Chapter 92 : Changing Situation

After Dice’s announcement, the banquet hall became chaotic as if a bomb had exploded inside. Since it was the first time that the Crown Prince had invited someone else to the palace as a friend of his own. I was really shocked, too, and I stared at his happy faces.

“I’m sorry, but my sister is very shy and busy. I think it’s hard for her to be your companion.” But unexpectedly, without hesitation, someone poured cold water into this situation. He was none other than Eugene.

Oh my, by the way, was it all right for him to refuse and cut off Crown Prince’s words like that?

It was so unconventional for a birthday present. At first, I wondered if Prince Dice had spoken with Eugene in advance, but looking at Eugene’s reaction, it seemed he didn’t know anything.

“You’re shy? But you don’t look like that …”

“She doesn’t like to be the center of attention, so I usually think like that.”

“Well, is that so?”

“Yes.”

Dice was a little startled when Eugene said it sternly.

“Then, what if I visit Ernst to meet her?” he said, not giving up so quickly and looking for other ways. His face was calm, showing no signs of distress.

It seemed obvious that he was friendly to our family, including Eugene. But Eugene’s face was cold. Looking at him, I opened my mouth before he refused the Crown Prince’s invitation for the second time.

But this time, it was Cabel who took the lead.

“Unfortunately, my sister is so popular that there are so many people waiting in line to see her. So if you really want to meet my sister, you’ll have to wait at least a year from now, Ouchh!”

I was laughing and kicking his foot again before he got into a big problem. At this point, I decided that I needed to clear things up quickly! I recalled what Eugene had told me before that I could do what I wanted to do. But it seemed that it would be wrong if I rejected Crown Prince’s request several times at such a place.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. Then, I look forward to seeing you again.”

Eugene’s gaze turned to me at my answer. He looked at me deeply as if he had something to say to me. But he was quiet this time as if he were respecting my decision.

“Then, I’ll go to Ernst later.”

“I look forward to your visit, Your Majesty.”

Dice gave me another look of curiosity, and soon he left us.

---

Perhaps because of Dice’s announcement, so many people crowded around him, and the whole banquet was distracted.

“I’m going to stop at Velontia first before I go home.” After the banquet was over, Eugene left first, escorting Rosabella.

“Hari, I’ll see you later, then. Go in and get some rest today. And happy birthday in advance.” Johannes and Louise greeted us and then went back to Bastier together. After that, I got into the carriage with Cabel and Erich.

“Why did you say you wanted to meet him? I don’t like it, I’ll just kick his ass!” As soon as he got on the wagon, Cabel released his frustration in a disappointed voice. Still, I was glad he didn’t make any more fuss inside the banquet hall, as I told him.

“You’ve got to call me when he comes! Okay?!”

“But, you only come home on weekends.”

“As long as you call me. I can skip the class for a day!”

“If you do that, your school’s penalty will exceed the limit. Geez, I can’t help it, send me a letter when the visit date is decided. I’ll make time for it.”

“Me too, me too! Make sure you send me a letter, too! It’s also my business!”

“Brother, what your business? Do you really want to get paid for it? Show some sense!”

Oh, I’m tired. I leaned my forehead against the backs of my two brothers. So many things seemed to have happened today. It’s amazing to have a banquet at the Cazenta Hall, and I even asked by the Crown Prince to be his companion.

I recalled the Prince’s eyes, which were sparkling with interest. I never dreamed that I would have a chance to talk to the royal family alone. Perhaps that’s why I felt unrealistic about what happened at the banquet hall.

Then, suddenly, I recalled the words that went through my ear a while ago.

“Wait, but Cabel. How long has it been since the new semester began, and you said your penalty points were already full?”

“Uh, uh, no, not really! Erich got it wrong!”

“Nothing wrong with my words. Do you want me to accumulate your penalty points from the day of the entrance ceremony?”

Cabel blushed out and tried to make any excuses. But everyone had known that he was lying. After that, the way back home became a place to interrogate him.

---

A few days later, I was in the piano room. It was nice to say that this place, which was completely renovated as a children’s playroom, now became my own space.

Dang Dang Dang.

The clear piano sound floated freely in the afternoon sunlight. The piano that Eugene gave was shining brighter under the sun.

My piano was so pretty. The sound was so clear and clean and perfect for my taste. I was so absorbed by the tune when I pressed the keyboard.

The song I was playing now was the cat waltz. I wondered if someone would laugh when they knew I played cat waltz song on this beautiful piano? Well, it didn’t matter, because I was the only one here.

I played the cat’s waltz to my heart’s content, then exhaled a long breath and lowered my stiff hands. It felt a bit hurt. I suddenly wanted to play the piano today, so I played it too hard.

“Phew.”

I sat still for a while and soon leaned down on the keyboard. A shuffled note came out from the keyboard that I pressed with my finger. II let out a shallow breath and blinked slowly. Suddenly, the sound of small steps walking down the hall rang in a quiet room.

Knock, knock

“Hari.”

A quiet voice was heard from outside the door. I raised my upper body that leaning on the keyboard and spoke low, “Come in.”

I looked out the window, and the sun had set. The door was opened, and Eugene stepped inside. He was dressed in a light shirt, perhaps, he had just returned home.

“You’ve returned home early today.”

“It’s your birthday.”

I chuckled a little because his words made me feel better. Eugene looked down at me and came a little closer, holding something in his hand.

“What is it?”

“A letter from the Imperial Palace.”

Oh, was it from Prince Dice? It was so fast since it was just a few days ago that he came up with the idea of visiting Ernst.

I stretched out my hand and took the envelope. But I couldn’t take it because Eugene held the letter. As I looked up at Eugene, he opened his mouth again.

“I told you before, but if you don’t like it, you don’t have to accept it. No one can force you.”

Yeah, I knew that. The Crown Prince said it in front of people, but Eugene refused his request on the spot. I smiled a little bit, so I answered him while frowning my eyes.

“Well, I don’t hate it. I’m just worried in case I make a mistake.”

I was just a normal human being, so I didn’t have many lives. Honestly, I really didn’t like it, but I couldn’t refuse him at that time.

Eventually, Eugene slowly relaxed his hand, and this time, I took Dice’s letter from his hand.

“If that’s the case, don’t feel pressured, even if you make a mistake, because no one will blame you.”

Considering the atmosphere of yesterday’s banquet hall, it certainly seemed that no one could easily blame me no matter how big a mistake I made.

Suddenly, I remembered how cold Eugene treated the maid who poured hot water into my hands a month ago. And I knew Eugene fired her that day. But now he told me that it didn’t matter what mistake I made?

“Yes, I will.”

Was I a bad person ? Because secretly, I rejoiced at this fact.

“I believe it because it’s my brother who said that.”

But the truth was, it had always been. To others, Eugene was a very cold and indifferent man. But he erased his coldness in front of me and always looked at me with eyes full of warmth.

“It’s not empty talk.”

“I know.”

“If you know that, you can rely more on me.”

It was not a proud feeling of superiority, and I loved the bond we had. Although it could have a limit, it was a strong wall that no one else could easily invade.

“Yes, Then…..I’ll let you pat my head.” I looked up at Eugene and laughed playfully. Eugene raised his eyebrows slightly at my words, which were close to the same answer.

I looked at him as if I had given him special permission to do so. Soon after, a sigh of laughter tickled my ears, the warmth fell over my head.

“Tell me what Prince Dice is like,” I said while feeling his hand stroked my hair gently.

“He’s a year older than you, and, as the public says, he is expected to be the next emperor, but he hasn’t fully grown up yet.”

Dice’s father, the current Crown Prince, wasn’t considered as a worthy emperor. He was gentle and generous but relatively passive, and his character wasn’t fit to lead the Kingdom. So, after the old Emperor’s death, many expected that Prince Dice would soon rise to the throne instead of his father.

“There are times when it’s hard to predict who is going to be because he still has a childish side. Like this time.”

In fact, it was Prince Dice, who would be the next Emperor in 10 years. I remembered his succession ceremony, which remained splendidly in my memory.

“But his favor for Ernst is sincere, and maybe the reason he wanted to meet you was not that he had other plans, but because he wanted to develop a friendship with us.”

It was definitely a good thing that he had such a big favor for us. Of course, the fact that the former Ernst couple died in that way was still heartbreaking.

“Because he thinks we’ve lost our lights, so he won’t let you down. So you don’t need to overdo it when you deal with him.” Eugene said so and gently brushing my silver hair as if he told me not to worry about anything.

Listening to his Eugene’s voice, a little uneasiness that had remained a little while ago was scattered in the air. And I wish he could also depend on me.

Secretly thinking so, I smiled at him, telling him in silence not to worry about me too.