WTSP - 43

Time was already rushing towards the latter half of the Empire’s spring festival.

Perhaps due to the incident at the awards ceremony, many commented that the festival atmosphere was less lively compared to last year. However, thankfully, the commoners outside the Imperial Palace were said to be fully enjoying the spring scenery and vitality.

This was because Theo’s death had been kept a strict secret.

Serdel, while I was unconscious, had issued a strict order to all the nobles who had attended the hunting competition.

Anyone who divulged what they had witnessed would not only lose their title but also face unimaginable punishment.

‘To think he actually managed to silence all those nobles. The Emperor’s absolute power must be quite something.’

The nobles knew well that he was a man who always kept his word. If they were to carelessly speak out, they had no idea what kind of punishment they might face.

As a result, everyone kept their mouths tightly shut to protect their own necks.

Thanks to this, Theo’s death was not lightly consumed as gossip during tea time.

Of course, the measures taken were likely not solely for the sake of the deceased Theo, but I was grateful to Serdel nonetheless.

Lost in heavy recollection, I sighed. Just then, Lena approached me, scratching her cheek with a troubled expression.

“Your Highness! Sir Harpin has arrived. His Majesty wishes to see you for a moment...”

“Again today? ...This is driving me crazy. Can you tell him I can’t see him because my cough is too severe?”

“Do you really think he’ll fall for that again? I think His Majesty already knows everything.”

“Still, please. I’m sorry, Lena.”

Since that day, I had been avoiding Serdel for nearly a week.

I knew that Serdel had nothing to do with the incident, but I found it difficult to face him and have a conversation. He, as the monarch of a nation, must also be deeply saddened by this event.

‘But if I see Serdel, I feel like I’ll burst into tears without realizing it.’

I let out a deep sigh.

The moment I met his green eyes, so similar to Theo’s, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control my tears. It wasn’t just because their eye color was the same.

Since falling into this world, I hadn’t imagined that I would face the death of another person.

Death was a natural phenomenon that could occur anywhere, but I seemed to have forgotten that.

Theo’s death felt like a great shock to me.

The baseless certainty that I would be able to spend my whole life with my precious ones had vanished in an instant.

Lena, who was always with me, Rovair, who silently protected my side, and above all...

‘Even Serdel...’

My heart ached as if pierced by a blade. Just then, Lena, who had finished talking with Harpin, returned. She had somehow managed to handle it, but she looked troubled nonetheless.

“The Knight asked me to let him know when you feel better. Oh dear, Your Highness. Why do you keep avoiding His Majesty? Of course, I know you were greatly shocked by Theo’s passing, but...”

“You find it frustrating too, don’t you? But...”

I need a little more time. I swallowed the rest of my words, rubbing my eyes.

Sometime ago, life here had become my reality. It was natural to part with someone and meet someone new, but it didn’t feel easy at all.

Even Theo’s death, after only spending a few hours together, was this difficult. What if Serdel were to die?

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to regulate my ragged breathing.

Lena, who looked at me with concern, wore a slightly understanding expression.

“I know how you must feel, Your Highness. Although we only exchanged a few words, that child was truly lovely. And warm.”

A faint bitterness settled on Lena’s face.

‘......Come to think of it, she did take care of Theo for a while.’

We had only told him our names and ages before leaving, but Theo would likely remain in our memories for quite some time.

“But! You have to cheer up. You’ll promise me, won’t you, Your Highness?”

“...Of course. I’m eating well and sleeping well.”

“I was worried you might lose your appetite, but I’m glad you’re eating everything. If you starve yourself because you’re depressed, nothing will get done properly!”

As Lena said, I hadn’t skipped any meals.

I felt so distraught that I didn’t want to chew and swallow anything, and putting food in my mouth made me nauseous.

Still, I didn’t want to worry the maids, so I forced myself to eat. If I didn’t eat, they would go hungry too.

Lena, who had been trying hard to lift the mood with clenched fists, suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!” as if something had occurred to her.

“Your Highness, instead of staying cooped up in this room, why don’t you go outside to lift your spirits?”

“Where to? There’s not much to do outside...”

What’s the point anyway, since I can’t even go outside the Imperial Palace? I thought. Lena, as if reading my mind, shrugged and smiled playfully.

“Sword practice must be boring for you. There’s something I always do when I’m feeling down. Drawing pictures!”

I burst into laughter at her completely unexpected words. Drawing?

“Don’t laugh. Drawing while looking at peaceful scenery really calms the mind. How about spending some time in the Imperial Garden?”

“I’m not good at drawing, Lena. Have you ever seen me draw?”

“Being good or bad isn’t the point. The point is to spend your time leisurely.”

Lena even raised her index finger with a serious expression.

Since childhood, I had enjoyed writing, but I had absolutely no talent for drawing. Back in elementary school, the boy who sat next to me had teased me relentlessly.

After that, I had completely given up on colored pencils and brushes.

People have their own talents, I had thought, trying to comfort myself.

“Looking at flowers sounds a bit appealing. But is it alright for me to go out? What if I run into His Majesty...”

“Ah, that’s true... But His Majesty said he was going straight to the conference room, so it might be alright for a little while. We can come back before it gets too dark.”

‘She seems even more excited than I am...’

I smiled helplessly and asked Lena to get paper and pencils for me.

While she hummed a tune and gathered the drawing tools, I opened the closet and took out a dress to change into. It was a dress without a corset, so it wouldn’t be uncomfortable.

‘Alright. Let’s get some fresh air and sunshine.’

And shake it all off.

I changed my clothes, my resolve firm. Warm sunlight streamed in through the curtained window.

________________________________________

“It’s really warm today. It feels like summer will be here soon.”

“I like spring and summer the most. Standing under the sunlight like this makes me feel so languid. Ah, Your Highness! Shall we sit over there?”

It was a garden I had visited several times before, but it felt new every time. It was so large that I felt like I could easily get lost.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be anyone else inside the flower garden. Or perhaps we just hadn’t encountered them yet.

“How about drawing these flowers here? I should have brought watercolors too.”

“No, pencils are enough. I can’t use colors anyway.”

Lena took out a not-so-small cloth and spread it on the ground. It seemed to be something like a mat.

I sat down in the spot she had prepared and placed the paper and pencil beside me.

A pleasant breeze brushed past my cheek. The air was also warm and soft. Even if I didn’t draw, just coming out like this made me feel a little better.

“I’m glad I listened to you, Lena. It’s peaceful and really nice. The flower scent is so fragrant too.”

“See? People always feel better when they get some fresh air! How about drawing the flowers in this flower bed?”

“Ah, I’ll draw a little later...”

I shrugged with an awkward expression.

I had come out intending to draw, but now that I was about to sketch, I felt self-conscious.

I didn’t think it would happen, but what if Lena laughed at my drawing? I really had no confidence in my drawing skills.

“Then, may I draw one, Your Highness? I really want to capture this beautiful scenery in a picture.”

“Of course, you can. I welcome anything you draw.”

I nodded and patted the space beside me, as if telling her to sit.

Lena immediately plopped down next to me and picked up a piece of paper backed with a wooden board. Then, without hesitation, she grabbed a pencil and began to sketch.

Graphite scratched across the paper, making a soft sound.

“You’re really talented, Lena... I had no idea.”

I lifted my head, looking back and forth between the flowers in the flower bed and the paper. It looked like she had only drawn a few lines, but a rather impressive picture was already taking shape.

I offered my sincere praise.

However, she seemed completely engrossed, concentrating on her drawing without replying. To think she had such talent.

“Ah, by the way, what was the name of this flower...?”

Suddenly, a single white flower among the many blooming in the flower garden caught my eye.

It was a flower whose fragrance I liked so much that I had even looked up its flower meaning and memorized it. But suddenly, I couldn’t recall its name, and frustration washed over me like a wave. It felt like a word I used often was just out of reach.

Lena continued to quickly complete her sketch, seemingly not hearing me. Though I hadn’t asked her in the first place.

“It started with a ‘hi’... Ah, this is so frustrating.”

Staring intently at the flower, I muttered small words to myself and nervously chewed on the tip of my thumb. It wasn’t absolutely necessary to know, but it bothered me too much to just let it go.

As I tried to recall similar words, desperately trying to find the answer, a low voice echoed in my ear.

“Hyacinth.”

“Ah! That’s right. Hyacinth. How could I forget that? My memory is really...”

Hearing the answer I had been searching for for so long, I instinctively exclaimed in admiration. At the same time, I felt something strange.

‘......Déjà vu? I feel like I’ve experienced this exact same thing before.’

I lifted my eyes to see Lena still focused on her drawing.

But the voice wasn’t from in front of me... I slowly turned my stiff body.

It didn’t take long to realize that my intuition had been correct.

A dumbfounded voice escaped my lips.

“Ah... Your Majesty.”