As Franz's hand covered her cheek, Judith trembled at his fingertips. But that didn't stop him.
She looked up at him as if fascinated, and his face came closer. A light shadow was cast softly along the smooth curve of the slightly slanted cheek. The gaze moved from his downcast eyes to her cheekbones and then swept across the straight bridge of her nose without any curves. And he touched the lips beneath it.
Judith's body, even the tips of her toes shaking, was tilted almost out of sight into his arms. The force of the hand pulling her cheek was not strong, but it felt heavier than anything else.
Judith could not take her eyes off Franz's lips as he approached her. The red, moist lips, as if biting into water-soaked rose petals, were so captivating that his mind went blank.
"Your Highness."
A trembling voice came out. The thin and fragile shaking created clear and strong ripples in Franz's heart. His body seemed to be burning with impulse. Judith suddenly realized that her and Franz's bodies were touching without a gap. The heat boiling up from under his skin could be clearly felt even through his clothes.
There was a scent of roses in the wind. Judith's eyes closed silently. As if it were a routine, she accepted Franz's approach. Their hot breath slowly tickled each other's lips. It was then.
"Ah!"
At the sound of rustling and a low groan, the body that was in close contact suddenly fell. Judith, with her fists, clenched upon her breasts heaving with fright, parted her lips in amazement when she saw the woman half-hidden among the bushes.
"... I'm sorry. Well, I don't know anyone here... I just thought it wasn’t there.”
"Your Highness."
A trembling voice came out. The thin and fragile shaking created clear and strong ripples in Franz's heart. His body seemed to be burning with impulse. Judith suddenly realized that her and Franz's bodies were touching without a gap. The heat boiling up from under his skin could be clearly felt even through his clothes.
There was a scent of roses in the wind. Judith's eyes closed silently. As if it were a routine, she accepted Franz's approach. Their hot breath slowly tickled each other's lips. It was then.
"Ah!"
At the sound of rustling and a low groan, the body that was in close contact suddenly fell. Judith, with her fists, clenched upon her breasts heaving with fright, parted her lips in amazement when she saw the woman half-hidden among the bushes.
"... I'm sorry. Well, I don't know anyone here... I just thought it wasn’t there.”
It was Flavia. Franz turned his head slightly as if trying to hide the exposed tips of his ears, and Judith did the same. Judith, who was flustered and moving her eyes in a panic, smiled awkwardly.
“Did you go for a walk, Flavia?”
However, Flavia could not quickly respond to Judith's words. Her eyes were fixed on Franz, who was turning at an angle. It was difficult to control her excitement to the point of anxiety when bis saw the flushed ears, expressionless mouth, and slightly slanted jawline.
At the same time, jealousy arose so strong that it was unbearable. It was Flavia's first time experiencing such intense emotions. She even heard the thought that she wanted to throw away the face of Judith so that she could be next to Franz as if it were natural.
“Flavia.”
"Yes? Ah... Yes, Your Highness.”
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
When Judith asked, Flavia twitched the corner of her mouth in an awkward manner that made the viewer nervous. She looked like she was trying to smile, but her eyes were frowning and her lips were pulled up, making her look like she was on the verge of crying.
“Hey, that... As I walked...”
"I see. The roses bloomed really beautifully, didn’t they?”
These words were said carelessly in an attempt to break the frozen atmosphere, but in the next moment, Judith realized that the rose that Franz had placed in her ear was still there. Coincidentally, the moment Judith realized this, Flavia also discovered the rose in her ear.
Flavia quickly realized that Judith had not planted the flower herself. Her narrow eyes became even more frowning. Judith, noticing that her face had darkened, took a step forward with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Flavia, what happened?”
“Oh, no. Nothing happened... There wasn’t one.”
“Your face doesn’t look good. Doesn't it hurt somewhere? Take a look.”
Judith approached Flavia with the hem of her dress wrapped around her, stretched out her hand, and touched her forehead before Flavia could stop her. It felt a little warm, but not enough to worry.
Flavia, who was looking down at Judith, who was also touching her forehead with a pensive expression, wrinkled the bridge of her nose and pretended to smile, then stepped back.
"I am... I am healthy, Your Highness. To cause you concern... Sorry."
Flavia's gaze, which was lowering her head, turned towards Franz. He was still standing with his body turned at an angle, but he was looking at Flavia. Flavia's heart suddenly sank as she faced strange gazes that she couldn't tell if they were concerned or something else.
“Your Highness Franz... I’m sorry too.”
Flavia stammered. How did he understand that?
"I am... I am healthy, Your Highness. To cause you concern... Sorry."
Flavia's gaze, which was lowering her head, turned towards Franz. He was still standing with his body turned at an angle, but he was looking at Flavia. Flavia's heart suddenly sank as she faced strange gazes that she couldn't tell if they were concerned or something else.
“Your Highness Franz... I’m sorry too.”
Flavia stammered. How did he understand that?
Franz, who had kept his mouth shut, smiled, slightly frowning his eyebrows as if he felt pity.
“What do you have to apologize to me? It’s easy to get hot in the summer, so be careful.”
It was a calm greeting. But Flavia's face was noticeably brighter. With her cheeks turning red, she stood with the hem of her dress scrunched up as if she had something more to say, then bent her knees, biting her lip slightly.
"I... I'll just go walk...Take care, Your Highness.”
Franz nodded. As Flavia turned around and disappeared beyond the bushes, Franz, who was touching his forehead, suddenly burst into laughter as if someone had been stabbed by something.
“Your Highness, why are you doing this?”
Judith looked back with a puzzled face. Franz rubbed his face as if he was embarrassed and naturally took her hand.
“It’s timely... I wonder if the word should be used in times like this.”
Even though there was no answer, Judith also understood what he meant. Judith, quietly holding his hand, bowed her head and smiled belatedly. Judith, who was pretending to fan her red cheeks, suddenly looked into the distance.
“The weather is very hot, Your Highness.”
"Right. Summer hasn’t even arrived yet.”
The two people who were joking back and forth giggled almost simultaneously.
After passing the rose bushes in full bloom, they came to the entrance to a maze made of cypress. Franz looked inside the maze with a longing expression. It was a place he had explored several times with Bartholomew when he was young. He could go through the maze with his eyes closed, but he had never been inside it since he grew up.
“Have you ever been in this maze?”
“No, not once. I’m afraid of getting lost.”
Judith said. She knew there was a maze here, but she had never tried to enter it. She felt reluctant and scared without knowing what it was. She didn't know if it was because the maze was quite large and the cypresses that made up the maze were tall, so it was difficult to tell from the outside what was happening inside.
“Do you go in often?”
“When I was young. I used to play hide and seek here with Bartholomew.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“It wasn’t scary back then.”
Then, what was it like now?
“What do you have to apologize to me? It’s easy to get hot in the summer, so be careful.”
It was a calm greeting. But Flavia's face was noticeably brighter. With her cheeks turning red, she stood with the hem of her dress scrunched up as if she had something more to say, then bent her knees, biting her lip slightly.
"I... I'll just go walk...Take care, Your Highness.”
Franz nodded. As Flavia turned around and disappeared beyond the bushes, Franz, who was touching his forehead, suddenly burst into laughter as if someone had been stabbed by something.
“Your Highness, why are you doing this?”
Judith looked back with a puzzled face. Franz rubbed his face as if he was embarrassed and naturally took her hand.
“It’s timely... I wonder if the word should be used in times like this.”
Even though there was no answer, Judith also understood what he meant. Judith, quietly holding his hand, bowed her head and smiled belatedly. Judith, who was pretending to fan her red cheeks, suddenly looked into the distance.
“The weather is very hot, Your Highness.”
"Right. Summer hasn’t even arrived yet.”
The two people who were joking back and forth giggled almost simultaneously.
After passing the rose bushes in full bloom, they came to the entrance to a maze made of cypress. Franz looked inside the maze with a longing expression. It was a place he had explored several times with Bartholomew when he was young. He could go through the maze with his eyes closed, but he had never been inside it since he grew up.
“Have you ever been in this maze?”
“No, not once. I’m afraid of getting lost.”
Judith said. She knew there was a maze here, but she had never tried to enter it. She felt reluctant and scared without knowing what it was. She didn't know if it was because the maze was quite large and the cypresses that made up the maze were tall, so it was difficult to tell from the outside what was happening inside.
“Do you go in often?”
“When I was young. I used to play hide and seek here with Bartholomew.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“It wasn’t scary back then.”
Then, what was it like now?
The words were stuck in Judith's throat, but she didn't bother to ask. Franz sat on a bench near the entrance to the maze, holding Judith's hand. There was some shade and there was less sunlight.
At the entrance to the maze, they could see the Magnus Palace. They could also see the marble fountain near the entrance to the palace and the stone statues lined up along the road.
At the entrance to the maze, they could see the Magnus Palace. They could also see the marble fountain near the entrance to the palace and the stone statues lined up along the road.
When the Late Queen was alive, Franz often walked up and down that road holding his mother's hand. As he learned the names and inscriptions carved into the statues, he vaguely recalled his memories of hearing old stories related to them.
“You...”
Judith turned her head and looked at Franz. Franz, who had spoken to her, hesitated for some reason, then continued, squeezing her hand held in his palm a little tighter.
“I heard that you helped my father a lot while I was away.”
A smile appeared on Judith's lips as she blinked. Judith said.
“That’s too much praise. Your Majesty took care of me, so it’s not surprising that I helped him.”
“There is no need to be humble in front of me.”
“It’s not that I’m humble...”
Judith looked up and saw that Franz's eyes were very serious as he stared at her in silence. When he faced clear golden eyes filled with light, her heart swelled. At the same time, she realized that she could feel the warmth of his hand holding her own more clearly.
“It was what I should have done.”
In fact, Judith diligently helped the King after he woke up. She checked to see if his health was deteriorating and occasionally helped him with things like sealing documents or verifying signatures. In addition to that, she also read books aloud or became a conversation partner. The fact that King Jedecayer was able to endure without collapsing despite the rush of work and fatigue was largely due to Judith's strength.
Of course, the person who informed Franz of this fact was the Duke of Vergy. He praised Judith for staying by the King's side and helping him with miscellaneous tasks while Queen Gilsis stayed in her royal palace and protested against her will.
Franz, who heard those words, felt a complex mixture of joy and regret. It was because he could see without looking how much effort Judith had spared in keeping her promise to him and taking care of his father.
“Now that I think about it, there’s something I wanted to ask.”
“For me?"
“Why did you come to the snack shop that day?”
“Yeah... I went out to buy snacks.”
The tone of voice was as if he was asking if there was any other reason to go to the snack shop other than that reason. Franz then realized that he had asked a stupid question and laughed.
“What did you do in a place like that?”
“Rogero has been begging me to come in.”
The sight of the Prince begging him was pleasing to the eye. Judith laughed softly and then shook Franz's hand lightly, saying "ah," as if she had suddenly remembered something.
“It reminded me of snacks. Nadine told me that he baked cookies earlier and asked me to try them, and they were really delicious.”
“Nadine? I didn’t know he had that kind of talent.”
“I knew this for the first time too. But I thought he already made it for you.”
"Not at all. I guess he didn’t really want to give it away.”
Franz joked. Neither of them had ever dreamed that the cookie came from Flavia. Of course, she and Flavia couldn't even imagine that all the cookies she gave her ended up in Nadine's stomach.
“Your Highness, can you tell me about the empire?”
Judith said. She spoke in a way that was uncharacteristic of her as if she was being pampered. Franz looked at her for a moment with fresh air and then rested his chin, making a hmm sound.
“What story should I tell you?”
“Anything is fine. What classes did you take and what did you find interesting?”
“Did you hear the story of the day I first met Rogero?”
“His Highness the Prince has already told me. I heard you weren’t very friendly at first?”
“At first, I thought he was making fun of me because we were sharing a dorm.”
Judith burst out laughing at Franz's dull joke.
“You...”
Judith turned her head and looked at Franz. Franz, who had spoken to her, hesitated for some reason, then continued, squeezing her hand held in his palm a little tighter.
“I heard that you helped my father a lot while I was away.”
A smile appeared on Judith's lips as she blinked. Judith said.
“That’s too much praise. Your Majesty took care of me, so it’s not surprising that I helped him.”
“There is no need to be humble in front of me.”
“It’s not that I’m humble...”
Judith looked up and saw that Franz's eyes were very serious as he stared at her in silence. When he faced clear golden eyes filled with light, her heart swelled. At the same time, she realized that she could feel the warmth of his hand holding her own more clearly.
“It was what I should have done.”
In fact, Judith diligently helped the King after he woke up. She checked to see if his health was deteriorating and occasionally helped him with things like sealing documents or verifying signatures. In addition to that, she also read books aloud or became a conversation partner. The fact that King Jedecayer was able to endure without collapsing despite the rush of work and fatigue was largely due to Judith's strength.
Of course, the person who informed Franz of this fact was the Duke of Vergy. He praised Judith for staying by the King's side and helping him with miscellaneous tasks while Queen Gilsis stayed in her royal palace and protested against her will.
Franz, who heard those words, felt a complex mixture of joy and regret. It was because he could see without looking how much effort Judith had spared in keeping her promise to him and taking care of his father.
“Now that I think about it, there’s something I wanted to ask.”
“For me?"
“Why did you come to the snack shop that day?”
“Yeah... I went out to buy snacks.”
The tone of voice was as if he was asking if there was any other reason to go to the snack shop other than that reason. Franz then realized that he had asked a stupid question and laughed.
“What did you do in a place like that?”
“Rogero has been begging me to come in.”
The sight of the Prince begging him was pleasing to the eye. Judith laughed softly and then shook Franz's hand lightly, saying "ah," as if she had suddenly remembered something.
“It reminded me of snacks. Nadine told me that he baked cookies earlier and asked me to try them, and they were really delicious.”
“Nadine? I didn’t know he had that kind of talent.”
“I knew this for the first time too. But I thought he already made it for you.”
"Not at all. I guess he didn’t really want to give it away.”
Franz joked. Neither of them had ever dreamed that the cookie came from Flavia. Of course, she and Flavia couldn't even imagine that all the cookies she gave her ended up in Nadine's stomach.
“Your Highness, can you tell me about the empire?”
Judith said. She spoke in a way that was uncharacteristic of her as if she was being pampered. Franz looked at her for a moment with fresh air and then rested his chin, making a hmm sound.
“What story should I tell you?”
“Anything is fine. What classes did you take and what did you find interesting?”
“Did you hear the story of the day I first met Rogero?”
“His Highness the Prince has already told me. I heard you weren’t very friendly at first?”
“At first, I thought he was making fun of me because we were sharing a dorm.”
Judith burst out laughing at Franz's dull joke.
Previously, I hoped that Flavia wouldn't be stupid like her parents, I don't think my hope would come true. lol
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