I quickly wiped away some of the tears that had fallen from my eyes and answered.
"What's the matter?"
“I have something to give you, Miss. What came out of Carsis’ room...”
Bam-!
At the name Carsis, I opened the door without hesitation.
May's eyes opened wide in surprise at the door opening before she could finish her words.
“Why Carsis?”
“Ah, that... This came out...”
May looked embarrassed at my unexpected urging and handed over the box she was holding.
The box was just big enough to fit into May's arms.
“In Carsis’ room?”
“Yes. The room that Carsis used in the annex was assigned to another knight. He found it and asked what to do with it. He said it seemed like someone was trying to give it as a gift.”
Gift?
I tilted my head and took the box.
“Yes. I’ll take care of this for now. You can go now.”
“Yes, Miss.”
So May leaves.
I, who had moved to the sofa in the room alone, put the box down on the table.
The box was a lovely shade of pink, a color that would suit a lady.
I, who had been staring at the box quietly, carefully untied the ribbon that was tied around it.
The soft fabric slips out of my hands.
What was inside the box revealed its existence.
Then what came into my sight was.
“This is...”
It was a teddy bear.
And I, who was looking at the color of the teddy bear, laughed in vain.
Because it was a teddy bear with black fur, the complete opposite of the golden fur the Crown Prince had given me.
A faint smile spread across my face as I imagined Carsis choosing this teddy bear.
I picked up the golden-furred teddy bear that was lying on the corner of the sofa.
After the teddy bear, Ernest gave me broke, Mey brought me something similar.
Is it because the colors are different?
The two teddy bears sitting side by side on my lap looked similar, but they gave off contrasting vibes.
I, who had been looking down for a moment, hugged the two teddy bears tightly to my arms.
So much so that their form is somewhat ruined.
"Sorry...."
Because I hurt you and couldn't protect you.
I kept repeating the apology in my head.
How long had I been hugging those teddy bears with my eyes closed?
It was at that time that I was trying to put the dolls that I had taken out of my arms back where they belonged.
Something I didn't see before.
I found a ribbon hidden in black fur.
The dark green ribbon that has become so familiar now.
It was my ribbon that Carsis had taken.
“He gave it back.”
I never dreamed that I would get it back like this.
Again, the guilt of not being able to protect him washed over me and it became difficult to breathe.
I really wanted to protect you.
I hugged the teddy bear with all my might again, just as she had hugged Carsis.
However.
"By the way, you finally took out that ribbon. I thought it would look good on you, so I said I would put it in your hair, but you kept it."
Why did I only think of this now?
My mind flashed with memories of May's past words.
'Why, now...'
When I was in a situation where I couldn't do anything. Why.
I touched the ribbon tied to the teddy bear with trembling hands.
The soft texture made my mind dizzy.
And at that moment.
I had a sudden realization.
The truth I never wanted to know.
Without even tying the ribbon that Carsis gave me in my hair once.
I picture Elizabeth putting it in a small box and keeping it deep in a drawer.
Ah. Elizabeth.
You are truly Carsis.
At the same time, my hand fell off.
Time passed quickly like an arrow shot toward a target.
So much so that I couldn't even look back or dream about the future.
Today was the wedding of the Crown Prince and me that everyone had been waiting for.
But, seeing as I was a woman about to get married, my attitude was quite indifferent.
I looked at myself in the mirror with a blank stare.
Next to me, maids swarmed over, fixing my clothes and carefully straightening every strand of my hair.
I'd like to tell you that it's going to break anyway, so you don't have to try so hard.
Well, this will probably be the last time I decorate it this extravagantly.
I decided to just stay still.
“You look really pretty today, Ellie.”
An elegantly dressed Duchess approached me.
With a somewhat sad expression on his face.
"Mother."
The Duchess, who had come close, took my hand.
Her warm body was transmitted through the soft silk gloves.
“Time has already flown by so quickly. Today is my daughter’s wedding.”
The Duchess continued with a somewhat subdued expression.
And tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m such a fool. To be crying on such a nice day.”
She wiped her tears with the handkerchief she was holding.
It was natural to shed tears at your daughter's wedding.
Even though we live in the same capital, we won't see each other as often as before.
I, who knew what the Duchess was thinking, brought up the words I had never been able to say before.
“Thank you, Mother. For all the love you have given me.”
Although it was a short time, the Duke and Duchess gave me a lot of love.
I was so grateful for that fact.
At my words, the Duchess finally burst into tears that she had been holding back.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t let you go because I wanted to be with you a little longer.”
"No."
In fact, Elizabeth's marriage was a little later than that of her peers.
Among the young ladies of similar age to her, there was one who had already given birth to three children.
She must have cried for a long time.
The Duchess, whose heart had calmed down, met her gaze as if something had come to mind.
“But you must be sad that May isn’t here. Her mother is sick at this important time. May must be upset too. She’s not the one who took care of you since you were little. She must have wanted to see your wedding.”
“That’s right. It’s sad, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Contrary to my words of regret, there was no regret in my eyes.
That's understandable since I was the one who sent the false letter saying that May's mother was sick.
Perhaps, when May first arrives in her hometown, she will learn that there has been a rebellion in the capital.
'You must be sad...'
The first person I saw when I opened my eyes in this world was May.
Maybe that's why, when we said goodbye for the last time, I almost shed tears without realizing it.
May looked into my teary eyes and thought that I was sad that she couldn't attend the wedding.
"I'm sure the young lady will be happy."
'Okay, May. I'll be happy.'
I will survive somehow and become happy.
I slowly scanned the room.
To remember this beloved place that I can no longer see.
And when my eyes blinked slowly, I had a different look in my eyes than before.
Two eyes filled with determined fighting spirit.
There was no sadness or frustration in my eyes as the hot flames burned.
Because I had no intention of just shedding tears like an idiot over the misfortune that had befallen me.
The wedding ceremony begins when the imperial carriage arrives in front of the Cretian mansion.
On the way to the palace, the windows of my carriage were covered with curtains, preventing anyone from outside from seeing inside.
It was also an imperial custom to be considerate of the bride, as I was not yet a member of the royal family before the formal wedding.
The streets of the capital were crowded with people who had come out to see the carriage carrying the future Crown Princess.
My gaze was filled with worry as I watched the crowd of people crowding in through the gap in the curtains.
Many people will certainly be sacrificed today when the rebellion breaks out.
Perhaps among those sacrificed, there are those waving their hands and cheering over there.
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a wave of guilt came over me.
Whether rebellion occurs or not.
Because the ones who suffered the most were the powerless common people.
I withdrew my sunken gaze.
'Don't be weak-hearted.'
The people you meet throughout the wedding ceremony in the chapel will soon be dead.
"What's the matter?"
“I have something to give you, Miss. What came out of Carsis’ room...”
Bam-!
At the name Carsis, I opened the door without hesitation.
May's eyes opened wide in surprise at the door opening before she could finish her words.
“Why Carsis?”
“Ah, that... This came out...”
May looked embarrassed at my unexpected urging and handed over the box she was holding.
The box was just big enough to fit into May's arms.
“In Carsis’ room?”
“Yes. The room that Carsis used in the annex was assigned to another knight. He found it and asked what to do with it. He said it seemed like someone was trying to give it as a gift.”
Gift?
I tilted my head and took the box.
“Yes. I’ll take care of this for now. You can go now.”
“Yes, Miss.”
So May leaves.
I, who had moved to the sofa in the room alone, put the box down on the table.
The box was a lovely shade of pink, a color that would suit a lady.
I, who had been staring at the box quietly, carefully untied the ribbon that was tied around it.
The soft fabric slips out of my hands.
What was inside the box revealed its existence.
Then what came into my sight was.
“This is...”
It was a teddy bear.
And I, who was looking at the color of the teddy bear, laughed in vain.
Because it was a teddy bear with black fur, the complete opposite of the golden fur the Crown Prince had given me.
A faint smile spread across my face as I imagined Carsis choosing this teddy bear.
I picked up the golden-furred teddy bear that was lying on the corner of the sofa.
After the teddy bear, Ernest gave me broke, Mey brought me something similar.
Is it because the colors are different?
The two teddy bears sitting side by side on my lap looked similar, but they gave off contrasting vibes.
I, who had been looking down for a moment, hugged the two teddy bears tightly to my arms.
So much so that their form is somewhat ruined.
"Sorry...."
Because I hurt you and couldn't protect you.
I kept repeating the apology in my head.
How long had I been hugging those teddy bears with my eyes closed?
It was at that time that I was trying to put the dolls that I had taken out of my arms back where they belonged.
Something I didn't see before.
I found a ribbon hidden in black fur.
The dark green ribbon that has become so familiar now.
It was my ribbon that Carsis had taken.
“He gave it back.”
I never dreamed that I would get it back like this.
Again, the guilt of not being able to protect him washed over me and it became difficult to breathe.
I really wanted to protect you.
I hugged the teddy bear with all my might again, just as she had hugged Carsis.
However.
"By the way, you finally took out that ribbon. I thought it would look good on you, so I said I would put it in your hair, but you kept it."
Why did I only think of this now?
My mind flashed with memories of May's past words.
'Why, now...'
When I was in a situation where I couldn't do anything. Why.
I touched the ribbon tied to the teddy bear with trembling hands.
The soft texture made my mind dizzy.
And at that moment.
I had a sudden realization.
The truth I never wanted to know.
Without even tying the ribbon that Carsis gave me in my hair once.
I picture Elizabeth putting it in a small box and keeping it deep in a drawer.
Ah. Elizabeth.
You are truly Carsis.
At the same time, my hand fell off.
***
Time passed quickly like an arrow shot toward a target.
So much so that I couldn't even look back or dream about the future.
Today was the wedding of the Crown Prince and me that everyone had been waiting for.
But, seeing as I was a woman about to get married, my attitude was quite indifferent.
I looked at myself in the mirror with a blank stare.
Next to me, maids swarmed over, fixing my clothes and carefully straightening every strand of my hair.
I'd like to tell you that it's going to break anyway, so you don't have to try so hard.
Well, this will probably be the last time I decorate it this extravagantly.
I decided to just stay still.
“You look really pretty today, Ellie.”
An elegantly dressed Duchess approached me.
With a somewhat sad expression on his face.
"Mother."
The Duchess, who had come close, took my hand.
Her warm body was transmitted through the soft silk gloves.
“Time has already flown by so quickly. Today is my daughter’s wedding.”
The Duchess continued with a somewhat subdued expression.
And tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m such a fool. To be crying on such a nice day.”
She wiped her tears with the handkerchief she was holding.
It was natural to shed tears at your daughter's wedding.
Even though we live in the same capital, we won't see each other as often as before.
I, who knew what the Duchess was thinking, brought up the words I had never been able to say before.
“Thank you, Mother. For all the love you have given me.”
Although it was a short time, the Duke and Duchess gave me a lot of love.
I was so grateful for that fact.
At my words, the Duchess finally burst into tears that she had been holding back.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t let you go because I wanted to be with you a little longer.”
"No."
In fact, Elizabeth's marriage was a little later than that of her peers.
Among the young ladies of similar age to her, there was one who had already given birth to three children.
She must have cried for a long time.
The Duchess, whose heart had calmed down, met her gaze as if something had come to mind.
“But you must be sad that May isn’t here. Her mother is sick at this important time. May must be upset too. She’s not the one who took care of you since you were little. She must have wanted to see your wedding.”
“That’s right. It’s sad, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Contrary to my words of regret, there was no regret in my eyes.
That's understandable since I was the one who sent the false letter saying that May's mother was sick.
Perhaps, when May first arrives in her hometown, she will learn that there has been a rebellion in the capital.
'You must be sad...'
The first person I saw when I opened my eyes in this world was May.
Maybe that's why, when we said goodbye for the last time, I almost shed tears without realizing it.
May looked into my teary eyes and thought that I was sad that she couldn't attend the wedding.
"I'm sure the young lady will be happy."
'Okay, May. I'll be happy.'
I will survive somehow and become happy.
I slowly scanned the room.
To remember this beloved place that I can no longer see.
And when my eyes blinked slowly, I had a different look in my eyes than before.
Two eyes filled with determined fighting spirit.
There was no sadness or frustration in my eyes as the hot flames burned.
Because I had no intention of just shedding tears like an idiot over the misfortune that had befallen me.
***
The wedding ceremony begins when the imperial carriage arrives in front of the Cretian mansion.
On the way to the palace, the windows of my carriage were covered with curtains, preventing anyone from outside from seeing inside.
It was also an imperial custom to be considerate of the bride, as I was not yet a member of the royal family before the formal wedding.
The streets of the capital were crowded with people who had come out to see the carriage carrying the future Crown Princess.
My gaze was filled with worry as I watched the crowd of people crowding in through the gap in the curtains.
Many people will certainly be sacrificed today when the rebellion breaks out.
Perhaps among those sacrificed, there are those waving their hands and cheering over there.
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a wave of guilt came over me.
Whether rebellion occurs or not.
Because the ones who suffered the most were the powerless common people.
I withdrew my sunken gaze.
'Don't be weak-hearted.'
The people you meet throughout the wedding ceremony in the chapel will soon be dead.
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