Side Story Chapter 14: Message


    <strong>Side Story Episode 14: Message</strong>


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    “Hmm…”


    The cheeks, which had turned pale, soon turned rosy like a peach. Her eyes, sparkling as if zed with syrup, darted about busily, as if she was deep in thought.


    If that man was ck, this child must surely be white. It was that easy to tell. Silently sipping her tea, Tialing swallowed herughter.


    “I want to hear it. I really do…”


    But Melissa was afraid.


    There had been countless times when she clinked sses with n. Following his wife’s lead, he hade to enjoy wine, and Melissa often mixed water or tea with his drink to share with him.


    Nevertheless, she had never seen himpletely drunk. Although n always spoke sweet words, the thought of hearing his unfiltered thoughts made her somewhat fearful.“He said that.”


    But it wasn’t as if she had been asked for her opinion, and Melissa’s hand, which was about to cut the pie, suddenly stopped at the princess’s casual words.


    “He said you make him forget the cold.”


    “Pardon?”


    <strong><em>‘She, Melissa…’</em></strong>


    Suddenly, tialing closed her eyes.


    <strong><em>‘If my life is an eternal winter, she is the one who sprouts and blooms in that winter.’</em></strong>


    When she opened her eyes again, she saw the face of a woman who looked like she was about to cry.


    Even though she had received such passionate love for so long, she still trembled like this. It was amusing. Very amusing, and thus truly fortunate.


    “He looked as if he was unbearably tormented by missing you. It was the most vulnerable I have ever seen him.”


    Melissa somehow bit her lip, overwhelmed with emotion.


    “Anyway, I chose the hairpin based on the assumption that the person he had talked about for years was the same person.”


    “……”


    “I seem to have chosen correctly.”


    Her eyes, like those of a young, innocent animal, flickered transparently. The candlelight reflected in those eyes trembled finely in golden hues. No, was it the joy like stars filling those eyes?


    Melissa, who had been standing still with a nk expression, finally opened her mouth.


    “Thank you for choosing the hairpin for me.”


    “It’s nothing.”


    “But… Did you teach him how to use this hairpin to style hair, Your Highness?”


    <em>To n.</em> Her small voice added with a tremor. It was a trivial matter, but it was a small question she had harbored for quite some time, now finally taking shape.


    Tianling took a sip of her tea and smiled generously.


    “We weren’t that close.”


    “Then, how are you so fluent in Sournean? I thought you must have learned it from him…”


    Tianling remembered. The strange businessman who had crossed the western sea and stood confidently before the Emperor of the continent. His only young son was n.


    In fact, she had taken a liking to that boy from the first time she saw him. If asked why, she couldn’t easily answer, but isn’t that the nature of the na?ve infatuations of youth?


    The unfamiliar businessman and his son had said they would visit regrly. As soon as she heard that, Tianling learned theirnguage. To get closer to him. To have more conversations with him.


    In other words, her wless proficiency in Sournean was all thanks to him. It was also thanks to him that she came to handle all matters beyond the borders in today’s empire.


    Although it took a very long time, it is amusing that the young boy helped hery an important foundation for her future ascension to the throne.


    Of course, she no longer harbour feelings for him. At least, not as a man.


    Regardless of cultural differences or geographical realities, she had epted long ago that she, as royalty, could not be with him.


    So, was there any need to stir the heart of the noble woman who could even melt winter?


    Tianling shook her head slightly and put down her cup. The way she subtly lifted her chin while maintaining a perfectly upright posture exuded the dignity unique to royalty.


    “I epted his proposal and came here to see you.”


    “Me…”


    At some point, she had stopped feeling any hostility from her. Perhaps the princess had never disliked her from the beginning.


    Nevertheless, her words still made Melissa tense.


    “Why me…”


    “n wouldn’t have chosen an unworthy woman, but if he had, I intended to tell him without reservation.”


    “……”


    “When you harbour feelings for someone, you tend to be blind to everything else.”


    Tianling’s voice sounded faint, as if recalling an old memory. And Melissa, who had been blinded and deafened by love for a very long time, understood her words more than anyone else.


    Now, expecting an evaluation of herself, she waited with clenched fists as the princess slowly stood up. Her movements were so quiet that not even the sound of the chair moving could be heard.


    “But you are a lovely woman. I can somewhat understand why n fell for you.”


    Melissa looked up at the woman before her, as if hearing somethingpletely unexpected. Her heart was pounding. The moment felt even more surreal because her eyes resembled the summer night sky.


    In front of her were a half-cooled teacup, an untouched chocte tart, and a pumpkin pie.


    “Your Highness…”


    As Melissa btedly stood up to follow the princess, her chair made a loud, screeching noise.


    With a small frown, Melissa spoke in a regretful voice.


    “Are you leaving already? If I had known you didn’t like sweets…”


    “It’s not that.”


    “Then, do you perhaps dislike pumpkin…”


    “It’s gettingte, isn’t it?”


    The princess looked so elegant and serene as she said this. It was then that Melissa noticed the tightly wrapped belt around Tianling’s slender frame. Her thin wrists were neatly folded over it.


    「Are you outside?」


    At the princess’sposed voice, the attendants outside responded with a shout.


    “It was a wonderful meal. I must be going now.”


    “…….”


    For a moment, Melissa was lost in thought, forgetting even to express her gratitude.


    A noble birth admired by all. Yet, a life where one couldn’t freely enjoy desserts.


    Somehow, her heart felt heavy. The age-old adage that everyone lives by giving up something to protect something else seemed to resonate deeply.


    But if not being able to enjoy sweet desserts was merely a matter of time…


    “Your Highness.”


    Melissa hurried after Tianling as she headed for the door.


    “Would you like to take the desserts with you? When you get back to, um, wherever you’re staying—”


    “The king of this ce has provided a vi.”


    “Oh… Then, please have them with tea for breakfast when you return to the duke’s vi. Yes?”


    At this, the princess quietly looked back at the hostess. The light from the chandelier shimmered quietly over her cold expression.


    “I made them especially for Your Highness to taste…”


    “…….”


    “If you don’t like them…”


    “Very well. I will take them.”


    Melissa’s face, which had been gloomy, brightened at this response. She couldn’t hide the joy that curled her lips into a smile.


    “I thought you were angry because I talked too much.”


    “People of the empire are generally not very expressive.”


    When the princess knocked on the door twice, the heavy dining hall doors swung open. The attendants waiting outside and the mansion’s staff all bowed in unison.


    “Sandra, could you pack the desserts for Her Highness?”


    “Yes, Countess.”


    Smiling brightly, Melissa turned back to Tianling and spoke cheerfully.


    “Please wait in the drawing room for a moment. I’ll bring them right away.”


    “I will guide you.”


    At that moment, n emerged from among the people. Though he appeared asposed as usual, Melissa could tell at a nce how relieved he was.


    Like a ma, she flew into n’s arms. Seeing this, Tianlingughed quietly, almost like a sigh.


    With an air of calm, n wrapped his arm around Melissa’s waist and said, “I’m d you had an enjoyable time, Tianling. The carriage is ready.”


    “Yes, I had a pleasant time.”


    Finding his demeanor both strange and amusing, Tianling covered her mouth with her sleeve as sheughed. He seemed immensely proud to have finally made her his wife after all his efforts. In her memories, he had always been busy hiding something.


    Still, that squirrel-like woman made herugh as well. Watching her treat her husband like the only miracle in her life made her mouth feel sweet, as if she had swallowed a whole chocte tart without eating it.


    “I wonder when I’ll see you again, n.”


    “If you visit the Principality again, we will always have a room ready for you.”


    n said this as he started to walk, followed by Tianling and her attendants.


    “Hah, are you suggesting Ie twice? You should visit us.”


    “I have no ns to visit Hwa anytime soon. With this treaty—”


    “Work, you say? I mean you shoulde with your wife, n.”


    The reception room was adorned with flowers that made one forget the season. As she entered, Tianling, dressed in a sea-blue ceremonial robe, whispered softly.


    “When that timees, I will serve you tea.”


    “As long as it’s not strong liquor, I will gratefully ept, Your Highness.”


    Following her lead, Melissa also lowered her voice to a whisper, as if sharing a secret between the two women.


    Then she looked up at n and saw his face frozen in embarrassment, like a child caught with an old diary.


    Melissa discreetly patted n hip and added in a deliberately affectionate tone.


    “The message has been clearly received.”


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