Chapter 67: Derelict Princess
With a piece of food still gracing her lips, Rosalie nodded gently, her mouth curling into a modest imitation of a smile. It was a comforting sentint to recognize that the princess continued to hold dear the mory of her as a benevolent childhood companion. Nonetheless, the Rosalie of today possessed no recollections of her past conduct as a young girl. Thus, all she could do was nod in quiet agreent, ardently hoping that Angelica would not see through her pretense.
After the last and sowhat stubborn piece of at was finally dispatched, the girl discreetly cleared her throat, took a generous sip of water, and finally began to speak,
"I’ve noticed your rather restrained appetite. Is everything alright? Was there a reason beyond breakfast for our eting this morning?"
Angelica montarily diverted her gaze, her eyes carrying a tinge of lancholy, as they settled upon the vibrant expanse of the garden beyond the restaurant window. After a brief hesitation, she mustered an awkward shoulder shrug and gently answered,
"Truthfully, I found myself longing to escape the confines of the palace, if only for a few fleeting hours. Living akin to a dove, locked inside a gold cage, evokes a certain despondency. And, to be completely honest... Neither the Emperor nor my brother is aware of my departure today."
Lady Ashter’s brows swiftly arched in a gesture of astonishnt.
"But they might be worried about you! What if His Highness is looking for you and you are nowhere to be found?"
The Princess cast her gaze upon the array of untouched sandwiches, a somber shadow casting over her countenance, hinting at a poignant mixture of sorrow and a touch of disappointnt. Her tone, now tinged with a faint chill, resounded with a reserved detachnt.
"My frail constitution has rendered
a derelict princess, dear Rosalie. My ailing state led to my exile within the Temple’s confines, transforming my existence into an unending succession of waiting... A ceaseless anticipation for a presence that never graced ."
With a mont’s pause, Angelica delicately rested her slender, pallid hands upon the table, her fingers intertwining as if summoning the resolve to unburden her heart further.
"Their absence within those hallowed Temple walls beca a stark revelation – my purpose to Rische had waned. A princess enfeebled by maladies, deed incapable of birthing an heir for a strategic union, becos a useless asset. And if that potential disappears, what, then, is her worth? I... have returned from the Temple because I could not bear to be alone anymore. I see no aning in my life. Sotis... I wish I was not born at all."
Rosalie’s eyes widened, her cutlery nearly escaping her grasp as the weight of such a somber response echoed in her ears. An acute pang of ache seed to tighten around her heart, its grip intensifying and causing the air in her already taut chest to thin, all while the realization of a disheartening truth settled upon her consciousness – the profound loneliness that enveloped Angelica was a burden born solely by her.
Despite the esteed status befitting the Imperial Princess, Angelica’s ailing state confined her to the periphery of social interactions, tamorphosing her into, perhaps, one of the loneliest princesses the world had ever borne witness to.
Her friendship with Rosalie was molded by accident – in their early years, at a distinguished Imperial banquet dedicated to the Crown Prince’s Birthday, the two young girls serendipitously crossed paths, their shared affinity for strawberry desserts forging an imdiate bond. This connection ripened into a significant companionship, nurtured by mutual interests, only to be abruptly disrupted by Angelica’s impending exile to the Holy Temple.
Initially, Rosalie’s eagerness to pay her friend visits was undeniable. However, the passage of ti, as dictated by fate, cast a diminishing frequency upon those visits, inadvertently erecting a barrier that further distanced the two companions. Thus, even though the notion of Angelica nurturing their friendship across these many years might have appeared heartening to others, to Lady Ashter, it served as a poignant testant to heartbreak.
She slowly extended her arm, enveloping Angelica’s clasped hands within her own, a tender smile graced her countenance, one that bore the warmth and empathy she herself would have sought in the embrace of a dear friend.
"Angelica, just because soone has such a low opinion of you, does not an your life is worthless. Your worth is not sothing that can be defined by others and definitely not sothing that you have to prove, especially to the people who do not appreciate you as you are.
So you were born with a weak body, and? What truly matters is that your family’s role is one of care and unwavering affection, irrespective of your physical state. In truth, they are duty-bound to provide even greater care due to your unique condition. This responsibility extends regardless of their societal standing. So please, do not permit yourself to be deaned by such harsh statents. The cruelty of these words breaks my heart."
The unexpectedly earnest encouragent seed to wield transformative effects upon the princess. Glistening tears gathered on the edge of her eyes, and yet, she managed to curve her lips into a fragile smile, her head nodding gently in acknowledgnt. She embraced both the tender solace of her friend’s hands and the soothing balm of her words.
"Thank you, dear Rosalie. You can’t fathom how desperately I needed that."
Angelica’s trembling voice nearly urged Lady Aster to cry as well, yet she made an inner effort to compose her emotions and continued in a confident tone,
"And... I am truly sorry, Angelica. For my inadvertent contribution to your solitude and the pangs of abandonnt. I sincerely hope that we can nd our friendship in the future."
"I share your hope in that endeavor. Why not comnce with a shared breakfast? Let’s indulge heartily!"
Finally, a perceptible lift in the princess’s mood surfaced as she readily reengaged with her al, displaying an invigorated appetite. Rosalie watched the girl eat and could not help but wonder,
’Could this be the perfect timing for both of us?’
Once more, the silver cutlery was gently set aside, as Lady Ashter posed a question brimming with certainty and resolve,
"Angelica, what is it that you really want to do with your life to make it aningful?"
Angelica’s delicate blonde eyebrows arched slightly, a contemplative hum escaping her lips as she weighed her words.
"Well, having observed the High Priest working with others, I’ve co to realize that my own desire is to cultivate usefulness... I yearn to extend aid to those grappling with adversity."
Upon receiving such a response, Rosalie found contentnt in the sentint expressed. She leaned closer to the princess, her arms folding on the table in a deanor marked by seriousness and pragmatism.
"Perfect. In light of that, it occurs to
that our paths may intertwine in a mutually beneficial manner."
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