Chapter 19.
What I was pointing at was the rose in the vase. Given the circumstances, it seemed like the flower I’d sent because I was bothered by Friedrich breaking the vase last time.
More than a week had passed, and the rose was now completely withered and dried up. Yet, it was still stuck in his vase, all shriveled.
“Do the maids give you a hard time about picking flowers from the garden or something?”
I furrowed my brows and asked Friedrich.
The maids nearby looked startled and shook their heads.
I blocked them with my body and stared piercingly into Friedrich’s eyes.
His gaze wavered for a moment before he shook his head.
“It’s nothing like that. Everyone is kind.”
“Then why keep a completely withered rose in there still?”
“…How could I dare throw away a flower Your Highness gave me?”
“What?”
I responded with a baffled expression.
“Even if it was bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, you’d throw away a flower once it rots. I’m not so unreasonable that I wouldn’t understand that.”
“It’s not that, just…”
Friedrich hesitated before finishing.
“It’s a shame. I don’t want to throw it away.”
Goodness. Maybe because he was locked up for five years and couldn’t even see flowers.
I looked at Friedrich with pitying eyes.
Plus, since he’d shown interest in gardening, it wasn’t hard to understand why he’d treasure even a wilted flower.
“Then I’ll give you another one.”
Friedrich’s eyes widened as if to ask if I meant it. Seeing him look so overwhelmed with joy made my heart ache a bit.
“I mean it. So throw that one away. They say it’s not good to keep wilted flowers in the room.”
“Still…”
“Friedrich Kill.”
“…Understood.”
When I called his full name in a deliberately stern voice, he flinched and nodded. Then, he added quietly.
“You can call me by my new name in advance.”
I looked at him, puzzled.
“Since it’s a name that’ll be discarded soon anyway…”
“You want me to call you Friedrich Stade?”
Friedrich nodded slightly.
Well, yeah, the past five years in the Kill Kingdom had been pretty miserable for him. It makes sense he’d want to forget that name quickly.
“Anyway, from now on, just throw away flowers when they wilt. You can pick as many as you want from the garden. Okay?”
Friedrich nodded and smiled faintly. As soon as I left the room, I decided to send him a huge bouquet.
***
[I will abide by Your Highness’s will.]
Elsa had sent the letter to Duke Rommel’s residence, and this reply came back promptly.
Surprisingly clean withdrawal—I thought it was over and relaxed…
“Duke Rommel has taken to his bed, they say.”
A week later, this news came. I looked at Elsa with a bewildered expression.
“Because of that, he even skipped Count Brock’s birthday gathering.”
“Goodness, aren’t those two inseparable friends? Is the flu going around these days?”
They say even dogs don’t catch summer colds. As I muttered, Elsa replied bluntly.
“Then that would mean Your Highness has made Duke Rommel less than a dog.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Rumors are rife that it’s lovesickness.”
I widened my eyes. No way, just because I rejected his lover proposal, he gets lovesick?
“More than that, how did that become a rumor? You didn’t say anything, did you?”
“I value my life too.”
Elsa asked seriously.
“Do you really want to hear?”
“Why so solemn about it?”
“It’s quite romantic. In his delirious state, the Duke kept calling Your Highness’s name.”
“Gasp…”
Wouldn’t Rene have said something like this?
“How dare he utter the princess’s name so casually?”
And to Elsa, who was staring at me blankly, I said.
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to punish him.”
“Yes, that would be too cruel.”
“But there wasn’t anything between me and the Duke, right? Lovesickness, really.”
I thought it was just stubbornness. Honestly, having his position taken by a prince from a fallen nation must have hurt his pride. But lovesickness is a bit much, isn’t it?
“He must have fallen for you after receiving Your Highness’s proposal. Or maybe he grew to like you while waiting those three years.”
“Oh come on… That’s weird. Why get sick and make me worry?”
“It’s not too late yet.”
“Even so, I have no intention of taking him as a lover.”
I shook my head firmly. I can’t give him any hope just because I’m concerned.
“Time heals all. He’ll get better soon.”
I said nonchalantly and erased thoughts of Joachim.
“More than that, are you going to the library again today?”
“Yeah, why?”
“The sky looks cloudy. It might rain.”
“Perfect, then. I can hunker down for a few hours.”
At my answer, Elsa’s eyes narrowed. Feeling oddly guilty, I flinched and asked.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’ve suddenly fallen in love with books.”
“…Why the attitude?”
“It’s just surprising that the one who said heroes don’t need to study has become an avid reader.”
Rene was the type to push through with force, not strategy. Her magic was so powerful it worked.
“It’s not studying, just reading books. I have nothing else to do anyway.”
When I said it primly on purpose, Elsa gave me a dubious look. I quickly stood up.
“Let’s go. It’ll pour soon.”
***
“You’ve been coming almost every day lately.”
On my first visit, the librarian had been tense like a cat with its fur standing on end, but after I’d been stamping my attendance for several days, he seemed somewhat relaxed.
“Books are interesting. I should have read them sooner.”
I smiled kindly at him and went to the shelves, picking random books to fill my arms.
The other books were just for show anyway. Reading magic-related ones might raise suspicion.
“Sister?”
As I was picking and heading to the magic section, a familiar voice called.
I flinched inwardly but turned my head casually.
“You come to places like this too, Sister?”
Rene’s half-brother, Prince Anton, looked at me with a face full of doubt.
He’s blatantly looking down on me? I narrowed my eyes and shot back.
“What’s the intent behind that question?”
“Pardon?”
“Are you trying to call me an ignorant fool who doesn’t read books?”
When I frowned and asked directly, Anton flinched and smiled awkwardly.
“Of course not. It’s just that this seems like the first time I’ve seen you here.”
“Yeah. I’ve been coming for days and this is the first time I see you. You must not read much usually?”
When I shamelessly countered, Anton’s expression turned baffled, then his gaze fixed on the book I was holding.
“…As expected.”
Soon, Anton’s face grew serious. Wondering why, I turned my head…
[Essential Reading for Princesses Aiming to Overthrow Their Male Siblings and Become King]
Why, of all things, did I pick this!
“There are all sorts of books, huh? Right?”
I smiled awkwardly and put the book back in its place.
Looking at the others, this whole section was imperial studies books.
Anton raised the corner of his mouth meaningfully and replied.
“Why? It’s good. I think highly of you, Sister. You’re walking a path no one in Stade history has ever taken.”
“I know, but I’m not interested in the throne.”
“It seems that book was helpful.”
Anton murmured with a quite surprised expression.
“To see you hiding your true intentions—I’ll live to see the day. Well, to become emperor, you have to.”
No, that’s not it!
“It’s a misunderstanding, little brother. I’m really not interested in that stuff.”
I gave him a harmless smile, but he bowed his head with a face that showed he didn’t believe me at all and left. Ah, damn.
Well, from his perspective, he couldn’t take my words at face value.
I’ll show it through actions.
I immediately searched for books on retirement or rural life and loaded up a bunch.
‘Peaceful Life in the Countryside After Retirement’, ‘How to Farm for Self-Sufficiency’—stuff like that.
From now on, I should build my camouflage with more leisurely books like these.
Only after that did I go to the magic section, pick books with promising titles, and head to my designated seat.
Soon, the sound of pouring rain started. I enjoyed reading with the rain as ASMR.
‘Not much helpful content.’
About three hours later, as I left the library, the rain was still pouring heavily.
I felt a slight chill as I headed to Rene Palace.
“A hot cocoa and a nap sound good.”
“I’ll prepare it with three marshmallows.”
“No, four today…”
That’s when I saw one window of Rene Palace open all by itself.
The others were all closed, making it stand out. I paused and muttered.
“That’s Friedrich’s room, isn’t it?”
Rain will get all over the room like that? Frowning, I approached, and through the window, a shocking sight appeared.
“…Friedrich?”
He was collapsed in front of the window.
“Call the palace physician now!”
Horrified, I hurriedly climbed through the window. As expected, rain had come in beyond the window, soaking Friedrich’s body where he lay collapsed below.
“Friedrich, are you conscious?”
How long had he been like this? His cheek was ice-cold. Fear gripped me.
“Fritz.”
As I kept patting his cheek to rouse him, Friedrich opened his eyes groggily and called me blankly.
“…Your Highness?”
“Are you hurt somewhere? Why are you like this here?”
I hurriedly placed my hand on his forehead. Damn, it’s burning up.
Without time to ask more, I dragged him to the bed and laid him down.
“Elsa, dry towels quick…!”
“Wouldn’t it be better to use magic?”
At those words, I froze like a statue.
