Else, who was looking only at Sibyl with blushing cheeks, was always slender. She moved her steps. Else followed Sibyl while observing the servants' expressions. Each servant was carrying a piece of luggage. It was a lush summer. The hands of those preparing for camping in front of the river were busy.
Unlike the servants who moved in pairs, Else just blinked her eyes without getting along with anyone. Then she looked at the carriage she had come in. Her heart seemed to want to go back. Sibyl carefully picked a delphinium and approached her.
Else, who had been watching the carriage, turned around.
'Are you giving it to me?'
'Yes.'
Else, whose cheeks were flushed red, fluttered her eyelashes and accepted the bouquet. Her eyes met with emotion. Sybil looked down at her expressionlessly.
'The sun must be hot, so let's move.'
'Yes.'
The thin moisture in her green eyes shone like dew in the sunlight. He took hold of the wrist of the woman who was smiling brightly like a child and led her to the shade. He led her through the path where the zelkova trees were indifferently growing and to a place where a tall oak tree cast its shadow.
Else quickly followed his lead.
'Please take a rest.'
'Where are you going?'
'I have to go and finish the work the butler gave me.'
‘Can’t I stay here? It’s so hot..."
'I'll be back shortly.'
'...Yes.'
Else pouts. It was cute. Sibyl grinned and left. When he turned around while moving his luggage, he saw Else taking off her shoes, as if her feet were uncomfortable. He stopped a passing maid and told her to bring the young lady some food and drinks.
The maid frowned, perhaps offended by the fact that she was being ordered by a slave, but she didn’t say much. He was rumored to be the young lady’s mistress. As much as he was carrying the dishonor of being a mistress, he was protected by her. Else would not tolerate those who touched him or treated him badly, or those who treated him like a slave. She would always punish them mercilessly and set an example to correct the order.
So no one could touch him except the Viscount Roate. Sibyl looked at the woman with her white neck exposed. The woman, who was looking at the river alone under the shade, was beautiful as a dream. Like a flower blooming in the heat...
At Sibyl's words, the maid brought some snacks. Meat pie and strawberry pie for dinner. For drinks, there was a drink of honeyed herbs and lemon in cool water. He thought that if she ate something, her depressed mood would improve. He planned to stay with her in the evening and whisper to her that she was beautiful.
'Ah!'
A scream was heard behind him. Sibyl turned around. A maid who had been carrying food was sitting on the ground, chasing away wild dogs. They were wild dogs that had come running after smelling food while walking along the riverside. The servants came with wooden clubs to chase away the dogs that had run away with meat pies in their mouths. One of the dogs jumped in surprise and jumped into the river with Else’s shoe in its mouth.
'My, my shoes!'
The castle and campsite were quite far apart. If she didn’t find the shoes that the dog had taken away, Else would have to stay barefoot for several days. That humiliation...
Unlike the servants who moved in pairs, Else just blinked her eyes without getting along with anyone. Then she looked at the carriage she had come in. Her heart seemed to want to go back. Sibyl carefully picked a delphinium and approached her.
Else, who had been watching the carriage, turned around.
'Are you giving it to me?'
'Yes.'
Else, whose cheeks were flushed red, fluttered her eyelashes and accepted the bouquet. Her eyes met with emotion. Sybil looked down at her expressionlessly.
'The sun must be hot, so let's move.'
'Yes.'
The thin moisture in her green eyes shone like dew in the sunlight. He took hold of the wrist of the woman who was smiling brightly like a child and led her to the shade. He led her through the path where the zelkova trees were indifferently growing and to a place where a tall oak tree cast its shadow.
Else quickly followed his lead.
'Please take a rest.'
'Where are you going?'
'I have to go and finish the work the butler gave me.'
‘Can’t I stay here? It’s so hot..."
'I'll be back shortly.'
'...Yes.'
Else pouts. It was cute. Sibyl grinned and left. When he turned around while moving his luggage, he saw Else taking off her shoes, as if her feet were uncomfortable. He stopped a passing maid and told her to bring the young lady some food and drinks.
The maid frowned, perhaps offended by the fact that she was being ordered by a slave, but she didn’t say much. He was rumored to be the young lady’s mistress. As much as he was carrying the dishonor of being a mistress, he was protected by her. Else would not tolerate those who touched him or treated him badly, or those who treated him like a slave. She would always punish them mercilessly and set an example to correct the order.
So no one could touch him except the Viscount Roate. Sibyl looked at the woman with her white neck exposed. The woman, who was looking at the river alone under the shade, was beautiful as a dream. Like a flower blooming in the heat...
At Sibyl's words, the maid brought some snacks. Meat pie and strawberry pie for dinner. For drinks, there was a drink of honeyed herbs and lemon in cool water. He thought that if she ate something, her depressed mood would improve. He planned to stay with her in the evening and whisper to her that she was beautiful.
'Ah!'
A scream was heard behind him. Sibyl turned around. A maid who had been carrying food was sitting on the ground, chasing away wild dogs. They were wild dogs that had come running after smelling food while walking along the riverside. The servants came with wooden clubs to chase away the dogs that had run away with meat pies in their mouths. One of the dogs jumped in surprise and jumped into the river with Else’s shoe in its mouth.
'My, my shoes!'
The castle and campsite were quite far apart. If she didn’t find the shoes that the dog had taken away, Else would have to stay barefoot for several days. That humiliation...
He couldn’t let her be humiliated. It was considered vulgar for a woman to show her bare feet in Travasta. Even a commoner would do that, so a daughter of a noble family...
He couldn’t let her be like that for several days. She was already being pickled in a foul-smelling backstory. There were constant rumors that she had become a noblewoman and was hanging on to her maid’s every move.
The rumor spread throughout the castle that her appearance was funny and sad. A woman who had already been ruined because she loved him...
The rumor spread throughout the castle that her appearance was funny and sad. A woman who had already been ruined because she loved him...
Sybil took off her top. He jumped into the river without hesitation and split the water. He let go of the shoe that the wild dog that was swimming in the water had bitten.
Sibyl pulled out her floating shoes and came out of the water. Else, startled, looked at him blankly and took the shoes. There was a dog bite mark clearly visible on the toes of the shoes.
'Wipe it clean and put it in the fire to dry.'
Else didn’t respond. She just stared at his manly, rugged body. Sybil lifted Else up and picked her up. He had to pick her up because her shoes were wet and unwearable. He couldn’t dare let a noble lady walk barefoot. Else was carried by him to the bonfire. Sybil wiped her shoes with a towel and dried them at the bonfire. Else was still holding on to the bouquet of flowers he had given her.
She opened her eyes. It had been a few years ago... Else would not let go of the bouquet of flowers until the day she returned to the castle. Even if she did place the flowers, she would always place them where her eyes would catch them. The same was true for her shoes. Since she had no other spares, she had no choice but to wear the worn-out shoes, but she did not wear them after returning to the castle.
They thought she didn't wear them because of the dog's bite marks, but that wasn't the case. Else put the shoes in a velvet box that could fit shoes and kept them, and dried the flowers and kept them in a drawer. So in Sibyl's eyes, the shoes and flowers sleeping in the drawer seemed like Else's feelings for him.
Even when it has faded and is no longer beautiful, her love will remain forever. Even when its shape is ruined and it sleeps in a drawer, her love will remain...
“Your Majesty, are you okay?”
A familiar voice was heard. Sibyl, who was looking up at the ceiling, moved his eyes. He saw the doctor. Next to him was Alexander. As he raised his upper body, a cold energy rang in his head. It was a sharp headache, as if one side of his brain was being cut off. He narrowed his eyebrows and took a deep breath. Alexander started to peck the doctor. The doctor calmed him down, saying it was the aftereffects of the fever.
"It's okay."
"Your majesty."
“Just go out there.”
“However...”
Sybil asked Alexander, who was too embarrassed to speak.
“How many days have passed?”
“Four days.”
“What did you bring from the villa?”
“It is still where Your Majesty placed it.”
“Yes, just get out.”
After nodding, he looked at what was on the table. It was a pair of shoes that had dried flowers and daisy petals sleeping together. As if to preserve the scent of the flowers, Else had placed a few petals in the concave groove where her feet would go, and she took them out whenever she had time.
The doctor and Alexander left the bedroom. Sybil got up and picked up her half-burned shoes. His hands were bandaged. A pain he had not known when he was unconscious made his hands tingle. His skin, prickled by the heat, hurt terribly.
But he ignored the pain and took the shoe in his hand. He thought of Else, who had trampled his hand. Her face was distorted so mercilessly... She had denied love. Even the feet that had trampled him were slender... She was the woman he had ruined. He had distorted the woman who had been indifferent to love with his own hands. Tears began to well up in his eyes. The tears that had been building up in his abdomen turned up his throat.
“Ugh...uh, uh...”
Else. Else. I was wrong. I won't do it again. I won't hurt you again, not again.
Sibyl pulled out her floating shoes and came out of the water. Else, startled, looked at him blankly and took the shoes. There was a dog bite mark clearly visible on the toes of the shoes.
'Wipe it clean and put it in the fire to dry.'
Else didn’t respond. She just stared at his manly, rugged body. Sybil lifted Else up and picked her up. He had to pick her up because her shoes were wet and unwearable. He couldn’t dare let a noble lady walk barefoot. Else was carried by him to the bonfire. Sybil wiped her shoes with a towel and dried them at the bonfire. Else was still holding on to the bouquet of flowers he had given her.
***
She opened her eyes. It had been a few years ago... Else would not let go of the bouquet of flowers until the day she returned to the castle. Even if she did place the flowers, she would always place them where her eyes would catch them. The same was true for her shoes. Since she had no other spares, she had no choice but to wear the worn-out shoes, but she did not wear them after returning to the castle.
They thought she didn't wear them because of the dog's bite marks, but that wasn't the case. Else put the shoes in a velvet box that could fit shoes and kept them, and dried the flowers and kept them in a drawer. So in Sibyl's eyes, the shoes and flowers sleeping in the drawer seemed like Else's feelings for him.
Even when it has faded and is no longer beautiful, her love will remain forever. Even when its shape is ruined and it sleeps in a drawer, her love will remain...
“Your Majesty, are you okay?”
A familiar voice was heard. Sibyl, who was looking up at the ceiling, moved his eyes. He saw the doctor. Next to him was Alexander. As he raised his upper body, a cold energy rang in his head. It was a sharp headache, as if one side of his brain was being cut off. He narrowed his eyebrows and took a deep breath. Alexander started to peck the doctor. The doctor calmed him down, saying it was the aftereffects of the fever.
"It's okay."
"Your majesty."
“Just go out there.”
“However...”
Sybil asked Alexander, who was too embarrassed to speak.
“How many days have passed?”
“Four days.”
“What did you bring from the villa?”
“It is still where Your Majesty placed it.”
“Yes, just get out.”
After nodding, he looked at what was on the table. It was a pair of shoes that had dried flowers and daisy petals sleeping together. As if to preserve the scent of the flowers, Else had placed a few petals in the concave groove where her feet would go, and she took them out whenever she had time.
The doctor and Alexander left the bedroom. Sybil got up and picked up her half-burned shoes. His hands were bandaged. A pain he had not known when he was unconscious made his hands tingle. His skin, prickled by the heat, hurt terribly.
But he ignored the pain and took the shoe in his hand. He thought of Else, who had trampled his hand. Her face was distorted so mercilessly... She had denied love. Even the feet that had trampled him were slender... She was the woman he had ruined. He had distorted the woman who had been indifferent to love with his own hands. Tears began to well up in his eyes. The tears that had been building up in his abdomen turned up his throat.
“Ugh...uh, uh...”
Else. Else. I was wrong. I won't do it again. I won't hurt you again, not again.
But he couldn't say it. He couldn't convey it.
He held her shoes to his chest and burst into tears like a little boy. The long sobs echoed through the bedroom. Tears flowed ceaselessly and clung to his darkly bearded chin.
Lady Grancel. No. The woman who was once called Lady Grancel. Henrietta von Grancel's death sentence was finally confirmed. As the famous daughter of Count Grancel and niece of Queen Bonaparte, she was called the flower of society and dominated Siena even during the reign of the deposed Philip. Although the deposed Philip was displeased with her and her family, it was because of the protection of Princess Gretchen. Thanks to this, Count Grancel remained in good health without losing his position, unlike his sister, who was imprisoned.
But the Princess died. The Princess, the King's only daughter and the first child he had after his restoration, suddenly passed away one day. The Count's family had maintained its status and was proud even during the reign of Philip, who was a thorn in their side.
Although the King had recently shown distrust for his maternal family and expressed anger at their eccentricities, he had shown no signs of trying to cut off the family itself. At best, he pressured them to donate their property to the state. Even if the marriage was not consummated and the engagement was broken off, Henrietta would not be executed.
But didn't the young Princess die? The Princess's biological mother, the Duchess, fainted several times. The King was heartbroken, and the royal family was more depressed than ever. The decisive reason Henrietta was sentenced to death at trial was abuse and neglect.
Even if the Princess was not killed intentionally, the fact that she had cut off the nurse from a newborn baby who was born sick was enough to be seen as an act of abuse. How dare she abuse the King's daughter? Public opinion in society, which had been extremely negative about the news of Henrietta's arrest, also began to gradually turn around.
According to the testimony of the maid who was arrested together, before requesting a nanny from the Count's family, the existing nanny was fired because of her low status. However, she was the wet nurse of the Princess appointed by the King. Although she was designated as the prospective Queen, she was not yet a Queen or anything.
Did she dare to be disloyal and disobedient and try to undermine the King's will?
***
Lady Grancel. No. The woman who was once called Lady Grancel. Henrietta von Grancel's death sentence was finally confirmed. As the famous daughter of Count Grancel and niece of Queen Bonaparte, she was called the flower of society and dominated Siena even during the reign of the deposed Philip. Although the deposed Philip was displeased with her and her family, it was because of the protection of Princess Gretchen. Thanks to this, Count Grancel remained in good health without losing his position, unlike his sister, who was imprisoned.
But the Princess died. The Princess, the King's only daughter and the first child he had after his restoration, suddenly passed away one day. The Count's family had maintained its status and was proud even during the reign of Philip, who was a thorn in their side.
Although the King had recently shown distrust for his maternal family and expressed anger at their eccentricities, he had shown no signs of trying to cut off the family itself. At best, he pressured them to donate their property to the state. Even if the marriage was not consummated and the engagement was broken off, Henrietta would not be executed.
But didn't the young Princess die? The Princess's biological mother, the Duchess, fainted several times. The King was heartbroken, and the royal family was more depressed than ever. The decisive reason Henrietta was sentenced to death at trial was abuse and neglect.
Even if the Princess was not killed intentionally, the fact that she had cut off the nurse from a newborn baby who was born sick was enough to be seen as an act of abuse. How dare she abuse the King's daughter? Public opinion in society, which had been extremely negative about the news of Henrietta's arrest, also began to gradually turn around.
According to the testimony of the maid who was arrested together, before requesting a nanny from the Count's family, the existing nanny was fired because of her low status. However, she was the wet nurse of the Princess appointed by the King. Although she was designated as the prospective Queen, she was not yet a Queen or anything.
Did she dare to be disloyal and disobedient and try to undermine the King's will?
Even the sins of her father, who had committed violent and bizarre acts because he was a relative of the King, were brought up and began to drag her down terribly. And so, ten days after the Princess passed away, Henrietta was no longer the Henrietta she had been before.
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