Chapter 72
The Crown Prince’s Wish
“What’s this?”
Retina, who had been spending her time in the study, lowered her book when she saw a flower basket floating in midair. Lina, struggling under the weight of the basket large enough to cover her entire body, set it on the table and wiped her sweat.
“Phew, it’s a flower gift sent in your name, milady. Let’s see… the sender… Norden Raglas? Raglas… the Northern Prince!?”
Lina checked the card tucked among the flowers and widened her eyes as she looked at Retina. It seemed she was silently asking if Retina had already sorted things out with the prince after meeting the Crown Prince.
“No matter what you’re thinking, it’s definitely not that.”
Seeing the prince’s name, Retina descended from the Reading Nook and took the card from Lina’s hand. On the opposite side of his neatly written name was a short sentence:
“My heart will never change.”
Retina read the message and chuckled, looking at the flower basket. Among the roses, gerberas, and lisianthus, one lisianthus stood out with a different color. A heart that never changes. That must refer to this single lisianthus.
“My heart will never change!? Milady! You’re sure it’s nothing? Crown Prince! You can’t start wavering just because you haven’t met for a few days!”
Even the prince has a cute side. Retina, peeking from behind and ignoring Lina’s chatter as they read the card together, plucked the single lisianthus. Along with it came the pendant she had lent him.
“Huh? Why is that in there?”
“Ah, you lost it the last time we met.”
“You lost the pendant, milady?”
“Stop thinking about that and bring me the book ‘Ludenheim Royal Family, 300 Years of History’ from the bookshelf.”
Leaving the puzzled Lina behind, Retina returned to the Reading Nook. “Impossible,” Lina muttered but hurried to the bookshelf at Retina’s request.
“Even if it’s fast, it’ll take at least a month.”
Sitting back down with the book, Retina soon found her mind wandering. Perhaps her concentration had broken, for not a single word entered her eyes.
“To gain recognition for the power of the Ignes family, I’ll have to reveal the lady’s secret in Ludenheim. Are you alright with that?”
Norden had asked her, in response to her question about the power she could gain if the pendant was real. Could she stand proudly in the midst of negative glances, embodying the most Ignes-like self?
Retina couldn’t immediately answer yes. Though she believed she couldn’t keep hiding forever, the words to reveal a lifelong secret didn’t easily leave her mouth.
“The easiest way would be to go to Raglas with me.”
He was right. If she went to Raglas as her father wished, she wouldn’t need to wear a wig or live deceitfully. She could live freely as herself without much effort. But to achieve what she wanted, she would ultimately need to overcome what she feared most.
“I’ve decided to try, at least as far as I can. If it comes to it, I’ll have to accept it someday.”
“It seems not yet. But if your mind ever changes, you may come to me. I respect your wishes—it doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I will always wait in my place.”
Norden, having asked for Retina’s intentions until the end, finally stepped back. Though she had done nothing, Retina felt both grateful and sorry toward Norden for his devotion.
Enduring everything didn’t guarantee she would marry the Crown Prince. The Crown Princess selection was already underway, and she might not hear from the North until the engagement ceremony. Following Norden to the North would be the safest, easiest path.
But still, she wanted to endure that process to be with the Crown Prince. Her feelings for him had grown beyond control.
“…Milady? Milady?”
A voice calling her brought Retina out of her thoughts. Lina had brought the requested book and presented it before her.
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Retina set aside the book she was reading and opened the new one. The Reading Nook was piled high with books.
“The Symbol of the Ludenheim Royal Family: About the Red Eyes.”
After checking the table of contents and finding the section she wanted, Retina focused on the book again, eagerly awaiting the day she would meet her lover…
Three days later, the grand fencing tournament finals were held. The pavilion where the Crown Prince participated was packed; not a single seat remained empty. Even the aisles were crowded, and extra chairs were added in the box seats.
“Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s generosity, we can see the Crown Prince a little closer.”
“To watch the final match here… I appreciate your thoughtful consideration, Your Majesty.”
“Someone among these ladies will be the Crown Prince’s future consort, but for the finals, one must watch closely.”
Surrounded by the ladies competing in the selection, the Empress watched with a gentle smile. Though the Emperor coughed to give her a hint, today she refused to yield.
She intended to clip the wings of those arrogant girls, who had no business sitting in the same row as her. She glanced at Retina sitting behind her and snorted.
The tickets must have been given to those spoiled Druniv girls, but it was unbearable to see them relying on family without ability.
“The Crown Prince has appeared!”
“Where? Where?”
The crowd buzzed, craning their necks to see when the Crown Prince would appear for the final match. He was dressed lightly, with his upper chest partially covered and his right arm wrapped in bandages.
“Sir Tetton is also coming out.”
“The Crown Prince and Tetton… who will win?”
“Whoever wins, I’d be happy…”
Ladies’ voices murmured here and there. Based on past duels, the Crown Prince would certainly win, but his injured arm from the match with Heint made the outcome uncertain.
“Which of them do you wish to win, Lady Retina?”
“I… um…”
Surprised by the question, Retina pretended to think carefully. Naturally, she wished for the Crown Prince to win, but confessing her heart in public embarrassed her.
“I! I want the Crown Prince! I’m curious what wish he will make if he wins!”
At that, Basilius raised his hand to interject. The other ladies nodded, agreeing with him.
“Yes, I wonder why he’s pushing himself to win despite his injured arm.”
“Especially since he hasn’t cared much for the tournament before, right?”
“What could the Crown Prince want?”
Retina also sympathized. She was curious about the wish he had not yet shared with her. He had said that if she wanted to know, she should watch the finals herself, even before the semifinals.
As casual chatter spread among the audience, the two contenders stepped into the center of the arena. Holding their swords, they lightly tapped the tips together to signal the start.
Tetton fought with full force, not yielding even to the Crown Prince. He targeted the bandaged right arm, as Heint had done.
Herald, loosening his tense shoulder muscles, opted for offense instead of defense, contrary to the semifinals.
After several intense exchanges, Tetton’s leg finally collapsed, and Herald won. Tetton hit the ground, and Herald pointed his sword at Tetton’s neck as the whistle signaled the end.
Both fighters received applause for an excellent match. The audience rose in a standing ovation.
Herald knelt before the Emperor and Empress, placing his sword on the ground and bowing.
“To the sun burning in Ludenheim’s sky, the one who embraces the sun, I greet His Imperial Majesty, the exalted Emperor, and Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes. My proud son, Herald Ludenheim. Congratulations on winning the fencing tournament.”
The Emperor, rising among the applause, spread his arms in a warm, congratulatory gesture.
“Handling a tournament for the first time must have been challenging, yet you managed not only smoothly but also won. I am proud. Beyond the Crown Prince’s victory, we’ve discovered many talents this year. The empire’s future looks bright.”
Ludenheim! Ludenheim! The audience echoed the Emperor’s words, full of enthusiasm.
“Now, tell me. What do you wish for? Whatever you want, I will grant it.”
The Emperor waited until the cheers died down. It was time to hear the winner’s long-awaited wish.
Silence fell over the pavilion that had been so full of noise. Herald, lifting his head to look at the Emperor, stated his wish firmly without hesitation.
“I request the suspension of the ongoing selection process conducted by Her Majesty the Empress.”
thx