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“I couldn’t help it. Haniel, you saw how your older brother came all the way to see you.”
[It’s not for Haniel.]
“Hmm? Then who was he there for?”
[Mmm…] Haniel, who had been pouting all along, blinked those large round eyes. She looked almost like me, with those eyes forcing back the tears.
“Why are you sad?”
[Mommyy is Haniel’s mommy, right?]
“Of course.” I lowered my head towards Haniel, who came between my legs as she ruffled her white feathers. I think I understood a little of what was making her this anxious.
“Sweetie was worried about me? About how mommy and your brother are getting closer?”
[Yeahh.]
“My my, there’s no need to cry over this.” I smiled as I wiped off the tears on her cheeks. How frightened she must have been seeing her mother often meeting the brother whom she hated so much. I felt sad as well since I understood those feelings.
“Don’t worry, mommy won’t go anywhere. I’m Haniel’s mommy.”
[What if Emperor brother keeps asking you to?]
“No, why would His Highness…” My words trailed off even though I wanted to assure her that her brother was there for her and not me, while I’m just an excuse for him to find you. But, strangely, my tongue froze like it had been drugged.
[Mommyy.]
“Ah, anyway. Mommy can’t leave. I have to stay by the lake forever.” Ta-dah! I lifted Haniel high into the air as I laid back down. I should be the one crying at the thought of Haniel leaving me in the future, but I had to be always smiling before the little one.
[Forever?]
“Yes, forever.”
[But why?] The curiosity leader Haniel seems to be quite curious over this seeing how she was pestering me for an answer as she flapped her wings whilst I was holding her.
[Why must mommy stay in the lake?]
“Mommy likes it here. My house is here, no one scolds me, I have lots of friends here, and…” Moreover, there’s no family waiting for me, neither was there anyone asking me to leave with them.
As I pondered over Haniel’s words, I realised that no one had ever asked me to leave with them. Since I was cursed with black magic, there’s no saying when the curse would be lifted so it was natural to think that I would stay here my whole life.
Curiosity finally got to me. How would I feel, if someone were to ask me to leave with them?
“Hmm… Anyway, let’s not tell your brother that he’s ugly.”
[Why? He isn’t ugly?]
“Yeah, he isn’t ugly.” Humanely speaking. If her brother was ugly, he would probably live a single life forever. But I knew very well that our princess would be happy with a handsome and fairy-tale like prince in the future.
Even so… Would he be better looking than her own brother? That seemed kind of impossible.
Anyway, why am I thinking over this so seriously? I told Haniel to forget about it since she still looked confused, and threw her high up again in the air.
“Well, would your brother be bothered by something like that?”
***
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” Viscount Dion called out to Rashid, who sat opposite him in the carriage. There was no knowing what was going through Rashid’s mind as he looked out of the window. Viscount Dion followed Rashid’s gaze and all he saw was the bustling downtown.
It seemed like Rashid wasn’t focused on the streets. Instead, those crimson red eyes seemed to be focused on his own reflection on the glass windows.
“…Was I really that…”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. What?” Rashid retorted and retracted his gaze from the window. Viscount Dion could only remain silent.
Though Viscount Dion didn’t know what was going on, he couldn’t see the the irritation on Rashid’s face. Instead, Rashid seems to be quite happy. Rashid’s mood seemed to have changed ever since he returned from his morning walk yesterday.
Rashid would stare intently at the silverware while having his meals, and also at his sword’s cross section during his training session. His eyes would narrow into a frown which would stay for a while, and occasionally turn into a smile.
“…Where are Peyton and Tenon?” Rashid was prepared to alight the carriage as he sensed the gaze from Viscount Dion. The moment his cold personality returned, it made Viscount Dion, who was watching him, immobilized.