Side Story 16. The Beautiful Fool
Bjorn is back.
At the scheduled class time, without any notice.
Erna, who had absentmindedly turned her head toward the open door without knocking, sat up straight in surprise. A look of bewilderment soon crossed Mrs. Fitz's face as she sat across the table, reporting on the order for decorations for the garden on the festival day.
“Then I’ll tell you the rest after dinner.”
Madame Fitz, observing the air between the Grand Duke and his wife, who were staring intently at each other, folded her file and stood up. Bjorn stepped aside from the door and smiled, expressing his gratitude to his astute nanny.
As the door closed, the quiet reception room was now occupied by the Grand Duke and his wife. Erna was the first to avert her gaze.
“Why did you come in without permission?”
Asking something she already knew, Erna hurriedly smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress hem. As she was adjusting the crooked ribbon decoration on her sleeve, Bjorn, who had approached the table, stopped.
Erna straightened her neck and looked at Bjorn. The golden afternoon sunlight illuminated him, dressed in his riding attire. He looked magnificent, yet all the more charming for it.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Erna's voice, as she pressed on, was much more subdued than before.
She was glad he came.
It was absurd how easily she'd become weak-hearted, but Erna was certainly like that. It was even more so because she'd never imagined this man would be the first to swallow his pride and reach out.
It wasn't that she really hated Bjorn.
Erna was indeed furious at the harsh words, but she still knew that the arrogant Prince was doing his best to keep his clumsy promise of love.
He gave her a beautiful horse. He made time every evening despite his busy schedule. He taught her horseback riding to the best of his ability, even if he lacked consideration and patience. To this man, all of these things were love, love without a doubt.
Erna no longer doubted his sincerity. She simply wished he'd been a little more affectionate. So, if he were to approach her first and offer an apology, there was no reason not to accept it. The moment she made that decision, Bjorn reached out.
“Please go to class.”
He looked down at Erna and smiled. His face was calm, as if yesterday's events had been completely forgotten.
“I’ll pretend yesterday never happened.”
While she was gripped by a strange feeling, he continued speaking. His words were quite different from what Erna had expected.
“Aren’t you here to apologize?”
Erna clutched the hem of her dress with the hand she had almost reached for. Bjorn, who had been watching her as if he were about to hear some absurd story, soon broke into a hollow laugh.
“An apology? Me?”
“I thought you came to apologize for treating your wife like a fool, worse than a horse.”
"Don't jump to conclusions like that. Dorothea is indeed superior to you in horseback riding. I wasn't belittling you; I was simply stating an objective fact."
“What did you say?”
"And horses aren't stupid animals, Erna. If I really wanted to treat you that way, I wouldn't have compared you to such a clever creature."
Bjorn continued speaking softly, his brow furrowed slightly. Far from apologizing, he suggested they start another fight. Yet, his extremely calm and collected demeanor left Erna even more bewildered.
“So, now, Dorothea is a better horsewoman than I am, and horses are smart animals, so you’re right?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then?”
"I'm correcting your misunderstanding right now. It also means I understand you."
Bjorn smiled generously, as if doing a favor.
Erna, who clearly understood his intentions, slowly blinked her dazed eyes. So, this man truly believed that these words could lead to reconciliation. No. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he believed that forgiveness would resolve the issue.
Who the hell is dumber than words!
A renowned scholar from the prestigious Royal University of Schwerin, considered the continent's most prestigious, he quickly rose to dominate the financial district of Letzen. Despite his brilliant intellect, her husband clearly lacked the talent to utilize his exceptional wit in romantic affairs.
Instead of answering, Erna let out a quiet sigh and stood up. A ray of sunlight, now at a different angle, fell like a diagonal line between the two people standing face to face.
Erna's gaze, glancing down at the polished boots reflecting the light, slowly began to move upward. Long, slender legs, a red riding jacket. And a face with an elegant smile.
Erna looked at him with renewed admiration. His handsome face brought joy, and that joy softened her anger, giving her a newfound patience. But it seemed unlikely that it would solve everything today.
"You're feeling overwhelmed right now, Erna, obsessed and clinging to useless things you don't need to do. That's why you're being so emotional and sensitive. Isn't that right?"
As the silence grew longer, Bjorn spoke again. His face seemed willing to launch a fresh argument if refuted.
Erna, who had been quietly watching him, clasped her hands together neatly and smiled politely.
“Would you please leave my room?”
That was all Erna wanted to say to this beautiful fool.
This year, the star of the summer festival was Leonid Dneister.
Despite not competing in the rowing competition, the attention he received was even more fervent than the year he lifted the trophy. Of course, the direction was quite different.
The Crown Prince is finally here!
When Leonid Dneister appeared in the VIP box of the rowing competition with a beautiful lady, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation.
He's single. No. Maybe he just likes men.
“But who on earth is that lady?”
As the excitement subsided, the crowd's eyes began to sparkle with curiosity.
"Well, I don't remember seeing that face in high society. Could it be foreign royalty?"
"After Princess Gladys, should we take another Princess from another country as our Crown Princess? This lady from Letzen would be perfect."
Just as the low, rapid exchange of words began to form a massive wave, the King, having finished his speech, placed the Crown Prince and the unfamiliar lady who had captured everyone's attention on the podium. The summer sun, pouring down on the suddenly still banks of the Abbey River, was dazzling.
Under that sunny sky, the Crown Prince's engagement was announced.
Rosette Preve.
The festival grounds soon began to boil with the shock of the name that was introduced as the Crown Princess.
“How do you feel about having an accident?”
A voice mixed with laughter was carried by the fresh river breeze.
Leonid, who was catching his breath under a tree in the corner of the garden, turned his head with a tired smile. Bjorn, who had approached him, was standing there.
The riverside and the garden were now being bathed in the evening twilight.
Bjorn and Leonid stood side by side in silence, gazing out at the misty landscape. The glass lanterns adorning the tree branches illuminated the two brothers.
“Why are you still wearing those glasses?”
Bjorn released his grip on Leonid's exhausted shoulder and pointed to his glasses with a frown. The thin, gold-rimmed glasses he had removed still lingered on the Crown Prince's face.
“Ah. Rosie said she was more familiar with this side.”
“Rosie?”
Bjorn, who had frowned at the unfamiliar name, soon let out a sigh of disbelief.
“You crazy bastard.”
That was all Bjorn could say to his twin, who was clearly crazy about women.
They're all playing around.
Omitting that was the least they could do for the couple who had just gotten engaged today.
"Rosie seems to like the Grand Duchess quite a bit. And the Grand Duchess, too."
Leonid pushed up his glasses, uttering the unfamiliar nickname. Bjorn shuddered briefly and slowly turned his head toward Leonid's gentle gaze.
The Grand Duchess of Schwerin and the new Crown Princess sat across from each other at a table beneath an apple tree by the fountain, conversing. While Erna was the one doing the talking, Rosette listened intently. Judging by their pleasant expressions, it seemed they were, as Leonid had said, quite pleased with each other.
“The Grand Duchess is a good person, Bjorn.”
Leonid's gaze became noticeably serious. Bjorn nodded, looking at his wife in silence.
Erna did her best today.
From decorating the garden to the party food and even the seating arrangements, she meticulously attended to every detail. Even when the setting felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable, she hovered like a shadow beside the Crown Princess, caring for and attending to even the smallest details.
Bjorn knew that no words could better describe his wife, even though she was a fierce and spiteful woman to her husband.
“So, do your best.”
When their eyes met, Leonid spoke unexpectedly. When Bjorn frowned, he let out a laugh, uncharacteristically playful.
“You two, you fought, right?”
The Crown Prince, who was sharper than he looked, came and attacked him.
"How about you just make up now? We don't want to have another unfortunate incident like last winter, where you lost each other and shed tears."
It wasn't difficult to discern what Leonid meant when he pronounced the word "last winter" with unusual emphasis.
“Shut up, Leo.”
Bjorn smiled, cursing that horrific nightmare once again. He decided not to mention that he hadn't seen any tears. It would likely only make things more grimy.
Leonid, having quietly struck a blow, leisurely walked towards his fiancée, who had just finished her conversation with Erna. Bjorn, who had been watching her with an uncharacteristic aloofness, uncharacteristic of someone who had been subjected to near-maddening attention all day, chuckled as if sighing.
Leonid was very Leonid-like.
So, having concluded that His Highness the Crown Prince, who resembled a wailing wall, no longer needed to worry, Bjorn turned his gaze to the table beneath the apple tree where his wife remained alone. Erna, her face as clear as a summer night, gazed into the light of the stained-glass lamp. Her appearance was infinitely pure and innocent.
This is why he always ends up being an asshole.
Bjorn laughed, feeling a little disappointed.
After being so savagely rebuffed after a desperate attempt to reconcile, he no longer made any further efforts. The anger that had surged to the brink of despair soon subsided, but he couldn't find an opportunity to mend the estranged relationship. Erna was still busy, and he, too, was so absorbed in his own work that before he knew it, it was already a festive day.
Should I reach out again?
Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he chewed on the question.
Why me anyway?
At that moment, when a strange feeling of antipathy rose, Erna turned her head.
In the lights illuminating the festive night, the eyes of the Grand Duke and his wife, locked in a cold war, met.
Bjorn is back.
At the scheduled class time, without any notice.
Erna, who had absentmindedly turned her head toward the open door without knocking, sat up straight in surprise. A look of bewilderment soon crossed Mrs. Fitz's face as she sat across the table, reporting on the order for decorations for the garden on the festival day.
“Then I’ll tell you the rest after dinner.”
Madame Fitz, observing the air between the Grand Duke and his wife, who were staring intently at each other, folded her file and stood up. Bjorn stepped aside from the door and smiled, expressing his gratitude to his astute nanny.
As the door closed, the quiet reception room was now occupied by the Grand Duke and his wife. Erna was the first to avert her gaze.
“Why did you come in without permission?”
Asking something she already knew, Erna hurriedly smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress hem. As she was adjusting the crooked ribbon decoration on her sleeve, Bjorn, who had approached the table, stopped.
Erna straightened her neck and looked at Bjorn. The golden afternoon sunlight illuminated him, dressed in his riding attire. He looked magnificent, yet all the more charming for it.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Erna's voice, as she pressed on, was much more subdued than before.
She was glad he came.
It was absurd how easily she'd become weak-hearted, but Erna was certainly like that. It was even more so because she'd never imagined this man would be the first to swallow his pride and reach out.
It wasn't that she really hated Bjorn.
Erna was indeed furious at the harsh words, but she still knew that the arrogant Prince was doing his best to keep his clumsy promise of love.
He gave her a beautiful horse. He made time every evening despite his busy schedule. He taught her horseback riding to the best of his ability, even if he lacked consideration and patience. To this man, all of these things were love, love without a doubt.
Erna no longer doubted his sincerity. She simply wished he'd been a little more affectionate. So, if he were to approach her first and offer an apology, there was no reason not to accept it. The moment she made that decision, Bjorn reached out.
“Please go to class.”
He looked down at Erna and smiled. His face was calm, as if yesterday's events had been completely forgotten.
“I’ll pretend yesterday never happened.”
While she was gripped by a strange feeling, he continued speaking. His words were quite different from what Erna had expected.
“Aren’t you here to apologize?”
Erna clutched the hem of her dress with the hand she had almost reached for. Bjorn, who had been watching her as if he were about to hear some absurd story, soon broke into a hollow laugh.
“An apology? Me?”
“I thought you came to apologize for treating your wife like a fool, worse than a horse.”
"Don't jump to conclusions like that. Dorothea is indeed superior to you in horseback riding. I wasn't belittling you; I was simply stating an objective fact."
“What did you say?”
"And horses aren't stupid animals, Erna. If I really wanted to treat you that way, I wouldn't have compared you to such a clever creature."
Bjorn continued speaking softly, his brow furrowed slightly. Far from apologizing, he suggested they start another fight. Yet, his extremely calm and collected demeanor left Erna even more bewildered.
“So, now, Dorothea is a better horsewoman than I am, and horses are smart animals, so you’re right?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then?”
"I'm correcting your misunderstanding right now. It also means I understand you."
Bjorn smiled generously, as if doing a favor.
Erna, who clearly understood his intentions, slowly blinked her dazed eyes. So, this man truly believed that these words could lead to reconciliation. No. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he believed that forgiveness would resolve the issue.
Who the hell is dumber than words!
A renowned scholar from the prestigious Royal University of Schwerin, considered the continent's most prestigious, he quickly rose to dominate the financial district of Letzen. Despite his brilliant intellect, her husband clearly lacked the talent to utilize his exceptional wit in romantic affairs.
Instead of answering, Erna let out a quiet sigh and stood up. A ray of sunlight, now at a different angle, fell like a diagonal line between the two people standing face to face.
Erna's gaze, glancing down at the polished boots reflecting the light, slowly began to move upward. Long, slender legs, a red riding jacket. And a face with an elegant smile.
Erna looked at him with renewed admiration. His handsome face brought joy, and that joy softened her anger, giving her a newfound patience. But it seemed unlikely that it would solve everything today.
"You're feeling overwhelmed right now, Erna, obsessed and clinging to useless things you don't need to do. That's why you're being so emotional and sensitive. Isn't that right?"
As the silence grew longer, Bjorn spoke again. His face seemed willing to launch a fresh argument if refuted.
Erna, who had been quietly watching him, clasped her hands together neatly and smiled politely.
“Would you please leave my room?”
That was all Erna wanted to say to this beautiful fool.
***
This year, the star of the summer festival was Leonid Dneister.
Despite not competing in the rowing competition, the attention he received was even more fervent than the year he lifted the trophy. Of course, the direction was quite different.
The Crown Prince is finally here!
When Leonid Dneister appeared in the VIP box of the rowing competition with a beautiful lady, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation.
He's single. No. Maybe he just likes men.
Leonid Dnister, who had never been seen with a woman and thus lived under all manner of speculation, was accompanied by a lady at an official event. Even before she was formally introduced, everyone was certain she must be the Crown Princess.
As the excitement subsided, the crowd's eyes began to sparkle with curiosity.
"Well, I don't remember seeing that face in high society. Could it be foreign royalty?"
"After Princess Gladys, should we take another Princess from another country as our Crown Princess? This lady from Letzen would be perfect."
Just as the low, rapid exchange of words began to form a massive wave, the King, having finished his speech, placed the Crown Prince and the unfamiliar lady who had captured everyone's attention on the podium. The summer sun, pouring down on the suddenly still banks of the Abbey River, was dazzling.
Under that sunny sky, the Crown Prince's engagement was announced.
Rosette Preve.
The festival grounds soon began to boil with the shock of the name that was introduced as the Crown Princess.
***
“How do you feel about having an accident?”
A voice mixed with laughter was carried by the fresh river breeze.
Leonid, who was catching his breath under a tree in the corner of the garden, turned his head with a tired smile. Bjorn, who had approached him, was standing there.
The riverside and the garden were now being bathed in the evening twilight.
Bjorn and Leonid stood side by side in silence, gazing out at the misty landscape. The glass lanterns adorning the tree branches illuminated the two brothers.
“Why are you still wearing those glasses?”
Bjorn released his grip on Leonid's exhausted shoulder and pointed to his glasses with a frown. The thin, gold-rimmed glasses he had removed still lingered on the Crown Prince's face.
“Ah. Rosie said she was more familiar with this side.”
“Rosie?”
Bjorn, who had frowned at the unfamiliar name, soon let out a sigh of disbelief.
“You crazy bastard.”
That was all Bjorn could say to his twin, who was clearly crazy about women.
They're all playing around.
Omitting that was the least they could do for the couple who had just gotten engaged today.
"Rosie seems to like the Grand Duchess quite a bit. And the Grand Duchess, too."
Leonid pushed up his glasses, uttering the unfamiliar nickname. Bjorn shuddered briefly and slowly turned his head toward Leonid's gentle gaze.
The Grand Duchess of Schwerin and the new Crown Princess sat across from each other at a table beneath an apple tree by the fountain, conversing. While Erna was the one doing the talking, Rosette listened intently. Judging by their pleasant expressions, it seemed they were, as Leonid had said, quite pleased with each other.
“The Grand Duchess is a good person, Bjorn.”
Leonid's gaze became noticeably serious. Bjorn nodded, looking at his wife in silence.
Erna did her best today.
From decorating the garden to the party food and even the seating arrangements, she meticulously attended to every detail. Even when the setting felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable, she hovered like a shadow beside the Crown Princess, caring for and attending to even the smallest details.
Bjorn knew that no words could better describe his wife, even though she was a fierce and spiteful woman to her husband.
“So, do your best.”
When their eyes met, Leonid spoke unexpectedly. When Bjorn frowned, he let out a laugh, uncharacteristically playful.
“You two, you fought, right?”
The Crown Prince, who was sharper than he looked, came and attacked him.
"How about you just make up now? We don't want to have another unfortunate incident like last winter, where you lost each other and shed tears."
It wasn't difficult to discern what Leonid meant when he pronounced the word "last winter" with unusual emphasis.
“Shut up, Leo.”
Bjorn smiled, cursing that horrific nightmare once again. He decided not to mention that he hadn't seen any tears. It would likely only make things more grimy.
Leonid, having quietly struck a blow, leisurely walked towards his fiancée, who had just finished her conversation with Erna. Bjorn, who had been watching her with an uncharacteristic aloofness, uncharacteristic of someone who had been subjected to near-maddening attention all day, chuckled as if sighing.
Leonid was very Leonid-like.
So, having concluded that His Highness the Crown Prince, who resembled a wailing wall, no longer needed to worry, Bjorn turned his gaze to the table beneath the apple tree where his wife remained alone. Erna, her face as clear as a summer night, gazed into the light of the stained-glass lamp. Her appearance was infinitely pure and innocent.
This is why he always ends up being an asshole.
Bjorn laughed, feeling a little disappointed.
After being so savagely rebuffed after a desperate attempt to reconcile, he no longer made any further efforts. The anger that had surged to the brink of despair soon subsided, but he couldn't find an opportunity to mend the estranged relationship. Erna was still busy, and he, too, was so absorbed in his own work that before he knew it, it was already a festive day.
Should I reach out again?
Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he chewed on the question.
Why me anyway?
At that moment, when a strange feeling of antipathy rose, Erna turned her head.
In the lights illuminating the festive night, the eyes of the Grand Duke and his wife, locked in a cold war, met.
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