Cheraan and Bartholomew each took a little of the dry grass that Judith had brought. They were worried that it would be recognizable because the amount was so small, but for now, they had no choice but to hope that the doctors they knew would find even the smallest clue.
In the meantime, summer got a little deeper. As the weather became very hot, controlling the temperature in the room where the patient was lying was a major task. They say you can make a fire in the winter, but in the summer, you have no choice but to bring ice separately and fan yourself or use wet towels to cool your skin.
Naturally, Judith's work increased. She e had lost her appetite and could not eat properly, so it was noticeable that she was becoming haggard.
“Your Highness.”
Thanks to the longer days, the day was bright even before the King left his bed. Judith, who had been walking listlessly with her forehead raised with a slight fever, suddenly glanced at the young servant who was bowing down in front of her. Only after a moment of silence did she realize that she was an attendant of Astel Palace.
“You are the one who serves His Highness at Astel Palace.”
"Yes, it is. This is Nadine.”
The servant, who seemed to be a little younger than Judith, seemed to be thrilled that she had recognized him, and his ears turned red. Judith laughed briefly, gestured for him to raise his head, and looked at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s not that something is wrong, but His the sent me to bring you as soon as you come out.”
Franz? It's a strange thing. Judith's head naturally tilted as it was unprecedented to send an attendant from Astel Palace rather than Mary Anne or Cheraan.
“Let’s go quickly.”
The servant walked quickly ahead of Judith as if he was escorting her. Still, he occasionally glanced back and looked back. As their eyes met once, twice, or more, Judith realized that he was constantly spying on her.
“Why are you doing that?”
"Yes?"
“Don’t you have something to tell me?”
The servant’s face turned red. He opened his mouth in a daze, forgetting that he was in front of the Princess, but he quickly came to his senses and shook his head.
"No."
It's strange. That's what she thought, but he said it wasn't and she couldn't question him further. It seemed like he might have just been watching to see if she was following along.
Cheraan also sometimes treated Judith like a child who had just started walking, so he thought that Judith's walking might seem very unstable and clumsy even to the eyes of a nimble boy.
She has also become sluggish in moving.
A voice she had suddenly forgotten passed through Judith's mind. It was the voice of her brother, Iland, who was taunting her when she saw herself walking slowly and discouraged.
I don't have to hear anything like that anymore. Judith quietly shook her head. Nadine looked at Judith with a somewhat mesmerized expression, and as soon as their eyes met, she began to walk quickly.
Judith arrived at Astel Palace and looked to see if Cheraan was waiting, but she was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that Franz had not called on purpose.
What on earth is this for?
A voice she had suddenly forgotten passed through Judith's mind. It was the voice of her brother, Iland, who was taunting her when she saw herself walking slowly and discouraged.
I don't have to hear anything like that anymore. Judith quietly shook her head. Nadine looked at Judith with a somewhat mesmerized expression, and as soon as their eyes met, she began to walk quickly.
Judith arrived at Astel Palace and looked to see if Cheraan was waiting, but she was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that Franz had not called on purpose.
What on earth is this for?
Nadine blocked Judith, who was trying to enter the palace with a puzzled expression.
“Your Highness, His Highness the Prince is in the garden.”
“Yes?”
Judith opened her eyes wide. What's going on with the large joint?
Perhaps because it was something that had never happened before, her heart started pounding. Is she doing this because she's anxious?
"I get it."
Judith responded briefly, motioned for him not to follow, and turned toward the corridor. As she turned and walked away, Nadine's gaze never left Judith's back.
“How can you be so pretty...”
A sigh-like sigh flowed from the boy's gaping mouth. The voice was so low that Judith, who was already far away, could not hear it.
Franz was sitting in front of the tea table on one side of the back garden. She wondered if he might be with Bartholomew, but he was alone and without a servant.
He must have been reading to kill time, but there was a small book open on the table. However, his gaze did not stay on the book, except that the edges of the bookshelf fluttered in the faint wind that blew occasionally. He was resting his chin and turning his head to look somewhere far away.
His red hair, which looked even darker under the sunlight, seemed to be a little longer than the day they first met. The mahogany furniture, which was shiny and enchanting to look at, and the hair, reminiscent of the autumn leaves that cover the mountains in autumn, seemed to smell like fire, sunset, and rose sugar.
"Ah."
Judith was standing still, but did he feel like he was being watched?
"I get it."
Judith responded briefly, motioned for him not to follow, and turned toward the corridor. As she turned and walked away, Nadine's gaze never left Judith's back.
“How can you be so pretty...”
A sigh-like sigh flowed from the boy's gaping mouth. The voice was so low that Judith, who was already far away, could not hear it.
Franz was sitting in front of the tea table on one side of the back garden. She wondered if he might be with Bartholomew, but he was alone and without a servant.
He must have been reading to kill time, but there was a small book open on the table. However, his gaze did not stay on the book, except that the edges of the bookshelf fluttered in the faint wind that blew occasionally. He was resting his chin and turning his head to look somewhere far away.
His red hair, which looked even darker under the sunlight, seemed to be a little longer than the day they first met. The mahogany furniture, which was shiny and enchanting to look at, and the hair, reminiscent of the autumn leaves that cover the mountains in autumn, seemed to smell like fire, sunset, and rose sugar.
"Ah."
Judith was standing still, but did he feel like he was being watched?
Franz suddenly turned his head, and Judith met his eyes before she had time to prepare herself. Wouldn't he be offended if he found out that she was secretly watching?
Such a thought suddenly crossed her mind, and Judith was startled and hesitated.
“When did you come?”
However, contrary to concerns, Franz's expression did not look unpleasant or uncomfortable. He had a faint smile on his face as if asking how long she had been there. Feeling that her earlobe, which had barely cooled down, was heating up again, Judith carefully touched her cheek and approached him.
“I came a little while ago, Your Highness. You said you were looking for me.”
Franz nodded and pointed across from him as if to come and sit down.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that the weather is hot.”
What do you mean?
“When did you come?”
However, contrary to concerns, Franz's expression did not look unpleasant or uncomfortable. He had a faint smile on his face as if asking how long she had been there. Feeling that her earlobe, which had barely cooled down, was heating up again, Judith carefully touched her cheek and approached him.
“I came a little while ago, Your Highness. You said you were looking for me.”
Franz nodded and pointed across from him as if to come and sit down.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that the weather is hot.”
What do you mean?
Judith made a puzzled expression. Franz cleared his throat lightly and rang the bell used to summon servants. Then the cook working in the kitchen brought a silver bowl containing something white and placed it in front of the two people. Judith could tell that the dish was cold even without touching it. There is even white frost on the edges.
"This...”
“Try it before it melts.”
What was in the bowl was ice cream. Finely ground nuts were on top of the light cream-colored ice cream, and compote made from various kinds of berries was sprinkled on the rim, making it look pretty and delicious.
Judith opened her eyes round as she took a bite of ice cream with a small spoon shaped like a seashell and put it in her mouth. The rich yet soft taste melts on her tongue. Her body, which had been as heavy as wet cotton, seemed to become light in an instant.
“It’s delicious, Your Highness.”
“I’m glad it fits your taste.”
Franz smiled slightly as if he was relieved, and slowly began to eat the ice cream in front of him.
For a moment, the only sound was the sound of spoons and bowls clinking against each other. It was a sound that made the inside of his palm tickle as if a small bead was placed in a transparent glass bottle and shaken back and forth. Franz was secretly relieved to see Judith's happy expression as she was eating ice cream with her face flushed.
Every time he saw Judith, who didn't complain even though she was showing signs of exhaustion day by day, Franz felt like his insides were burning. He wanted to stop right away, but he was disgusted with his weak position and his inability to do so.
It was Bartholomew who helped him, who was helpless. He clicked his tongue as if he were an older brother by several years, crossed his arms, and looked at Franz with pitiful eyes.
'I'm me too, but you're really mean.'
'What are you talking about?'
‘I heard that if you worry, Her will immediately become more energetic? What's the benefit of just boiling it here?'
'Then what should I do? I feel like I want to stop right away. But then...'
The Queen will not stay still. She would try to eat Judith, let alone himself, so how could he be so hasty?
"This...”
“Try it before it melts.”
What was in the bowl was ice cream. Finely ground nuts were on top of the light cream-colored ice cream, and compote made from various kinds of berries was sprinkled on the rim, making it look pretty and delicious.
Judith opened her eyes round as she took a bite of ice cream with a small spoon shaped like a seashell and put it in her mouth. The rich yet soft taste melts on her tongue. Her body, which had been as heavy as wet cotton, seemed to become light in an instant.
“It’s delicious, Your Highness.”
“I’m glad it fits your taste.”
Franz smiled slightly as if he was relieved, and slowly began to eat the ice cream in front of him.
For a moment, the only sound was the sound of spoons and bowls clinking against each other. It was a sound that made the inside of his palm tickle as if a small bead was placed in a transparent glass bottle and shaken back and forth. Franz was secretly relieved to see Judith's happy expression as she was eating ice cream with her face flushed.
Every time he saw Judith, who didn't complain even though she was showing signs of exhaustion day by day, Franz felt like his insides were burning. He wanted to stop right away, but he was disgusted with his weak position and his inability to do so.
It was Bartholomew who helped him, who was helpless. He clicked his tongue as if he were an older brother by several years, crossed his arms, and looked at Franz with pitiful eyes.
'I'm me too, but you're really mean.'
'What are you talking about?'
‘I heard that if you worry, Her will immediately become more energetic? What's the benefit of just boiling it here?'
'Then what should I do? I feel like I want to stop right away. But then...'
The Queen will not stay still. She would try to eat Judith, let alone himself, so how could he be so hasty?
When Franz kept his mouth shut, Bartholomew pounded his forehead on the table as if he was going to die.
'It's my arm.'
'What?'
'Even if you can't solve the situation right away, you have to do something to console yourself! What's the use of coming forward and saying a few dirty words if you can't solve the problem? That's what you're thinking right now!'
'That's true...'
‘You stuffy Prince, you are ten times more bear-like than me. Even if you can't solve the problem, you can provide comfort!'
Bartholomew even pointed his finger and shouted with his good voice. If the Duke of Vergy had seen it, he would have been foaming at the mouth, asking what kind of nonsense he had done in front of the Prince.
'I'm also someone who hasn't been in a relationship since my debutante, and I don't even have a fiancé! If I were you, I wouldn't stand at the window every day watching my wife languish alone. Go out there and at least hold her hand!'
What good is that?
'It's my arm.'
'What?'
'Even if you can't solve the situation right away, you have to do something to console yourself! What's the use of coming forward and saying a few dirty words if you can't solve the problem? That's what you're thinking right now!'
'That's true...'
‘You stuffy Prince, you are ten times more bear-like than me. Even if you can't solve the problem, you can provide comfort!'
Bartholomew even pointed his finger and shouted with his good voice. If the Duke of Vergy had seen it, he would have been foaming at the mouth, asking what kind of nonsense he had done in front of the Prince.
'I'm also someone who hasn't been in a relationship since my debutante, and I don't even have a fiancé! If I were you, I wouldn't stand at the window every day watching my wife languish alone. Go out there and at least hold her hand!'
What good is that?
It was difficult for him to understand Bartholomew's words with his mind but accept them with his heart. He couldn't believe that weightless comfort that was just nice to hear right away could help, when there was nothing he could actually do for it.
Wouldn't it actually make her resentful and disappointed? Wouldn't it be more convenient if she couldn't see him in front of her, since she wouldn't have anything to look forward to?
When she responded like that, Bartholomew tried to overturn the table. Later, he did as he was told, but if Judith resented him, he even made a vicious comment that he could hang himself.
In the end, Franz decided to follow Bartholomew's advice. However, it seemed like just holding her hand would not be enough. On the contrary, she was worried that this man would make fun of him and only instill such thoughts in him.
"Your Highness?"
Franz's gaze turned to Judith.
“The ice cream is all melting.”
Judith said, glancing down at Franz's bowl. As he was lost in thought, the half of the ice cream that was left melted and pooled like soup at the bottom of the bowl.
“What are you thinking like that?”
A small laugh. Franz thought of a small bird every time Judith smiled. At dawn, he can faintly hear the sound of birds coming from a tree branch not far away. As soon as that sound began to be heard, the dark night passed and the sunlight of a new day seeped in, creating a long light shadow.
“...You.”
The lips moved arbitrarily. Judith stopped moving her spoon and listened to him quietly, wondering what he was going to say. But Franz was at a loss, not knowing what to say. He had many things he wanted to ask, but he couldn't ask any of them. He didn't have the courage.
“You are like a bird.”
“...A bird?”
Was it because it came out of nowhere?
When she responded like that, Bartholomew tried to overturn the table. Later, he did as he was told, but if Judith resented him, he even made a vicious comment that he could hang himself.
In the end, Franz decided to follow Bartholomew's advice. However, it seemed like just holding her hand would not be enough. On the contrary, she was worried that this man would make fun of him and only instill such thoughts in him.
"Your Highness?"
Franz's gaze turned to Judith.
“The ice cream is all melting.”
Judith said, glancing down at Franz's bowl. As he was lost in thought, the half of the ice cream that was left melted and pooled like soup at the bottom of the bowl.
“What are you thinking like that?”
A small laugh. Franz thought of a small bird every time Judith smiled. At dawn, he can faintly hear the sound of birds coming from a tree branch not far away. As soon as that sound began to be heard, the dark night passed and the sunlight of a new day seeped in, creating a long light shadow.
“...You.”
The lips moved arbitrarily. Judith stopped moving her spoon and listened to him quietly, wondering what he was going to say. But Franz was at a loss, not knowing what to say. He had many things he wanted to ask, but he couldn't ask any of them. He didn't have the courage.
“You are like a bird.”
“...A bird?”
Was it because it came out of nowhere?
Judith's eyes blinked a couple of times as she asked a puzzled question, and then she lowered her head. She then began busily eating her melted ice cream as if she had forgotten about it.
Franz, who was watching, also ate his share of ice cream. Perhaps because the ice cream was sweet, the tip of his tongue tingled for some reason. He felt a soft, tickling sensation as if a small bird had landed in his chest.
Franz, who was watching, also ate his share of ice cream. Perhaps because the ice cream was sweet, the tip of his tongue tingled for some reason. He felt a soft, tickling sensation as if a small bird had landed in his chest.
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