Dahlia returned to the chamber while whining. Her entire body was aching badly after sweeping in the garden. Nylie told her she would massage her back, but Dahlia simply refused. "I need to get out of this dress first," Dahlia murmured and reached the knots of the corset that had cinched her waist.
"But Princess, this is…"
"Can you provide me with a loose dress? Anything will be better than this! I don't wish to die because of suffocation," Dahlia said without listening to what Nylie had to say.
"But noble ladies are used to wearing such dresses, Your Highness. And, in your wardrobe, no such dress exists," Nylie explained to Dahlia.
Dahlia felt like crying and she lay on the bed on the support of her belly. "I want to rest for some time. You should rest as well," she said while moving her legs up and down.
"Why does Princess Dahlia act in such a way?" Nylie wondered and walked out of the chamber.
"Where is Sullivan? I asked him to take me to the market. It seems I need to meet the royal seamstress and ask her to make a few comfortable dresses for me," Dahlia murmured. She reached her hand to her back and lightly hit it with her fist.
"Ahh, I need a good massage. Nylie! Nylie! Can you come inside and massage my back?" She called for her personal attendant.
Instead of Nylie, Sullivan entered the bedchamber. He heard her request and realized her discomfort in the dress. "Let's go to the market," he said.
Dahlia promptly turned her head to look at him and then turned on her back before standing up. "Really? Ahhh," Dahlia winced in pain and grabbed her shoulder. "Why is this body so weak? I feel pain everywhere," she mumbled.
Sullivan gazed at her, getting a bit worried. "Why don't you take a herbal bath?" He suggested.
"I think you are right. However, can you please arrange a loose dress for me? I cannot wear this type of gown anymore," Dahlia requested him and joined her hands.
"I'll arrange one for you," Sullivan assured her. He called for Nylie, who entered but stayed near the door. "Prepare a herbal bath for your mistress," he instructed Nylie. She bowed and left for the bathhouse.
"Sullivan, what do you like in food?" Dahlia asked. She was well aware of the fact how Sullivan was given the leftovers from the kitchen after every royal family member would have their meals. She had read all such things in the novel and every time, she read that her heart would ache.
"Anything that is delicious," Sullivan replied.
Dahlia hummed as she lowered her eyes for a moment. "I will bake a cake for you. I know you like sweet dishes more," she said, meeting his gaze again.
"What is a cake?" Sullivan was confused with that word. He had heard of pies and other sweet dishes, but not a cake.
"Umm… I'll tell you when I bake it for you," Dahlia replied.
"I doubt if you can cook," Sullivan remarked.
"I am good at cooking. My mom used to love it every time I made pastries and cakes," Dahlia stated. The smile suddenly disappeared from her lips as she missed her mother again. "My mom," she whispered and tears engulfed her eyes.
Sullivan noticed the sudden change of Dahlia's facial expressions. He approached her, seeing the tears in her ears. "Why are you suddenly crying?" he queried as he noticed how a tear fell off her right eye.
"I didn't." Dahlia turned around and wiped her eyes using her fingers.
Sullivan wanted to ask her, but he felt they still weren't close enough.
"I miss my mother," Dahlia ended up saying. "I don't know how she is doing." She turned to look at him as tears shed from her eyes. "There wasn't a single day when I didn't see her. Now, she seems to be so far from me," Dahlia stated.
Sullivan didn't know what to say on that. He never experienced the love of a mother, so he didn't know what could be the right response to calm her down.
He heard her sobbing and reached his thumb to her cheek. She stared into his eyes and wiped the tears from her other eye using the back of her palms. "Forgive me for breaking down like this," Dahlia said.
Sullivan pulled his hand back and lowered it. "I don't mind it." He was still perplexed by the way Dahlia talked about her mother. Wasn't she dead long ago? Then, why Dahlia talked as if her mother was alive. This woman was mysterious to him.
'Who are you? It seems you aren't from this world,' Sullivan thought in his mind while knitting his brows close.