“A life for yourself... This is the first time I have heard such talk.”
“Why is that?”
The Crown Prince's blue-golden eyes slowly glowed like flames.
Their glow shone with an enchanting beauty, and at the same time, it seemed so sad that it hurt the chest.
“Because there are duties and destiny that have been passed down like a curse for hundreds of years. A king becomes a king, a noble becomes a noble, and the people remain a people. They live, fight, and die until each of them fulfills his responsibility. There is no life for me alone.”
While looking at the Crown Prince's eyes, I suddenly remembered a legend.
Legend has it that the eyes of the royal family of Ruberia possess a mysterious power that allows them to see the soul of the person opposite.
“It's strange. Sometimes it seems to me that you are not from this world. Your thoughts cannot be thought by anyone who grew up and grew up here.”
Did you notice I'm not from here? maybe?
A cold rushing from my heart spread throughout my body.
impossible. He will never know.
I clasped my trembling hands tightly, faced his gaze, and said quietly:
"Don't you know it yourself, Your Highness? The cruel weight of duty and responsibility. That's why you'll be so careful of the Duke, won't you? Because he's your companion in this destiny."
A thick shadow formed on the Crown Prince's face.
A feeling of guilt that he had hidden so deeply rose to the surface of his eyes.
He emptied his cup on his own and swallowed a bitter smile.
“My companion...this is an exaggerated assessment. I must spend the rest of my life to atone for my sins.”
“And what exactly is this sin, Your Highness?”
Did my fleeting question become an arrow to irritate Ludwig's wound?
A trace of deep hurt appeared on his facial expression.
“The tragedy that happened seven years ago, that everyone knows and no one talks about. Carlex lost his father that day. Someone must take responsibility for not preventing that tragedy.”
Ludving's voice was heavy and tired.
Like a stone sinking deep into a well.
"It was not your fault, Your Highness. You were not there at the time."
Does he feel guilty because of the incident where a monster appeared in the royal palace seven years ago?
But it wasn't something he could prevent in the first place.
“Didn't I tell you, Erica? It's the duty and responsibility of our position as royalty.”
Ludving smiled bitterly as he poured the wine into his mouth.
I tried to drink with him, but a large hand suddenly appeared and blocked me.
“Drinking too much is not good for you, Erica.”
I looked back and saw Carlex standing, shadowed by the firelight.
“I wonder what close conversation you two are having.”
“Ah, I was listening to stories of the Duke’s heroics. His Highness praised him often.”
I smiled coldly and told a lie.
In return, the Crown Prince smoothly agreed to my words.
“That's right. I was praising Duke Reinhardt's integrity and purity in his relationships with women. Isn't that a rare virtue in this era?”
The tip of Carlex's elegant lips rose in an arc.
In my experience, that's a dangerous sign...
“You are not correct, Your Highness. My relationship with Miss Dale is not pure.”
Ludving raised one eyebrow in surprise and looked at me with an interesting look.
My ominous predictions were never wrong.
Before Carlex could open his mouth again, I grabbed my glass tightly and scrambled to stand.
Sometimes in life, there come moments when you have to escape without thinking, and this seems to be one of them.
“Erica, where are you going now?”
Carlex frowned and tried to catch me,
“I'm very curious about your impure relationship!”
Ludving smiled slyly and his gaze flashed as if to say that he would not miss the opportunity.
But I had already moved away from them.
“This is a conversation that does not concern me, so enjoy your conversations, Your Highnesses.”
She shouted from afar and quickly ran away.
I heard their voices calling me, but I completely ignored them.
I looked around and saw a place to sit far in front of a tent.
I knelt there and took sips of the rest of my wine as I watched the party scene.
The stars scattered across the sky are sparkling, and the campfires burning throughout the concert venue are lit here and there.
People are laughing and chatting happily, and the band continues to play cheerful tunes.
It was quiet and warm.
I wish it would continue like this.
For Carlex and Friesia to fall in love smoothly, and for Franz to not launch a rebellion.
I also enjoy simple happiness as a librarian... and the story ends with me going home.
Two knights began to dance in front of the large campfire.
Other knights gathered in crowds and shook their bodies excitedly.
They clap or link arms, spin in circles and dance.
It was fun to watch big, muscular men playing happily like children, and I clapped as I watched too.
Before I knew it, the Crown Prince had shed his prestige and joined them in the dance.
The bodyguard knights also put their arms on each other's shoulders and watched their steps, then grabbed Michael's hand.
The boy who was suddenly withdrawn and imitated others in confusion, spotted me from afar.
He motioned for me to go, but I panicked and shook my head.
I played modern ballrooms when I was young, but my back hurts now.
Even if I have moved into this body, I don't want to give up and dance.
After all, I am a count's daughter.
At that moment, a shadow fell over my head.
I turned around in horror when I felt a strange presence, and found that Lloyd and Gilbert had grabbed my arms from either side.
“Ma’am, come. We will accompany you.”
“But this is forced to go!”
"On a day like this, everyone should dance and have fun together. Besides, aren't you our Lady of Victory?"
"What? Lady? What are you saying?"
I ended up being pulled in front of Michael.
Michael smiled brightly and grabbed my hand.
“Sister, let’s dance together.”
The music became faster and more cheerful.
Michael looked shy, but quickly showed off his prowess by jumping and crossing his feet.
Oh. I have no choice.
I smiled broadly and linked my arms with Michael's.
Together we rode through the knight guards, and then Michael was put back in his place.
The child was happy and his cheeks were red with excitement.
Not a fancy chandelier but a campfire, not a fancy rug but dirt.
There is no high-level orchestra, just the loud songs and applause of the knights, but it was more fun and free than any other concert.
We cast aside the strict rules and strict etiquette.
It didn't matter if we were stepped on or splashed with dirt.
Everyone is dancing excitedly like little children.
"Yes!"
My feet almost slipped while I was dancing in the crowd.
Fortunately, the person behind me caught me and I regained my balance.
“Doubt-thank you…ah.”
I turned to thank him, and it was Carlex.
His large hand gently wrapped around my shoulder.
He leaned over and whispered in my ear in a low, excited voice:
“For a long time I haven't seen Michael and my knights have fun like this.”
“I-I mean, really?”
Aren't you supposed to be maintaining social distance while talking, Duke?
Why are you whispering in my ear specifically? This tickles me.
"I couldn't stop stressing for a single moment during all that time. If I had slacked off, I would have lost my life. In a world where there was nothing but fear and hate, I lived like this for seven years."
Her softly burning cobalt blue eyes reflect my own image.
I looked at them in amazement.
Looking into those eyes makes me feel trapped in his world.
“But you always show me a new world.”
His whisper made me feel dizzy, as if my mind was blowing wildly.
Carlex suddenly grabbed my right hand and examined my palm carefully.
Then he frowned and forcefully pulled me somewhere.
His expression was so serious, I couldn't even ask him where we were going.
The party place was full of music and fun dancing, so no one noticed our exit.
***
Carlex took me to the knights' rest tent.
Inside the tent, there were benches long enough to lie down on, and weapons on display such as swords, long spears, bows, and shields.
Soft oil lamps illuminated the inside of the tent with a dim light.
“Duke, why did we come here?”
He sat me on one of the chairs, then spoke quietly:
“Why didn't you tell me about the wound on your palm?”
“Ah, this...”
I clenched my right palm like a child who had stolen something and hid it behind my back.
Maybe the bowstring was too hard, and my palm cracked and hurt.
I bled, so I used quick first aid with a tissue to stop the bleeding.
I was holding my hand intentionally, but Carlex's keen eye noticed it.
He returned with bandages and ointment, then knelt before me without hesitation.
"Show me your hand. Why didn't you tell me earlier? What if the wound gets infected?"
“I was so focused on the competition that I didn't notice.”
"How many times do I have to tell you? Take care of your body."
Carlex frowned and scolded me, but carefully examined the wound with eyes full of worry.
Wipe the blood from the wound with a wet cloth and apply the medicine.
My body shook every time his hand touched the wound.
I couldn't tell if it was the pain or his fingers.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
The hand applying the ointment stopped.
His worried blue eyes looked at me.
I shivered a little at his tenderness, but I did not show it.
He deftly wrapped the bandage around my hand.
When I looked at his serious face during the treatment, a slight laugh escaped me.
“What's wrong?”
“I feel guilty because I use the Duke as my doctor.”
Carlex gently caressed my wrapped hand.
“أشعر بالغضب كلما تأذيتِ. أريد أن آخذكِ إلى قصر الدوقية على الفور. خاصة في وقت كهذا.”
The wind is not blowing, but the oil lamp is swaying restlessly.
Every time the light swayed, a strange feeling would appear as a shadow on his orderly face and then fade away.
For some reason, I felt suffocated and blew out my breath as if I was letting out air underwater.
“You won't. Never.”
My mind was sending warning signals non-stop.
Love for me is destruction.
So I can't save him.
His love for me...no. impossible.
“My benefactor and companion, Erica Diehl.”
I announce my name religiously, as if I were confessing
I was stuck on his words and couldn't move.
Carlex remained kneeling and kissed the back of my hand.
Just like he did once before, but this one shone with more intense heat.
“I, Carlex, will live from now, from this moment on, as your loyal knight. Until death, and even after death, I swear that my heart will belong to you.”
Under the light of an orange oil lamp, Carlex took the ancient knight's oath.
Just like he did with Freesia in the original story.
This oath, which has been used since ancient times, declares loyalty to one's master until his soul and life are consumed.
Carlix made no such promise even to the king or the crown prince.
The only person he devoted his heart to was just one person.
Frisia, the center of this world.
I felt terrified and happy at the same time.
I wanted to run away, but at the same time, an urge rose inside me to grab his shirt pocket and kiss him.
The honest and strong knight was kneeling and waiting for my response.
As if he was obeying his master's command.
I was neither an obedient nor a pure lady.
As I looked at the knight just waiting for my orders, I felt an unbearable thirst in my throat.
She gently stroked his face.
I ran my hand over his thin, prominent cheekbones, and over his cheeks, reddened by the heat, and Carlex's pupils shook in surprise.
His body trembled as my fingers slowly caressed his long, strong neck.
He who is not afraid of the attack of a fierce enemy is afraid of my clumsy touches.
My hands moved without hesitation to his chest.
Behind his thin shirt, his heart was beating fast.
Now, Carlex's heart is in my hands.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation