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Even Eleanor herself did not know how long she had walked. She wandered around the castle like a ghost with nowhere to go. None of the voices that called out to her reached her. She tried to clear her head, but her brain remained cluttered.
The white crown made from countless clovers, which she kept clutching without thinking about anything, had now become disordered and slightly shriveled.
Eleanor leaned her head back and looked at the sky. Spring constellations were already twinkling in the night sky, which was a mixture of purple and black. Before she’d realized it, night had already descended.
“……”
Eleanor found even the twinkling stars depressing. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and strength filled her tight-lipped mouth.
“Ah. I must be cursed.”
Eleanor said, cursing her own fate.
“And it was my first love. I doubt I’ll ever feel the same again. Why was I born a girl? Why wasn’t Lady Seletina born as a man? Why am I a princess? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why!!! WHY……..”
Eleanor tightly clenched her fists. She was envious. She was envious of her brothers who could clearly voice that they liked Seletina. Of her brothers who had the right to marry Seletina.
Eleanor had been fooling herself. She’d wished to experience the heated romance between the knight and the princess. She’d completely forgotten the facts that she was a royal and that Seletina was a woman.
Eleanor was ashamed of her own stupidity. After all, it wasn’t that hard to figure out that her getting with Seletina wouldn’t happen.
“No… I already knew it…”
Eleanor sat on a small bench in the courtyard. As she did a faint creaking sound echoed, followed by a stillness.
Eleanor had known it. She’d know that her first love would not bear fruit. However, despite that, she had turned a blind eye to the truth and had closed herself off from reality, simply chasing the irresistible fruit in front of her.
Eleanor could not have resisted its temptation.
“I-I-I just love her…”
Eleanor mumbled.
“Who do you love, Princess Eleanor?”
Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the voice calling out to her. She could clearly feel her blood rise to her head. Eleanor slowly lifted her head up.
Before her spread golden hair which reflected the moon’s rays. Eyes as blue as the deepest parts of the sea and clear as the purest crystals. Eyelashes that were curved towards the sky, a slender nose, and cheery-red lips that were small yet moist… Even a goddess would be envious of Seletina ul Gold Aldelight’s beauty.
The beautiful face completely filled Eleanor’s vision. Her heart beat fast. Her head began to pound and she felt herself shrink.
Seletina, who was completely oblivious to all of this, smiled and put a stole over Eleanor’s shoulders. Softly, the sweet scent of Seletina tickled Eleanor’s nostrils.
“Although its warm during the days, the nights are still cold. You’ll catch a cold if you stay in the courtyard dressed so lightly.”
“It’s fine. Idiots don’t catch colds.”
Eleanor said while pouting and turned away. If she didn’t, Seletina would surely see her blushing face.
“That is ridiculous. You are a very bright individual, Princess Eleanor.”
“……”
“Did something happen?”
Seletina asked, sitting down next to Eleanor. Her gold hair fluttered at the corner of Eleanor’s eyes.
“N-No, nothing.”
“Why do I find that hard to believe? If you’re okay with it, I am willing to listen.”
Seletina said with a gentle tone, slowly making her way inside and crumbling the wall of Eleanor’s heart.
“This is merely an if story, but…”
“But?”
“What would you do if the person you fell in love with turned out to be a person that you shouldn’t actually love.”
Eleanor asked in a trembling voice, her face looking straight down. Seletina, in turn, looked a bit troubled and couldn’t help but scratch her cheek.
Seletina had offered to hear Eleanor out, however, when it came to love Seletina wasn’t exactly an expert. She honestly felt as if she’d played herself.
“A-As I said. This is merely an if story. You don’t need to think so hard about it.”
Finally raising her face, Eleanor looked at Seletina and smiled. However, her smile seemed somewhat forced.
This is not Eleanor’s usual smile. Something must have definitely happened. Even if it’s just a tiny bit, I really want to help her.
Seletina carefully chose each word, aiming to provide a sincere response.
“If you are unsure about the person you like… for example, because he’s already in a relationship with someone else or because of your differences in status, I, personally, would not recommend you pursuing that person.”
“I-I see…”
A heavy darkness appeared over Eleanor’s smile.
“However,” Seletina continued, “if you say that you wish to pursue that person no matter what and want to be with them despite everything, then I will wholeheartedly support you, Princess Eleanor.”
Seletina said, taking Eleanor’s hands to try and give her courage. They were soft and very lady-like hands.
Eleanor looked up and down at her hands and Seletina.
“A-Are you being serious.”
“I am.”
“Serious, serious?”
“I am your knight, Lady Eleanor. I would never lie to you.”
Seletina said with a smile.
Aahh… How can you be so cruel?
Something began to well up in Eleanor’s eyes.
If you say such sweet things, If you’re so kind to me,
A silence fell.
The chirping of spring night insects faded into a lonely silence.
“……”
Eleanor fell into a momentary pause before releasing Seletina’s hands and standing up abruptly. She swiftly masked her tear-stained face with a forced smile.
“Thank you, Lady Seletina. I feel somewhat better.”
“Really? I’m usually quite bad at these things.”
“No, no! That’s so not true! I’m definitely going to be back to the usual Eleanor starting tomorrow!”
That’s right, starting tomorrow I’ll be back to normal. Starting tomorrow. That’s why for tonight I’ll let myself love her.
Eleanor took the flower crown that she’d left on the bench and placed it on her head.
“Fufu. How does it look? I made it myself. Lovely, isn’t it?”
“It is. It’s most perfect. To be frank, I’ve never made one myself.”
“Oh my, then how about we make one together next time? I‘ll teach you how to do it, and we’ll have you put it on. I’m sure a crown will suit you perfectly, Lady Seletina.”
Eleanor said with a broad smile, while wearing the clover crown that she was supposed to give to Seletina.
The clover’s message in the flower language was ‘Think of me.’
The white flowers1 glistening underneath the moonlight were slightly wilted and damaged.