TESL 07

Chapter 07

I felt a deep unease, wondering what kind of dazed expression I must be wearing right now.

Rubellus’s deep violet eyes widened once again. But… why, why are you smiling so beautifully?

I could have sworn his expression would usually stiffen coldly whenever he looked at me. Come to think of it, he’s been smiling continuously since earlier. He must be pleased because today is the day he becomes Emperor.

“Do you understand what I mean, Aira?”

I… don’t know…

I blinked again, and he tilted his head slightly to the left, gazing steadily into my eyes.

Then, his perfect lips curved slightly as he continued, speaking in a much softer voice, almost like a whisper.

“I mean my secret.”

Ah.

My eyes widened instantly.

That’s right. I knew Rubellus’s one and only secret.

I glanced at my bracelet once, then looked at Rubellus again. It was a secret I had discovered when I was four and had never told anyone.

Those beautiful violet eyes resembling a violet flower were not Rubellus’s real eye color.

To be precise, they were lenses made of thin glass by a mage. Rubellus’s true eye color was…

Like the rubellite on my wrist, it was a vivid crimson.

“….”

I swallowed hard.

I felt like I could speak now, but I didn’t particularly want to.

Of course, my unrequited love had ended long ago. Even now, it wasn’t that I still liked him—I just wanted to look at his face a little longer, since I had already seen it this way.

It had been so long since I last saw him. And this… might even be the last time.

How many more times could I meet the Emperor of a nation? Ah, but I would meet him at least once.

Probably… when he becomes Emperor and marries another woman.

Then that woman will know Rubellus’s secret, too. She’ll care for him more closely… My chest throbbed painfully for a moment.

“So, do you understand now?”

It was then that Rubellus gently extended his hand toward me.

Huh?

I stared, bewildered, at the hand he offered me.

Had I missed something while lost in thought? Was he asking if I understood something?

Why was he holding out his hand? Did he want me to take it? For what reason? Did I have any reason to hold His Highness’s hand?

I wasn’t falling or anything, so I couldn’t understand why he was extending his hand for me to take.

I blinked awkwardly while looking at his outstretched hand. Rubellus smiled softly at me.

It really wasn’t my imagination—today, the Crown Prince seemed to be smiling at me unusually warmly.

An awkward silence fell between us, and Rubellus furrowed his brow slightly. But his smile remained unchanged. Keeping the smile, he spoke again.

“Do you now understand what this bracelet means, Aira?”

What is he talking about?

I opened my eyes, confused.

I didn’t understand a word he said. Am I… an idiot?

But Rubellus looked as though he was completely certain I would understand him.

Look at that subtle, expectant expression. Even if I don’t fully grasp it, I feel like I should exclaim, “Oh my… Rubellus!”

But I didn’t know what kind of reaction was expected.

What could this bracelet possibly mean?

Mother, Father. You can probably withdraw that refund request for Mrs. Omile I mentioned earlier. It’s just that my learning intelligence is too low to understand it.

At least I understand the connection between His Highness Rubellus and the rubellite.

This bracelet has rubellite on it.

But it was a gift from my older brother. Elphine gave it to me.

So if I try to connect the bracelet my brother gave me to him and find some meaning, how am I supposed to react?

At that moment, Rubellus’s face, which had looked expectant, instantly hardened into a blank expression. It was the look of someone who realized something unexpected had happened.

“Aira?”

He called me much more cautiously than before.

I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I couldn’t lie without understanding what was going on. I pressed my lips together tightly and took a deep breath.

“…I… I don’t really know.”

And Rubellus’s expression at that moment… He looked as if all the color had drained from his face.

Blinking in disbelief, he asked again, slowly.

“…You don’t know?”

I hesitated, then held the bracelet out in front of him so he could see it.

“I know the gem on this bracelet is rubellite.”

“Yes.”

“I know the color of the rubellite is the same as Your Highness’s eyes. It’s really beautiful.”

“That’s right.”

“But this bracelet was given to me by my older brother.”

“…Huh?”

Rubellus’s face, which had been nodding, twisted at that moment.

Oh my. Rubellus’s aura was so intense, I couldn’t meet his gaze directly.

I didn’t know where to look. Glancing awkwardly around, I finally dropped my head.

“This bracelet was my birthday gift, Your Highness—no, I’ll just call you Your Highness. I don’t know why it has anything to do with Rubellus…”

“….”

“Do you know someone named Elphine? That’s my older brother… You saw him at the investiture ceremony, right? So…”

Even with my head bowed, I could feel it. The more I hesitated to explain, the more unstable the energy radiating from him became.

I was sure his face was twisted like a demon’s.

“My goodness.”

He muttered in a very low voice. Even though it was soft, it sounded like thunder to me.

Why?

Why is His Highness like this?

Did I make another mistake?

I quickly blinked, my head still bowed.

It was a habit I had whenever I was flustered. I was doomed. I should never have come here in the first place.

Looking back, there were other places I could have skipped school…

“…I’m sorry.”

Finally, I slumped my shoulders and apologized to him.

I didn’t even really know why I had to apologize, but I didn’t want him to be angry.

Three years ago, he always looked at me without expression—but today, he smiled naturally at me.

And I didn’t want to ruin that smile with my mistake.

Suddenly, my vision blurred.

No…

Tears were threatening to fall.

I panicked. If I cried here, I’d be completely out of control, crying without even understanding the situation.

No, don’t cry. Crying isn’t cool. I can’t give a sloppy impression now. It’s been three years since I last saw him—I have to act maturely.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please don’t be angry.”

“Aira.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen Your Highness smile… and I was surprised. Normally, I can handle things better than this… Maybe the reason you’re angry is… something I would have understood if it were a usual situation.”

My voice trembled. Acting mature… what nonsense. I knew very well that I was rambling.

It’s always like this. I become a complete fool in front of him. I forget things I know and get things wrong I thought were correct.

Just looking at his expression makes my mind go blank. Maybe this is trauma.

“Aira, it’s not like that. You don’t have to apologize. That’s why I’m—”

“No, it’s okay.”

I shrugged my shoulders and snorted softly, trying desperately to hold back my tears.

“You don’t have to explain. I… I think I understand. I should go now.”

Even my words came out awkwardly. I barely managed to suppress my distorted expression.

I should just go kick Bianca’s blanket. She’s a genius. How did she know something like this would happen today and bring a blanket? From now on, if she calls rice barley, I’ll believe her.

“Aira.”

It was then.

I realized that Rubellus’s face was visible even though I was looking down. I opened my tear-filled eyes wide and looked at him.

At first, I thought it was an illusion. After all, how could the much taller His Highness look down at me?

“Gasp.”

Wait a second.

His Highness is kneeling on one knee!

I widened my eyes in shock. Forgetting even to swallow my tears, a large drop fell to the ground. I thought it was a dream, but it wasn’t.

He was kneeling on one knee, looking at me.

With his brows furrowed, he held one of my hands with both of his, almost pleadingly. His gentle eyes, the trembling violet irises, looked so tender and heart-wrenching.

He spoke with a voice full of concern.

“Aira, don’t cry. Please, I’m not angry at you.”

I must be losing my mind.

He’s even speaking as if he’s begging.

“Please.”

Do I need a hearing test? I blinked, unable to comprehend what was happening in front of me.

This is too unreal. I stared at His Highness, who kept looking at me without letting me speak. I felt like I would wake from a dream the moment I spoke.

Are you really… His Highness?

“I…”

“Rubellus a de Zahard, Crown Prince.”

Just as I was about to speak, a loud rustle came from the bushes. I quickly turned my head toward the sound.

But His Highness jumped up first and blocked my view.

“Who’s there?”