LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 5
Chapter 5 It hurts my heart to think of Caesar, who had deliberately said harsh words so that Floria would never visit him again.“Her highness.”With a sad heart, I called Floria. She was still sulking from the bad memories.“You actually want to play with the Crown Prince again, don’t you?”“Uh huh…”She looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.“But he hates me, mother hates him, and….”“But you still want to meet him, don’t you?”I gently stroked Floria’s hair, and she sobbed and buried her face in my arms.“I haven’t seen him since then, only from afar… I can’t speak…”Floria must have known the truth. That Caesar doesn’t hate her.Contrary to common prejudice, children are very perceptive, especially when it comes to emotions.Floria could feel her mother’s and Caesar’s emotions, even if she didn’t have the power to do so.‘She would have realized that if I played with Caesar, it would be bad for everyone.’The current regime was divided between the former Empress and the current Empress.A power struggle. It was an inevitable part of being born into the imperial family.“Her highness, why don’t we do this?”But that didn’t mean she had to sit and do nothing.“Yes?”“I have an idea. Maybe we can meet the crown prince.”I whispered to Floria in my arms and relayed the plan. ***** “Your Majesty, take care!”“Yes!”My plan was simple enough. I would go to the arena just in time for Caesar’s sword training and play ball next to him.The arena was a very large open space. There were swords and straw platforms set up on one side for sword training, but the rest of the field was a playground. We were playing on the field, passing the ball back and forth.Floria and Caesar were both imperial. An imperial family who may one day inherit the throne.So they had to take several classes. Classes ranged from basic etiquette required in the social world to political science, monarchy, and military science.The swordsmanship training that Caesar was receiving was also part of the class. It was also a class that Floria had to take if she was a little older.‘So it’s a kind of prior learning.’Sitting and studying every day hardened her body. Playing ball helped Floria develop her basic physical strength and reflexes.… That was the excuse I prepared for when this game was pointed out.The bouncing ball did not hurt no matter how hard it was hit, and the dangerous weapon was far away.There were a lot of trained knights around there, so it could be said that it was a safer place again.‘The cause is enough.’And not long after, as I had planned, Caesar appeared. He was accompanied by a knight who looked about his age.At first, Caesar didn’t recognize us, but he soon showed signs of bewilderment.‘You must be wondering why we came all of a sudden.’We stuck to our game plan and played ball and acted like we didn’t even know the crown prince was there.I glimpsed Caesar blocking the knight’s attempt to greet.The Crown Prince and Princess could not meet officially by appointment. But there was no reason to stop them from meeting by chance.Soon Caesar was practicing as if we weren’t there, striking the straw bales with his sharp wooden sword over and over again.Floria and I played ball, and when we got thirsty, we sat down at a nearby table to rest with a cool drink and watch Caesar’s training from the sidelines.“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him so close.”Floria bobbed the ball on the floor and whispered.“How was it?”“He’s not as scary as I thought, and… more handsome.”Poof, I laughed at the overly honest statement.“Isn’t it going to be difficult to play together?”“For now.”At that moment, I could see Caesar getting ready as if he had finished training.“Her highness, pass me the ball.”“Huh?”I pretended it was a mistake and dropped the ball that Floria gave me to the floor. I didn’t forget to swipe towards Caesar.The ball went to Caesar’s feet and stopped. Floria covered her mouth with both hands, and my heart pounded.‘How about….’It was a rash thing to do. But I was sure nothing bad would happen.I had only met Caesar once, but I didn’t think he was a bad person.“This must be Her highness the Princess.”The knight next to Caesar bent down and picked up the ball.“I’ll bring….”“No, I will go.”“Yes?”Caesar snatched the ball out of the knight’s hand and strode toward us. Floria and I jumped to our feet.“His Highness, the Crown Prince.”Beside me, Floria stood frozen, trembling, as I bent my knees in deference. She was terrified that Caesar would tell her to stay out of his sight again, just like last time.Caesar looked at the ball in his hand once, at me, and finally at Floria.“The ball… It’s rolling.”Stating the obvious, Caesar handed me the ball. He couldn’t hide the awkwardness of seeing his sister after all these years.I nodded and received the ball.“Sorry, I let it slip out of my hand…”“No, it’s okay.”It was as if there was an invisible barrier between Florida and Caesar. Neither of them dared to speak.‘Is this the end? Still, this is good enough.’With that thought in mind, Caesar placed a hand on Floria’s head.‘… Huh?’Caesar himself was stunned by the sudden action. As if he had done it without realizing it, Caesar looked embarrassed and quickly withdrew his hand.“… Then.”Then he turned his back and quickly disappeared from her sight.“Puha-”Perhaps she was holding her breath, Floria looked back at me with a shriveled face.“My head…”A smile broke out on that dazed face.Apparently, Caesar wanted to stroke the hair of his younger sister, whom he had not seen in a long time.“My brother touched my head.”Floria giggled. I smiled back.We were off to a good start. Maybe this would be the beginning of a small bridge between them. ***** We played ball once a week after that.The news must have reached the Empress’s ears by now, but there was no special movement. Perhaps it was because Caesar was distracted by playing ball even when he wasn’t training.Thanks to this, Caesar and Floria were getting used to each other. Floria was no longer stiff, and Caesar was able to stroke her hair quite skillfully.‘How nice it is to have a smile like that.’In addition, Floria, although not necessarily Caesar, loved playing ball.It was also said that she was particularly good at concentrating on the lessons following the ball game.‘After all, people have to exercise.’Improving the relationship between Floria and Caesar, increasing Floria’s stamina, and socializing with me and Caesar. It was like killing three birds with one stone.After some good days like that, I finally got a chance to meet Caesar alone.It was when I was on my way home from work. Caesar was seen crouching in front of the flowerbed.‘What should I do?’Do I have to come up and talk to him again? It was when I was contemplating.“Evelyn.”To my surprise, my name came out of Caesar’s mouth first. His gaze remained fixed on the flowerbed as he spoke.“What are you looking at?”“Oh, that…….”“You’re not coming soon enough.”“Yes?”Caesar raised his head and met my eyes.“You said you’ll do it next time, answer.”‘Answer?’With a puzzled look on my face, I obeyed and sat down next to Caesar. After all, it was good to know that Caesar was in my favor.“You don’t remember?”Caesar’s eyebrows furrowed.‘Answer, answer… ah!’ ‘Do you pity me?’‘I’ll answer you next time, Your Highness, next time, surely.’ “No, I remember.”Caesar’s expression softened slightly when I added in a hurry.It was surprising. That he remembers what I said back then, even those eyes that were curious about the answer.‘What should I answer?’My purpose was to become acquainted with Caesar, so I had to give the answer Caesar wanted to hear whenever possible.“Not that I feel sorry for you, but…….”Caesar stared at me.My head was spinning, searching for an answer.“Uhh.”Suddenly, Caesar crouched down, clutching his chest.“… Your Highness?”“Ugh.”He let out a pained groan. Not caring that he was covered in dirt, Caesar slumped to the ground.‘Why is this….’Confused, I widened my eyes.‘Where is the pain? Have you been attacked somewhere?’I gently shook Caesar’s body.“Your Majesty, Your Majesty? Are you okay?”“Go away.”“Yes?”He continued to crouch, as if protecting himself from something.“Go away… go away.”“Your Majesty!”I looked around, but there was no one in the dark garden. I couldn’t leave Caesar alone just to be told to go away‘I need to call someone.’Whatever it was, one thing was certain. Caesar was sick and there was nothing I could do. I needed someone else’s help.“Your Majesty, I’m going to call someone-”“Go away!”Caesar pushed me harshly.A cold sweat was running down Caesar’s face, barely raising his head. At first glance, it was unusual.‘What is this?’It was too strange to be an attack. Caesar looked as if he already knew what was happening to him.As if it had happened many times before.‘Is he having any unknown chronic diseases?’That was the moment.The earth shook.‘… Earthquake?’I hesitantly stepped back. It was strange. The vibrations… were spreading from Caesar.It rippled through the dirt in a circle centered on him.“Ugh…”Caesar clenched his chest with an anguished expression on his face.“Your Majesty…”A gust of wind came from nowhere and swirled around him. Dirt and dust blew in front of his eyes, making it impossible to get close.“What…”Through the dust, I could see Caesar floating in midair. A gust of wind surrounded him in a circle.I stared blankly at the scene.All the flowers around Caesar had withered and died. Even the blue delphiniums that had been so lush just moments before.