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~Chapter 36~
“Your Highness?”
Dahlia called out softly, not wanting to startle the princess.
The little girl turned slowly, her back lit by the moonlight. She looked exhausted—her small frame heavy with sadness.
Dahlia opened her arms, and Viviana ran to her, crying. Dahlia wrapped her shawl around the princess’s trembling shoulders.
Annie, watching them, quietly draped her own shawl over Dahlia.
Dahlia gave Annie a grateful look, then gently comforted the princess.
“Your Highness, here’s some cocoa. It’ll warm you up.”
Annie brought in a steaming mug.
“Thank you,” Viviana whispered, but just held the cup in her hands.
Dahlia encouraged her gently, “Go ahead, try a sip.”
Only then did Viviana drink, a small mouthful.
Dahlia turned to Annie, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Where’s mine?”
Annie smiled and produced another cup she’d hidden behind her back. Dahlia accepted it with a bright grin.
“What about you, Annie?”
“I’m fine with herbal tea.”
“No way! Don’t you know how good cocoa tastes at night? You’re missing out!”
Dahlia pouted, eyeing Annie’s teacup.
But Annie just sipped her tea elegantly, pretending not to hear.
“Mmm, late-night herbal tea is the best.”
“Impossible.”
Dahlia shook her head, unconvinced.
“Mmm, I didn’t hear that.”
“How can you answer if you didn’t hear me?”
At their silly banter, Viviana suddenly let out a quiet giggle—then quickly covered her mouth.
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
Dahlia and Annie exchanged secret, triumphant smiles. Their little plan had worked.
“Your Highness, do you like cocoa or herbal tea more?”
Dahlia pulled Viviana into their playful squabble.
Viviana thought for a moment, then glanced apologetically at Annie—
“I’m sorry, Lady Hurdarn.”
She hugged the cocoa mug closer.
“Yes! I win!”
Annie, unfazed, resumed her elegant pose.
“You’re pretending you didn’t hear, but you heard everything!”
“Haha, sorry… haha.”
Viviana laughed again at their antics. Dahlia and Annie waited patiently, hiding their smiles behind their cups, until the princess’s laughter faded.
“You two are so funny.”
“Thank you. We’ve grown up together since we were kids, so we get along well.”
Dahlia explained, setting her cup on the table.
Viviana nodded, her face shadowed again.
“Would you like some cookies? I hid some from Annie.”
“Oh, I heard that loud and clear,” Annie replied calmly, making Viviana smile shyly as she quietly refused.
“No, thank you. I’m just grateful to both of you—for bringing me here, and for the warm cocoa.”
Viviana bowed her head.
“It’s nothing. It’s late, so let me walk you back.”
Suddenly, Viviana’s eyes trembled behind her glasses, as if frightened.
“Why aren’t you asking me anything?”
“If Your Highness wanted to talk, you would have,” Dahlia said gently, smiling.
Viviana’s lips parted and closed again, unsure.
“Lady Hurdarn… I’m a princess. The most precious person in the palace after His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Of course,” Dahlia nodded.
But Viviana lowered her head in sorrow.
“Then why do these things happen to me?”
“Your Highness, I know a princess,” Dahlia began. “She went through a hard time and couldn’t sleep anymore. She even stopped eating, afraid she might get sleepy. She thought, as a princess, she had to handle it all alone.”
Viviana listened in silence.
“How did she get better?” the princess asked.
Dahlia glanced at Annie, who gave her a soft smile.
“A friend helped her. When the princess cried, saying she never wanted to sleep again, her friend stayed with her until she finally slept.”
“But I don’t have any friends…”
Viviana hung her head, looking sadder than ever.
“Can I be your friend, Your Highness?”
Viviana’s head shot up. Tears welled in her dark eyes.
“M-my friend? Would Lady Hurdarn really be my friend?”
“Of course. And actually, you can call me Dahlia. Will you use my nickname?”
“Yes… Dahlia. And I’m Vivi. Please call me Vivi.”
“Of course, Lady Vivi.”
Their eyes met—Dahlia’s warm and caring, Vivi’s shy and grateful.
“Congratulations on becoming friends,” Annie said, quietly clapping.
Two friends? Vivi blinked at Annie, surprised at her formal language for a relative.
“Lady Vivi, is there anything you want to tell your friend?”
But Dahlia’s gentle voice made her forget her curiosity.
“Monet… Please save Monet…”
Tears streamed down Vivi’s face.
After hearing everything, Dahlia brought Vivi to her bed and tucked her in gently, stroking her hair.
Without her glasses, Vivi’s eyes were swollen and red from crying—she looked as if she might collapse any moment.
Her eyes flickered with worry.
“I shouldn’t sleep now… I need to save Monet.”
“Vivi, Monet is probably asleep, too. No one will hurt her again tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go and help her—together.”
“Will you come with me?”
Vivi looked up at Dahlia with desperate hope.
“Of course.”
Dahlia gently pulled the blanket up to Vivi’s chin.
The soft, warm blanket made Vivi’s eyes grow heavy with sleep.
“Vivi, try closing your eyes.”
The girl obeyed, shutting her eyes.
Dahlia placed a cool towel Annie had given her over Vivi’s eyes and held her hand.
“Good night, Lady Vivi.”
She gently patted Vivi until the child’s breathing grew slow and even.
Dahlia blew out the candle and quietly moved to Annie’s room, her face serious and silent.
Annie followed, glancing at Dahlia with worried eyes.
Inside, Dahlia sat at the table by the window, saying nothing.
Her face was pale. For someone who cared about children, the idea of a “child who gets beaten” was unbearable.
“How could this happen…” Dahlia whispered, lips trembling.
She’d forced herself to stay calm for Vivi’s sake, but anger still burned inside.
A gentle hand touched her shaking fingers—Annie, looking at her with worry.
“I didn’t even know Monet was being beaten… How could I miss that?”
“How could you have known, Lady Ria? Don’t blame yourself.”
Dahlia slowly shook her head. She should have paid more attention.
Annie looked at Dahlia with sympathy, then asked,
“But why didn’t the princess go straight to His Majesty for help? Even if they aren’t close…”
“Because she’s a princess,” Dahlia replied quietly, understanding in her voice.
Annie looked puzzled, so Dahlia gave her a sad smile.
“She didn’t want to look weak in front of her brother. She’s still young—confused about what to do.”
