Side Story 6. The scent of oranges is carried by the wind
As she passed through the archway and entered the courtyard, a sweet fragrance wafted through the air, enough to make her consciousness dizzy for a moment.
Erna paused for a moment, gazing at the scenery before her. The palace gardens, awash in orange blossoms, sparkled in the morning sunlight.
“This place is like heaven, Your Highness!”
Lisa's innocent admiration woke Erna from her daze.
“Of course, the gardens of Schwerin Palace are much more beautiful.”
As their eyes met, Lisa added in a determined tone.
Erna nodded and smiled, then stepped cautiously into the garden. The sound of their footsteps, slow and steady, along the path, mingled with the clear chirping of birds.
The Letzen delegation was housed in the annex closest to the Orange Garden, the pride of the Lorca Palace. The Crown Prince of Lorca, who welcomed them, boasted of special care taken in honor of the long-standing friendship between their two countries. The moment Erna set foot in the annex, she knew these words weren't mere formalities.
It was a completely different world from what Erna had known until then.
A dazzling white sunlight poured down on this pagan city, filled with towering trees, dazzling flowers, people in unimaginable clothing, and strange buildings. A sight unfolded through the carriage window that put Erna, who prided herself on having acquired a wealth of knowledge about Lorca thanks to her voracious reading of travel books, to shame. Of course, the greatest surprise was Lorca's palace and gardens, exquisite works of art.
“Wow! Your Highness took first place!”
Lisa, who was chatting about meeting other maids, suddenly said something out of the blue.
“The staff of the performance group held a vote among themselves.”
"Vote?"
As Erna showed interest, Lisa nodded with even greater excitement.
"Yes! We decided to determine who the most beautiful Prince and Princess were, and both the Prince and the Princess were chosen as first place! Letzen is truly the best country."
“It’s just a little bit of fun.”
"You say it's easy! Everyone was so obsessed with loyalty that they'd only pick their own Prince and Princess, even though, no matter how you looked at them, they looked nothing like the Princes they'd choose. It was such a pain. Well, there were even servants who insisted their Prince was the most handsome, even though they served a Prince who looked like a moldy potato. The fact that the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Letzen came in first place means they were beautiful enough to overcome that misguided loyalty."
Lisa gazed at her masterpiece with a delighted smile. The shadow of a large palm tree passed over Erna's face as she hurried along, shyly. It was then that she sensed a presence approaching from the opposite path.
Lisa, who had glanced there absentmindedly, flinched and cocked her head. Erna, who followed suit, looked slightly nervous and took a deep breath. It was Lorca's Queen, out for a walk at the same time today.
Erna walked with a determined step toward the Queen, who stood still and gazed at her. She greeted her politely in Letzen's language, and she returned the greeting in Lorca's. Though they didn't speak each other's language, the friendly sentiments were conveyed clearly.
As they had for the past few days, the two walked side by side along the path. The exotic garden, with the sound of the fountain cascading down the geometrically divided flowerbeds and the clear chirping of birds, was as peaceful and beautiful as a painting.
Lorca's Queen walked toward the pagoda along a path between orange trees, arranged in an orderly fashion like chess pieces on a chessboard. Erna, accompanying her, wore a more relaxed smile on her face.
The first time Erna met her was five days ago, on her first morning in this palace.
Erna, waking up early as usual, went out for a stroll in the orange garden, as she did today. It was only after meeting Lorca that she learned that the Queen took a walk here every morning. Dressed in simple attire, she sat in the garden's pergola, accompanied by a single maid.
Unlike Erna, who was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, Lorca's Queen welcomed the uninvited guest with a gentle smile. Although they couldn't have a proper conversation due to the lack of an interpreter, the two strolled together in a rather intimate atmosphere. By the time they said their goodbyes, Erna's smile had become much more natural.
A stuffy old woman whose heart is completely incomprehensible.
That was Erna's reputation. The other ladies in the delegation generally shared the same opinion. Lorca's Queen was even older than the Baroness of Baden, and most people found it difficult to deal with such an old woman.
But Erna found the old woman's characteristically slow movements and contemplative air comforting. Whenever she stayed with her grandmother, she often felt as if she were resting beneath a graceful tree. Lorca's Queen felt the same way.
The two sat side by side in the pergola, admiring the garden. Occasionally, their eyes met, they exchanged quiet smiles, and then gazed serenely at the orange tree, covered in white blossoms like spring snow. It was only when the time to leave drew near that Erna mustered the courage to speak.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but may I ask you a favor?”
As she spoke carefully, Lorca's Queen slowly turned her gaze.
She gazed quietly into Erna's eyes, then made a brief gesture toward her maid, who was waiting at the foot of the stairs in the Pergola. It was the maid, who spoke a little Letzen, and who had always accompanied Erna since their chance encounter.
When the maid, who had approached with brisk steps, relayed Erna's words, Lorca's Queen smiled kindly. It was a sign of approval.
"Would it be alright if I broke off a small branch from the orange tree? I'd like to share the fragrance of these flowers with my husband as a gift."
Erna looked into her eyes and conveyed her message. Knowing she couldn't understand her language, she spoke slowly and clearly, a habit she'd developed over many years living with the elderly.
After hearing the maid's words, Lorca's Queen looked at Erna, her white eyebrows quirked. Her clear, amber eyes sparkled, contrasting sharply with her wrinkled face.
Erna flinched, clasping her hands that were neatly placed on her lap. Had she done something wrong? Just as she was about to feel a twinge of regret, the Queen burst into laughter.
She nodded and gave a few slow orders to the maid. The maid nodded in agreement, then walked away, stepping away. Silence fell again on the orange-scented pergola.
Erna struggled to maintain her upright posture, meeting the Queen's curious gaze. Just as she was beginning to suspect she'd made a mistake, the maid returned, carrying a branch filled with freshly bloomed orange blossoms.
The Queen, who had received it directly, slowly rose. Startled by the unexpected action, Erna also hurriedly rose from the bench and stood facing her.
Lorca's Queen personally handed the orange branch to Erna. The meaning of her affectionate remark was conveyed by a maid standing a foot away.
The Prince of Letzen has a very lovely wife.
The words carried by the wind were as sweet as the scent of orange blossoms in her arms.
Erna is coming.
Bjorn recognized it just by the faint sound of footsteps.
Erna approached him with soft, dancing steps and stopped at the bedside where he was lying.
Bjorn, about to get up, changed his mind and stayed where he was. The sound of Erna carefully sitting down on the bed was accompanied by the clear sound of the curtains swaying in the breeze.
“Bjorn.”
The voice whispering his name was sweet.
“Get up now. You have to attend breakfast.”
The hand that gently stroked his cheek was also like that.
Perhaps it was the floral scent tickling his nose, thought Bjorn, slowly opening his eyes as if just waking from a deep sleep. What a fool. A sigh of self-mockery, born from the self-objectification he was still capable of, flowed out.
He leaned against the head of the bed and gestured, and Erna came into his arms without hesitation, holding a branch full of white flowers in her hand.
“What is that?”
“Orange blossoms. The Queen gave them to me as a gift.”
“Queen? Ah.”
Bjorn nodded, chuckling.
He heard that Erna took a walk with Lorca's Queen every morning. It seemed she had charmed not only the grandmothers in the countryside and the city of Letzen, but also those in foreign countries.
Erna leaned against his arm and told him about her plans for the day. She seemed even more excited than usual, as they had planned to go out together that afternoon.
“Bjorn, look into my eyes.”
Erna's expression, which had been chattering about the food she wanted to eat together, suddenly became serious.
“What day is today?”
Today. As Bjorn, realizing the meaning behind those words, smiled faintly, Erna turned around and sat down, cupping his face.
Erna stared intently into Bjorn's eyes, reminding him of today's promise. The white sunlight filtering through the delicate and ornate wooden bars illuminated Bjorn's smiling face as he nodded.
"I know."
“Really?”
"Really."
Bjorn lightly kissed his wife's cheek, who was looking at him with distrustful eyes.
“If any unavoidable circumstances arise, you must tell me.”
"Yes."
This time, a cute nose bridge.
“Can I trust you?”
"Yes."
And sweet lips.
As the light, playful kiss deepened, the bedroom, with its beautiful bars casting shadows of light, fell into silence again.
“Remember, Erna.”
Bjorn smiled as he wiped his wife's red, wet lips.
“I won’t forget.”
Erna's face, which was finally smiling as if she couldn't win, was so beautiful that it made the Crown Prince of Lorca want to stand up to the wind.
“Hey, Bjorn.”
Just as he was about to pull the rope, Erna spoke again. Bjorn responded with a gentle nod.
“That’s what I’m saying, I won first place.”
Erna, who had been hesitating and moving her lips several times, said something unexpected.
“1st place?”
“The servants of the delegation voted among themselves to see which country’s Princess was the prettiest, and I won first place.”
A low laugh escaped Bjorn's lips as he watched Erna boasting so absurdly. Her face, shy yet proud, smiled, and it was truly captivating. It was as if he could see the graceful tail of a deer fluttering beneath the hem of that lace-like dress.
“Congratulations, my wife.”
Bjorn bowed his head and praised the Grand Duchess for her beauty, which had brought national prestige to the country. He placed a flower he had plucked from a branch in his arms in her ear, and Erna smiled brightly, her cheeks flushing.
“This is yours.”
Erna mustered up her courage and placed the orange blossom she had picked in Bjorn's ear.
“You are the Prince who won first place.”
Erna whispered good news to the flower-bearing wolf. Bjorn, who had been staring blankly at Erna, gave a halfhearted reply and pulled the leash.
Although his attitude was quite arrogant and indifferent, Erna willingly agreed to understand. It was undeniable that he was the most handsome Prince in the world. Of course, she hadn't met every Prince in the world, but some absolute truths don't require confirmation.
When the servants heard the bell ring and came in, Bjorn got out of bed. The flowers Erna had given him were still hanging loosely between his long fingers.
The most handsome Prince in Erna's world placed the flower on the basin and left for the bathroom.
Erna, who had been watching the scene with bated breath, quietly approached the window and stood before the gilt-bronze basin. The feeling of flowers blooming in her chest was probably due to the overly sweet scent of oranges blowing in the breeze.
Before turning away, Erna gently floated her own flower onto the water. The sunlight pouring down on the surface of the water, where the orange blossoms floated, was dazzling.
As she passed through the archway and entered the courtyard, a sweet fragrance wafted through the air, enough to make her consciousness dizzy for a moment.
Erna paused for a moment, gazing at the scenery before her. The palace gardens, awash in orange blossoms, sparkled in the morning sunlight.
“This place is like heaven, Your Highness!”
Lisa's innocent admiration woke Erna from her daze.
“Of course, the gardens of Schwerin Palace are much more beautiful.”
As their eyes met, Lisa added in a determined tone.
Erna nodded and smiled, then stepped cautiously into the garden. The sound of their footsteps, slow and steady, along the path, mingled with the clear chirping of birds.
The Letzen delegation was housed in the annex closest to the Orange Garden, the pride of the Lorca Palace. The Crown Prince of Lorca, who welcomed them, boasted of special care taken in honor of the long-standing friendship between their two countries. The moment Erna set foot in the annex, she knew these words weren't mere formalities.
It was a completely different world from what Erna had known until then.
A dazzling white sunlight poured down on this pagan city, filled with towering trees, dazzling flowers, people in unimaginable clothing, and strange buildings. A sight unfolded through the carriage window that put Erna, who prided herself on having acquired a wealth of knowledge about Lorca thanks to her voracious reading of travel books, to shame. Of course, the greatest surprise was Lorca's palace and gardens, exquisite works of art.
“Wow! Your Highness took first place!”
Lisa, who was chatting about meeting other maids, suddenly said something out of the blue.
“The staff of the performance group held a vote among themselves.”
"Vote?"
As Erna showed interest, Lisa nodded with even greater excitement.
"Yes! We decided to determine who the most beautiful Prince and Princess were, and both the Prince and the Princess were chosen as first place! Letzen is truly the best country."
“It’s just a little bit of fun.”
"You say it's easy! Everyone was so obsessed with loyalty that they'd only pick their own Prince and Princess, even though, no matter how you looked at them, they looked nothing like the Princes they'd choose. It was such a pain. Well, there were even servants who insisted their Prince was the most handsome, even though they served a Prince who looked like a moldy potato. The fact that the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Letzen came in first place means they were beautiful enough to overcome that misguided loyalty."
Lisa gazed at her masterpiece with a delighted smile. The shadow of a large palm tree passed over Erna's face as she hurried along, shyly. It was then that she sensed a presence approaching from the opposite path.
Lisa, who had glanced there absentmindedly, flinched and cocked her head. Erna, who followed suit, looked slightly nervous and took a deep breath. It was Lorca's Queen, out for a walk at the same time today.
Erna walked with a determined step toward the Queen, who stood still and gazed at her. She greeted her politely in Letzen's language, and she returned the greeting in Lorca's. Though they didn't speak each other's language, the friendly sentiments were conveyed clearly.
As they had for the past few days, the two walked side by side along the path. The exotic garden, with the sound of the fountain cascading down the geometrically divided flowerbeds and the clear chirping of birds, was as peaceful and beautiful as a painting.
Lorca's Queen walked toward the pagoda along a path between orange trees, arranged in an orderly fashion like chess pieces on a chessboard. Erna, accompanying her, wore a more relaxed smile on her face.
The first time Erna met her was five days ago, on her first morning in this palace.
Erna, waking up early as usual, went out for a stroll in the orange garden, as she did today. It was only after meeting Lorca that she learned that the Queen took a walk here every morning. Dressed in simple attire, she sat in the garden's pergola, accompanied by a single maid.
Unlike Erna, who was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, Lorca's Queen welcomed the uninvited guest with a gentle smile. Although they couldn't have a proper conversation due to the lack of an interpreter, the two strolled together in a rather intimate atmosphere. By the time they said their goodbyes, Erna's smile had become much more natural.
A stuffy old woman whose heart is completely incomprehensible.
That was Erna's reputation. The other ladies in the delegation generally shared the same opinion. Lorca's Queen was even older than the Baroness of Baden, and most people found it difficult to deal with such an old woman.
But Erna found the old woman's characteristically slow movements and contemplative air comforting. Whenever she stayed with her grandmother, she often felt as if she were resting beneath a graceful tree. Lorca's Queen felt the same way.
The two sat side by side in the pergola, admiring the garden. Occasionally, their eyes met, they exchanged quiet smiles, and then gazed serenely at the orange tree, covered in white blossoms like spring snow. It was only when the time to leave drew near that Erna mustered the courage to speak.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but may I ask you a favor?”
As she spoke carefully, Lorca's Queen slowly turned her gaze.
She gazed quietly into Erna's eyes, then made a brief gesture toward her maid, who was waiting at the foot of the stairs in the Pergola. It was the maid, who spoke a little Letzen, and who had always accompanied Erna since their chance encounter.
When the maid, who had approached with brisk steps, relayed Erna's words, Lorca's Queen smiled kindly. It was a sign of approval.
"Would it be alright if I broke off a small branch from the orange tree? I'd like to share the fragrance of these flowers with my husband as a gift."
Erna looked into her eyes and conveyed her message. Knowing she couldn't understand her language, she spoke slowly and clearly, a habit she'd developed over many years living with the elderly.
After hearing the maid's words, Lorca's Queen looked at Erna, her white eyebrows quirked. Her clear, amber eyes sparkled, contrasting sharply with her wrinkled face.
Erna flinched, clasping her hands that were neatly placed on her lap. Had she done something wrong? Just as she was about to feel a twinge of regret, the Queen burst into laughter.
She nodded and gave a few slow orders to the maid. The maid nodded in agreement, then walked away, stepping away. Silence fell again on the orange-scented pergola.
Erna struggled to maintain her upright posture, meeting the Queen's curious gaze. Just as she was beginning to suspect she'd made a mistake, the maid returned, carrying a branch filled with freshly bloomed orange blossoms.
The Queen, who had received it directly, slowly rose. Startled by the unexpected action, Erna also hurriedly rose from the bench and stood facing her.
Lorca's Queen personally handed the orange branch to Erna. The meaning of her affectionate remark was conveyed by a maid standing a foot away.
The Prince of Letzen has a very lovely wife.
The words carried by the wind were as sweet as the scent of orange blossoms in her arms.
***
Erna is coming.
Bjorn recognized it just by the faint sound of footsteps.
Erna approached him with soft, dancing steps and stopped at the bedside where he was lying.
Bjorn, about to get up, changed his mind and stayed where he was. The sound of Erna carefully sitting down on the bed was accompanied by the clear sound of the curtains swaying in the breeze.
“Bjorn.”
The voice whispering his name was sweet.
“Get up now. You have to attend breakfast.”
The hand that gently stroked his cheek was also like that.
Perhaps it was the floral scent tickling his nose, thought Bjorn, slowly opening his eyes as if just waking from a deep sleep. What a fool. A sigh of self-mockery, born from the self-objectification he was still capable of, flowed out.
He leaned against the head of the bed and gestured, and Erna came into his arms without hesitation, holding a branch full of white flowers in her hand.
“What is that?”
“Orange blossoms. The Queen gave them to me as a gift.”
“Queen? Ah.”
Bjorn nodded, chuckling.
He heard that Erna took a walk with Lorca's Queen every morning. It seemed she had charmed not only the grandmothers in the countryside and the city of Letzen, but also those in foreign countries.
Erna leaned against his arm and told him about her plans for the day. She seemed even more excited than usual, as they had planned to go out together that afternoon.
“Bjorn, look into my eyes.”
Erna's expression, which had been chattering about the food she wanted to eat together, suddenly became serious.
“What day is today?”
Today. As Bjorn, realizing the meaning behind those words, smiled faintly, Erna turned around and sat down, cupping his face.
“Now, repeat after me. I promised my wife I'd go out with her. I'll never forget it.”
"I know."
“Really?”
"Really."
Bjorn lightly kissed his wife's cheek, who was looking at him with distrustful eyes.
“If any unavoidable circumstances arise, you must tell me.”
"Yes."
This time, a cute nose bridge.
“Can I trust you?”
"Yes."
And sweet lips.
As the light, playful kiss deepened, the bedroom, with its beautiful bars casting shadows of light, fell into silence again.
“Remember, Erna.”
Bjorn smiled as he wiped his wife's red, wet lips.
“I won’t forget.”
Erna's face, which was finally smiling as if she couldn't win, was so beautiful that it made the Crown Prince of Lorca want to stand up to the wind.
“Hey, Bjorn.”
Just as he was about to pull the rope, Erna spoke again. Bjorn responded with a gentle nod.
“That’s what I’m saying, I won first place.”
Erna, who had been hesitating and moving her lips several times, said something unexpected.
“1st place?”
“The servants of the delegation voted among themselves to see which country’s Princess was the prettiest, and I won first place.”
A low laugh escaped Bjorn's lips as he watched Erna boasting so absurdly. Her face, shy yet proud, smiled, and it was truly captivating. It was as if he could see the graceful tail of a deer fluttering beneath the hem of that lace-like dress.
“Congratulations, my wife.”
Bjorn bowed his head and praised the Grand Duchess for her beauty, which had brought national prestige to the country. He placed a flower he had plucked from a branch in his arms in her ear, and Erna smiled brightly, her cheeks flushing.
“This is yours.”
Erna mustered up her courage and placed the orange blossom she had picked in Bjorn's ear.
“You are the Prince who won first place.”
Erna whispered good news to the flower-bearing wolf. Bjorn, who had been staring blankly at Erna, gave a halfhearted reply and pulled the leash.
Although his attitude was quite arrogant and indifferent, Erna willingly agreed to understand. It was undeniable that he was the most handsome Prince in the world. Of course, she hadn't met every Prince in the world, but some absolute truths don't require confirmation.
When the servants heard the bell ring and came in, Bjorn got out of bed. The flowers Erna had given him were still hanging loosely between his long fingers.
The most handsome Prince in Erna's world placed the flower on the basin and left for the bathroom.
Erna, who had been watching the scene with bated breath, quietly approached the window and stood before the gilt-bronze basin. The feeling of flowers blooming in her chest was probably due to the overly sweet scent of oranges blowing in the breeze.
Before turning away, Erna gently floated her own flower onto the water. The sunlight pouring down on the surface of the water, where the orange blossoms floated, was dazzling.
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