Chapter 8
After what felt like longer than fifteen minutes, Hyejin was finally able to catch sight of the little girl who ran out earlier. She had no idea that she had caused chaos amid the faeries as her sole focus was finding the little girl. The earlier guilt was killing her and urging her to amend her mistakes. She wasn't sure how to amend the mistakes yet, but some things are meant to be figured out when they happen.
From the back view of what she could see, Hyejin saw the princess sitting on bench, her short legs not able to reach the ground. She swung her legs back and forth and seemed in an okay mood overall.
Hyejin was about to open her mouth to call for Vyriana but paused when she saw another figure sitting next to her. The figure was masculine and tall, had long, silver hair, and wore white clothes. His clothes were a bit foreign than what Hyejin had seen at the castle and the funeral, but they were still extravagantly simple. Even from a distance, she could see that the cloth was probably expensive silk that would cost a year of salary for normal people.
She raked her brain for which character had long silver hair and couldn't remember. Hyejin had never expected to transmigrate, so not remembering every little detail wasn't a fault. Out of all the novels she had read, including outstanding ones that she favored due to their plot, her soul had ignored the amazing ones and decided on a cliché one.
A true tragedy.
But no matter how much she pushed herself, she couldn't think of a character with his characteristics. Possibly another minor character like hers, but not important enough to remember. She wouldn't have remembered Queen Asielle either, had the novel not been focused on a vendetta for her. Yes, the princess had spiraled away from that goal, but it was all on a basis for revenge. The unmentionable queen would be like the man in front of her—unknown.
Other characters like Helenda and Alfrek were probably labeled as extras? Hyejin couldn't think of the exact name for them, but essentially, they weren't even named in the novel. However, as this was reality now, they were people too. They couldn't be simply dismissed as servant one or royal physician and had to be named too.
The one weird detail that she noticed about the man was that he was a bit... translucent?
Was that normal for people here?
Hyejin hadn't seen someone translucent yet, but maybe she wasn't here for long enough. After all, this world involved heavy use of magic.
"Princess—Vyriana!" Hyejin quickly corrected the way that she called out to the little kid. The little girl already felt terrible, she couldn't make her feel worse. Despite her minimal efforts, Hyejin still refused to simply call out daughter since the whole situation was awkward for her. She hadn't adjusted that well, nor could she guarantee that she could adjust that well in the future, either.
Vyriana and the man stood up and turned around when they heard her, and she could finally see the face of the man. Vyriana shyly stood behind the man's legs and peeked at her mother with red eyes.
Is everyone in this world attractive? Was the first thing that Hyejin thought.
If she had to describe the handsome man in front of her, it would be a marigold with the brilliance of the sun. His eyes were so golden, that anyone would get lost in them. If Hyejin could describe each of the men she had met, the sleeping beauty would be a cold winter, the red eyed man would be a chaotic and windy autumn, while the man in front of her was a gentle summer breeze.
So who is spring? Need a spring flower boy too.
"Asielle..." the man murmured softly as his gaze took in her completely. His light tone was like a man that was seeing his long lost lover. In return, Hyejin looked at him blankly and he shook his head. "So it's true that you've lost your memories."
Hyejin was alarmed that someone was already aware and the man quickly reassured her, "Your condition is still confidential, Vyriana was the one who told me."
"Who are you?" Hyejin quickly wanted to confirm the man's identity. Perhaps his affirmation would allow her memories of the novel to conjure information about him.
"Hmm... who do you think I man?" Although the man was teasing her, she could sense the sadness in his voice. Hyejin stared at him with uncertainty and he merely shook his head, like she had confirmed his thoughts.
"I don't know. I wouldn't ask if I knew. I don't know anything." She babbled. In front of this man who so vividly looked at her with his celestial eyes, she couldn't help but be nervous. There was something about his presence that couldn't be ignored.
He chuckled and turned to the little princess that clung onto him. "You've really changed." Memories could be lost, but the queen's difference in behavior was a refreshing breath of air for everyone but the man.
"Princess, I think it's time that you speak with your mother about what you told me." He patted her head with his gloved hand. Vyriana realized what he meant but she shook her head fervently when the translucent man began to fade away. He had used very high level magic in order for a mirror image of himself to appear so far away from his actual body. Even though it required a lot of energy, he didn't mind wasting it when it was to speak with Vyriana who urgently called for him. Their conversation was important, too; it lead to him finding out about her amnesia.
"Don't leave! Please uncle!" She grasped desperately at his dimming figure. He only gently smiled at her without words and turned back to the queen. He didn't utter any words, but his eyes held a thousand unspoken ones. It was like he had an eternity of feelings to tell the queen, but no matter how much he wanted to speak to Asielle, Hyejin's existence was barrier.
As he finally disappeared fully, Hyejin felt pity for another person that was affected by her arrival. But she still couldn't recall any uncle for the princess and the man who obviously cared for the queen so much. Her blue eyes turned to meet the amethyst eyes of the princess who was now wary. Like a wounded bunny, she wanted to get close to her mother but she was still cautious. She had already cried plenty earlier, so any further actions would just lead down a parallel of tears.
"Vyriana..." She glanced at the pretty doll-like princess in front of her that was doomed to go down a route of escape until her eventual victory of the throne. For such a cute little girl to suffer such mistreatment, it was another reason that Hyejin was determined to give away the throne to the duke. It was best to raise the girl in leisure and without unnecessary worries rather than fight for a power that she could not control.
"I didn't uphold myself with the dignity that you've always taught me. I apologize." The little girl suddenly said, her words completely abnormal for any other eleven year old. Ever since the funeral, she had behaved utterly out of the norm of her usual taught education. "E-Everything..." Vyriana took a deep and shaken breath, "has let me to embarrass our royal name—" she was interrupted by the arms of her mother around her.
Such a display of affection, she had never experienced it from her stern mother. Even though her mother was strict, she was still loving in her own ways. She was highly respected, but never chose to display her love for her in such methods. However, Vyriana's mother was actually embracing her out of her own accord.
Hyejin didn't think about why she hugged the child, nor did she care about her usual careless nature and just wanted to help. Unfortunately, all she could do was awkwardly comfort the princess that yearned for her mother. She didn't know that this was already considered extraordinary for the cold queen.
The mother and daughter duo stayed embracing each other for a long time. Neither was willing to break the moment, especially the young princess who was craving for any type of solace after the constant tragedies befalling on her.
Finally, it was Hyejin who pulled away and grabbed Vyriana's small hand in hers and led her to sit.
"Can you tell me what that man meant by speaking with me about what you've told him?" Vyriana's doe-like eyes widened and she scrunched her eyebrows in worry. She was contemplating on whether or not she should be honest to her mother that didn't even remember her existence.
In the end, but the inquisitive blue eyes of her mother, who looked more attentively kind than ever, she finally revealed her true feelings. "I told uncle about how lonely I was feeling."
Her violet eyes clouded with melancholy and she felt like her mother would judge her for being selfish in the mid of their current problems. Her father was as good as dead even if they were given the false hope that his curse could be lifted and her mother didn't even know her own name.
Instead of her expectations, her mother silently patted her head and shook her head. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't stray to a bad path." Vyriana didn't understand what her mother meant, but seeing the smile bloom on her mother's face, she felt oddly comforted. Such a brilliant smile was nearly impossible with her mother's usual stiffness, so it did take her by surprise.
I won't let you escape the castle to be lonely.
Of course, the princess was feeling down at the moment, but Hyejin was sure that once they started to spend more time together, she would soon forget the heavy emotions and focus on a brighter side.
"By the way, who is that man? He didn't answer my question earlier." If Vyriana had personally admitted her thoughts to him, then he was probably an important person in her life. And with how uptight the princess was taught to be, it meant that it really took a lot to get a word out of her.
But if he was so important, then why wasn't he mentioned and why didn't he help her when she was struggling?
There was certain details that didn't make sense with the essence of the novel, so Hyejin was confused.
"It seems like you've forgotten everything." Yes, yes, we've established that plenty by now. "Uncle is Emperor Mesrah, the emperor of the entire Exreim Empire..."
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Happy Sunday! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you next week!
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