276 The Secrets I Cannot Tell You (2/2)
”Your Highness, are you alright?” Christine squeezed her sword handle. It felt like she was dreaming.
”I am well.” The leather jacket was too strange and big for Mary but she wore it as if it was a luxurious wing. Her expression was calm and serene. ”I think I had a good dream,” she said. ”I feel much more relaxed.”
Christine studied her for a long time before finally relaxing. ”Has the curse been lifted?”
Mary nodded. She showed Christine the wound on her hand. When she cut herself, warm blood dripped out. It was neither hot nor wild. There was nothing abnormal.
”Look, even the dragon blood is sleeping again. This time, I can remain clear headed for a few months.”
Sensing the bitterness in Mary’s words, Christine looked down. Unable to reply, she just took out the bandages and medicine and skillfully bandaged the wound. The slender arm was covered with faint scars. These were wounds left behind when she tried to end her life during her periods of pain. Unfortunately, she was not allowed to die. How much longer must this vicious cycle go on for?
Christine lowered her eyes, unable to look. She prayed quietly, ”God bless you.”
”No, God must hate me, right?”
Christine looked up at Mary’s quiet murmur and saw the girl staring at the moonlight.
”Doesn’t he?” Mary asked softly. ”I inherited the dragon blood at birth and am controlled by the power. I go crazy, turning into a psychotic killer. I wake up every night in the blood of innocent people, night after night, dying myself black from my sins. Christine, I was born a sinner.
”Sometimes I hate James. I hate my own brother, hate how he’s so average, hate that he’d never be able to inherit this evil that should be his. When I go crazy, I feel that the entire world has been polluted by the dirty people. But when I wake, I realize that I am the dirtiest one…
”Christine, you’re my only friend but I feel guilt when I see you. I don’t deserve you to sacrifice your time for me. You should be eighteen now, right? But you’ve never even had a playmate because of me.”
”Your Highness, I’ll be by your side no matter what kind of person you turn into. If your fate is to inherit the crown, then my mission is to be your sword and shield.” Christine’s expression was solemn. ”There are no men in my generation of the Lancelot family. I am my father’s only child. My life has been decided the moment I was born, just like Your Highness. I was once unhappy but now I feel that it’s a good thing I met you. Becoming your guard wasn’t an order by my family but my own wishes. I perform my duties voluntarily and willingly. So please do not blame yourself.”
Mary was taken aback. After a long while, she grasped Christine’s hand. ”Then, you’ve worked hard.”
Christine nodded.
-
The night was deep. After talking about Avalon’s pop music and current news, the sleepy Mary leaned against Christine and fell asleep.
Christine glanced at the girl curled up on the sofa. Mary’s face was no longer in fear. She picked Mary up and placed her on the bed. Even in sleep, Mary seemed unwilling to take off the ragged leather jacket. She gripped it tightly. After a few attempts, Christine gave up.
She did not know where Her Highness found such a strange jacket but…Christine was concerned because it was clearly a man’s jacket! Had someone sneakily approached the princess without her realizing? Maybe it was related to the curse but if this was true, then what was the man’s reason?
Christine thought carefully but something bitter appeared in her heart. Her Highness must be looking so relaxed because of that man too! Christine had accompanied her for all these years but was nothing before some random man. That man must have an ulterior motive!
She gripped her sword. Coldness flashed past her eyes. If she found that evil man, she would definitely show him how powerful Galahad was!
”Christine,” came a murmur behind her.
”Huh?” She flinched and turned to see Mary, half asleep. She hugged the jacket as she stared at Christine, making her panic subconsciously as if her thoughts were laid out. ”Y-your Highness, do you need something?”
”Teach me to dance later.” Mary looked at her with pleading eyes. ”I want to learn the waltz.”
”Uh…You’ve never been interested in those things, right?” Christine was suddenly nervous for some reason.
”Christine, I just want to learn it so teach me please.”
Christine froze. Hesitating for a long time, she lowered her head in embarrassment. ”Uh…I’ve trained to inherit Sir Galahad’s power since birth. A knight doesn’t need to learn something as weak as ballroom dances. I’ve never learned it before.”
”Oh?” Faint disappointment appeared in Mary’s eyes. ”Seems that even Christine has things she can’t do.”
After a pause, Christine made her decision. She gritted her teeth and said, ”I will start learning tomorrow!”
Mary snickered at her distress and moved on from the topic. Burying her face in her pillow, she suddenly said, ”Christine, I just…dreamed of the prince.”
”Prince?!” Christine yelped. Her vision went black. It felt like the sky had fallen. She was right! Her Highness had really met some evil man! However, she quickly fixed her reaction and squeezed out a smile. ”Uh, really? That…prince…is he handsome?”
She really wanted to chop up that stupid prince and feed him to the dogs.
”I can’t remember. I just remember him holding my hand. Oh, I can’t tell you the rest.” Mary slyly batted her lashes. ”That dream is my secret and the prince is my secret too…” Smiling, she closed her eyes and entered her dream world. There was moonlight there.