The maid looked dumbfounded at my words.
“But in that outfit, over there... it’s embarrassing.”
The maid stammered, not knowing what to do.
It really was like that. I was so absorbed in the thought that he was here that I forgot that I was in my pajamas.
But it would take at least an hour to get dressed, and by then everyone in the mansion would be up and moving.
“Is there any clothes I can wear over this?”
"Wait a minute."
The maid nodded quickly and ran to the closet. Why on earth could I be so reckless...?
But seeing the corners of her lips slightly go up made me think that I was really naive.
How futile the last dawn had been when I had tried so hard to calm my mind. Just the thought of him being near made my heart flutter.
“Put this on.”
The maid handed me a long robe that reached my calves. The ribbon tied tightly around the front made it suitable for wearing over my nightgown.
As I was rushing out of the room, I encountered a problem.
“...Uh, which side is the sponsor here?”
“Go down the stairs, turn right, go out the third door, and then go into the east corridor. No... no. I’ll take you.”
The maid often guided me at a walking pace.
Perhaps she had guessed that this would not be a proper meeting, so she guided me down a road that people rarely walked on. It seemed to be a back road used by servants.
The maid opened the small side door leading to the back room and said.
“I'll wait here.”
The maid added, seeming impatient.
“If you don’t hold the door on this road, it will close quickly... so you should hurry and come back.”
I nodded and looked around the garden. There was not a single human presence, let alone a trace of human presence, in the garden, which was decorated like a small maze.
Am I too late? Has he already left? I was about to slump my shoulders in regret, but a hand suddenly popped out from inside the maze and grabbed my arm.
My body suddenly fell apart and I was dragged into someone's arms.
"Your Highness."
It was Laskan. He must have been quite shocked, as he had almost fallen into his arms at the end, but he didn't make a single sound. Even though the wind pulled the hood he was wearing down deep down back at him.
He had become more handsome in the time since I last saw him, like a statue being chiseled and polished by the wind as the years passed.
He kissed my forehead gently.
“I’m sorry for making you come out like this.”
He said with an expression that showed no remorse at all. This was too much of a lover's thing, but I wasn't in the mood to think about such things. The fact that I might not be able to see him again at this time made my heart soften.
I impulsively hugged him. As I slowly stroked his back, I felt him inhale sharply.
He put his arms around the hollow of my waist and pulled me in a little deeper.
“Please, just stay like this for a while.”
We held each other still, feeling each other's body heat. When I rested my chin on his shoulder, I could hear his heartbeat heavily.
“You’ve already heard the news of the expedition.”
Seeing him hugging me so quietly, he whispered softly in my ear.
I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded. If I opened my mouth, I thought I'd immediately start blaming him for not telling me in advance. For trying to end our relationship like this. Even though it wasn't his fault at all.
“I will be back shortly.”
“But Laskan, you know we don’t have much time left.”
I tried not to gasp, but I felt like I was going to burst into tears while speaking.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
“Oh, you know?”
It was a lie. He didn't know what I was thinking. Whenever I was anxious, Laskan would always reassure me that I was the real Princess.
But what if he was wrong? What if I was just a lucky woman who resembled the Princess?
The best I could do for him was to disappear, willingly bearing the notoriety of a woman who had deceived the Emperor and the Duke.
Then I will never see him again and I will miss him for the rest of my life.
Oh, I realize now. I loved him. Not because he was my best, but because he was just him.
From the moment I first encountered him, I instinctively knew that I would eventually be captured by Laskan.
He affectionately stroked my tear-stained cheek.
“I will not now tell you to trust Your Highness’s bloodline. However, if Your Highness wishes.”
“...”
“I will return to Your Highness’s side at any time.”
My breathing became ragged as I held back my tears. He held my hand tightly as if to soothe me.
“Your Highness, definitely.”
“....I, Your Excellency, do not need blood, not by your side.”
“But in that outfit, over there... it’s embarrassing.”
The maid stammered, not knowing what to do.
It really was like that. I was so absorbed in the thought that he was here that I forgot that I was in my pajamas.
But it would take at least an hour to get dressed, and by then everyone in the mansion would be up and moving.
“Is there any clothes I can wear over this?”
"Wait a minute."
The maid nodded quickly and ran to the closet. Why on earth could I be so reckless...?
But seeing the corners of her lips slightly go up made me think that I was really naive.
How futile the last dawn had been when I had tried so hard to calm my mind. Just the thought of him being near made my heart flutter.
“Put this on.”
The maid handed me a long robe that reached my calves. The ribbon tied tightly around the front made it suitable for wearing over my nightgown.
As I was rushing out of the room, I encountered a problem.
“...Uh, which side is the sponsor here?”
“Go down the stairs, turn right, go out the third door, and then go into the east corridor. No... no. I’ll take you.”
The maid often guided me at a walking pace.
Perhaps she had guessed that this would not be a proper meeting, so she guided me down a road that people rarely walked on. It seemed to be a back road used by servants.
The maid opened the small side door leading to the back room and said.
“I'll wait here.”
The maid added, seeming impatient.
“If you don’t hold the door on this road, it will close quickly... so you should hurry and come back.”
I nodded and looked around the garden. There was not a single human presence, let alone a trace of human presence, in the garden, which was decorated like a small maze.
Am I too late? Has he already left? I was about to slump my shoulders in regret, but a hand suddenly popped out from inside the maze and grabbed my arm.
My body suddenly fell apart and I was dragged into someone's arms.
"Your Highness."
It was Laskan. He must have been quite shocked, as he had almost fallen into his arms at the end, but he didn't make a single sound. Even though the wind pulled the hood he was wearing down deep down back at him.
He had become more handsome in the time since I last saw him, like a statue being chiseled and polished by the wind as the years passed.
He kissed my forehead gently.
“I’m sorry for making you come out like this.”
He said with an expression that showed no remorse at all. This was too much of a lover's thing, but I wasn't in the mood to think about such things. The fact that I might not be able to see him again at this time made my heart soften.
I impulsively hugged him. As I slowly stroked his back, I felt him inhale sharply.
He put his arms around the hollow of my waist and pulled me in a little deeper.
“Please, just stay like this for a while.”
We held each other still, feeling each other's body heat. When I rested my chin on his shoulder, I could hear his heartbeat heavily.
“You’ve already heard the news of the expedition.”
Seeing him hugging me so quietly, he whispered softly in my ear.
I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded. If I opened my mouth, I thought I'd immediately start blaming him for not telling me in advance. For trying to end our relationship like this. Even though it wasn't his fault at all.
“I will be back shortly.”
“But Laskan, you know we don’t have much time left.”
I tried not to gasp, but I felt like I was going to burst into tears while speaking.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
“Oh, you know?”
It was a lie. He didn't know what I was thinking. Whenever I was anxious, Laskan would always reassure me that I was the real Princess.
But what if he was wrong? What if I was just a lucky woman who resembled the Princess?
The best I could do for him was to disappear, willingly bearing the notoriety of a woman who had deceived the Emperor and the Duke.
Then I will never see him again and I will miss him for the rest of my life.
Oh, I realize now. I loved him. Not because he was my best, but because he was just him.
From the moment I first encountered him, I instinctively knew that I would eventually be captured by Laskan.
He affectionately stroked my tear-stained cheek.
“I will not now tell you to trust Your Highness’s bloodline. However, if Your Highness wishes.”
“...”
“I will return to Your Highness’s side at any time.”
My breathing became ragged as I held back my tears. He held my hand tightly as if to soothe me.
“Your Highness, definitely.”
“....I, Your Excellency, do not need blood, not by your side.”
"Then."
“Come back to me.”
The moment I said those words, I was half out of my mind.
For him to choose me was like betraying all the glory and family of Ashkabad. Even the serpent that ultimately corrupted the goddess would not be as cunning as me.
But the joy spread across his face. Because Laskan looked so happy, I became happy too.
I have always hidden my true feelings from him, but at this moment, I was more honest than anyone else.
He hugged me tighter once more.
“I will do that.”
“Hey, you promise, right?”
“Yes. I’ll bet everything on it.”
He held me in his arms without letting go until I calmed down. It was embarrassing. I buried my face in his arms and mumbled.
“When is the departure date?”
“I think it will be tomorrow or the day after.”
“Thank you for coming to see me.”
He ran his hand through my hair and placed small kisses along my forehead.
My heart, which had been ticklish, began to swell little by little. How nice it would have been if we had been ordinary lovers. If you had been just a country boy and not a Duke, and I had been just Olga's daughter. Then we would never have parted again.
He said it as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him.
“I have something to show you. The caretaker said she found this at the villa.”
He took out from his bosom a very delicate egg-shaped object. Even to my eyes, accustomed to all sorts of luxurious things while living in the palace, it looked quite precious.
“The villa manager?”
“She sent it to me when he was sorting out some of your childhood belongings, and it seems to have been included in them.”
Laskan's expression became slightly clouded.
That alone was enough to give me an idea. It was probably Princess Anastasia's belongings. She must have found it while organizing her belongings that she had been unable to touch for a long time.
“Can I look at it?”
He handed me the craft.
Even though it was my first time seeing it, it felt very familiar. I even knew how to open this artifact.
There was a separate key, and inside was a small piano ornament, which we often took out and put notes and such in...
It was creepy. How did I know this? Did the memories of the dead Princess really come to me while I was acting as the Princess? Or...
“Sasha?”
My complexion must have been very bad. It was no wonder that Laskan was surprised. What a strange memory. This has never happened before.
“Can I borrow this?”
“Yes. You may dispose of it however you wish.”
"Thank you."
I hugged his neck once more. He just hugged me once more without saying a word.
***
When I came to my senses, too much time had passed. Since the maid had urged me to return quickly, I left the garden, leaving behind the regrettable meeting.
It seemed like only a short time had passed, but thirty minutes had already passed. I hurriedly finished breakfast and put on my dress.
"Your Highness."
It's almost time to meet Rosetta.
As we went down to the carriage, a gentleman bowed elegantly. He looked like he was going to a ballroom, not to meet pirates.
I didn't recognize him at first glance and took a step back in bewilderment.
“Jacqueline?”
“What? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
He shrugged his shoulders and frowned mischievously.
"Oh..."
He looked neat and tidy, but he walked around like a sailor on a day off... It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to dress up, but rather that he had no one to show it to. Today, when I went to see Rosetta, he was dressed like this.
It was a great effort. Considering the situation and place, it was a bit excessive, but I found it kind of cute that he could do that.
As I kept exclaiming in admiration, his face turned red.
“Is that so weird?”
“If it’s weird, then it’s weird, but if you just say it’s weird, then it’s not that...”
“Then, please take that ominous look off... No, wouldn’t it be better to just change my clothes? Wouldn’t it look like I’m trying too hard?”
It was a moment when I understood why Rosetta had never seen him as a man. Even now, he looked like a younger brother to me... To Rosetta, who had been through a lot, he must have seemed like a lump of flesh.
I patted his shoulder.
“In my opinion, it would be better for you to compete with cuteness.”
“Cuteness...”
“Let’s go first. It’s already too late.”
“No. Your Highness, just wait a moment. I’ll just change my clothes...”
“Coach, let’s go.”
"Your Highness!"
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