"So my first impression of you is indeed wrong. You are not really a frail man aren't you? Since it seems you know my identity, would it be proper if you introduced yourself to me."
"Ah princess, you're awake!" The man was startled and fell backwards down to the floor.
"I'm never asleep to begin with." I sighed and stood up. "What's your name?"
"Nicholas… Nicholas Castellion, your highness."
"Hmm… A Castellion huh. Perhaps a son of Duke Castellion of the North of the Empire. I didn't know that he had a third son."
"You know about my father?"
"What a stupid thing to ask."
He flinched at my words. "Of course, as a royal I should be aware of every important nobles of other kingdoms, especially the imperials. Not only that, you're father is a well known and frightening general during the warring times of the empire."
Just thinking about how mother made me memorized all the appearance and names of the Raven Empire hah.
"That's right, the Duke was indeed famous." Something flashed in his eyes as he glanced down. But I didn't asked any further and divert the conversation to another topic.
"How long are you going to stay like that on the floor?" I raised a brow.
"Ah right." He then looked at me, with expectant eyes for some reason. Is he expecting me to lend him a hand to stand up?
We stared like that for a moment, before he grew embarrassed of himself. His ears started to redden. Realizing that I had no intention to help him up.
He stood up as he fixed his attire and dusted some dirt away. The air was filled with an awkward atmosphere as he did that.
Hmm… now that I noticed, he was a head taller than me.
Whatever. He seemed completely fine now.
I walked past him and stopped just on his right side. "I am not a kind person. I just pay my debt to you, of saving my life." I muttered enough for him to hear. "Now we are even. Don't expect anything from me anymore."
"Did you hear everything I said?" I noticed how Nicholas' shoulders trembled. I don't know whether this was an act, or he was just too honest of his emotions. But with the words he spoke, I could sense something sinister on it. That I couldn't help but doubt every bit of his words now.
Something that I was very familiar with, living as a royal in this world.
Hatred.
***
"Princess Yvette, you're kind. Unlike me."
"Since I have saved you, I hope this will not be the end of our encounter."
***
And a deep one at that.
"I said before, I am never asleep to begin with." I marched at the other side of the room and took a seat.
A son of a Duke that was unheard of. There could be a lot of stories behind that. However, there were all not a good and happy ones most of the time.
Getting involved with him, could be a double edged sword. He looked harmless, coward and frail at first sight. However…
It seemed there was more to it. I don't want to doubt someone who saved me. However, it was better to not get involved with someone like him further.
"What are we going to do now?"
"Rest until the event was over." I took another seat at the other side. Only the bed was separating us.
"I see."
There was a brief silence in the air. "But do you think I will be alright? I don't have any cards with me." Nicholas tried to start another conversation.
"In your right side pocket."
"My pocket…" Nicholas checked the right side of his pocket and his eyes widened in surprise to see the 2 clubs there.
"This! I have my card back. Did you perhaps managed to defeat the maid with scary weapon earlier?"
"No." I answered. It was the truth. I am not the one who defeated her but the level S Shadow monsters.
"Ah I see… But you have a card with you already right?"
"Yes." He must have felt that I didn't want to speak anything further from that.
"Thank you for saving my life and getting my card back."
"Yes."
Another awkward silence filled the room. Which I didn't mind. However I wished that he would not try to talk anything again.
But that only remained as wishful thinking.
"You're highness. I understand that you don't want to talk with me and might be suspicious because of those words I spoke before. I don't have any other intention in saving you. It's what I want and choose to do at that moment."
Nicholas started speaking. I didn't say anything so he continued on with his words.
"I know you might not believe that easily. It's just, I am happy that you don't cause me any harm and try to steal my card despite having none. You even told me to not follow you because it's dangerous."
I told you not to follow me before because I thought before that you would be a hindrance. Sigh.
"And even knowing my identity, you didn't show the usual disgust face to someone who was an illegitimate son…"
That is because I really don't know about you nor being an illegitimate son at all. Well it doesn't really matter to me whatever your background would be.
"Maybe I am just hoping that we can be friends or at least an acquaintance. But it's alright, I am just saying what I want haha. There is no need for the princess to take me seriously. Haha…"
There was another silence that filled the room.
Sigh.
"You can do what you want. But don't push yourself on others to the point that it endangers your life. It's annoying."
"That…" His voice mellowed down. "I am sorry if I ended up causing you trouble in the end."
I didn't say anything afterwards.
I brushed his sacrifice as an annoyance. This should serve as a point that he shouldn't do such a dangerous act the next time around.
I am sorry but I won't thank a person who was willing to throw away their life because of me. Whether it was mixed with other intentions or not.
I won't tolerate such acts.
***
Some past life memories flashed to me as I closed my eyes.
"Why? Why did you not say to us that you have cancer? Why did you endure it all until it's too late now?"
"I don't want to lose my work and burden you all because of my treatment. We have kids that we need to support, I don't want to cause them trouble."
"Our children… They are still so young! They still need you!"
That was the first time I heard mom and dad fighting as I hid behind the door. And soon our family started to show drastic changes.
Until the day dad died due to his leukemia that was already in the late stage of cancer.
*
And some memories of my lifetime here flashed.
"Your highness, I'm glad that you are safe."
"No. Lena, please. Please don't die like this."
And my personal maid who was assassinated right in front of my eyes when I was seven years old.
***
In this lifetime or even in the past life, it was the same. It's too painful and aggravating on how people could throw away their lives that easily.
***
〔Event Time: 10hrs: 43mins: 34 secs.〕