?” He sharply retorted, looking at me coldly.
I found myself curling up at that, so I straightened up.
He looked next to me while trying to say something with an annoyed expression.
There was a maid standing there, who was looking at him and me nervously.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve got a message from His Majesty.”
The maid approached him and gave him a finely folded note. When he opened and read it, he chuckled and said, “Ha, I’ve felt strange about your behavior all along. Was it because of this?”
“… ”
“Sit down there if you don’t want to disobey His Excellency’s order.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about…”
“Read it for yourself.”
Sitting across me, he handed me the note he was holding. I received it, trying to be careful not to show him the scars on my palm. While the maid was pouring tea into the silver cup, I read what was written in the luxurious paper.
Was this the reason he invited me to the teatime here?
Although he told me he would give me time to come up with a solution, obviously he didn’t want me to leave the imperial palace. I sat down cautiously, suppressing my desire to run away immediately. Murmuring to myself that I had to calm down, I fixed my eyes on the clear tea.
“Isn’t it enough for us to have a cup of tea like this.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, what I mean is as you and I don’t enjoy this kind of meeting. We had better part ways after having this tea.”
“Ah… Got it, Your Majesty.”
I nodded at his annoyed tone, which showed he was tired of talking with me.
Like he said, I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. I reached out carefully, checking his sentiment as he drank silently.
In fact, I was not sure yet whether this young prince was him or not in my past memories.
I thought about him while calming my irregular breathing. I still couldn’t make a correct judgement, but I decided to assume that the boy right before my eyes was the same person.
As he put the mug down, he quickly glanced at me. He might feel strange about my irregular breathing, but he just cast an indifferent glance at me, which broke my heart. The man in my past memories used to look at me like that. Whether I was sick, sad or distressed, he didn’t care at all. He was always indifferent.
I gave a hollow smile. Although I tried to keep thinking he was a different man, his cold eyes, not his voice or actions, immediately reminded me of his images in my past memories. Can’t I be free from my past memories? Can’t I erase the scars of the past left deep in my heart?
I suddenly felt thirsty. I picked up the teacup to reinvigorate my devastated heart. I barely moved my trembling arm and spilled yellow tea into my mouth.
The moment I put down the cup, moistening my throat, I felt my hand grow wobbly. The splashing tea was scattered over the tablecloth. Looking at the white cloth that was gradually turning yellow, I felt my face was drained of all color and animation. When I raised my head awkwardly, he stood up, while staring at me.
“Let me leave now.”
“Oh, ah, yes, Your Majesty.”
Without hearing me, the boy turned around without hesitation. Feeling lonely and empty, I stood alone in a world tinged with light green under the sunlight of May until he disappeared.
I breathed out the hot air because of the heat coming from the ground.
Under the intense summer sun, I moved my heavy legs. Eagerly looking at the dark green shade of the lush green leaves, I was counting the number. Fifty more times. Sweat ran down my back. I frowned at the unpleasant feeling. It’s so hot and sticky.
“Oops, it’s hard. Are you okay, Aristia? ” Allendis asked.
“Hoo, hoo, yeah.” I barely finished my share of practice sessions today and took a rest under the shade of the tree. Shortly afterwards Allendis almost fell down next to me and breathed out. I covered my cheeks with both hands. My face was hot because of the heat in August.
“This is the end of our training today, right?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Whew! This practice is killing me.”
“I think you feel it’s harder because of the heat. Um, do you want to stop by my house for a break?”
“Really? Okay, then. Thanks for your invitation.”
Only
With a pleasant smile, he stood up and reached out. When I grabbed his hand and tried to stand up, I lifted my head to see somebody else reaching out first. A middle-aged knight, who already approached, was looking at me.
“Hold my hand, my lady.”
“Oh, thank you, Sir League.”
Somehow his voice was heavy. Did I do something wrong? Tilting my head, I grabbed Sir League’s hand and stood up. As he glanced at me adjusting my crumpled outfit, he told Allendis, “Verita, I’ve something to tell her. Can you excuse us?”
“Sure. Let me head to your house first, Aristia. ”
“Oh, yes. See you later.”
I looked up at Sir League curiously. What the heck does he want to say to me? If he wanted to talk about my practice, he didn’t have to ask Allendis to make himself scarce.
Sir League opened his mouth after Allendis was completely gone, “My lady?”
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