After I threw the book into the fountain, Garett did not ask too many questions about it. Rather, he actually helped me clean it up and helped me continue destroying the book with me.
The week long vacation break happened shortly afterwards. I left Exurbia Library with Charlotte. I offered Garett a ride as well since he was going home as well, but he refused saying that he had another ride prepared by his family.
It is possible that Prince Erik is on his way home as well...It was a tradition for male royalty to not see their fiancée until their coming of age ceremony. I found it more easier to cope with seeing as though that was the case.
I plan on ending my engagement during this break with the upcoming event that happens once every year...
"Welcome home, Arielle," Mother said.
"I'm home," I said as I greeted her.
"My apologies, Young Miss," my mother's butler Sebastian said. "The Master would like to see you."
"You needed to see me, Father?" I asked him.
My father looks as cool and distant as ever. At a glance, it looks like he is expressionless. His expression changes ever so slightly if one were to carefully examine him. I never really noticed how affectionate he was until much later in my first life.
For this life, I subconsciously showed him my affection as a loving daughter many times. Thus, the dynamic of our relationship had now changed greatly.
"Yes, I should get a few matters out of the way," he said as he opened his arms.
He now greets me with a hug.
I slowly walked towards him and accidentally collided into his chest. He embraced me despite my awkward landing and pat my head gently.
"I am home, Father..."
"Welcome back."
We quickly got to serious matters. My father looked at me through a hardened gaze when we sat across from each other.
"...Father..."
So far, he has only been staring at me and not saying anything.
"My apologies for staring...You just look so much like your mother when she was your age."
This wife obsessed father of mine...Everything you say contrasts your looks too much.
"Father, maybe it is best to spend some more time with Mother?" I suggested.
"I will think about it. She asked for more dates, but I am not sure of what to do..."
Am I a marriage counselor for my parents?
"Sebastian is a very competent Butler with several children of his own. He may be able to help you with various things."
"I see..."
"...Is that all, Father?"
"No...I was just wondering how things were going with Prince Erik. I was informed that he sent you various letters and presents, and that you have yet to accept any of them. Are you displeased with the contents or the person?"
"Those kind of things are more difficult to return once accepted..."
"Has Prince Erik dome anything to provoke you?" my father asked with a concerned expression.
Father was loyal to the King and to the Royal Family. I doubt that he would agree with my decision to break away from Prince Erik.
"I would like to end my engagement with Prince Erik."
"Arielle, you are aware that we are not in a position to easily make those kind of decisions and about the repercussions that may follow?"
"I understand fully well...Still, I cannot back down from my decision. I have my reasons."
"I see...You are mature enough to make your own decisions," he said with an ever so slight smile. "I heard from your mother that you had met a boy?"
I suddenly felt very embarrassed talking about such things with him.
"I am not particularly close with any male..."
"Your mother said that there was for sure a beautiful black haired boy with glasses..."
Is my father talking about Garett?
"That person is a colleague!" I replied frantically.
"I see..."
I feel like the world is trying to push the two of us together even though our relationship is not like that...If our relationship is not like that, I wonder what we are. We are both of the opposite sex and similar in age. There is also a line of frankness that we do not pass each other like friends. He comes and saves me in perilous conditions, so it is a protector relationship or a mother?
I am currently more concerned that my engagement has not been broken yet...
The King of Arundel is a bit eccentric. King Arundel created a scavenger hunt event about four years ago. A blue teardrop jewel is hidden every year. Those that find the jewel are allowed one wish from the King. That wish could be anything from alleviation from taxes for a year, or a substantial amount of reward money, and or even a day of being King for a day.
The last one is pushing it a little...
It is supposed to be a bit of fun for everyone, but there has never been a person who has been able to successfully find it before. Even if they did, it would usually be impossible to get.
In my first life, I remembered actually solving the riddles made by the King concluded that that there was a jewel in the eye socket of a stone bird in the Statue of Gisela located in the main town square. The climb looked brutal for even the most talented Knights. Since I did not have a wish, I let it be for anyone else who could find it. In the end, no one found the jewel.
I plan on taking that jewel for myself this year and having my wish granted.
My plan was to wait it out until the night where there is a lower chance of an audience gathering and climb up the Statue of Gisela with a rope and grappling hook I made when I was an apprentice blacksmith over one summer.
I found a spot in the shade under a large tree and opened up a book.
"Excuse me, do you happen to have any change?" a young man asked me. "I would like to buy a banana crepe, but I do not have suitable change."
I looked up from my book and saw that a young nobleman with long golden hair and deep green eyes was standing before me. It was His Majesty King Arundel himself!
I quickly handed him some change.
"This is all I have..." I said trying to sound as masculine as I could.
I was wearing male clothes and had my hair tucked into a hat just in case I ran into Erik or someone I did not want to meet. It has only been five minutes since I sat down in the town square and I had met His Majesty himself.
"Let me give you something as compensation," His Majesty said.
"No need," I said as I tipped my hat slightly.
Please do not notice me...
"...Thank you very much then," he said as he went on his way.
I gave a sigh of relief.
"...He's gone."
I wonder why he is out without any guards? The adults in this nation are all so strange.
"I brought some guava juice," His Majesty said as he returned moments later.
"W-W-Why are you back?"
"I found some spare change deep in my pockets, so I came back to return your money and bring you a drink as well," he said as he handed me a cup. "You seem like you could use a drink."
This King is so odd...
"Let me at least pay for my drink then," I said.
"What kind of adult would I be if I let you pay for a drink I one sidedly bought for you?"
You did just take my money...
"Thank you very much then, Your Majes...kind Sir."
"What are you doing out here?" he asked as he sat beside me.
You are sitting with me?
I feel like screaming internally.
"I wanted to get some light reading done," I said as I showed him my book.
"...Is this poetry?" he asked as he closely examined the book.
Looking at him closely like this reminds me a bit of Garett's quiet personality with Prince Erik's looks.
"Have you read it before?" I asked him.
"No... my son likes to read these type of books."
I liked King Arundel very much in my first life. He reminded me much of my own father, so I often found solace by his side despite the often power hungry environment. Prince Erik never seemed too fond of him since he often felt pressured to be perfect at a young age. They settled their differences eventually, but it would not be for a long time.
I am just glad that he is willing to pay attention to Erik even in this life.
"Are you close with your son?" I asked him.
"I am not sure by what close means...We are related by blood, yet he resembles more of his mother in the ways that they are compassionate. Without our only blood connection, I have no other way of getting close to him. There are times where I am not able to understand him and question if our relationship will always be like this," His Majesty said. "Maybe he actually holds a deep hatred towards me..."
"You can always try understanding him," I said as I handed him my book.
"...You are giving this to me?" he asked with widened eyes.
"Books are meant to be shared after all."
"Thank you," he said with a smile as he got up from the ground. "I am going to go home and read it with my son."
"Good luck," I told His Majesty.
I will probably never see that book again...At least it will be going to the current Prince Erik.
It was not until another hour later that I realized that the event would be announced until tomorrow morning...
With the announcement that the jewel had been hidden and the release of the riddles on its way, the capital became a very merry place. Business became a bit slow as a result of half the population was desperately looking for the jewel.
I was able to secure a patio seat at a very popular restaurant quite easily without having to use my name since it was so empty.
"...You are the same person from yesterday," His Majesty said.
He is here again?
I had changed my clothes, but wore the same hat as yesterday, yet he still found me again.
I dressed as a male, while His Majesty wandering about a second time in a row without his guards. I wonder who is the more sane person among us...
"Would you like to take a seat?" I offered him.
He seemed like he was going to take it anyways...
"If you do not mind..."
I waved my hand. A waiter arrived with some Earl Grey tea and some scones with heavy cream on the side.
"I hope that you do not mind that I already ordered for you," I said.
He stared at his plate for a short while.
"These are all of my favorites," His Majesty said.
I suddenly choked on my tea out of the realization I picked his favorites out of my past life's habit.
"What a coincidence...Was the book interesting?" I asked him in order to change the topic.
"It was so interesting that I finished it in one night."
His Majesty's expressions are even more difficult to comprehend than my father's.
"I am glad that you found it interesting."
"...I gave the book to my son yesterday since you said that books are meant to be shared. He seemed very happy about it."
I felt a smile incoming on my face.
"That's great."
If Prince Erik and His Majesty can find common ground even faster than the first life, it would be a happy thing.
"Are you engaged?"
I accidentally spit out my drink.
"E-Engaged?"
"It is too bad that I do not have another child to offer marriage to you. If only he wasn't engaged..."
"Don't you only have a son?"
He took a sip of his tea.
"...Is that a problem?"
I am dressed as a boy...
"I am not looking to be betrothed..."
"You are still young. One day that answer will change."
"It is because I am young that I am not yet able to fully make clear decisions. My answer will change, but my immaturity still stands."
"...You are a rather sensible child."
"...Thank you."
A sensible child would not be sitting so comfortably across from you and having a conversation like this.
"I just wonder why a sensible child like yourself is reading in a place like this?"
"I happen to like reading at this restaurant."
"You were not sitting here yesterday."
"...Must I always sit in the same spot to read?"
"People generally choose quiet places to read, yet you chose to come here two times in a row."
"I think it is a bit more odd for an adult to spend much of their time with someone my age."
"I am waiting to pass the time for someone to solve the riddle here. You just also happened to be here."
"The riddle?"
"The riddle to the scavenger hunt... It was created by me after all."