Chapter 10

Translator: wuttisyun

“He stubbornly pressed his lips together. He decided that he would rather bend than break. Then, a hawk appeared from afar.

Finally, the hawk disappeared over the horizon.”

The Prince had been on death row. Fleon died on death row. Honestly, I felt a little sympathy for him since he was going to die early one day.

Maybe what I felt towards him was comradeship. What novel ever sheds light on its extras. We were only tiny tools for the story’s narrative.

The princes and I were going to die one day and we had no idea how our lives were like inside the novel. Sadly, I was currently surrounded by such extras.

So, I would have considered it to be fortunate if the novel contained even one line form Fleon.

“Hyung, you said you have something to give Ashley today… why did you pull Ashley’s cheeks like that? You don’t even treat young kids like this, so why are you doing this to Ashley?”

Dane, Fleon as well as the blunt knight. My peaceful surroundings were going to change.

“Do you think she’s like those other girls?”

“How’s she any different?”

“She’s ugly.”

“… If I had to choose who was the best representation of the shamelessness of the nobility, I would choose you, hyung.”

Dane furrowed his eyebrows.

“That’s the thing, I’ve been trying to tell you hyung. If you cherish her, you should say nice things.”

“Who cherishes who? That ugly chick?”

“If you continue being like this, do you think Ashley will accept your present gratefully?”

“A present?”

“Then what’s that? The one you’re holding in your arms.”

When Dane pointed at him, Fleon shouted back at him.

“I-I’m just running an errand for my mother.”

“Oh, is that so? Is that why you’re holding onto it so preciously since you’re afraid that it’d break?”

“W-who’s holding it preciously?”

“Hmm? If not, nevermind. I also want to carry it preciously since it must be very fragile.”

“Shut your trap.”

Shuik. Shuik.

Pleon breathed angrily, sounding like a boiler, as he glared at Dane. But Dane was a strong opponent.

“Ah. Don’t stare like that. It was just a guess. I didn’t see anything. What did you think I saw? That’s right, I didn’t see anything. While coming here, you would stop halfway to fix the ribbon and check it frequently to check if there were any wrinkles. Sometimes, you would even look down and smile. No one saw anything like that. Right, Ray?”

“Ah. I heard a low murmur. ‘I’m sure you’ll like it…’”

“Ackkkkk!”

As soon as Pleon shot up, the knight got into position as well.

“Ick, Ray Aquita de Fleram! Whose knight are you?”

“The one who gives me my salary, the Great Emperor’s.”

The young knight, who was slightly bigger than Fleon, remained in position even after being pushed by Fleon’s hands. He may have been tall, but Fleon was not trained at all so he looked awkward.

Tsk tsk. I wonder who he was trying to pick a fight with that strength of his. I watched the squabble as I held the table steady, preventing it from shaking.

“Then who do you follow amongst us three?”

Fleon asked with his eyes ablaze.

“I have been ordered to protect My Prince (Fleon), the Princess as well as Prince Dane. That’s why.”

Sir Ray replied slowly and politely while straightening his crumpled uniform.

“Aren’t I the knight for all three of you? So, I’ll say that I follow all three of you.”

Sir Ray looked at Fleon blankly.

“Well, what if all three of us gave you orders at the same time? Whose orders will you follow?”

Although he was smaller and younger than the Prince, he remained indifferent as if he had nothing to be afraid of. This is despite that a member of the Imperial Family, Fleon, was clearly staring at him.

“Hm… This is difficult. If My Prince orders me to bring you the Princess’ arm or take her life, I’ll have to find a way.”

“Wait, why is this about me and Ashley?”

Sir Ray laughed though still looking displeased.

“That’s what I mean. Don’t you hate the Princess?”

“W-who hates who?!”

The gaze he was using to look at Fleon somehow looked both playful yet treacherous.

“Ah, so you like her?”

“Ack!”

… At this point, his teasing is another level.

For reference, Kaltanias is a nation with a distinct class system in place. Although there were people who follow the class divisions diligently like Fleon, for people like that young knight, such attacks on classes didn’t work.

Ray Aquita Fleram.

He was about 20 years old. He was a part of the Central Palace. But there was no information on him nor do I remember anything about him since he doesn’t appear in the book. Since he oversaw the protection of 3 Imperial Family members at once, he must be very competent.

Though there was no point in him protecting us.

The reason why he was so comfortable with us was because of our situation and our close relations.

We were useless in the Imperial Family. So, our escorts were also clumsy and sloppy in their work. The palace I was living in had no bodyguards nor soldiers. The same goes for Fleon’s and Dane’s. I didn’t even know how many soldiers there were. I know that when it comes to the protection of the Imperial Family, this was all shoddy work but there was no reason for us to be protected anyways. No one would be dumb enough to assassinate people who were out of the Emperor’s eyes.

“Crap. I can’t talk to stupid people.”

Dane turned his head and laughed loudly. The conclusion of the conversation between Fleon and Sir Ray was obvious so I also just sipped my tea calmly.

“Ashley.”

Fleon swept through his hair nervously before searching though his pockets of his coat. Then, he placed a small package in my hands.

Clang.

The package he gave me carelessly was a pretty little box.

“My mother said that she didn’t use it anymore. You can get rid of it.”

“Huh?”

I looked at him curiously. Fleon then said proudly as he sat down that I’d never be able to guess what it was based on its size.

“… Do you want me to throw it away or keep it.”

He then crossed his legs gracefully, as if he had done his job. He didn’t even look his way. But he did keep glancing at the box, checking if I had opened it.

“… Are you not going to see what it is?”

He resembled a cat so much then I couldn’t help asking.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Can I open it now?”

“Hmph. Your hearing must have been getting worse. Why don’t you call a cleric over before you actually become deaf?”

He managed to keep a smiling face. Then, when I pretended to open the present, he froze.

“W-why are you so mean to me? I want to punch you at least once.”

“Huh?”

“Uh, no, it’s nothing. I was just so grateful.”

I was sorry to Fleon for being unable to be honest. Maybe if it were the real Ashley, she would have never known about the truth behind Fleon. If you know, you know. It’s just like how only after we grow up and become adults do we understand what people mean behind ‘I only picked on you because I liked you’.

“Thank you! I’ll use it well.”

I tucked some hair behind my ear. He was now leaning forward with his legs crossed. The conservative Prince was stiff in his posture but was slowly turning red around his neck and especially around his ear. He did not leave this room.

“What is it?”

I slowly lifted the lid.

“A teacup?”

The present that he had given was none other than a teacup. A set which contained a teacup, a small saucer as well as a teaspoon that had been decorated with scarlet flowers sat neatly in the box.

“Wow. This is rare…”

Leah is a flower that blooms with thousands of nail-sized petals. It is also the name of the female Goddess. It was not only splendid to look at but also extremely difficult to carve. That’s why only the best of the best could carve it.

I slowly tipped the teacup.

‘Master Ron. J. D’Veron.

As soon as I saw the name engraved on the bottom, my laughter disappeared.

This is crazy. I managed to stop the scream from bursting out of my mouth by blocking my mouth. After I lifted my head, I was flustered as I saw their faces. The three of them—no, the two of them could tell that I was very flustered.

I smiled in a hurry but it felt strange. Was this what it felt for the entire world to turn upside down? But to suppress and swallow down my confusion and questions, I closed my eyes. To clear my head. When I open my eyes again, I must act like a naïve child.

“Wow! I can’t believe this! It’s a teacup by Ron D’veron. Can I accept such a precious thing? Could I really?”

He was flustered by my trembling hands that I had no control over, but fortunately, he thinks that it was because I was surprised. Since it was that expensive.

“I hear every item this master makes is very very expensive!”

“Huhu. Well, it is.”

“My word, orabeoni, how could I throw this away?”

I was shouting like a child. As I called him that, he seemed to swell with pride. But inside, I was still confused.

Calm. Let’s calm down. I have to be cool and calm.

I have to know.

“Orabeoni. You know…”

After exclaiming in elation and pretending to like it for a long time, I then hesitated. As I turned my body to face Fleon directly, I looked up at him like a naïve child and asked carefully.

“Does the Empress know? You know about the fact that I had been depressed over breaking my teacup not too long ago?”

Fleon’s eyes widened. I wanted to cry.

“As I expected. She knew…”

“What. Huh? Just now, you—no. How did you…? I mean, no. She doesn’t know. I said she doesn’t!”

No, I said no! As his rough voice continued shouting, his voice gradually muffled. His voice was getting further and further away. As if only me and teacup were left.

Afterwards, I don’t remember how I sent off Dane and Fleon. I remember laughing robotically as if I had loved the present he had given. As if I had been possessed by a service spirit. When I got my wits together, I was standing alone in the drawing room. Without anyone left.

Should I believe it or should I not?

The 3 empty teacups and plates without cookies remained on the tea table as they haven’t been cleared yet. And then, there was the worst gift Fleon has ever given me.

“This can’t be real…”

Slowly, I lifted the ownerless teacup.

“I shall believe it.”

The pattern that filled the sides of the teacup. A flower created by the finest craftsmanship. It was claimed that the tea served with these cups would have a long and deep aroma. If this was my former life, this teacup would’ve been a real asset worth hundreds and millions of dollars.

As I lifted the cup, it seemed to glow.

Ah, it’s really pretty.

If it weren’t for the fact that Fleon gave it to me, I would’ve liked the cup.

I held the teacup up with my fingers. Dumbfounded, I stared at it crooked before bursting into laughter. Just then, as the laughter of a very happy girl continued.

I got goosebumps.

[Year 821. The 4th day of the month of Habermia.

My brother, Fleon, brought us a new tea set. It was very pretty. It had been decorated with flower petals. I heard that his mother, the 6th Empress, wanted to throw this away because she didn’t use it anymore. Then, I heard from him that I still wasn’t very good at etiquette and was reprimanded severely by him.

Hannah and Tess had looked at me while sobbing sadly at how harsh my brother was. Actually, I was also very scared of him and cried a little too. My 6th brother was too strict, angers too easily and was very scary.

But just a moment later, when I looked at the bottom of the teacups I had received as a gift, I noticed the signature of Ron D’Veron.

… He must have heard that I had broken my teacups that I had cherished a few days ago.

I am always so sorry yet grateful for my 6th brother.]

It predicted the future.