"Princess," a soft voice tickles my ears. "If I may ask, what is it like being wed to Prince Valerius?"
Aurelia is a curious one, asking questions every half a minute. If it's not about certain people, she asks about my heritage, the dresses, the balls.
I've forgotten how nosy the heroine is throughout the story. It makes sense. She's an outsider to the world of nobility and interrogating a veteran is a good way to provide players with exposition.
Still, it's naive, how much she runs her mouth. Her mannerisms remind me of a carefree child, prodding and poking at everything that captures her interest—a worrisome habit to have.
Ignorance is punished in this world, even more so curiosity.
Aurelia's already experienced it firsthand with Prince Cyrus, Valerius, and the vase. It would benefit her to say less, but I don't have the heart to tell her to shut up.
"He's alright." I answer with a blatant lie. He isn't. The seventh prince is the worst man I know. "We don't know each other that well. Although I do hope the rest of the marriage will be civil."
"You two aren't close?"
Aurelia's eyes are large, fascinated, almost like two swirling pools of lavender. She brushes my hair as she speaks, but it's clear where her attention lies.
"No."
There's not much to say. We aren't close, not because of a long, complicated history but out of genuine resentment for one another's guts.
It doesn't help that I'm destined to die in his hands, which kills the possibility of any companionship between us.
He's going or I am. That's all there is to it.
"Oh, I didn't think.." She pauses, then goes quiet. My interest is piqued almost immediately.
I raise a brow. "You didn't think?"
"Well," Aurelia starts. "I'm not sure if it's my place to say, your highness."
My hair sways when I turn to look at her, brow raised in suspicion. "You can't hook me in only to forbid me from knowing."
Aurelia pales, fingers trembling as if she's said something unforgivable. Her gaze shifts from one corner of the room to another. It's clear that she's weighing her choices.
To say or not to say?
Silence. Then, it's broken with, "The other maids said you've been chasing after Prince Valerius since you two were children."
Really? The visual novel never provided that piece of backstory. Perhaps it's hidden content, information only invested fanatics know.
I was deep into the lore but never that deep.
"I had no idea our relationship was perceived that way."
She frowns. "I'm sorry if I've offended you, your highness."
"It's alright. Please continue to speak freely with me."
There's an awkward atmosphere that follows. I expect Aurelia to, once more, bombard me with a sea of questions. Surprisingly, she holds back her inquiries and finishes my hair with no interruptions.
Afterward, she delivers me my dress, holding it high to reveal the intricate golden details.
I smile in approval and she nods, timid.
No conversation follows.
The tension is unbearable. Although I'm one to seek solitude, I can't stand the current state of the room.
It's quiet. Too quiet.
"Do you have plans tonight? I heard there was a festival in the nearby village." I ask.
She nods, "Yes." Then, quiet again.
That's frustrating. I try again, "Why do you ask?"
"Your highness?" Aurelia replies.
"You asked what it's like being married to Prince Valerius. Why?"
Aurelia's face ripens into an endearing shade of red. For a short moment, I find my heart melting. She really is pure, untainted by the cruel realities of the world.
Is she embarrassed?
Why? Is she interested in Valerius? Has she been having thoughts of marrying him? That isn't ideal for the progression of the story.
"Curious, I suppose." She answers in a meek voice.
Laughter escapes my lips. "The marriage isn't that interesting. Valerius isn't that interesting, truly."
There's some truth to what I'm saying. Out of all the princes, apart from his accomplishments, Valerius is one of the least interesting.
His arc has some shock value, sure. It strays from the usual lighthearted atmosphere of historical visual novels by introducing an element of horror, but in terms of layers and nuance, he has little going on for him.
The appeal of his character is his single-minded obsession, all-consuming and horrific. When a story is addled with blood and madness, there's not much room to inject sympathy.
It's never explained why he is the way he is.
His childhood experiences are barely acknowledged in the story. Almost as if he was born a psychopath, Valerius destroys and takes simply because he can.
"I admire Prince Valerius." Aurelia mumbles, midway into fixing the skirt of my gown.
Oh. That's not a good thing.
Frozen in place, I try to come up with a response that doesn't reveal my personal feelings. How does one approach this?
Forbidding Aurelia from having those thoughts might make her more curious, but encouraging them might lead to my downfall.
It's a double edged sword. One with no handle.
For now, neutrality is the best choice. I need to know more before I can act.
"Why so?" I ask, feigning ignorance.
Aurelia sighs, and with dreamy eyes, answers, "Countless enemy nations have been brought down under his leadership. Prince Valerius isn't just brave, he's a hero."
"I suppose."
There's some merit to what she's saying. Valerius' military prowess can't be disregarded. Endless conquests have been won under his name. In terms of combat and strategy, he has the upper hand on all of his brothers, including Cyrus.
It's no wonder he's inheriting the kingdom's military—he's the one the soldiers look up to the most.
But other than that?
He's crude and ruthless. A true bastard.
I hum. "That's the thing about meeting your heroes. Sometimes they aren't who you want them to be."
Aurelia's smile falls dramatically, replaced by a look that mimics a child's when they find out the tooth fairy isn't real.
Valerius isn't a good man. It's better that Aurelia learns that from me instead of finding out herself the extent of his atrocity. The truth is harsh, but one must learn it before they're put into desperate situations.
"Have you two had a rough relationship?" She asks.
Rough is an understatement. We crush and collide like two bodies of stone intent on seeing who crumbles first. The resentment is gravitational, capable of destroying worlds.
I don't want people spreading rumors, however, and knowing how Aurelia can barely keep her mouth shut, it's best not to be honest.
That's for another day, and preferably with another person.
"I wouldn't say our relationship is rough." I reply, observing my figure in the mirror. Crimson lips, dark hair, and an emerald dress—a striking image of grace and authority.
Aurelia stares with an awestruck expression.
"I'm simply trying to relay my wisdom to you, dearest Aurelia."