Chapter 4
[Day 4: Blank]
Prim clenched her fists while staring down at her notebook.
“I absolutely cannot give up!”
She meticulously analyzed the results of her “Getting Close to the Beast” project and recorded them in her notebook.
[Day 4: Books]
Prim carried a stack of books as she made her way to Rain’s room.
Since he had spent the whole day reading yesterday, books would be the perfect way to start a conversation.
“Good morning, Rainsis!”
With a bright smile, Prim approached him. He, as usual, ignored her. But she didn’t let that bother her and continued moving forward.
“I brought some books that are perfect for reading together today!”
With a flourish, Prim placed the stack on his desk.
“Shall we read together?”
She held out the books with energetic enthusiasm. His eyebrows twitched slightly—a small crack in his mask of indifference.
This was her chance.
“I’ll read to you!”
She wouldn’t give him a chance to speak. At times like this, the key was to overwhelm him with energy. Prim began reading loudly.
<First Steps in Society>
It was a basic textbook recommended by the servant as very suitable.
“Chapter 1: Debutantes!”
“…….”
“……Hup.”
And after that first line, he didn’t say a single word.
What madness.
A small curse twisted in her throat.
“This is a book for young ladies entering society!”
Her face heated up. She regretted not checking it beforehand.
Prim shut her mouth tight.
“…….”
She slowly drew the books back toward herself.
“Um, I thought today we could try something a little different… Prince, you’re at the age to meet young ladies your own age soon…”
The more she tried to explain, the more awkward her words became.
Rain slowly blinked. Judging by his reaction, her plan to get his attention had worked to some degree.
“Prince…?”
But slightly in the wrong direction.
Prim swallowed hard. His red lips finally spoke the words she had been so eager to hear:
“Get out. Now.”
[Day 4: Books]
Failure. But at least she heard his voice. This method seemed to have some effect.
[Day 5: Food]
Prim prowled the kitchen like a puppy waiting for food.
She caught a passing servant’s attention, eyes sparkling.
“Um, excuse me, could you make just one dessert?”
When trying to start a conversation, nothing worked better than food. Prim recalled the foods Rain liked.
He had loved peaches since childhood.
Perhaps a food tied to memories would soften his heart a little.
With confident eyes, she gazed at the dessert on the plate.
“Even if it’s Prim, isn’t she still the one who created you?”
Pride filled her, and she hummed a cheerful tune.
After lightly knocking, she opened the door. Rain, sitting by the window reading, looked as beautiful as ever.
“Rainsis! I’m here!”
Prim approached him, offering the dessert she had brought.
“Ta-da!”
“…….”
It was a tart topped with pink peaches, the melted sugar sparkling in the sunlight. Anyone could see it was delicious.
“Would you like to try some?”
Just as she was about to offer him a slice…
Bang!
The closed door slammed open.
“Ah!”
Startled, Prim flinched.
Her sudden movement caused a piece of peach to fall onto his book.
“…….”
Plop.
Disaster.
Her face went pale. She dared not look at Rain, slowly turning her head. She felt her neck stiffen.
Marian had entered, running breathlessly.
“You, you can’t give that to him! R-Rainsis is… allergic to peaches…”
“……What?”
“Oh, I ran so hard when I heard that…”
Allergic?
Since when…? I never wrote that…
A chill ran down Prim’s spine. She slowly turned her stiffened head.
“…….”
“Ha ha… Prince…?”
He glared at the peach slice on his book with a fierce look.
Prim, stiff as a jointed doll, awkwardly picked it up. The book was ruined by the cream and juice.
Trying to suppress his anger, Rain slowly closed his eyes. His long lashes trembled with fury.
Prim shut her mouth, trembling like a frightened animal.
And his red lips spoke the day’s first words:
“Get out of my sight. Now.”
[Day 5: Food]
Failure. Strange. Since when did he have a peach allergy?
She spent the entire day apologizing, drenched in sweat. Clearly her fault. No such mistake could happen again.
[Day 6: Memento]
Today she was confident!
Prim pulled the object from her pocket and brandished it with pride.
Clang! The loud noise made him frown.
Oh. His reaction was faster than expected, and her face lit up.
Excited, she waved her hands wildly. The jingling grew until it became noise—like a puppy demanding attention.
It was a rattle Rain had used as a child. Marian had helped her find it buried deep in storage.
Prim shook it proudly in front of him, who was reading.
“Pay attention to me!”
She almost looked pitiful.
The method wasn’t bad; it got her a word from him today.
“Get that cursed rattle and leave, now.”
Before he could…
The problem was that it sounded murderous.
[Day 6: Memento]
Failure. She was only met with a death threat. If things continued like this, she might meet an untimely fate…
“I’ve failed!”
Crying out, Prim collapsed into the snow-covered garden. The cold was piercing, but it felt warmer than Rain’s gaze.
She had no idea what method to try next.
“Maybe the rattle was too much?”
“No, then what do I do to get him to forgive me…?”
It didn’t matter if he looked at her with disgust. Just talk to me! I’ll help clear up misunderstandings and even find the beauty you like, you beast!
She tugged at her red hair in despair.
Passing servants glanced at her, thinking the art teacher lying in the snow had truly lost her mind.
“Maybe I should just run away.”
Prim stared blankly at the sky, blue with white clouds.
The season was still a bitter winter, with snow pouring down on people’s faces.
But even the coldest days eventually pass. Spring always comes.
The fresh sensations and sprouting greenery were not far off.
“But Rain…”
She closed her eyes slowly.
The cold wind brushed through her hair.
“He wouldn’t know the colors of this season.”
Prim took a deep breath. She couldn’t give up. As a teacher and a writer, she had a responsibility.
Rising, she headed back to Rain’s room, hoping to get closer to the beast.
Her hopes were soon shattered.
[Day 7: Rain wasn’t in the room at all]
Prim recorded the results of Day 7 and lowered her head.
Did he not even want to see her now?
She slumped in frustration.
Like an annoying 16-year-old, she glared at his usual table.
A deep sigh escaped.
“I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
She decided to wait for him.
No one had visited his room in a long time.
Prim glanced at the firmly closed door.
“Alone, reading books all day…”
Guilt weighed heavily on her.
Then she heard footsteps ascending the stairs. She looked at the door like a puppy waiting for its master, hopeful.
“Prim?”
A gentle voice called her. Her expectations deflated like a balloon.
“Oh, it’s Marian?”
Marian entered, carrying freshly laundered sheets, glancing around.
“Are you alone? Where’s Rainsis?”
“I’m not sure…”
Prim shrugged. Marian looked at her sympathetically, as if she already understood.
“He usually doesn’t go out, but sometimes he spends the whole day out like this. He’ll be back soon. Just wait a little.”
So he went out because of me?
Prim swallowed the words that came to her lips. Marian added, as if to explain:
“Rainsis is a bit shy around strangers.”
Shy, but capable of saying “I’ll kill you” easily… How do you figure that, Marian?
Muttering her unspoken thoughts, Prim nodded. Marian continued with a sigh:
“I feel sorry for you struggling so much… but I worry more about the Prince. He’s been alone all this time…”
“…….”
“I just want to see him smile, even once. That would make my wish come true. I might even go blind from the sight.”
Prim nodded at her words.
Though he often frowned or kept a neutral expression, Rain’s beauty remained. The most beautiful in the empire.
“The Empress said she wants to see the Prince smile. But what kind of prophecy is that… not seeing colors…?”
Upon hearing that, Prim felt her heart drop.
