In a dimly lit room filled with purple pillows and blankets on the floor, a man lay sleeping. In every corner of the room, decorations in various shades of purple adorned the space; dark lavender stones lined the walls, while amethyst crystals, reminiscent of the night sky, hung from the ceiling. With a faint breeze, the door to the room opened. A serious-looking woman in a suit, her short brown hair cascading over her shoulders, entered.
The woman shook her head as she walked towards the bed. "Prince Valen, are you sleeping again?"
From within the blankets, a man with purple hair slowly sat up. This was Valen Prima, the fourth prince. With sleepy eyes, he looked at the woman, his words coming out with effort, as if he had to drag each one.
"What... is it... Yu... me... ko...? Is... something... wrong...?"
The woman's name was Yumeko. She approached the prince with respect, keeping her head held high. "Your Highness, there's only one day left until we arrive at our destination, yet you haven't done any preparations. And your clothes… they're still not ready."
Valen raised his eyebrows slightly, giving her a blank look as if trying to comprehend. "Clothes...? Are they... really... necessary...?"
Yumeko struggled to keep her patience as she continued. "Yes, Your Highness. The Ashar Ceremony is about to begin. This… this is a matter of life and death. The other princes are busy forming alliances, building connections with all kinds of people. But you…"
Valen leaned back into the bed, his gaze drifting back to the amethyst stones on the ceiling. "Ah… too... much... effort..."
Yumeko took a deep breath and closed her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. In front of her was not only a slow-speaking prince but one who seemed entirely indifferent to the world.
Valen slowly opened his hands and looked at her with a faint smile. His eyes were still drowsy, his voice as if he were barely awake.
"Come... Yu... me... ko…" he murmured, gesturing to the empty space on the bed. "Let's… sleep... to...ge...ther..."
Yumeko took a deep breath the moment she heard his suggestion, doing her best not to roll her eyes as she looked up at the ceiling. She had grown accustomed to Prince Valen's carefree attitude since childhood, yet his laziness and irresponsibility still made her job all the more difficult.
"Please don't do this, Your Highness," she said politely. "You need to get dressed and prepare. Today, I have to prepare some documents regarding your security detail. Remember, I'm the one keeping track of all your duties."
Valen, paying little attention to her words, tilted his head, a faint, childlike smile on his face. "You're… tired... Yumeko... Sit… rest… for a while."
Yumeko sighed, shaking her head. This prince, as always, preferred to leave all his responsibilities to her rather than handle them himself. Yumeko had been with Prince Valen since he was a child. She had taken care of his education, his attire, his social circle, and even his personal needs. She still dressed him herself—he couldn't even choose his own clothes properly.
Yumeko spoke, a hint of concern in her voice. "Your Highness, the Ashar Ceremony is an important ritual, one that demands seriousness. The other princes have gained allies, prepared strategies. And you… you're still in bed."
Valen squinted at Yumeko for a moment. "Dress me… then," he murmured. "I'm… ready… however… you… want."
Yumeko took a deep breath, nodding. "Very well, Your Highness. But this time, please… try not to move."
As she helped the prince out of bed, she couldn't help but think that his carefree attitude would one day lead him into serious trouble. To Yumeko, Prince Valen was more than just a duty—he was something special. Perhaps his confidence that she would always set things right was what fueled his relaxed demeanor.
Arranging the fabric in her hands, she began to dress the prince in his magnificent purple robe, fastening each button with care.
Valen lowered his head to look at her. "Yu… me… ko…" he said in a slow, drowsy voice. "If… you… weren't here… what… would I… do…?"
Yumeko paused for a moment, then responded with a faint smile. "Your Highness, let's not think about that."