Episode 132. The Princess's True Heart
I said to the maids,
"You all go back and keep quiet. Eria, go and get Lord Rond. Everyone, today is the same as usual. Got it?"
The maids nodded with frightened faces and dispersed. Eria ran to get Lord Rond.
Thump, thump, thump, that's what I heard when Lord Rond came running.
"Lady Kydel!"
"Sir!"
When I pointed to the door, he ran straight to the door and kicked it. With a bang, the lock broke and the door opened.
"Ouch!"
I ran to the bed amidst Eria's screams. We knew as soon as we saw Her Highness the Princess in the bed.
She wasn't asleep.
"Eria! Go get a doctor, quickly!"
"Yes!"
Eria ran out, and I examined Her Highness the Princess. Her breathing was faint, but her skin was already cold.
“Huh...”
As I clenched my teeth to hold back my tears, Lord Rond began to scream, pulling out his head. I shook the Princess in the midst of it all.
“Your Highness Milliora! Come to your senses! Please, Your Highness!”
The doctors came running shortly. They had an antidote for Tagar, and they fed it to the Princess before it was too late.
While the doctors cleared the area and treated the Princess, the three of us waited in the hallway in front of the bedroom.
I couldn’t forgive myself.
‘I should have come a little sooner, Prince Kydel would have taken care of himself, and come running here right away!’
‘If only I had just quietly said yes and talked to her when she caught me yesterday, this wouldn’t have happened!’
I shivered at the fact that I had happily eaten with Prince Kydel while Princess Milliora was losing her life after taking the poison.
And I felt helpless. How could I not have known the extent of the Princess’s despair?
I hated myself for being dull, and it was painful to see Lord Rond gasping for breath and losing his composure next to me.
“I should have protected the Princess. It’s all my fault!”
Lord Rond’s muttering was as gloomy as death. What the Princess did was destroy not only herself but also Lord Rond.
Eria said while crying.
“Sob, she couldn’t bear it anymore.”
Lord Rond and I looked at her at the same time.
“She came back from the empress’s palace late last night. Her hair was all messed up then... Her Majesty the Empress shouted that she would definitely go to Smilean.. It was so quiet at night that I could barely hear it.”
Lord Rond and I both cursed at the same time. Then Eria lowered her eyes, not knowing where to look.
We understood the situation in silence.
The Princess had gone to see Her Majesty the Empress to reject this marriage, but had been verbally abused again.
It was so easy to take away someone’s hope to live.
'How can you be a mother!'
I clenched my teeth so as not to say anything out loud. Then I managed to mutter.
"Eria, this must not leak to the Smilean messenger. Her Highness Milliora has a bad cold."
"Yes. Yes. Of course. A bad cold!"
At that moment, the doctors came out. They glanced at me and asked Eria. It was because I didn't have the servant's medal.
"Where is the maid?"
"Lady Kydel is here!"
When Eria suddenly got angry, the doctor glared at her, saying, "How dare you. "
Then Lord Rond deliberately puffed out his chest and glared at the doctor.
Even in such a hectic situation, I was so surprised that the easygoing Lord Rond had such a monstrous expression.
The doctor looked at Lord Rond in fear and said to me,
"Have her take the medicine I put inside every four hours. If her fever rises, send someone to the infirmary immediately."
"Her Highness..."
“If she takes your medicine regularly for about three days and recovers, she will be able to move around. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and there will be no problems with recovery.”
“This must never get out.”
“Don’t worry. The Empress’s Palace has already given them a strict warning. Well then.”
We went straight into Her Highness the Princess’s bedroom.
Her Highness Milliora, lying on the bed, looked less scared than before; her complexion had returned. As we approached, she barely opened her eyelids.
“Sir Rond...”
The first person she called was Sir Rond. Sir Rond turned around, making a strange breathing sound, as if he was holding back tears.
I lost control for a moment and shouted.
“Do you know how worried Lord Rond was? I almost fainted! What about Eria! Do you know how surprised and worried we were because of Your Highness?”
Eria rolled her eyes in shock at what I was doing. Even Lord Rond came to his senses and looked back at me.
But His Highness Milliora spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito.
“I’m sorry. Lorisha. I startled you.”
“...!”
I said to the maids,
"You all go back and keep quiet. Eria, go and get Lord Rond. Everyone, today is the same as usual. Got it?"
The maids nodded with frightened faces and dispersed. Eria ran to get Lord Rond.
Thump, thump, thump, that's what I heard when Lord Rond came running.
"Lady Kydel!"
"Sir!"
When I pointed to the door, he ran straight to the door and kicked it. With a bang, the lock broke and the door opened.
"Ouch!"
I ran to the bed amidst Eria's screams. We knew as soon as we saw Her Highness the Princess in the bed.
She wasn't asleep.
"Eria! Go get a doctor, quickly!"
"Yes!"
Eria ran out, and I examined Her Highness the Princess. Her breathing was faint, but her skin was already cold.
“Huh...”
As I clenched my teeth to hold back my tears, Lord Rond began to scream, pulling out his head. I shook the Princess in the midst of it all.
“Your Highness Milliora! Come to your senses! Please, Your Highness!”
The doctors came running shortly. They had an antidote for Tagar, and they fed it to the Princess before it was too late.
While the doctors cleared the area and treated the Princess, the three of us waited in the hallway in front of the bedroom.
I couldn’t forgive myself.
‘I should have come a little sooner, Prince Kydel would have taken care of himself, and come running here right away!’
‘If only I had just quietly said yes and talked to her when she caught me yesterday, this wouldn’t have happened!’
I shivered at the fact that I had happily eaten with Prince Kydel while Princess Milliora was losing her life after taking the poison.
And I felt helpless. How could I not have known the extent of the Princess’s despair?
I hated myself for being dull, and it was painful to see Lord Rond gasping for breath and losing his composure next to me.
“I should have protected the Princess. It’s all my fault!”
Lord Rond’s muttering was as gloomy as death. What the Princess did was destroy not only herself but also Lord Rond.
Eria said while crying.
“Sob, she couldn’t bear it anymore.”
Lord Rond and I looked at her at the same time.
“She came back from the empress’s palace late last night. Her hair was all messed up then... Her Majesty the Empress shouted that she would definitely go to Smilean.. It was so quiet at night that I could barely hear it.”
Lord Rond and I both cursed at the same time. Then Eria lowered her eyes, not knowing where to look.
We understood the situation in silence.
The Princess had gone to see Her Majesty the Empress to reject this marriage, but had been verbally abused again.
It was so easy to take away someone’s hope to live.
'How can you be a mother!'
I clenched my teeth so as not to say anything out loud. Then I managed to mutter.
"Eria, this must not leak to the Smilean messenger. Her Highness Milliora has a bad cold."
"Yes. Yes. Of course. A bad cold!"
At that moment, the doctors came out. They glanced at me and asked Eria. It was because I didn't have the servant's medal.
"Where is the maid?"
"Lady Kydel is here!"
When Eria suddenly got angry, the doctor glared at her, saying, "How dare you. "
Then Lord Rond deliberately puffed out his chest and glared at the doctor.
Even in such a hectic situation, I was so surprised that the easygoing Lord Rond had such a monstrous expression.
The doctor looked at Lord Rond in fear and said to me,
"Have her take the medicine I put inside every four hours. If her fever rises, send someone to the infirmary immediately."
"Her Highness..."
“If she takes your medicine regularly for about three days and recovers, she will be able to move around. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and there will be no problems with recovery.”
“This must never get out.”
“Don’t worry. The Empress’s Palace has already given them a strict warning. Well then.”
We went straight into Her Highness the Princess’s bedroom.
Her Highness Milliora, lying on the bed, looked less scared than before; her complexion had returned. As we approached, she barely opened her eyelids.
“Sir Rond...”
The first person she called was Sir Rond. Sir Rond turned around, making a strange breathing sound, as if he was holding back tears.
I lost control for a moment and shouted.
“Do you know how worried Lord Rond was? I almost fainted! What about Eria! Do you know how surprised and worried we were because of Your Highness?”
Eria rolled her eyes in shock at what I was doing. Even Lord Rond came to his senses and looked back at me.
But His Highness Milliora spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito.
“I’m sorry. Lorisha. I startled you.”
“...!”
Do you really think this is the time to apologize so easily?
This time, I burst into tears. My voice cracked as I cried.
“It’s okay. You know this. Don’t do it again. Your Highness, aren’t you hungry? You must be hungry. Can I get you something to drink?”
At that, Her Highness smiled faintly and shook her head. However, I felt embarrassed for shouting, so I had to say something.
“Eria, can you bring me the rich mushroom soup that Your Highness likes?”
“Of course! Just wait a moment, Your Highness.”
Eria ran out, and Lord Rond’s face hardened under the Princess’s gaze.
He said in a voice that sounded like a grumble.
“Why... did you do that?”
“...I can’t remember. I’m sorry, Lord. When I started to feel the effects of the medicine, your face came to mind... I wanted to call you so badly, but I couldn’t make a sound... I’m sorry.”
I muttered a double curse and left the room. I had to leave Lord Rond alone with Her Highness Milliora.
There was no way to leave the Princess and her escort knight alone in the bedroom. But why shouldn’t I do that when he was the one she wanted to see at the end of her life?
And I also wanted to swear a little, so I had to leave the room.
I went to the reception room where all the maids had left and swore to my heart’s content.
This was just the wrong world. A mother shouldn’t push her daughter like that.
As I was saying that, the door opened and Prince Kydel came in.
“...Heh!”
I ran to him without realizing it and hugged him. He just patted my back. He already knew why.
When my crying subsided a little, he asked,
“How is Her Highness Milliora?”
“She’s awake. She’ll be back to being able to move after three days of rest... Are the rumors spreading?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has strictly ordered us to keep our mouths shut. But if the hospital moves, rumors will inevitably spread. Everyone just pretends not to know.”
I stomped my feet and shouted in belated anger.
“How can you do that, man! I’m so angry, I can’t stand it, Your Excellency.”
Prince Kydel gently stroked my shoulders. Then, surprisingly, I felt calmed down.
“Tell me what’s going on, step by step.”
I whispered in his ear, afraid that the words might leak out.
“Her Majesty the Empress, Milliora, visited her last night. She said she didn’t want to marry Smilean...”
I continued, suddenly overcome by a strange feeling.
“Her Majesty the Empress said, ‘You will definitely go to Smileran.’ Not, ‘I will definitely marry you off to Smilean.’...”
“...”
Prince Kydel seemed to have the same doubts as I did. However, this was not the right place for a deeper conversation.
“Who is guarding the Princess right now?”
“That is... Sir Rond...”
“Lorisha?”
“Her Highness is probably looking after Sir Rond... Haa.”
I plopped down on the sofa. Prince Kydel made a face of disbelief.
I spoke with a protesting expression.
“She said the last person Her Highness wanted to see before she died was Sir Rond. She hoped that Sir Rond would save her. People’s hearts are honest!”
Prince Kydel, who understood what I meant, washed his face as if in pain.
This time, I asked with concern.
“Have you finished your conversation with Lord Ryuel?”
His face was irritated by the fact that I said ‘safely’ instead of ‘well’, and I couldn’t ask for more details because I was stung for no reason.
He ignored my question.
“It looks like it’ll be hard for you to return home for a while, right?”
“Yes. Since the only people who know about this, besides Lord Rond, are Eria and I, the two of us will have to take turns looking after Her Highness.”
“Taking care of Her Highness is important, but you can’t harm your health, Lorisha.”
In this situation, what use would my health be? But when Prince Kydel said that, I felt a strange tickle.
I pretended to be serious and answered. With my serious face, I was able to somehow make the ticklish sound work.
“Yes. Your Excellency, you shouldn’t study too late either. It’s bad for your health.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’ll go now.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
I sent Prince Kydel away and returned to Her Highness Milliora’s bedroom.
As soon as I entered, Lord Rond hid his face and left. I couldn’t even see his face, but I was sure he had cried.
On the other hand, Her Highness the Princess looked so comfortable and peaceful even in her deep sickness. She even looked a little happy, so I thought my eyes were strange.
“Your Highness, what did you say to Lord Rond?”
“Yes. It was nothing.”
I asked, feeling a little relieved. I had to keep making small talk to keep her mind from calming down.
“Hey, what’s wrong? You didn’t scold Lord Rond for not coming to you on his own?”
“No. I asked if he would come with me to Smilean.”
“...!”
This time, I burst into tears. My voice cracked as I cried.
“It’s okay. You know this. Don’t do it again. Your Highness, aren’t you hungry? You must be hungry. Can I get you something to drink?”
At that, Her Highness smiled faintly and shook her head. However, I felt embarrassed for shouting, so I had to say something.
“Eria, can you bring me the rich mushroom soup that Your Highness likes?”
“Of course! Just wait a moment, Your Highness.”
Eria ran out, and Lord Rond’s face hardened under the Princess’s gaze.
He said in a voice that sounded like a grumble.
“Why... did you do that?”
“...I can’t remember. I’m sorry, Lord. When I started to feel the effects of the medicine, your face came to mind... I wanted to call you so badly, but I couldn’t make a sound... I’m sorry.”
I muttered a double curse and left the room. I had to leave Lord Rond alone with Her Highness Milliora.
There was no way to leave the Princess and her escort knight alone in the bedroom. But why shouldn’t I do that when he was the one she wanted to see at the end of her life?
And I also wanted to swear a little, so I had to leave the room.
I went to the reception room where all the maids had left and swore to my heart’s content.
This was just the wrong world. A mother shouldn’t push her daughter like that.
As I was saying that, the door opened and Prince Kydel came in.
“...Heh!”
I ran to him without realizing it and hugged him. He just patted my back. He already knew why.
When my crying subsided a little, he asked,
“How is Her Highness Milliora?”
“She’s awake. She’ll be back to being able to move after three days of rest... Are the rumors spreading?”
“Her Majesty the Empress has strictly ordered us to keep our mouths shut. But if the hospital moves, rumors will inevitably spread. Everyone just pretends not to know.”
I stomped my feet and shouted in belated anger.
“How can you do that, man! I’m so angry, I can’t stand it, Your Excellency.”
Prince Kydel gently stroked my shoulders. Then, surprisingly, I felt calmed down.
“Tell me what’s going on, step by step.”
I whispered in his ear, afraid that the words might leak out.
“Her Majesty the Empress, Milliora, visited her last night. She said she didn’t want to marry Smilean...”
I continued, suddenly overcome by a strange feeling.
“Her Majesty the Empress said, ‘You will definitely go to Smileran.’ Not, ‘I will definitely marry you off to Smilean.’...”
“...”
Prince Kydel seemed to have the same doubts as I did. However, this was not the right place for a deeper conversation.
“Who is guarding the Princess right now?”
“That is... Sir Rond...”
“Lorisha?”
“Her Highness is probably looking after Sir Rond... Haa.”
I plopped down on the sofa. Prince Kydel made a face of disbelief.
I spoke with a protesting expression.
“She said the last person Her Highness wanted to see before she died was Sir Rond. She hoped that Sir Rond would save her. People’s hearts are honest!”
Prince Kydel, who understood what I meant, washed his face as if in pain.
This time, I asked with concern.
“Have you finished your conversation with Lord Ryuel?”
His face was irritated by the fact that I said ‘safely’ instead of ‘well’, and I couldn’t ask for more details because I was stung for no reason.
He ignored my question.
“It looks like it’ll be hard for you to return home for a while, right?”
“Yes. Since the only people who know about this, besides Lord Rond, are Eria and I, the two of us will have to take turns looking after Her Highness.”
“Taking care of Her Highness is important, but you can’t harm your health, Lorisha.”
In this situation, what use would my health be? But when Prince Kydel said that, I felt a strange tickle.
I pretended to be serious and answered. With my serious face, I was able to somehow make the ticklish sound work.
“Yes. Your Excellency, you shouldn’t study too late either. It’s bad for your health.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’ll go now.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
I sent Prince Kydel away and returned to Her Highness Milliora’s bedroom.
As soon as I entered, Lord Rond hid his face and left. I couldn’t even see his face, but I was sure he had cried.
On the other hand, Her Highness the Princess looked so comfortable and peaceful even in her deep sickness. She even looked a little happy, so I thought my eyes were strange.
“Your Highness, what did you say to Lord Rond?”
“Yes. It was nothing.”
I asked, feeling a little relieved. I had to keep making small talk to keep her mind from calming down.
“Hey, what’s wrong? You didn’t scold Lord Rond for not coming to you on his own?”
“No. I asked if he would come with me to Smilean.”
“...!”
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