Chapter 7 (1/2)

The book didn’t describe how Euphil’s mother, the first queen died. It was only written that she died from an illness.

So I didn’t know what he meant by silly play, but everyone here knew the silly thing here was ‘me.’ I knew that but it ached me to hear those words somehow.

Before Euphil could say anything, he glided by Euphil and me. It was at a pace so fast that the three men following him were left confounded.

“So you remember.”

Euphil said to the King who was walking away. The King stopped for a split second and then, continued away.

How desolate an atmosphere that was left behind.

It felt as if a tempest called the King had swept over me. Strange. I knew already; Ante had also relentlessly told me. But, actually facing it in real life gave me a different feeling.

‘Should I be thankful that he taught me a new feeling?’

I silently let go of Euphil’s hand and poked at the ground with the tip of my foot.

I was getting a headache trying to think what I should say. Firstly, Euphil should not think of me as silly and useless.

‘Should I say that I’m not useless?’

Or should I do my best to convince him of my use?

I had no idea what my use was exactly right now. If I knew something like this was going to happen, maybe I should have predicted the future.

I felt something grasp my hand tightly.

I turned my head sideways, my eyes wide open.

Euphil was quietly looking ahead, holding my hand and not looking at me.

“Bro……ther?”

Did Euphil just hold my hand? My hand?

What happened next surprised me even more.

He mulled something over in his mind and said out loud.

“He’s the King who wouldn’t receive the water fairy’s golden apple.”

I had no idea what he meant.

After thinking it over, I realized that he was referring to the story he had told me. Is he trying to console me? That, because he’s a foolish king who wouldn’t receive the golden apple in the fairytale, I shouldn’t worry about what he said?

I smiled with my mouth wide open. Euphil still wasn’t looking at me, his ears red. I felt a warm current coming through my chest.

I felt as if my ears were also turning red so I held his hand tight again and rubbed my face in his arm. Euphil’s ears turn even more red.

“Hehe. You’re Mirthy’s favorite.”

Euphil had a conflicting look on his face.

His careful hands slowly pushed my head away. Then, he spoke in a voice that was more filled with emotion than when he was consoling me.

“It’s my fault. It’s no good staying near me. Don’t come here looking for me anymore.”

“Huh?”

“I won’t go to your garden anymore, either.”

“Why not?”

“Nothing good will come out of being together with me.”

If I give up here, everything up until now will have been for nothing.

But other than that, I still felt sad and tears hung from the edge of my eyes. I glanced and found Euphil making a regretful frown.

“Don’t cry.”

“So I can’t see you anymore?”

Sniffles.

“We can’t anymore.”

It was like an eviction notice. He must be concerned about the King’s evaluation of him.

‘This can’t happen; if he grows up like this and revolts against the King, I’m going to die.’

Even if he consoled me, my mind was still filled with apprehension.

But that was it.

The ten year old Euphil that was dragging me along by the hand with heavy footsteps stopped at the borderline between my palace and shoved my shoulder forward.

“I’ve called the guards. They will take you away.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not going.”

“Never again?”

“That’s right.”

I didn’t know when the tears in my eyes had stained my face.

I was so tormented by his words that I grabbed his sleeve and wiped my nose with it. He didn’t say anything about it, and stood still waiting for the guard to come.

I must have dozed off as I was sniffling. I walked too much today and my young heart was scared by all the cold gazes that it had received.

I saw Euphil’s blond hair between the sunset and the hand that lifted me up as I was drifting off into sleep.

‘I thought we were friends.’

I thought that I shouldn’t have followed him around, as I fell into deep slumber.

It was time to think about Plan B.

* * *

I didn’t really have any source of information in the palace aside from Ante. I didn’t know where the Chief Guard Valk was and Ante was the person who I spent the most time face to face.

“Where are you going about wandering these days? Princess?”

Ante’s harassment became worse the more I went about wandering. Euphil couldn’t see it, but the harmless pinching that didn’t leave any marks turned more violent that it left bruises. And only on my belly, too. So that nobody could see it.

She must have felt apprehensive too. But why does that matter? The King doesn’t care about me and Euphil doesn’t want to see me anymore.

‘Coward.’

Still, it wasn’t fair to criticize Euphil. He was just a wounded ten year-old.

I remembered when I held his hand and when he held mine. It was so warm then.

While Ante was scrutinizing me, I was immersed in deep thought and finally stared at her straight in the eyes. Ante frowned, as it was rare that I looked her in the eyes.

“Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“Then, why are you looking at me?”