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Chapter 3 A Gift

  • AURETTE EVIGHEDEN ROOSEVELT
  • I continued heading to the palace library, but nothing was entering my mind. My thoughts were far too occupied with what I had overheard—there was no more room for new information from the book I was holding.
  • “I wish I never heard that,” I whispered.
  • “Hey, what did you hear?”
  • “Oh my God!” I screamed when someone suddenly spoke behind me and grabbed my shoulder.
  • My heart was pounding fast as I glared at Sevesan, who was now clutching his stomach and laughing uncontrollably. If deadly stares could kill, he would’ve already been sprawled lifeless on the floor.
  • “That was priceless, Aurette!” he exclaimed while wiping the corner of his eye.
  • “Huh! There’s nothing funny about it!” I snapped, rolling my eyes and returning my focus to the book I was reading.
  • “You’re reading a book on medicine agai—” I didn’t let him finish and threw another thick book at him, making him groan in pain.
  • I glared at him. “Can you please shut up, Sevesan? Our servant might hear you—or worse, the King! What are you even doing here? You’re supposed to be at the border right now, aren’t you?”
  • He is Sevesan Darkwolf. He is the Marquess of the Ruilux Kingdom and also my friend. We are the same age, which is why we became close so quickly. At the age of twenty, he inherited the position of Marquess of our kingdom after his father, the former Marquess, passed away two years ago. In fact, he is the youngest member of the Royal Council in our kingdom.
  • “Ouch, you’re so harsh. Can’t I get some rest? And don’t worry about your kingdom, Your Highness, my battalion of Noble Levies is doing their best to protect the borders,” he said, sounding reluctant to call me Your Highness.
  • “Whatever,” was all I said as I returned to reading.
  • Honestly, I was happy to see him here safe. His last visit had been two months ago since he had been busy with his duties as Marquess. I felt so comfortable with him because he was the only person who wasn’t afraid of my title.
  • He talked to me casually and joked around when we were alone, but whenever we were in front of others, we became formal with each other.
  • “What herbal medicine is effective in curing fever?” Sevesan suddenly asked.
  • “It’s tanacetum parthenium. Well, it’s a kind of flowering plant in the asteraceae family. You can dry it first before boiling it into tea or place the leaves on your forehead. It’s effective for headaches, especially migraines,” I replied unconsciously while flipping the pages of my book.
  • We were enveloped in a deafening silence after I said that. Only then did I realize what I had just said. Eyes wide, I slowly looked at Sevesan, who was now staring at me seriously.
  • “Did I just say what’s on my mind?” I asked in disbelief.
  • He nodded. “This is serious, Aurette. You need to be more careful next time. You know the King and Queen will be furious if they find out you're studying medicine even though you’re not a royal healer,” he said firmly.
  • “I know,” I muttered.
  • This is what I want. This is what I’m interested in. I’ve been fascinated with healing since I was a child, when Aldwus got a cut on his finger. Wanting to avoid being scolded, we tried to treat it ourselves without the royal healer’s knowledge, because we were sure he’d report it to the King and Queen.
  • Since then, I’ve been secretly going to the library to read books about medicine. I’ve lost count of how many books I’ve finished. Aside from treating myself when I get sick, I have no other experience in the field since it’s strictly forbidden for us to study it.
  • In fact, Wanda has never even seen me fall ill. She thinks I simply have a strong immune system, but she’s wrong. I easily catch colds, coughs, and other ailments, but I never show it. I treat myself before it gets worse.
  • Thankfully, there are plants growing in the garden that many probably don’t realize can cure various illnesses. That’s why I don’t even need to leave the palace to find medicinal herbs.
  • ༺。° .ᘛ𓆩♡𓆪ᘚ. °。༻
  • A few days had passed since I overheard the conversation between the King and Queen, yet I still hadn't heard anything more about it within the palace walls. There were no whispers, no gossip circulating as if no alliance was about to take place at all.
  • I’ve been restless for days, though I made sure not to show it. I didn’t want them to find out that I already knew about their plan. For the past few days, I had also been planning how I could escape this madness. I can obey everything my parents command—but not this. This time, I just can’t.
  • “You truly are skilled in archery, Your Highness. I’m certain you will become a fine queen, one capable of defending the entire Ruilux Kingdom,” praised my instructor, Miss Sigunda Ludovicus, who came from the farthest kingdom of Yaunus, the Mouvia Kingdom.
  • “I wouldn’t have learned this if not for your guidance, teacher,” I replied sincerely, lowering the bow and arrow I held. Wanda quickly approached to wipe the sweat from my forehead.
  • When my lesson for the day ended, I quickly returned to my chamber to change and rest.
  • I was about to head straight to the bathroom to take a bath, but I froze when I saw a large yet somewhat slim blue box placed on top of my bed.
  • Instead of going to the bathroom, my feet carried me quickly toward my bed. I didn’t know where the nervous feeling in my chest was coming from as I stared at the box.
  • “Wanda, do you know who placed this in my room?” I asked my personal maid seriously.
  • She quickly shook her head. “No, Your Highness. But if you wish, I can ask the other servants if they know anything.”
  • I nodded. “Please do. Thank you.”
  • Once Wanda had left the room, I turned my attention back to the box before me. It was impossible for it to be from the King or Queen, we only had scheduled days for buying or tailoring clothes in the Ezanao Kingdom.
  • Curiosity won over me, and I slowly opened the box.
  • I gasped when I saw a beautiful blue gown. One glance was enough to tell it was worth over two hundred gold coins.
  • Before I could be completely captivated by the dress’s beauty, I noticed an envelope made from high-quality paper. There was no writing on the outside, so I opened it immediately. I took the folded letter and read what was written inside:
  • “For beauty as rare as yours, may this gown remind you of the honor bestowed upon you—to stand beside a king, even if not on a throne.”
  • —King Korigo Kyrarax Cosux of Vulon Kingdom
  • Author’s Note:
  • Pronunciation guide
  • Aurette Evigheden Roosevelt — O-ret E-vig-he-den Rus-velt
  • Korigo Kyrarax Cosux — Ko-ri-go Ki-ra-raks Ko-suks
  • Yaunus — Yaw-nus
  • Ruilux Kingdom — Ri-luks
  • Mouvia Kingdom — Mo-vi-ya
  • Ezanao Kingdom — E-za-naw