A few days ago, Leticia had begged to be allowed to join the parade unofficially. She had been so good so far, so Kyle agreed, on the condition that she would sit in the carriage like a statue with her mouth shut. The Citadel city center was not that big, so the parade would last no longer than thirty minutes.
Without waiting for Leticia, Kyle led his guard into the courtyard of the villa. A magnificent four-person carriage was waiting in front of the back gate. It was a royal caretta, with glass windows on each side and a coachman and attendant. His immediate escort and Jerome were to follow the carriage on horseback as if protecting it.
After he had sat down, a long time later, Leticia, dressed in a fancy dress, arrived in the carriage. She seemed to be late because she was trying to show off her style, even though she would not be seen in the crowd anyway. Kyle did not even look at his wife but rested his chin on one hand and focused his gaze on the window in his direction.
The embroidery was completed in no time. Madeline was satisfied with Angie's new initials, then wrapped them up and handed them over to the servant. Fortunately, the work was completed on time, but the problem was what happened next.
“Oh, dear. The wheel has come off. The parade is about to start and the carriages will be blocked. The other one is loose too. This won’t work.”
The coachman Anton clicked his tongue and expressed his displeasure. As soon as the carriage left the dressing room, a problem occurred with the wheel. If it continued like this, the other wheel would come off too.
“It’s okay, Sir. It’s not that far, so I’ll walk.”
“Wait a minute, let’s go together! I can’t let you go alone, Miss!”
As Angie got out of the carriage, Madeline, who had been seeing her off at the door, pointed toward the square. There was already a commotion and people were scurrying about.
“Oh my, the parade has already started! Then, Mr. Anton, take your time fixing the carriage in front of the store. I will take Amber to the riverside, so we can watch the parade while we go. Okay?”
“Ah... Thank you for your advice, but I’ll go towards the intersection. It’ll take at least an hour to get it fixed, so I can just walk.”
The Imperial delegation of Trieste does not participate in the parade. She heard that for security reasons, they were not allowed to leave the palace at all. As it was information from Martin, who was in the Metropolitan Police, there was no doubt about that. However, Angie was anxious and did not want to go there at all.
“The intersection? Do you mean the Bakery Alley? There’s construction going on there, and the road is full of mud! Let’s go and watch the parade from afar. I know you don’t like crowds, but since everyone’s going to be in the front row anyway, the back row will be empty. Come on, let’s not do that!”
Madeline, with a very excited face, led Angie, who was hesitating, to the square. Angie was caught by the wrist and had no choice but to be dragged away. It seemed that they would have to go together only as far as the riverside and then part ways.
“Okay. I’ll go with you, so slow down a little bit...”
“You’ve never seen a city parade in three years? It’s not just a parade, but some gifts and jewels stop in between and you can see the spectacle of flower girls waiting in advance to put flowers on the Prince and Princess. Why haven’t you seen this fun thing until now?”
“Ah... I thought the line and the crowd would be completely blocked off for safety reasons, but that’s not the case.”
“Now that the war is over and it’s a time of peace, the royal family can relax a bit. Now that Amber is a citizen of the capital, she should enjoy herself properly.”
In the distance, a magnificent parade line began to appear. The royal family in open carriages and the men of the vassalage on horseback, like knights, waved to the crowd. The royal guards stood close to each carriage and horse, but they were not far from the people in the front row.
“Oh my, look how much the young Prince has grown. Long live His Majesty!”
Madeline stood at the back of the line, raising her crow's feet and repeatedly shouting, "Long live the Royal Family, long live Vintergar." Everyone else was cheering along with her. It seemed that the royal family's popularity had not changed since the transition to a constitutional monarchy.
Angie stood beside Madeleine, watching the procession as if she was entranced. Contrary to the image of the royal family as being lofty and dignified, the royal couple seemed very friendly. Angie forgot about her plans to hurry back home and was absorbed in the parade for a moment.
The procession, which had been advancing slowly, suddenly stopped in front of the square fountain. As Madeline had said, a group of flower girls who had been waiting in advance approached the open carriage and handed out bouquets and wreaths to the attendants. The Princess, surrounded by guards, hugged the smallest child and kissed him on the cheek.
When the attendants threw small bags containing gifts into the crowd, the cheers reached their peak. People jumped up and down, stretching out their arms to catch the bags. But there was no pushing or fighting. There were also occasional scenes of harmoniousness, such as when someone lifted the bag so that a child could receive it easily, and the person next to them helped.
Angie's lips naturally drew a curve in the bright and warm atmosphere. When Noah grows up, she should bring him to the parade. How much he'll like it. She hopes he can go out with peace of mind then. Without having to worry, he can go anywhere freely...
The procession stopped for a moment until the bags of goodies were empty. Angie looked at the end of the line with a smile. The sight that had been sparsely obscured suddenly opened up. The people who had been occupying the front row were crouching on the floor, searching frantically for something they had dropped.
As Angie's eyes took in the gorgeous Caretta carriage, someone was looking at her through the small square window.
Up until then, there was nothing to think about. Not all members of the royal family show up to the crowd. Someone from the family could hide in a closed carriage and join the procession. But the moment the carriage door opened and the man sitting inside was revealed, Angie's heart was filled with shock.
For a moment, it seemed as if she had gone deaf. She could no longer hear the cheers of the people. The world around her seemed to have stopped for a moment. The smile that had been gently spreading across Angie's face was now completely gone.
Kyle.
Angie covered her mouth with one hand. Dressed in a way that made him look like royalty, his face was so beautiful that it could be seen from afar, and he was stepping down from the carriage, staring at her intently.
That can't be. Why is Kyle here now...? He said he wasn't going to participate in the parade. Why?
But the man who got out of the carriage with his eyes fixed on her was definitely Kyle. Kyle Rodan Blackwell. The Duke of the family was a collateral branch of the Trieste royal family and the actual ruling power. Kai was the first person she loved and was loved by. The man who brutally murdered her adoptive parents raised her like her own daughter right before her eyes. And Noah's biological father.
The two pairs of eyes met again in the air. A thin moan escaped Angie's mouth. She staggered backwards without realizing it as if she were going to fall. She couldn't think of anything else. Her body moved on its own.
Angie turned around and ran away. She didn't even say goodbye to Madame Madeleine, who was trying to get her present. Leaving behind the joyful cheers and laughter of the people, Angie ran wildly through the crowd in the square. Her heart felt like it was going to burst.
God. Please... M Please don't let that happen. Please!
Angie ran frantically down the alley toward the mansion. She didn't have time to catch her breath. If she hadn't tied the string tightly under her chin, her hat would have flown away long ago.
You wouldn't have recognized me. I had a wig and a hat on. How could you spot me among all those people... ... You would have just been looking my way.
Even while running, sobs leaked out. It felt like she would burst into tears at any moment. She tried to deny it, but her heart kept trying to remind her of the truth. The truth she wanted to deny was finally bursting out through her breath.
Their gazes collided head-on. Kyle definitely recognized her.
Noah, please...!
The image of her son, who had a small, round face that looked just like his father when he was young, and who was as cute and lovable as an angel, quickly occupied Angie's mind. All she could think about was protecting her child.
Noah was someone she had to protect from his father's clutches who were trying to destroy her, and he was as precious to her as her life itself.
Angie...?
Thud, thud, his heart felt like it was going to break. The pounding beat mercilessly against his chest like thunder. Before he knew it, the carriage door was wide open. Kyle got down from the carriage as if he was possessed. All the while, his eyes were fixed on a woman in the crowd. Not a single syllable of Leticia’s voice behind him reached his ears.
Brown hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed under an ivory hat. It wasn’t the blond he’d forgotten in his dreams. But beneath the swept-back brim, the green color sparkling like a jewel was the eyes he knew. And not just the eyes.
There was only one line in the world that formed an orphaned figure from head to toe. How could he not know its outline, engraved into the abyss of his heart?
“Angie.”
Without waiting for Leticia, Kyle led his guard into the courtyard of the villa. A magnificent four-person carriage was waiting in front of the back gate. It was a royal caretta, with glass windows on each side and a coachman and attendant. His immediate escort and Jerome were to follow the carriage on horseback as if protecting it.
After he had sat down, a long time later, Leticia, dressed in a fancy dress, arrived in the carriage. She seemed to be late because she was trying to show off her style, even though she would not be seen in the crowd anyway. Kyle did not even look at his wife but rested his chin on one hand and focused his gaze on the window in his direction.
***
The embroidery was completed in no time. Madeline was satisfied with Angie's new initials, then wrapped them up and handed them over to the servant. Fortunately, the work was completed on time, but the problem was what happened next.
“Oh, dear. The wheel has come off. The parade is about to start and the carriages will be blocked. The other one is loose too. This won’t work.”
The coachman Anton clicked his tongue and expressed his displeasure. As soon as the carriage left the dressing room, a problem occurred with the wheel. If it continued like this, the other wheel would come off too.
“It’s okay, Sir. It’s not that far, so I’ll walk.”
“Wait a minute, let’s go together! I can’t let you go alone, Miss!”
As Angie got out of the carriage, Madeline, who had been seeing her off at the door, pointed toward the square. There was already a commotion and people were scurrying about.
“Oh my, the parade has already started! Then, Mr. Anton, take your time fixing the carriage in front of the store. I will take Amber to the riverside, so we can watch the parade while we go. Okay?”
“Ah... Thank you for your advice, but I’ll go towards the intersection. It’ll take at least an hour to get it fixed, so I can just walk.”
The Imperial delegation of Trieste does not participate in the parade. She heard that for security reasons, they were not allowed to leave the palace at all. As it was information from Martin, who was in the Metropolitan Police, there was no doubt about that. However, Angie was anxious and did not want to go there at all.
“The intersection? Do you mean the Bakery Alley? There’s construction going on there, and the road is full of mud! Let’s go and watch the parade from afar. I know you don’t like crowds, but since everyone’s going to be in the front row anyway, the back row will be empty. Come on, let’s not do that!”
Madeline, with a very excited face, led Angie, who was hesitating, to the square. Angie was caught by the wrist and had no choice but to be dragged away. It seemed that they would have to go together only as far as the riverside and then part ways.
“Okay. I’ll go with you, so slow down a little bit...”
“You’ve never seen a city parade in three years? It’s not just a parade, but some gifts and jewels stop in between and you can see the spectacle of flower girls waiting in advance to put flowers on the Prince and Princess. Why haven’t you seen this fun thing until now?”
“Ah... I thought the line and the crowd would be completely blocked off for safety reasons, but that’s not the case.”
“Now that the war is over and it’s a time of peace, the royal family can relax a bit. Now that Amber is a citizen of the capital, she should enjoy herself properly.”
In the distance, a magnificent parade line began to appear. The royal family in open carriages and the men of the vassalage on horseback, like knights, waved to the crowd. The royal guards stood close to each carriage and horse, but they were not far from the people in the front row.
“Oh my, look how much the young Prince has grown. Long live His Majesty!”
Madeline stood at the back of the line, raising her crow's feet and repeatedly shouting, "Long live the Royal Family, long live Vintergar." Everyone else was cheering along with her. It seemed that the royal family's popularity had not changed since the transition to a constitutional monarchy.
Angie stood beside Madeleine, watching the procession as if she was entranced. Contrary to the image of the royal family as being lofty and dignified, the royal couple seemed very friendly. Angie forgot about her plans to hurry back home and was absorbed in the parade for a moment.
The procession, which had been advancing slowly, suddenly stopped in front of the square fountain. As Madeline had said, a group of flower girls who had been waiting in advance approached the open carriage and handed out bouquets and wreaths to the attendants. The Princess, surrounded by guards, hugged the smallest child and kissed him on the cheek.
When the attendants threw small bags containing gifts into the crowd, the cheers reached their peak. People jumped up and down, stretching out their arms to catch the bags. But there was no pushing or fighting. There were also occasional scenes of harmoniousness, such as when someone lifted the bag so that a child could receive it easily, and the person next to them helped.
Angie's lips naturally drew a curve in the bright and warm atmosphere. When Noah grows up, she should bring him to the parade. How much he'll like it. She hopes he can go out with peace of mind then. Without having to worry, he can go anywhere freely...
The procession stopped for a moment until the bags of goodies were empty. Angie looked at the end of the line with a smile. The sight that had been sparsely obscured suddenly opened up. The people who had been occupying the front row were crouching on the floor, searching frantically for something they had dropped.
As Angie's eyes took in the gorgeous Caretta carriage, someone was looking at her through the small square window.
Up until then, there was nothing to think about. Not all members of the royal family show up to the crowd. Someone from the family could hide in a closed carriage and join the procession. But the moment the carriage door opened and the man sitting inside was revealed, Angie's heart was filled with shock.
For a moment, it seemed as if she had gone deaf. She could no longer hear the cheers of the people. The world around her seemed to have stopped for a moment. The smile that had been gently spreading across Angie's face was now completely gone.
Kyle.
Angie covered her mouth with one hand. Dressed in a way that made him look like royalty, his face was so beautiful that it could be seen from afar, and he was stepping down from the carriage, staring at her intently.
That can't be. Why is Kyle here now...? He said he wasn't going to participate in the parade. Why?
But the man who got out of the carriage with his eyes fixed on her was definitely Kyle. Kyle Rodan Blackwell. The Duke of the family was a collateral branch of the Trieste royal family and the actual ruling power. Kai was the first person she loved and was loved by. The man who brutally murdered her adoptive parents raised her like her own daughter right before her eyes. And Noah's biological father.
The two pairs of eyes met again in the air. A thin moan escaped Angie's mouth. She staggered backwards without realizing it as if she were going to fall. She couldn't think of anything else. Her body moved on its own.
Angie turned around and ran away. She didn't even say goodbye to Madame Madeleine, who was trying to get her present. Leaving behind the joyful cheers and laughter of the people, Angie ran wildly through the crowd in the square. Her heart felt like it was going to burst.
God. Please... M Please don't let that happen. Please!
Angie ran frantically down the alley toward the mansion. She didn't have time to catch her breath. If she hadn't tied the string tightly under her chin, her hat would have flown away long ago.
You wouldn't have recognized me. I had a wig and a hat on. How could you spot me among all those people... ... You would have just been looking my way.
Even while running, sobs leaked out. It felt like she would burst into tears at any moment. She tried to deny it, but her heart kept trying to remind her of the truth. The truth she wanted to deny was finally bursting out through her breath.
Their gazes collided head-on. Kyle definitely recognized her.
Noah, please...!
The image of her son, who had a small, round face that looked just like his father when he was young, and who was as cute and lovable as an angel, quickly occupied Angie's mind. All she could think about was protecting her child.
Noah was someone she had to protect from his father's clutches who were trying to destroy her, and he was as precious to her as her life itself.
***
Angie...?
Thud, thud, his heart felt like it was going to break. The pounding beat mercilessly against his chest like thunder. Before he knew it, the carriage door was wide open. Kyle got down from the carriage as if he was possessed. All the while, his eyes were fixed on a woman in the crowd. Not a single syllable of Leticia’s voice behind him reached his ears.
Brown hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed under an ivory hat. It wasn’t the blond he’d forgotten in his dreams. But beneath the swept-back brim, the green color sparkling like a jewel was the eyes he knew. And not just the eyes.
There was only one line in the world that formed an orphaned figure from head to toe. How could he not know its outline, engraved into the abyss of his heart?
“Angie.”
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