Naomi, who had already been bright-eyed at the mention of their benefactor, now seemed to shine even brighter.
“Your Highness, I really wish to meet the benefactor. I know it’s a lot to ask, but we want to show our sincerity. We won’t cause any trouble. Could you please just pass on a message to her?”
Naomi pleaded with a beseeching look, hands clasped together, and Karl quickly intervened.
“We have directly delivered other gifts to the duke, but…”
As he spoke, Karl took out a box he had brought.
“This was personally made by our royal father. It was created wishing for the blessings of the Kingdom of Capitis.”
It was an item that only the Caudatium royal family, with their inherited magic of ice crystals, could create. Inside the spherical crystal, snow was falling, and a black dragon sculpture, carved from a glossy black stone, lay peacefully among the snow.
Felix looked indifferently at the sphere, wrapped in white velvet inside a delicately crafted golden box. The softly falling snow evoked memories of a certain day. Felix sighed softly, his expression one of reluctance.
“I’ll pass on the message, but if she doesn’t want to meet, I would appreciate it if you would kindly leave.”
Felix, having quickly finished the ice cream, stood up with a neutral expression. He was about to instruct Hubert, who was waiting at the door.
“For the two of you…”
Before he could suggest they be shown to the guest room, Naomi stood up abruptly.
“Your Highness! If you’re going to see the benefactor, may I come with you?”
Before Karl could catch her, Naomi had already rushed forward, pleading,
“Please. I can’t wait any longer. I really want to see the benefactor. If she refuses, I won’t even get to see her face. Even from a distance, just to see her face, please?”
Felix looked down at Naomi, who stood before him, blinking her large eyes, with an expression of displeasure.
Karl quickly rose from the sofa.
“Your Highness, how about it? Lady Sylvia would be pleased to see them too.”
Hubert intervened to mediate. His lord didn’t seem pleased, but he wanted to honor the request of these distinguished guests who had come from far away.
Especially since Hubert knew all too well how Felix behaved around Sylvia, he felt even more compelled to step in.
With the kingdom in turmoil and already at odds with the empire, there was no guarantee of future relations, even though they had emerged victorious from the war.
So, perhaps it would be beneficial to foster friendly relations with the city-state.
Hubert spoke up again towards the silent Felix.
“I will guide the prince. Your Highness, please escort the princess to Lady Sylvia.”
It was said for Felix, who disliked the idea of any man approaching Sylvia. The thought was that a female princess would be acceptable.
Though he was not pleased, Felix decided to follow Hubert’s suggestion. Rejecting their request after such insistence might be taken badly. At this stage, with nothing resolved properly, Felix simply hoped the siblings from the city-state would safely return without incident. He did not want any problems like with the empire. It would be a hassle.
“Then… I suppose there’s no helping it.”
Felix extended his hand with a clearly reluctant expression. Escorting a lady was a matter of basic manners. Automatically extending his hand, Felix glanced at Naomi, who gently placed her hand on his palm. He looked at the small, soft white hand resting in his own.
“Thank you so much.”
Naomi said, slightly lifting her dress in a gesture of thanks. Her face lit up with the thought of meeting the benefactor.
“Let’s go.”
Felix moved, searching for Sylvia’s magical presence.
***
Sylvia, sitting on a tree and blankly staring at the sky, was nudged by Eryngium.
[Felix is coming.]
The oak tree where she and Eryngium were perched was within the royal garden. Sylvia spotted Felix walking through a corridor leading to the palace, accompanied by a woman.
Catching sight of the sunlight softly illuminating her silver hair, Sylvia’s eyes widened. Unconsciously, she chewed on her finger. She was just as described in the novel: a cute face with beautiful long silver hair.
“Why are you two together?”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look at them.
Though it was a different form than holding her hand, Sylvia felt her heart sink as she saw them walking together, hand in hand.
Unable to take her eyes off them, Sylvia watched the two from atop a tree. The moment Felix turned his head towards the corridor window, she couldn’t help but burst into tears.
He was, smiling.
When she first met him, he wasn’t a person who smiled often. Only now did he smile at her, but certainly not at their first meeting.
Yet, there he was…
Today, he smiles and converses with the newly met princess. Sylvia bit her finger, unable to bear the pain, feeling her heart being crushed more than she imagined, struggling to breathe properly. She couldn’t understand where she got the confidence to think it would be enough if he was happy.
“Sob, sob.”
It seemed her fears were becoming reality. She hadn’t anticipated it would hurt this much.
[What’s wrong!]
Startled by her tears, Eryngium tried to pull away her finger, which she bit so hard it bled.
[Sylvia!]
“Eryngium! You have to go with me… I, I…”
I’m not ready yet.
Even though she said she was preparing to let him go, she wasn’t ready at all.
Sylvia was in shock, unable to believe how sad it was to see him laughing with another woman.
She had somehow convinced herself that he liked her a lot.
No, she was conceited.
Surely he likes me.
Even if he chooses the heroine over me, I thought I could send him off with a smile…
Such foolish thoughts might have been possible because deep down in her heart…
There was a conceit that “Felix loves me.”
“Please, Eryngium…”
Sylvia wanted to leave this place quickly. She could no longer bear to watch the two of them.
But Felix saying goodbye to her…
Just seeing him smile made it impossible for her to regain her senses.
The fairy, with a serious look, watched Sylvia pleading and then smiled brightly, nodding.
[If that’s what you want, I will be with you forever.]
Felix would have wanted that too.
The purple-blue eyes sparkled. Eryngium, with her purple curly hair, took off flying. Tiny flowers like pine cones trembled near Eryngium’s ear. The fairy in purple shorts sat atop Sylvia’s head, grabbing her hair.
[Sylvia, let’s go to the place you want to.]
Finally, Sylvia calmed down a bit. Unaware of the blood from her finger, she rubbed her eyes hard to wipe away the tears.
“Nothing has changed. We’ve always been fine on our own.”
Trying to comfort herself, Sylvia took off. She couldn’t hide her distorted expression as she happened upon the two entering the garden by chance.
Felix’s lips, drawn in clear curves, flew into her view. Turning her eyes away with difficulty, Sylvia disappeared behind the garden.
***
Felix, without changing his expression, escorted Naomi towards the garden, feeling Sylvia’s magic there. Naomi glanced at him now and then, curious about his silence.
“Uh… Your Highness the Crown Prince, what kind of person is the benefactor?”
Curious because all she knew about the benefactor was their teal hair and eyes, she wanted to ask in case there were things she should know before meeting them.
“A beautiful and lovely person.”
His brief yet revealing expression of affection made Naomi open her mouth slightly in surprise. She became curious.
“What is the benefactor’s personality like? They must be kind and strong, I suppose.”
As Felix entered the corridor leading to the garden and saw the sunlight through the window, he answered.
“A woman like sunshine.”
The one who brought his life out of darkness into the light. Sylvia, who had vowed to make him happy, came to mind. A natural smile appeared on his face at the memory, and Naomi, seeing him smile, responded with a bright smile.
“Sunshine is very precious to us, so surely the benefactor must be a very precious person to Your Highness.”
At her words, Felix looked down and slightly turned his head to look at her.
“That is true.”
“Is the benefactor an excellent cook?”
“No one in this world can match her cooking skills.”
“Wow. The dessert I tasted earlier was heavenly. Beautiful, delicious, and sweet…”
“That’s nothing.”
“Of course! Your Highness must be so happy. To have such a person as your wife.”
“That’s true.”
At Naomi’s words, the corners of Felix’s mouth uncontrollably curled upwards.
“I also want to meet the benefactor soon.”
Naomi’s eyes sparkled as she stepped into the garden. As she walked on the stone path, suddenly, Felix’s supporting hand disappeared.
“Your Highness?”
Felix, who had been escorting her until now, suddenly stiffened and looked around. His fists clenched and trembled.
“Siri?”
Felix was puzzled by her suddenly vanished magic. She was supposed to be in the garden. Why couldn’t he feel her presence now? Felix, abandoning the princess of the nation, ran into the garden and flew up the oak tree they often climbed together.
When he had introduced it as a place he came with his mother, Sylvia had been very happy.
He was sure she would be there.
It must have been his misunderstanding.
He had no doubt about it.
“Sylvia!”
Even from the highest branch, she was nowhere to be seen. He tried to sense her magic around him as his two hearts raced madly. The second heart reproached him.
How could you lose your companion?
You should never have taken your eyes off her, not even for a moment!
The scolding of his heart made his ears ring. Unable to calm his ragged breathing, he flew directly to the palace.
“Hubert! Hubert!”
Felix rushed to his room, calling out for Hubert wildly. He burst through the door, but she wasn’t there either. Startled by Felix’s shouts, Hubert and Denis entered the room.
“Did you call for us?”
“Have you seen Siri?”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you not see Siri!”
Shouting as if in despair, Hubert snapped to attention.