Chapter 19 (2/2)

The rumors that Annette threw herself at Ludwig to become the Crown Princess must have started because of this. Well, it would be obviously misunderstood if a grown man and woman were doing something alone in a closed room. They probably would think they had that kind of relationship.

Annette clicked her tongue with disapproval at her foolish past self. So she added one condition to Ludwig’s request.

“Of course. Since it is only one song anyway, let’s just play it here. But after that, I really have to go. It’s already very late.”

“I understand. Thank you for listening and agreeing to my request, Annette.”

Before he started playing, Ludwig looked at Annette with sorrowful eyes. When this performance would be over, she would go back home. To her husband and the house where Rafael is. And after that he and Annette would become strangers forever.

Ludwig bit his lips. He had firmly believed that he would be Annette’s husband, and he still wanted to be. Not Rafael, but him. He  should have  been Annette’s husband. But it seemed that Annette had already acknowledged and accepted Rafael as her husband. So Ludwig felt indescribably bitter.

‘Not only the father’s affection but also Annette… he took away everything.’

A dark shadow passed over Ludwig’s blue eyes. But now was the time to focus on Annette. Ludwig composed himself and soon began to play the lute. Just like the memory of those days, when he believed that he would put the crown of the Crown Princess on her blond hair himself.

Annette gently closed her eyes and hummed to the tune. It was a song that she had already sung several times in the past. At first, her humming, which was nothing but a melody, soon turned out into a song.

The tip of your sword is the color of the cold winter.

The roars of the boiling battlefields are the color of the lava.

Loyalty to the royal family is the color of the first leaves of evergreen trees.

When the world goes round and round and all these colors melt together,

I’ll stamp my feet once and leave freely.

Annette liked to sing. Of course, she didn’t have much skill because it was just a hobby, but the voice itself was soft and gentle. So it was worth listening to.

Whenever she went in and out of the royal palace, she often joined Ludwig like she did today. Although her singing ability was not as good as before, it was still fun to sing like this after a long time. So Annette didn’t realize that the lute had stopped playing at some point.

I will leave freely..

After finishing the last verse of the song, Annette opened her eyes and she was startled. This was because Ludwig, who was playing the lute a while ago, was lying on the bench with his eyes closed.

‘Wait, did you really faint? Was my singing so terrible?’

Frightened, Annette hurriedly got up from her seat and shook Ludwig’s body. She thought Ludwig, who often had seizures, collapsed again. Or he might have hit his head with his hand while playing the lute. That was possible because Ludwig was terribly clumsy.

“Your Highness, Your Highness! Get a hold of yourself. Are you sick?”

“Um, Annette?”

Fortunately, Ludwig quickly opened his eyes. She didn’t know if he fainted or fell asleep for a while, but at least it didn’t seem there was anything wrong with his body. Ludwig’s eyes blinked for a couple of times and he yawned drowsily.

“Well, I guess I was so tired that I fell asleep for a while. I’m sorry, Annette. Why am I suddenly so sleepy?… That’s really weird. I guess I’m not feeling well. I’m ashamed that I fell asleep after holding you back to talk to you. Go back home and please be careful on your way.”

Ludwig said goodbye to Annette, speaking gibberish with his eyes half closed. His delicate eyelids had several wrinkles, although he was in a deep slumber. Annette was bewildered by the unexpected situation, but she had hoped for it anyway, so she quickly said goodbye to Ludwig.

‘That’s weird.’

Annette tilted her head as she looked at the back of Ludwig disappearing in the distance. Ludwig was very sensitive, so he did not sleep much. But still, he fell asleep while playing the lute, which he loved so much. It was not something that Ludwig would do.

But there was something more surprising. Annette turned back without thinking and found the four attendants waiting a little further away. It was a burden for her to walk alone with Ludwig, so she had requested for the attendants to accompany them.

Apparently just a moment ago, they were standing upright, but now they all fell asleep while leaning on each other. Just like how Ludwig did.

‘What’s going on here?’

Annette stood still in place, with her mouth hanging open in surprise.