Surprised, Princess Adeline ca to a halt. She gazed at the item presented to hera pink candy. Its sweet scent wafted through the air, carrying her favorite plum flavor.
Her gaze shifted to Raciel.
Was this just a coincidence? Or did this human truly understand her preferences?
Most likely the latter.
Perhaps an attempt to win her favor. Maybe an effort to dismantle her guard. Likely a ploy. The princess furrowed her brows in deep thought.
What is this?
A piece of candy. Plum-flavored.
What is the purpose behind this?
After enduring bitter dicine, a sweet candy. Its customary.
Arent you planning to consu it?
Adeline hesitated, compelled by the atmosphere to take the dicine. Eventually, she succumbed. However, it was painfully bitterbitter, sour, and revolting. Did the taste resemble that of licking an elephants armpit? Her stomach churned relentlessly, and the urge to vomit overwheld her.
But there lay a piece of candy before her, and not just any candyit was her cherished flavor.
Instinct implored her to seize it, to consu it imdiately, to chew it without lting it. Yet reason shook its head.
Are you out of your mind? To accept that?
Her pride smarted.
The sensation of being toyed with by the crown prince left her feeling tainted. She longed to slap away the slender hand proffering the candy.
I
Instinct yearned to escape the unimaginable gustatory torture, while reason exhorted her to cling to her dignity. A fierce tug-of-war erupted between the two.
Adelines eyes trembled, cold sweat breaking out.
Raciels words struck a decisive blow to her dilemma.
Here, I also have grape flavor.
Swoosh!
She could endure no more.
Adelines hand moved at the speed of light. She seized the two candies Raciel had offered and stuffed them into her mouth in one swift motion.
Crunch!
Aaah
A heavenly sweetness enveloped her palate!
The taste that had been trapped in the realm of hardcore displeasure found deliverance. It felt as though the Earths mother was casting a radiant light upon her path. Blessings from the sugar gods in plum and grape form. A smile of relief, as if she had dipped a toe into paradise, naturally spread across her lips.
Then, Adeline realized that Raciel was fixated on her.
Ahem! Hm! Hm!
She hastily attempted to regain her composure, but her flushed face remained conspicuous. Perhaps thats why she blurted out sothing she didnt truly an.
Hmhm! Magentanos candies are quite underwhelming. I held so expectations due to the familiar taste, but I wasnt prepared for the disappointnt. Truly disheartening.
Is that so?
Yes, indeed. After enduring such a lackluster dessert, I believe I made the right choice in declining the al you suggested.
Though I heard you hadnt eaten lunch yet.
Its fine. My appetite wanes when faced with subpar fare.
Is that the case?
Yes.
Truly?
Yes. Absolutely.
Adeline fought to control her expression and nodded with conviction. She t Raciels gaze with a self-assured smile.
It was at that mont.
Grrrrrrr?
Amid the silence, a resounding(?) growl erupted. Her inconsiderate stomach signaled its demand for sustenance.
Adeline froze. Then realization dawned. Crown Prince Raciel, who observed her, bore a faint smile in his eyes.
Darn it.
She wished to disappear. No, she longed to deliver a single punch to that mans face.
She had to relish the sensation of being utterly mortified down to the depths of her soul. Yet she managed to conceal it, barely. She rose abruptly, her face slightly flushed.
Ive had my fill of both your recomnded dicine and dessert. Now, I shall take my leave.
Are you departing so soon?
Yes. Is there any reason for to linger?
Of course not. The head servant will guide you to your quarters. Rest well.
Thank you, Crown Prince of Magentano.
Adeline turned as if to shake off her cold sweat. She strode out of the dining room, making a silent pledge.
For the upcoming half-year, her stay at the Star Palace beckoned. During that span, she must endeavor to avoid the crown prince whenever possible. Should their paths cross anew, she might find herself rcilessly trampling upon him.
Huff!
Her fist clenched, veins pulsating with determination. Naturally, she remained unaware that the vow she was presently making would crumble into fragnts in a re day.
A day had elapsed.
In a lavish room within a peripheral structure of the Star Palace, Princess Adeline awoke to an unfamiliar morning.
This was enemy territory, the very heart of the enemys stronghold. She had been thrust into this environnt and had to endure here for the coming six months.
Slap! Smack!
As soon as she erged from her slumber, she administered brisk slaps to her cheeks with the palms of her hands. She steeled her resolve, determined not to succumb to the opulence of her surroundings. Her day began with the sa ticulous routine she had upheld in her holand.
She descended to the training grounds linked to the peripheral structure. She drilled with the escort knights, perspiring through the morning practice. Yet, she noticed sothing peculiar.
Whats this? Why do I feel so light?
To her surprise, she felt remarkably well. Her body was so buoyant it almost seed capable of taking flight. It was a curious sensation.
After a long journey, how is it possible to feel like this the following morning?
She had anticipated considerable exhaustion. Thus, she had planned to moderate the intensity of her training. But her state of being was far better than expected.
Could it be? Is it because of the dicine I took yesterday?
Suddenly, the mory of the herbal dicine with the elephant-armpit flavor ca rushing back. She recalled the crown princes words describing it as a potent herbal redy for fatigue recovery.
No, that couldnt be right. It defied logic that a solitary dose of herbal dicine could dispel fatigue so swiftly.
Shaking her head, she refocused on her training, banishing thoughts of the herbal dicine and the crown prince from her mind.
However, when confronted with the morning al after her workout, the distressing mory of the previous day resurfaced. This was because the herbal dicine was served alongside dessert following the al!
Take it away.
The re scent made her stomach churn. She scowled and hastened out of the peripheral structure.
She embarked on a gentle stroll to facilitate post-training muscle recovery. Fortunately, the garden sprawled expansively, providing an ideal space for walking and ntal respite.
During this stroll, she espied an odd assembly. Individuals garbed in rather shabby attire gathered in small groups, traversing the garden.
Whats occurring here?
A sense of peculiarity enveloped her.
This domain was the residence of the crown prince of the empire. Nevertheless, people of such modest appearance were traversing its garden.
Could they be gardeners? But no, there are elderly and children among them. They dont resemble laborers either.
As she observed these individuals, she discerned a shared characteristic among them.
An elderly man limped. A young child, perched on his mothers back, cried, evidently in distress. The middle-aged man trailing them appeared pallid.
In essence, they were all unwell. A procession of patients traversed the garden. Their collective destination was unmistakablethe main structure of the Star Palace.
What in the world was unfolding? Why were patients en route to the principal edifice of the Star Palace? Her curiosity was piqued. Adeline discreetly followed them from a distance, a decision that ultimately rewarded her with insight.
Huh?
The scene was profoundly unusual.
Scores of individuals who seed out of place within the Star Palace milieu. Nurous patients queued up and entered the main structure. Adeline, too, blended in and entered alongside them.
Compelled by curiosity, she maneuvered past the line of patients.
At the queues terminus was a room.
What is this chamber that patients are individually entering?
Stealthily, she entered the room.
And there, she bore witness.
Hmm, the heat in your liver is the cause. For now, abstain from alcohol. Cut down on greasy foods and avoid activities that induce excessive fatigue.
Is that so, Your Highness?
Crown Prince Raciel sat across from an elderly man, earnestly and kindly explaining sothing to him.
Absolutely. So, for todays session, Ill be performing cupping therapy to balance your qi. Rember to take the herbal dicine I prescribed consistently at the sa ti every day. Do you have that clear?
Ill make sure to rember, Your Highness.
Then lets proceed with the cupping treatnt. This wayhuh?
!
Raciels gaze locked onto soones.
Could this individual be up to so kind of mischief again, like yesterday? Just as the woman was about to knit her brows, sothing happened.
Why are you here?
Raciels inquiry carried a sharp tone, catching the person off guard. Adeline was taken aback.
What?
Yes, what? This is a treatnt room. Did you fill out the treatnt registration form? Are you in the queue?
What are you talking about?
Adelines perplexity deepened.
After all, she was a princess. Could Raciel be displeased because she had disregarded the line of ordinary patients, whose nas he likely didnt even know? Raciels response shattered her assumptions.
Do you think Im jesting right now? This space is for tending to patients. Its an equitable place. Everyone, save for the Emperor himself, is treated fairly, irrespective of status, gender, or age. Do you comprehend?
Well
If you intend to enter, complete a treatnt registration form first. Get in line and await your turn. Is that understood?
Adelines throat constricted. This was an experience she had never encountered before. It felt belittling. Simultaneously, she felt a sense of sha. She found herself resembling those mbers of royal families who abused their authority and standing.
She departed the treatnt room as if driven away, but she didnt depart entirely.
If I leave like this, itll seem like Ive conceded defeat.
That was unacceptable.
Particularly not to the Crown Prince, not to that man who might form an unfavorable opinion of her. She desired to rectify her error. She aspired to prove that she wasnt that kind of individual.
She joined the back of the patient queue and dutifully completed a treatnt registration form in her own hand.
Standing in line among the other patients, she endured both tedium and impatience. How long did she wait? Finally, after a prolonged two hours, she received permission to enter the treatnt room.
Upon entering, she spoke with an accusatory tone,
I followed the procedure and waited my turn, as you can see. I am not that type of person, not one of those royals who exploit their authority and position.
So you wished to demonstrate that?
Yes. The prior experience was humiliating enough.
Is that so? Well, in any case, welco. I wanted to have a serious face-to-face conversation with you in the treatnt room, at least once.
Pardon ?
Adelines brow furrowed. What was he implying? She felt perplexed.
Arent you curious as to why I invited you to the Imperial Capital and requested you to stay for six months? Dont you want to know the true reason?
Raciel queried with a smileless countenance.
(To be Continued)
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