The Price Of Breaking Up - Chapter 3
Translator and Editor: Lea and Aki
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Chapter 3
“Sia.”
I heard him address me by my nickname.
Even after the vicar stated the new oracle. I thought.
Even after my life was turned upside down overnight.
I thought, and thought, and thought.
“Have you been waiting long?”
I quit thinking futilely, realizing that reality wouldn’t change.
Contrary to my pinkish curls that glow brightly, the Crown Prince had dark black hair. The color of his pupils was that of mysterious gold, just like the Emperor’s.
“It hasn’t been that long. Have a seat.”
I used to see this face once a day.
Except on important national events, we used to drink tea once a day while facing each other, no matter what happened.
How precious those moments were……
After such a long time, I raised my eyes to look upon his visage again.
It was hard to decipher what he was thinking from his red lips and golden eyes that were in contrast with his tanned skin under the sun like Her Majesty the Empress.
What should I say?
The silence subsided. He didn’t seem to want to say something first.
“Come to think of it, I have something to tell you.”
It seems like he had finished drinking his tea.
“Earlier, you were wondering who would inherit the position of chief of the Imperial City. The son of His Majesty the Emperor’s servant has been chosen to take over.”
I brought up a familiar subject.
There was no need to bring up the gaping topic at the moment and turn the atmosphere heavy. I was no longer a member of royalty, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t remember the contents of the documents I had processed.
We had always talked about work when we met, so I wanted to begin the conversation in that manner.
His lips parted, but he didn’t say anything. He slowly blinked his eyes before he finally uttered something.
“You……”
His familiar low voice reached my ears.
“You really don’t seem to care.”
I thought for a moment what the meaning of his words could be.
I shouldn’t be depressed if I didn’t have any feelings for my ex-fiancée.
I wasn’t going to cling to him in tears, and I wasn’t going to ask him to reconsider one more time. I wanted to protect my remaining pride.
Perhaps, I would’ve cried if I had changed my mind.
Perhaps, I could’ve gotten the chance to stand beside him again.
But nothing would change.
I wouldn’t have been doing this right now if it had that much worth.
It was him who released my hand first.
It was not me who briefly stated the annulment of marriage to their fiancée.
“You didn’t come here just to tell me that, right?”
Since both my father and mother were busy, I thought about seeing them once or twice a year. I met my one and only brother even less than that.
Sadly, ever since I entered the Imperial City, there has been only one member in my family. The Crown Prince.
No, it was only natural for me, who was raised to stay beside the Crown Prince since birth, to have nothing left except him.
“Yes. In all honesty, I’m here to say something else.”
“Go ahead.”
“When am I allowed to leave this castle?”
It’d already been a few days since the words of the oracle had changed.
I could have returned to the Duchy on the very day it changed, but I stayed since I received no word from above.
“Perhaps, you’ll have to decide since His Highness hasn’t said anything.”
I calmly lowered my eyes.
Now I could anticipate his stare turn almost cold. On the other hand, I spotted the Prince’s teacup to be half empty.
The fact seemed to show my composure unlike him, who didn’t touch the teacup.
I picked up my teacup.
I lightly wet my lips with the liquid inside.
I was very fond of the moderate temperature of the tea.
Without realizing it, I dampened my thirsty throat with tea. It felt like rain on a land of drought.
After a sip, the clattering sound of glass hitting each other resonated in the real world. It wasn’t that loud, but the room was quiet enough for the sound to drum my ears.
“Do you want to leave this place?”
I uttered nothing else. He stared at me for a long time.
He watched me as I lifted my cup to drink again.
“Do as you please.”
When I raised my head at his sharp tone, I could only imagine seeing his back facing me in reality.
***
It occurred when I was ten years old.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t particularly well at martial arts.
The order from the Emperor was that ‘I should be able to protect myself as a member of the Imperial Family’. That’s why I, who danced like a clown with a sword, had no luck in it.
The Crown Prince, who was staring at me then, approached me while saying.
“Don’t force yourself if you don’t want to do it.”
I think he used a more comfortable tone back then.
“You excel in writing, and you’re better at handling issues than I am. You don’t have to carry a sword.”
“But this is what His Highness, the Emperor wishes.”
“I’ll speak to the Emperor in private. It’s a waste to spend your time doing such a thing.”
“My time?”
The scent the breeze blew in with at that time, and the languid smile he was giving. The vivid memory of him saving my hands from getting scarred and my face getting devastated.
“It would be a better choice to spend your time with me.”
“……”
“Would you like to join me for tea? Or perhaps, a walk.”
I hesitated with a wooden sword firmly embedded in my hands.
We liked to have a conversation over a cup of tea. We also enjoyed taking a leisurely walk away from our status of Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
“Besides, you don’t have to be strong. I’m not as good at solving problems as you are. And they said I was recognized for my ability with a sword. I would never lose if I was told to compete with your brother.”
“……?”
“So why don’t you let me protect you instead?”
He was thirteen at that time, while my older brother was sixteen.
Despite their age difference, in his strong built form, he put down his wooden sword with his eyes shining when he beat my brother in a duel.
After that, I used my time studying instead of swinging a sword.
I could easily read a book by lighting candles to avoid the eyes of a maid who threatened me to sleep.
The Crown Prince had told me that he lacked the ability to take care of the country’s affairs, and that he could not keep up with his studies. I often whined in response, but I knew it was a lie.
He was intelligent beyond his age, matured, and capable of encompassing his subordinates.
I had always run behind him.
“I don’t need any of these.”
The Crown Prince said as he skimmed through the pile of papers. They were valuable information I recorded from the time I became good at writing.
They contained data on steps to turn people living in slums into production workers, harvest water for drought, and methods to terminate the business of slave traders.
I tried to hand over this document to the future Emperor.
Hoping that as soon as he ascended the throne, he could gather achievements that would continue until the future generations.
I picked up a candlestick and dropped the embers on the paper.
The reddish flame slowly faded away, leaving only bits of the paper.
All the information was in my head, so burning it didn’t hurt much.
To dispose of the ashes, I opened the window and blew the charred bits into the air.
Seeing all my life’s work burn so easily into the air, I felt like I was all by myself.
Sitting by the window, I tried to find the moon. Sadly, the moon was persistent at hiding its face behind the clouds.
I raised myself from the seat beside the window.
To read a letter delivered through a bird that flew in this morning.
Originally, there were invitations and useless letters that I used to get every day. However, this was the first letter I received after the oracle changed.
I ripped off the envelope with a paper knife.
“Father.”
I expected it because the Duke’s people were the only ones who send letters through birds and not through the normal route.
I knew I’d have to get in touch with him at some point because of the situation. I just didn’t expect it to be today.
I slowly read the contents of the letter.
The neat handwriting was almost similar to mine.
After skimming through the lines until I got to the important subject, I let out a small breath.
I rang the bell and called the maid.
“Call for a groom. He has dark skin, so you’ll be able to find him quickly.”
[TL/N: Groom = a servant who manages horses in stables and/or takes care of the stable.]
“Pardon?”
I’ve never seen this maid before.
If it were before, I would have questioned her, but now, I didn’t have the energy to do so.
“What are you calling a stableman for……”
The maid muttered.
The stable was situated far away from the castle.
It would mean much of a labor to even imagine going out there at night.
“Is there any reason for you to know that?”
The maid scurried out of the room as soon as my sharp tone struck her.
Then, by the time I finished drinking a cup of tea, the maid whom I ordered to run an errand returned.
“I have returned, Princess.”
As I permitted, the maid entered accompanied by a servant with dark hair.
“You can leave.”
The maid hurried out, as if she had been waiting for the dismissal.
The man, now alone, stiffened. He looked nervous.
“It’s been a while.”
“…..Princess.”
Born in a country called Hazen, and known for his dark black hair, purple eyes, and difficulty in making ends meet, the man was named Ash, who was stationed by the Duke himself.
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