SPWHC 29

Chapter  29.

As soon as I stepped outside, my eyes met Elza’s.

It was a bit embarrassing, but since I was totally innocent(?) I smiled as if nothing was wrong and greeted her.

“Good morning, Elza.”

“Did you sleep well, Your Highness?”

I asked as I headed back toward my bedchamber.

“Is Prince Friedrich asleep?”

“Why don’t you go and see for yourself, Your Highness?”

“Well, I mean…”

“He came to Your Highness’s chamber last night.”

I widened my eyes.

“When?”

“Let me think. Around eleven thirty? Something like that. When I told him you weren’t in, he looked like he more or less figured it out.”

“What kind of expression is that supposed to be?”

“A face like he’d lost the whole world?”

I stared at her, dumbfounded, and Elza just shrugged as she explained.

“Well, from the prince’s perspective, Your Highness is his entire world right now. And before the wedding, you… took in a lover and visited his room.”

“…Are you criticizing me?”

“I wouldn’t dare. I’m simply stating the facts.”

Ugh. Fine. In any case, it sounded like I should go soothe him.

Saying “nothing happened” felt like unnecessary TMI, so I decided to leave that part out.

When I opened Friedrich’s door and stepped inside, I saw him lying with his back to the entrance.

I tiptoed in, wondering if he was asleep—but then he suddenly shot up and turned around.

I gave him an awkward smile.

“Good morning.”

Strange. Same situation as earlier, yet this time I didn’t feel nearly as innocent(?).

He stared at me for a moment before forcing a weak smile.

“Did you sleep well, Your Highness?”

“Mm-hm. You?”

“Yes, I also…”

“Liar.”

I cut him off and sat down at the edge of the bed. Up close, his face looked even more gaunt, his eyes red.

“You didn’t sleep at all.”

“……”

He blinked, then lowered his gaze in defeat.

I cupped his cheek and lifted his face so he had to look at me. His sorrowful eyes met mine.

Wow. Just seeing those eyes made me feel unbearably guilty—even though I hadn’t done anything.

“Are you angry?”

“…How could I dare…”

His voice trembled with the ridiculousness of the idea.

“How could I harbor such emotions?”

“Emotions aren’t something you can control.”

I coaxed gently.

“Tell me. Are you angry?”

He shook his head. I narrowed my eyes and cupped his other cheek as well.

Immediately, his skin under my palms felt even hotter.

Probably just my imagination… I told myself, staring into his eyes. He wavered, then slowly placed a hand over his chest.

“It’s just…”

His lips trembled.

“I am ashamed… for failing to be a proper husband to Your Highness.”

“…Huh?”

What was he talking about? Does he think handsome men who make their wives happy every day grow on trees?

I gaped at him, and his eyes wavered even more.

“…You may have pitied me and pretended otherwise, but I know. Because of my curse, any desire you had for me must have vanished.”

“What? No, that’s not—”

“I’m just…”

Suddenly his eyes filled with tears. Wait—are you… crying?

“I’m afraid you’ll abandon me.”

He said it while looking straight into my eyes, tears about to spill over. A “Stop talking nonsense!” rose to my throat, but I barely managed to swallow it, remembering the dignity expected of a princess.

But then—one sparkling tear slid down from his jewel-like eyes.

“Oh dear.”

I sighed and pulled him into an embrace. He really was a baby. He made a wounded little sound when I muttered that.

“It’s not midnight yet…”

“Don’t misunderstand. I meant you’re a baby emotionally, not physically.”

Though admittedly, he was very big physically…

He’s fifteen. That’s still a kid. And since he’s been locked away since then, of course he’d be emotionally unstable.

I patted his shoulder with a sigh.

It was meant as sympathy, but he must have misunderstood because he stiffened.

“…Please don’t abandon me.”

His voice, thick with tears, held a desperate plea—hesitant and full of fear.

“I’ll do anything…”

“How could I ever throw you away?”

I sighed again and answered his absurd worry.

If I discarded Friedrich, he’d go straight to the guillotine. As a defeated prince, that had been his original fate.

He must know that—that’s why he’s so desperate.

Until his magic returned, he had to keep me alive; but more than that, I simply wasn’t the sort of person who could let go of someone who’d die without me.

“You’re mine, Friedrich. I even gave up my claim to the throne just so I could keep you in my jewel box and look at you alone.”

Instead of reminding him of harsh reality, I soothed him playfully. He stared at me blankly.

As our eyes met, I suddenly felt thirsty. That was when he clutched my dress tightly and pressed himself against me.

“…Then keep me there forever.”

His small but clear voice pierced right through me.

Forever.
That single word lodged itself deep and wouldn’t come out.

You know the person you’ll spend forever with… isn’t me, Friedrich.

“Even if there are other jewels, I’ll get along with them.”

Obviously referring to Joachim. I flinched and looked at him.

Still burying his face in my chest, he murmured:

“If it’s someone Your Highness cherishes, then they’re important to me too…”

“Friedrich, nothing happened last night.”

In the end, I blurted the TMI I’d planned to keep hidden, afraid the misunderstanding would grow worse.

But the look he gave me said he didn’t fully believe it.

I sighed, cupped his cheeks, and muttered:

“What do I have to do for you to believe me, baby?”

“I believe you.”

He whispered immediately. Then nestled against me again.

In truth, because of our size difference, it was more like I was being held.

“I’ll believe you.”

He said it, but it didn’t sound like he really believed it. Still, he seemed calmer, so maybe I should just accept that much.

I sighed again and patted his shoulder.

“You need more sleep. Your eyes were so red earlier. And your face looks tired.”

“…I couldn’t fall asleep.”

“Should I sing you a lullaby?”

I only asked as a joke since he didn’t seem to like it last time. Unexpectedly, he nodded.

“You didn’t like it before.”

“I do now.”

He whispered.

“I… like it.”

Hmm. He really did turn into a baby overnight. Even when I teased him lightly, he didn’t react; he just stayed pressed against me.

Yesterday must have been that shocking. I sighed again at how different he was from usual.

“Come on, lie down.”

He obediently did so.

I gently wiped the dampness from his cheek and hummed a familiar lullaby. Soon, his breathing evened out.

He must really not have slept at all last night. Seeing him sleep so deeply made me feel soft again.

I’ll wake him at lunchtime.

I stood up—but suddenly felt a tug on my dress.

I turned to see Friedrich, still asleep, clutching the fabric.

“…Don’t go.”

He mumbled in his sleep.

“Don’t leave…”

“……”

I ended up sitting back down. He still didn’t let go.

I held his hand, then lay down beside him. Slowly, he intertwined our fingers.

I let my gaze travel from our joined hands to his face, then closed my eyes. Once I lay down, I didn’t feel like getting up again.

I went to visit Princess Marie that evening.

I’d woken just before noon, spent time in the library, and figured she wouldn’t be napping by evening. So I went straight to Nox Palace.

“Oh—welcome, Your Highness.”

The middle-aged woman I’d seen last time looked surprised to see me.

She must have thought I was only being polite when I said I’d return. But Renee isn’t someone who makes empty niceties.

“Is the princess awake today?”

“O-of course. This way, please…”

I followed her into the parlor. I saw a small-framed woman sitting with her back toward me.