“No, no. The one above it. A little higher up... That’s right, that’s it.”
Judith and the maids, who had gathered in the backyard, were chatting and laughing, each holding a small basket.
“Your Highness, how did you know that there was such a tree in the palace? I had no idea.”
Mary Anne said, stretching her arms above her head. It was a tall tree with unusually many branches, and despite the cold weather, the leaves still hung vividly, with flowers of similar colors hidden among them.
“It’s said that since it’s a tree that originally grew in cold places, it blooms even in winter. At first, I didn’t even know there was such a thing. I heard about it by chance a few years ago, but I had forgotten about it until now.”
The flower buds were not very attractive, but they had a nice, subtle scent. If dried and made into a sachet, they would be a good product. If they were not poisonous, you could even make tea with them.
While Franz was away from the kingdom, Judith wandered around the palace of King Rotair, memorizing its layout and learning the paths leading to the large and small gardens.
At first, she only wanted to learn geography, so she didn't notice the surrounding scenery or the garden landscaping. Not only that, but sometimes when she reached a place with few people, dark memories from her past life would come to mind and she would feel miserable.
At that time, the noble palace of Rotair was no comfort to Judith. Surrounded by beautiful decorations that had grown more majestic with time, she felt suffocated by the feeling that she was in a place she should not be in. She felt that she was shamelessly standing in a place that was not prepared for her.
When she felt that she could no longer endure such fantasies, Judith went out without a second thought. Without a maid or a servant, she ran away stealthily like a thief. And she wandered around in secluded places, looking for places where no one would be. When she reached a corner that even the gardeners had not properly reached, she curled up, and only then was she able to breathe, but the sadness that surged like a wave remained the same.
Judith realized after living two lives that memories are more powerful than one might imagine. So she tried to kill her emotions as much as possible and put only the structure of the original structure in her head. The first person to break it was Cheraan.
"Look, Your Highness! The strawberry blossoms are already in bloom. But why is there a strawberry tree in a place like this? The gardeners must have moved it by mistake."
Cheraan always accompanied Judith around the palace without knowing why she was going around. And whenever something caught her eye, she would talk brightly like a child who had just learned to speak. Naturally, Judith's eyes would also turn to him.
"When His Majesty Franz comes, the two of you should go for a walk together next time. Don't you think it would be really nice to get some fresh air under these wisteria trees?"
In the beautiful scenery that Cheraan spoke of, Judith and Franz were always together. It was a voice without a single doubt as if it were the natural order of the world.
Of course, she had no intention of denying it, but until then, Judith could not easily imagine herself and Franz holding hands and walking under the wisteria or sneaking a kiss among the rose bushes. It seemed unlikely to her.
But after a year, after two years, when she had almost memorized the layout of the vast palace and its intricate streets, Judith was able to accept Cheraan's words little by little.
As the number of places she wanted to go with Franz and show him increased when he returned, Judith gradually came to love the scenery of the palace. Even when she saw flowers whose names she didn't know blooming in the shade where the sunlight didn't reach, she couldn't help but feel a cold and lonely corner of her heart.
It was at that time that she learned about this amazing tree that blooms in winter. When she heard about the tree, it was still spring, so she had to wait a long time for the flowers to bloom. Then, when the next winter came, she forgot about the tree, and the next year passed.
Judith and the maids, who had gathered in the backyard, were chatting and laughing, each holding a small basket.
“Your Highness, how did you know that there was such a tree in the palace? I had no idea.”
Mary Anne said, stretching her arms above her head. It was a tall tree with unusually many branches, and despite the cold weather, the leaves still hung vividly, with flowers of similar colors hidden among them.
“It’s said that since it’s a tree that originally grew in cold places, it blooms even in winter. At first, I didn’t even know there was such a thing. I heard about it by chance a few years ago, but I had forgotten about it until now.”
The flower buds were not very attractive, but they had a nice, subtle scent. If dried and made into a sachet, they would be a good product. If they were not poisonous, you could even make tea with them.
While Franz was away from the kingdom, Judith wandered around the palace of King Rotair, memorizing its layout and learning the paths leading to the large and small gardens.
At first, she only wanted to learn geography, so she didn't notice the surrounding scenery or the garden landscaping. Not only that, but sometimes when she reached a place with few people, dark memories from her past life would come to mind and she would feel miserable.
At that time, the noble palace of Rotair was no comfort to Judith. Surrounded by beautiful decorations that had grown more majestic with time, she felt suffocated by the feeling that she was in a place she should not be in. She felt that she was shamelessly standing in a place that was not prepared for her.
When she felt that she could no longer endure such fantasies, Judith went out without a second thought. Without a maid or a servant, she ran away stealthily like a thief. And she wandered around in secluded places, looking for places where no one would be. When she reached a corner that even the gardeners had not properly reached, she curled up, and only then was she able to breathe, but the sadness that surged like a wave remained the same.
Judith realized after living two lives that memories are more powerful than one might imagine. So she tried to kill her emotions as much as possible and put only the structure of the original structure in her head. The first person to break it was Cheraan.
"Look, Your Highness! The strawberry blossoms are already in bloom. But why is there a strawberry tree in a place like this? The gardeners must have moved it by mistake."
Cheraan always accompanied Judith around the palace without knowing why she was going around. And whenever something caught her eye, she would talk brightly like a child who had just learned to speak. Naturally, Judith's eyes would also turn to him.
"When His Majesty Franz comes, the two of you should go for a walk together next time. Don't you think it would be really nice to get some fresh air under these wisteria trees?"
In the beautiful scenery that Cheraan spoke of, Judith and Franz were always together. It was a voice without a single doubt as if it were the natural order of the world.
Of course, she had no intention of denying it, but until then, Judith could not easily imagine herself and Franz holding hands and walking under the wisteria or sneaking a kiss among the rose bushes. It seemed unlikely to her.
But after a year, after two years, when she had almost memorized the layout of the vast palace and its intricate streets, Judith was able to accept Cheraan's words little by little.
As the number of places she wanted to go with Franz and show him increased when he returned, Judith gradually came to love the scenery of the palace. Even when she saw flowers whose names she didn't know blooming in the shade where the sunlight didn't reach, she couldn't help but feel a cold and lonely corner of her heart.
It was at that time that she learned about this amazing tree that blooms in winter. When she heard about the tree, it was still spring, so she had to wait a long time for the flowers to bloom. Then, when the next winter came, she forgot about the tree, and the next year passed.
In the end, today, Judith happened to remember and came to see the flowers.
“Your Highness, I think it would smell good if I dried this and put it on my pillow. What do you think?”
Judith smiled and nodded at Mary Anne's words.
While they were happily picking flowers, Franz came out of the study where he was working and approached. When the tall Hoen stood up and picked a flower hanging from a high branch, a pleasant and boisterous laugh rang out. Franz, who had been listening to this silently, smiled and leaned over slightly to make a sound.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
At Mary Anne's shout, the other maids hurriedly bowed. Judith, startled by the loud noise, turned her head, and her hair flew out through the gaps in her loosely held ornaments. Now, through the rather cold air, a fragrance that was not at all desirable at this time of year wafted. It was like a rosebud soaked in honey.
“It looked fun, so I came down for a moment.”
Judith smiled shyly and looked down at the basket she was holding.
“I was picking marigolds in the winter.”
Franz picked up a small flower from the basket.
“I just learned today that this flower has a name.”
“I had forgotten for a long time. It was several years ago that I heard the story about flowers, but I suddenly remembered it today.”
Franz played with the thin petals, then carefully placed them back in the basket and looked at Judith.
“Would you like to walk with me for a while? I’d like to take a walk together.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Just a moment... Mary Anne, would you please move the flowers in my basket? Take them to the palace and dry them in a dry place.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Mary Anne, who had taken the basket, answered. When Franz held out one arm, Judith naturally placed her hand on it.
The two walked slowly along the path that extended from the backyard to the outer wall. The wind was still gentle, and the sunlight was faint as if it was passing through a thin layer of white glass. It was a leisurely early winter afternoon.
As she walked along the tall trees as a wall, a gray shadow lingered at her feet. Judith wondered what Franz was doing, but at the same time, she was worried about him. Since the king was unable to take care of state affairs, Franz was in charge of almost all the affairs by his right as regent.
“Cheraan was worried that Your Highness might be pushing things too hard.”
“Bartholomew, I told him not to nag me, but it looks like he went and told my wife about it.”
It was a grumbling tone. Judith covered her mouth slightly and smiled, then looked at his face. Although his expression was no different than usual, the fatigue that had accumulated over time could not help but be seen around his eyes and cheeks.
However, the sharper jawline and the slightly sunken shadows under his eyes did not harm his handsome appearance. Rather, they combined with his facial features that always seemed to be young and innocent, and created a strangely erotic sensation.
When Judith remained silent for a long time, Franz turned his head and looked down at her. When their eyes met, Judith took a short breath as if she had been stabbed by something and looked away. She was afraid that her shameful thoughts would be revealed as she looked at his face.
Franz had no idea what Judith was thinking. From the moment he saw her through the window, or even before that, his mind had been filled with one thought: Krald.
But since he did not know how to start talking, the silence grew longer, and he ended up rambling to fill the gap. Judith listened attentively to whatever he said, but Franz himself, who was talking, felt like he was wandering aimlessly through the overgrown ground.
“Oh, Sir, look. It’s the maze I saw before. There’s a path leading this way too.”
When Franz raised his head, he could see the corner of the maze. The cypress trees, whose leaves had become darker and more fragrant as winter approached, stood with their shoulders pressed together, densely packed and resolute, like soldiers guarding a castle.
“I feel like it would be a good idea to go in there today.”
Judith's steps became lighter. She even tugged at Franz's arm as if she were a child who had seen something new. Franz looked around the quiet labyrinth. And nodded.
“If you want to.”
The cypress trees that formed the walls of the labyrinth gave off a refreshing scent. As they turned inward, Judith released her arms from Franz and danced her way toward the lightly forked path.
She took a step forward, moving the hem of her dress, which was heavy and swaying like it was made for winter, then turned her body halfway around to caress the branches of a cypress tree, and smiled as if to say, “Look at this!”
“Your Highness, I think it would smell good if I dried this and put it on my pillow. What do you think?”
Judith smiled and nodded at Mary Anne's words.
While they were happily picking flowers, Franz came out of the study where he was working and approached. When the tall Hoen stood up and picked a flower hanging from a high branch, a pleasant and boisterous laugh rang out. Franz, who had been listening to this silently, smiled and leaned over slightly to make a sound.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
At Mary Anne's shout, the other maids hurriedly bowed. Judith, startled by the loud noise, turned her head, and her hair flew out through the gaps in her loosely held ornaments. Now, through the rather cold air, a fragrance that was not at all desirable at this time of year wafted. It was like a rosebud soaked in honey.
“It looked fun, so I came down for a moment.”
Judith smiled shyly and looked down at the basket she was holding.
“I was picking marigolds in the winter.”
Franz picked up a small flower from the basket.
“I just learned today that this flower has a name.”
“I had forgotten for a long time. It was several years ago that I heard the story about flowers, but I suddenly remembered it today.”
Franz played with the thin petals, then carefully placed them back in the basket and looked at Judith.
“Would you like to walk with me for a while? I’d like to take a walk together.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Just a moment... Mary Anne, would you please move the flowers in my basket? Take them to the palace and dry them in a dry place.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Mary Anne, who had taken the basket, answered. When Franz held out one arm, Judith naturally placed her hand on it.
The two walked slowly along the path that extended from the backyard to the outer wall. The wind was still gentle, and the sunlight was faint as if it was passing through a thin layer of white glass. It was a leisurely early winter afternoon.
As she walked along the tall trees as a wall, a gray shadow lingered at her feet. Judith wondered what Franz was doing, but at the same time, she was worried about him. Since the king was unable to take care of state affairs, Franz was in charge of almost all the affairs by his right as regent.
“Cheraan was worried that Your Highness might be pushing things too hard.”
“Bartholomew, I told him not to nag me, but it looks like he went and told my wife about it.”
It was a grumbling tone. Judith covered her mouth slightly and smiled, then looked at his face. Although his expression was no different than usual, the fatigue that had accumulated over time could not help but be seen around his eyes and cheeks.
However, the sharper jawline and the slightly sunken shadows under his eyes did not harm his handsome appearance. Rather, they combined with his facial features that always seemed to be young and innocent, and created a strangely erotic sensation.
When Judith remained silent for a long time, Franz turned his head and looked down at her. When their eyes met, Judith took a short breath as if she had been stabbed by something and looked away. She was afraid that her shameful thoughts would be revealed as she looked at his face.
Franz had no idea what Judith was thinking. From the moment he saw her through the window, or even before that, his mind had been filled with one thought: Krald.
But since he did not know how to start talking, the silence grew longer, and he ended up rambling to fill the gap. Judith listened attentively to whatever he said, but Franz himself, who was talking, felt like he was wandering aimlessly through the overgrown ground.
“Oh, Sir, look. It’s the maze I saw before. There’s a path leading this way too.”
When Franz raised his head, he could see the corner of the maze. The cypress trees, whose leaves had become darker and more fragrant as winter approached, stood with their shoulders pressed together, densely packed and resolute, like soldiers guarding a castle.
“I feel like it would be a good idea to go in there today.”
Judith's steps became lighter. She even tugged at Franz's arm as if she were a child who had seen something new. Franz looked around the quiet labyrinth. And nodded.
“If you want to.”
The cypress trees that formed the walls of the labyrinth gave off a refreshing scent. As they turned inward, Judith released her arms from Franz and danced her way toward the lightly forked path.
She took a step forward, moving the hem of her dress, which was heavy and swaying like it was made for winter, then turned her body halfway around to caress the branches of a cypress tree, and smiled as if to say, “Look at this!”
Every movement was like a dance. It was so delicate that it seemed as free as a butterfly fluttering about.
Franz stood there for a long time, watching Judith's back as she hurried into the labyrinth. During this time, his cheeks grew warm and his fingertips began to tense without him realizing it.
The questions and suspicions that filled his mind seemed to disappear as if they were nothing with every movement she made. If her white hand brushed the tree branches, it seemed as if the first snow of the season would fall and scatter between them. If her lapis lazuli-colored hair swayed in the wind, it seemed as if a mistletoe fairy would fly out from the tip.
“Your Highness, come this way.”
Judith, who was already a few steps ahead, reached out between the forked corners. Franz blinked once and took a step toward her.
It was strange. It was a maze he had been in so many times as a child, a place he had memorized the layout of long ago, but somehow he felt like he would get lost. He held Judith’s hand and the two of them disappeared into a place no one knew about, and he felt like he would never be able to get out again.
"Your Highness."
Judith, who had stretched out her arms to hug Franz's neck, looked a little surprised. She knew that his expression as he looked at her seemed somehow gloomy. Franz's lips moved silently.
Franz stood there for a long time, watching Judith's back as she hurried into the labyrinth. During this time, his cheeks grew warm and his fingertips began to tense without him realizing it.
The questions and suspicions that filled his mind seemed to disappear as if they were nothing with every movement she made. If her white hand brushed the tree branches, it seemed as if the first snow of the season would fall and scatter between them. If her lapis lazuli-colored hair swayed in the wind, it seemed as if a mistletoe fairy would fly out from the tip.
“Your Highness, come this way.”
Judith, who was already a few steps ahead, reached out between the forked corners. Franz blinked once and took a step toward her.
It was strange. It was a maze he had been in so many times as a child, a place he had memorized the layout of long ago, but somehow he felt like he would get lost. He held Judith’s hand and the two of them disappeared into a place no one knew about, and he felt like he would never be able to get out again.
"Your Highness."
Judith, who had stretched out her arms to hug Franz's neck, looked a little surprised. She knew that his expression as he looked at her seemed somehow gloomy. Franz's lips moved silently.
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