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Episode 76: The White Flags of Welcome
“Rixus, what are all these magnificent carriages…?”
As if in an official procession, a large number of carriages and knights were lined up.
The horses driving the carriages, and the horses for the knights, all looked very healthy.
It was a procession that showed the dignity, authority and nobility of the imperial family.
I wasn’t very sure what kind of magic was on it, the black carriages were gently scattering light.
It was incredibly beautiful and splendid enough to overwhelm most people just by looking at it.
“I thought I should say hello to the people for a moment.”
“……What?”
All of a sudden, I was nervous.
‘This is the first time we’re checking public opinion.’
It was not the pretentious opinion of the nobles in the narrow Imperial Palace.
But the raw reaction of the people.
I would be able to see their reaction, what they thought of the new ‘Crown Princess’.
“…It’s a little abrupt, Rixus.”
In my imagination, the faces of people throwing rotten tomatoes, raw eggs, filth and spitting came to mind.
I deliberately did not read articles written by reporters.
I didn’t even check what rumors were written about the queen from the distant Spinel.
It was because I thought I would lose the courage to endure in the Imperial Palace if I read it.
“Berylia.”
Rixus grabbed my hand and held it tight.
“Now, they’re your people.”
“…….”
“It’s about time you meet.”
My chest was pounding and I suddenly felt like I was going to vomit.
Without realizing it, the truth came out.
“I’m nervous.”
“You’ll be fine.”
His large hand clasped my hands, holding it together.
Then the trembling subsided a little, but the desire to turn around and run away with all my might still did not go away.
‘What if the people hate me?’
I thought I was doing well in Aktoum so far…
‘What good is it if people reject me?’
Opinions formed among the people were very difficult to change once established.
There were still people in Spinel who called me the cursed Odd-Eye who rolled in the swamp.
No matter how well I ran the country, nothing had changed.
No matter how much I loved them.
No matter how hard I tried for their safety and happiness.
Even when I gathered the courage to marry my nemesis.
My relationship with them was nothing but my unrequited love……
In fact, the position of a monarch who bore an unrequited love was very lonely.
It was nothing compared to hugging hundreds of thousands or millions of people alone and struggling.
So I was afraid. To check.
I feared that I would be brutally identified and killed in this country.
“Berylia. Your people are waiting.”
“……”
I took a slow, deep breath and looked at Rixus.
It seemed to be known now.
Why did Rixus suddenly arrange this date?
If it had been scheduled a few days in advance, I would have ruined my daily life by losing sleep at night.
I asked, looking straight at him, a little anxious.
“Rixus, how do I look?”
He bowed politely, took my hand, and kissed it.
“You look like an impeccable monarch, dignified and elegant and majestic, my Queen.”
How accurate… It was the answer I wanted.
“Okay, let’s go.”
I got into the carriage with a shuddering heart and a mixture of courage.
A long horn was heard from the front, and finally, the carriage began to move.
The carriage moved forward as smooth as ice gliding over silk.
I finally found out what kind of magic was placed on the carriage.
However, no matter how steady the carriage was, it felt like my eyes were constantly shaking.
Boom. Boom.
My heart was beating fast and my blood was pulsing.
The entire journey, my mind was like this, turning upside down.
I wanted to run away this instant, but I was also curious about the people’s reaction.
‘Okay, let’s calm down. It’s something I have to go through at least once anyway.’
I knew, but while I said that to myself, my confidence withered.
Should I ask for the carriage to be turned back right now?
“……”
I shut my eyes tight.
By the time my mind was flipped around the ninety-ninth time or so, our procession was almost at the plaza.
In the distance, the noise from the people’s chattering came from the plaza in the distance.
It just sounded like one huge chunk of noise.
Seeing that every single sound was not clear, it was obvious that the carriage had some degree of soundproofing.
“There will be people just around this corner.”
I closed my eyes and bit my lips.
“I want to run away, Rixus.”
Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his gaze on my face.
Soon, the drowsy bass gently soothed me.
“Candy.”
“……”
“Open your eyes and look at me.”
Rixus clasped my cheeks with two tender hands.
But I couldn’t open my eyes properly.
I had closed my eyes for so long that it felt like fear had glued my eyelids together.
Then, a low, dignified voice pierced my heart.
“Berylia Spinel.”
“!”
It was the first time I heard my full name from him.
After my feeble name, the last time of the giant Spinel…
It was a call that reminded me of my place.
The monarch of Spinel should not have been so terrified. Because I was sitting in a seat with a lot of people to protect.
Soon, I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him.
Dark blue eyes like dawn looked at me intently and whispered.
“You are the most capable and wonderful of the monarchs I know.”
He gripped my heart, which was swaying like a boat swept by the waves, with a sincere heart as heavy as an anchor.
“I’m sure the people of Aktoum will like you too.”
…However, the people never gave me back as much as I tried, Rixus.
In the meantime, before I knew it, I could feel that I was in the middle of the square.
The heavy ringing of the earth’s axis could be felt even in the enchanted carriage.
This much vibration…
‘How many people are there?’
My heart kept pounding in sync with the vibrations.
Bzz, bzz… Chunks of the sounds from the street made me uneasy.
Immediately, Rixus grabbed my hand and shouted.
“Open the window.”
‘Oh my God, my God.’
I felt like I was going to vomit out my heart, and my hands were sweating.
My ears buzzed like there was tinnitus, and I couldn’t hear properly.
‘Even if I receive insults and criticism, I have to open my eyes and accept it.’
‘Don’t look rude even if you’re insulted. They’ll bite you even more miserably when you’re embarrassed.’
“……”
I took a deep breath and lifted my eyelids.
In my sight, which had been blurred for so long, I could see a glimmer of new white fabrics fluttering in the air.
Hundreds or even thousands of them gathered to form a pure white wave.
“Ah……!”
That white wave was the flag of my castle, ‘Spinel’, which hangs heavily on my name.
It was the flag of ‘Spinel’.
Only then was I able to catch a glimpse of the thousands of people.
Tanned farmers, muscular blacksmiths. A woman carrying a water jar and a girl holding a heavy item. Even children with nosebleeds…
Everyone was waving Spinel’s flag with a smile as bright as the summer sun of Aktoum.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound that could shake the earth’s axis poured into my ears.
“Wah-aaaaaaaaaah!”
The cheers of the people made my ears numb.
Thrillingly, it felt like a certain shiver wrapped around my body and penetrated my soul.
Seeing the people cheering for me all at once gave me goosebumps all over my body.
“Your Majesty, please look at this!”
In the midst of the noisy and complicated crowd, this was all I could tell—
—They truly welcomed me.
Colorful petals flew towards me in the wind.
It felt like I was dreaming.
Rixus whispered.
“Berylia, everyone seems to love you.”
Tears welled up in my chest, and I tried to hold back.
Ah… At least in this country, I could avoid having a lonely unrequited love.
I showed my face, smiled, and waved to as many people to please them as much as I could.
“There are many people who support your policies.”
“……”
“I read in the newspaper this morning, ‘Establishing a Medical Center’ for the common people was on the front page.”
“…How did the reporter know of that news already?”
Articles were published just in time on the day of the procession like this.
“Well.”
Rixus replied lightly and shrugged his shoulders, but I knew.
Who planned this.
It could only be the man sitting next to me.
It was really strange. I never used to be like this… I felt like I was getting more and more greedy.
The maids who always cared for me no matter how different I look.
People who welcomed me with their entire body.
Even Rixus, who didn’t know how to hide his feelings of love and gave love to others.
Without realizing it, I had more and more things.
The more I realized it…
I didn’t want to die.
I wanted to live more earnestly than ever.
Every time I had greed, hope and expectation, I faced a miserable death, but I couldn’t stand this feeling at all.
I was anxious, but happy.
Even though I knew it was greedy, I was so desperate that I could cry.
“…….”
I swallowed the scorching heat rising up my throat.
Then I quietly asked Rixus.
“Rixus, can’t we close the window of the carriage?”
“If you shut it down now, your image will be greatly diminished.”
I said reassuringly.
“I’m glad. You look so charming right now…… I would have almost kissed you if the window was closed.”
“Should I break the window?”
I forgot that I was restraining myself from crying and burst out laughing.
‘…Fool, why break the window? You’re too aggressive.’
Perhaps he was in such a hurry that he thought of the extreme, Rixus came to his senses and said,
“Close the window.”
“You said I’ll lose my image, so I can’t.”
I pretended to be cool, then smiled and walked a little closer to the window.
“Your Majesty, please look at this!”
Towards the cheering people, I made eye contact with each and every one of them as if reciprocating with all my heart.
“……”
The more I saw the people welcoming me, scattering colorful petals, the more touched I was.
As if they had already become my people, I felt affectionate.
In this life, I wondered what kind of crown princess I would be to these good people.
In history, I had always been a wicked woman who would destroy the world and was killed by the hero.….
I was always just a wicked woman who occupied a piece in the epic of the hero, in which Rixus was the main character.
However, in this lifetime, I felt that I wanted to remain as a good person to them.
No, it would definitely stay that way. I swore deeply in my heart.
“I’m so happy.”
‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve felt this way.’
“…I don’t think I’ll ever forget this feeling for a long time, Rixus.”
Rixus finally smiled and grabbed my hand.
“Now these days will become your daily life.”
Then he looked into my eyes and whispered.
“Get used to being happy.”
I laughed as if crying.
It was the warmest words I had ever heard in my life.
Would I really be allowed to live like that?