Arielle was studying about the wedding ceremony and so protocols for the coronation of a queen with Priest Jill. anwhile, Aie just ca back from dropping off Sasha’s book.
Arielle wanted to ask the reason Aie returned with an annoyed face. However, even without asking, Arielle could guess the answer herself. Aie must have accidentally t Lazarus. Just like yesterday.
In the middle of her study, Aie prepared snacks for Arielle and Priest Jill.
"I think that’s all for today, Your Highness. Your coronation procession is not much different from the coronation of the king of Nieverdell."
"Thank you for your help, Priest Jill. I understand it. I hope I’m not nervous tomorrow," said Arielle, making Aie and Priest Jill smile faintly.
"You can definitely do it," Aie replied, encouraging Arielle.
Arielle was worried that she would make a mistake. She couldn’t hide her nervousness. When she led the procession of the mourning ceremony for Archie’s coronation, Arielle was nervous as hell.
Arielle escorted Priest Jill to the front door of the library after their study was over. Then, she sat back in her chair. Arielle didn’t know what else to do.
"Ah... I’m bored," she muttered in a very low voice.
Aie, who sat not far from the princess, chuckled. She pretended not to hear Arielle’s complaint. Today was the second day the king wasn’t in the palace, and that girl must have missed him so much.
Arielle had tried to distract herself by reading books, playing with Sasha or even with her bunnies... Those things did help her to forget about Ronan. However, when it was all over, Arielle was thinking about the man again in her spare ti.
Should she paint again? But, she was lazy. If Ronan was around, maybe Arielle would visit his office and talk about her day with him.
Arielle suddenly rembered about Aie’s sour face when she ca back after delivering Sasha’s notebook.
"Aie?" Arielle called while turning her body to face Aie. The girl was reading a small book in her hand.
"Yes, Your Highness? Is there anything I can help you with?" Aie asked as she slipped a bookmark inside the page before closing the book.
"Um... did you accidentally run into Lazarus earlier?" Arielle asked.
Aie let out a long sigh, then nodded.
"I had already guessed. I was suspicious because you ca back with a sour face. I wanted to ask you earlier, but there’s still Priest Jill here, so I can’t."
"That is true, Your Highness. Lazarus ca to apologize."
"Oh? And you forgive him?" She was curious because she never expected that Lazarus would apologize first. That was very mature of him. She glad that Lazarus could apologize first because from all perspectives, he had a lot of things he should apologize to Aie.
Aie shook her head made Arielle surprised.
"Eh? Why? Wouldn’t it be good if Lazarus apologized first?" asked Arielle, feeling that the conflict between Aie and Lazarus would be a waste of ti and emotions if it continued.
Arielle didn’t want Aie to continue to resent soone. Aie was a kind and caring girl. However, when it ca to Lazarus, everything seed to flip 180 degrees. Aie beca grumpy. Her pretty face wrinkled into a sour expression.
As for Lazarus, the man must have been in an awkward position because he had to fight with his close friend’s sister. It also would put Kael in the sa position, between wanting to defend his sister or remaining friends with Lazarus.
Arielle did not want their friendship to be broken. That could make Ronan sad, she thought.
"I know he apologized sincerely, but I’m still upset that he forgot his mistake ten years ago!" Aie replied.
Arielle saw Aie gripping her skirt tightly. Arielle hurriedly got up from her chair to approach Aie. She touched both of Aie’s hands gently, causing the girl to let go of the grip on her skirt.
"I’m sorry. I know sotis Lazarus’ jokes can be too much. I often heard Sasha complaining about Lazarus’ jokes too. I’m sorry for offending you."
"This is not just about the jokes, Your Highness. I was often called fat by him before, but I didn’t care about that. It’s just... he made a grave mistake that made cry all day."
Arielle had suspected it. There really was sothing else that made Aie hate Lazarus so much. She hugged Aie, who bit her lower lip hard. "You don’t have to tell if it hurts. I will not bring up the topic about Lazarus again."
Aie nodded slowly. She always kept her feelings to herself all this ti. Even her parents didn’t know. Neither did Kael. Aie had kept her grudge for the past ten years.
The sha she felt at that ti was enough to make an eight-year-old child sobbing in her room alone, wanting to disappear from the world right away.
Aie thought it was the right ti for her to share that awful story, letting out all the emotions she had kept for the past ten years.
"Your Highness, would you like to hear my story?" Aie asked. Arielle wiped the tear that fell down on Aie’s cheek with her hand.
"If it helps you, I’d be happy to hear it. But, you don’t have to force yourself," said Arielle.
She learned a lot about respecting people’s privacy from Ronan. Ronan said the sa thing over and over again. The man always listened to her stories, yet he never forced her if she didn’t want to tell him.
"I want you to hear it, Your Highness. I’ve kept this to myself for ten years, and I can’t stand it any longer."
Arielle nodded in understanding, and her hand went down to hold both of Aie’s hands.
"Ten years ago, I had known Lazarus, William, and His Majesty the King because the three of them were my brother’s friends. In the past, my body was very fat with super chubby cheeks. Since the first day I t Lazarus, he always teased by pulling my hair slowly or calling fat to get my attention."
"I was just an eight-year-old girl. My two older brothers were cold and distant, so they didn’t pay much attention to . Having Lazarus sohow made want to get more attention. Secretly, I felt happy when Lazarus called fat. Maybe I was in need of attention. Until finally, I told my friends that I liked my brother’s friend."
"I was so-so-so-so stupid at that ti. I got angry when my friend said that her sister was Lazarus’s lover. I wanted to prove that I was the only one who could get Lazarus’ attention, so I invited my five friends for a small tea party. It just so happened that Lazarus stayed at my residence."
Aie covered her face in embarrassnt.
"Why?" asked Arielle, who panicked because Aie suddenly cried.
"I confessed my feelings to him! Imagine, Your Highness! An eight-year-old girl who couldn’t even read fluently confessed her feelings, and Lazarus just laughed! He laughed at ! Lazarus said... he didn’t like a fat girl like in front of my friends. Then they laughed at , so I punched him. When I rember that day, I really wanted to beat him to death."
"Aie..."
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