Chapter 7
“Your Highness?”
“Ugh…”
“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
Chera’s loud voice made Eirin’s ears hurt.
Her head ached like a heavy rock was pressing on it.
Frowning, Eirin rubbed her eyes and sat up from the bed.
Sunlight was pouring in through the window — it was already late in the morning.
She glanced at Chera and stretched her legs off the bed.
“Ow.”
Her muscles stiffened from the sudden movement.
She felt out of breath, dizzy, and nauseous.
As she exhaled shakily, Chera panicked.
“Your Highness, w-wait a moment!”
She called Aubrey, who was waiting outside.
“Call the royal physician!”
Aubrey rushed in, shocked.
“Your Highness, are you alright?!”
“I’m… fine.”
Their shouting made her headache worse.
Eirin waved her hand to calm them and slowly got up.
“Can I get a mirror?”
Chera, still worried, brought her a mirror.
Eirin checked herself with a groan.
“….”
Her eyes were swollen and red.
It felt like she had a nightmare, though she couldn’t remember it.
Maybe it was better that way.
She quickly wiped the tears from her face.
“You didn’t wake up even after a long time…”
Eirin waved Chera off.
“It’s fine. Maybe I finally woke up from the nightmare.”
“Why is your face like that?!”
Parti entered and gasped in surprise.
It wasn’t that bad.
Eirin felt embarrassed and touched her eyes awkwardly.
“It’s nothing. Could I have some water?”
“It’s not nothing!”
Chera shouted loudly.
Eirin hesitated about what to say, then held her throat and spoke with a strained voice.
“Chera… w-water…”
Her weak voice startled Chera even more.
“Please, don’t hurt yourself!”
Chera was referring to how Eirin had pinched her cheek right after returning (to confirm reality).
“What are you talking about? I’m just thirsty. I’ve been asking for water.”
Eirin rolled her eyes and lowered her hand from her neck.
Realizing it was a joke, Chera pouted and brought a cup.
“Here.”
Eirin grabbed it and drank quickly.
She’d been so thirsty it hurt, but after drinking, she felt much better.
Feeling refreshed, she gave an order.
“I want to change clothes.”
At her words, elegant dresses were brought in.
She chose a simple and comfortable one.
While she was changing, Rebecca rushed in.
“Your Highness! Princess!”
Rebecca usually emphasized royal etiquette, so her panicked look was strange.
“His Majesty urgently requests your presence!”
She was breathless, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
“For what reason?”
Eirin asked carefully, trying to suppress her anxiety.
“I don’t know. He just told me to bring you right away…”
Though a father calling his daughter shouldn’t be a big deal, the urgency was unusual.
“Alright, I understand.”
Eirin tried to hide her serious expression.
“Let’s get ready quickly.”
The maids moved fast.
After a quick hairstyle and change of clothes, Eirin headed toward Calthus’s office.
Her mind was full of worry.
Was it about the business?
Would he tell her to stop?
Calthus didn’t trust her abilities yet, which made her even more nervous.
While hurrying down the palace hallway, she heard a voice.
“So you’re the princess I’ve heard about.”
A cold and familiar voice pierced her heart.
Eirin’s face froze as she looked at the speaker.
Clang!
“Ah!”
The spoon she was holding dropped and clanged on the marble floor.
Startled, she trembled.
She lowered her head, hiding her blushing face, and waited for a maid to pick up the spoon.
But someone else moved faster — Iliad bent down to pick it up.
“W-What are you doing…?”
She meant to greet him first but ended up stammering.
The crown prince of another country was casually bending down in front of her — it was shocking.
‘Is this a cultural difference?’
Maybe the Mersen Empire didn’t care about bowing?
His familiar scent made her dizzy.
She tried hard to think clearly.
“Thank you.”
She quickly reached for the spoon, but accidentally touched his hand.
Even though it was a light touch, a strange shock ran through her fingers.
Iliad also flinched slightly.
Eirin snatched the spoon and asked,
“Are you from the Mersen Empire?”
She folded her trembling hands.
“I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Iliad, crown prince of the Mersen Empire.”
He gave a soft smile.
His quiet gaze sparkled with a mysterious light.
Eirin quickly handed the spoon to a maid.
‘What a disaster.’
A maid had said a spoon was good to reduce swelling, so she’d been carrying it.
Even after realizing she had it, she didn’t hand it over — touching it helped calm her nerves.
“I’m Princess Eirin.”
She calmly introduced herself.
“Are you going to see His Majesty?”
“Yes, my father called for me.”
Thankfully, Iliad didn’t ask about the spoon.
If he had guessed it was for anxiety, it would have been embarrassing.
She tried to act normal and gave a small smile.
From the direction he came from, it seemed he’d already met with Calthus.
She nervously bit her lip.
“I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
Cold tension surrounded them again.
Whether it was fear or shame, she couldn’t meet his eyes.
Iliad glanced at her red and swollen eyes.
His lips moved slightly but closed again.
“I’ll leave now since you seem busy.”
Then he whispered something unexpected.
“I wish you great success in your business.”
“….”
Business.
A chill ran through her.
He shouldn’t have known about that.
She turned her head in surprise, but he was already walking away.
She couldn’t let him go like this.
Eirin gathered her courage.
“Your Highness, Crown Prince of Mersen.”
Her voice, though soft, was clear.
Iliad stopped walking, and Eirin’s heart calmed.
“May I call you Iliad?”
She smiled warmly.
He gave her a lingering look and replied,
“Of course, Eirin.”
“What did you say just now?”
His golden eyes rolled slightly, and Eirin flinched.
“What did I say? Oh, I just called your name.”
He tilted his head innocently.
“….”
It was clear he wouldn’t explain what he really meant.
Even if she asked, he’d pretend not to know.
Eirin held back her anger and forced a kind smile.
“No, I must have misheard. Actually, I’ve been feeling bad for not properly welcoming the delegation.”
Her sea-colored eyes sparkled.
“May I serve you tea before you leave?”
Iliad opened his mouth to answer, but she quickly added,
“If you leave without it, I’ll regret it. I don’t believe in any gods, but what if I get punished for disrespecting a holy man like you?”
She mentioned Mersen’s religion, making it hard for him to refuse.
Iliad chuckled.
“I’d be honored. You seem busy now, so I’ll contact you later today.”
She was desperate to know how he found out about the business and why the delegation was really here.
Though she wanted to avoid him, she needed answers.
“Then I’ll be waiting.”
Eirin smiled, hiding her uneasy heart.
She gave a polite glance and walked on toward her destination.
To be continued.
