Taming Her Highness the Princess

19 – Past and Future (2)

Jeniel fell into a deep dream while Irea cried and expressed her feelings. No, it was more like a memory from the past than a dream.

“…… Why did you follow me?”

It was an old cabin. There was Jenial in a cabin that had been neglected for so long that it was impossible to find the atmosphere of human life even after washing your eyes.

Blood was streaming down Jenial’s back as she exhaled heavily with her back against the wooden wall. His wounds were shallow, but he would be in bad shape if left unattended.

Irea took a step closer to heal Jeniel’s wounds, but Jenial only growled ferociously as Irea approached him.

“Your Majesty! Didn’t I ask why you followed me!”

Irea’s feet stopped at that cry. Ireah pondered for a long time on what to say, but she opened her mouth with difficulty.

“…… She heard that lightning struck the islands. It’s not natural lightning, and several people have been killed by that lightning. When I heard the news, you were the first thing that came to my mind. Because the only person who can use that kind of magic alone is you, if not your father, the archmage.”

Jeniel closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. It seemed that the counterattack from the surprise attack of the Red Moon Castle had reached Irea’s ears before she knew it.

But the emperor of the empire shouldn’t be in a place like this. After hardening her resolve and opening her eyes, Jeniel tried to drive Irea away while breathing heavily.

“Turn around and leave immediately. And don’t look for me again. That is the only way for Your Majesty and I to live.”

“Even if I don’t press so hard, it won’t last long. Ruinel.”

When Ireah glanced down, Ruinell, who was looking down at Jenial next to her, walked forward. Ruinel put down the medical box containing medicine and medical tools next to Jenial and stepped back.

“It is a medical box containing the medicines you need right now. Also, you don’t have to worry about tracking. Did you secretly leave the imperial palace without informing anyone? I also told the guards to investigate the opposite side of where you are, so it should be fine for a while.”

At Irea’s words, Jenial laughed softly. Now that it’s come, it’s because Irea didn’t understand that she was doing her favor for no reason.

“I don’t know what to do with you taking care of me when the relationship between the ruler and the god is over. Is this your Majesty’s way to wash away your guilt?”

Irea’s eyes are pensive at Jeniel’s remarks. Irea, who was looking down at Jenny Earl with her half-open eyes, opened her mouth after her hesitation.

“I don’t think so. Sometimes…… I imagine a future where I didn’t push you away. Me, who would have listened intently to the lessons without speaking harshly to you, without giving you false orders.”

If so, would you and I be walking on different paths now? Irea, who muttered so much, continued her words pathetically.

“…… Even if I say this, it will only make you angry. As you wish, I will let you go away, so seal the wound well and treat it. Next time we meet-“

“There is no next.”

Thanks to Jennie Earl, who flatly refused, Irea gave her self-help smile. Even though she knew Jennie Earl’s reaction, her heart ached.

“Yes. I see.”

After she tried to answer calmly, Irea turned her body and walked towards the door of her cabin. Jenny Earl, who was staring at Ireah, who was moving away from her, was overcome by an unknown feeling in her moment and spoke to her.

“…… You’ve gotten used to the way you talk.”

When you become emperor, your tone should be serious and not frivolous. Since that was Jeniel’s last class, Irea had been insisting on this stiff tone since becoming emperor.

Although I am grateful that Jenial acknowledged that fact, I felt only more sadness when I realized that these words came from the mouth of someone I would never see again.

Irea took a deep breath and raised his head. He fixed his gaze on the full moon through the open door and answered as calmly as possible.

“I learned from you.”

But she couldn’t help the bite mixed with her voice.

*

Jeniel woke up and took a deep breath. He feels his mind clear as the fresh air fills his lungs.

It was only then that Jenny Earl looked out of his window and realized that it was a dark evening. Jenial, who was somewhat absent-mindedly appreciating the starlight outside the window, tried to stand up but was startled.

His hands are heavy. It wasn’t just heavy, it was difficult to move. The feeling seemed to be slowly disappearing, so Jeniel looked back in bewilderment and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Huh… ….”

Irea was holding her own hand tightly and leaning her head against her as she tried to sleep. She must have fallen asleep from weeping, seeing the clear marks of her tears on her face.

That was what Jeniel was proud of. It was because Irea, who hated leaving the lotus palace, personally came all the way to this place and took care of her until late in the evening.

Those who have done nursing know that it is a very hard and exhausting job. In particular, it was not easy for her to keep by the side of someone who was in a coma and unable to say anything.

Even so, Irea continued to be by her side. Jenial, who was grateful for that, smiled lightly and opened her lips with difficulty.

“Your Highness.”

The voice does not come out properly. How long have you been lying here? After coughing a few times, Jeniel caught his breath and spoke again.

“Your Highness. Wake up.”

But there is still no movement. Jenny Earl, who judged that this uncomfortable stalemate would continue, raised his other hand and gently grabbed Ireah’s cheek.

“Please stand up. My hand hurts.”

I haven’t woken up even though I’ve made it this far. Unable to do so, as a last resort, Genial pulled Ireah’s cheek lightly. Her soft cheeks stretch like her cheese.

“Professor Woo… ….”

Ireah still didn’t think to open her eyes. Just as she now thinks there is no real way, her door slowly opens.

“Your Highness. Now you have to go back to the lotus palace. Your Majesty will be worried…….”

Ruinel’s steps stopped as she entered the room. It was because Jenial, who was in a coma, was pinching Irea’s cheek, not being able to wake up.

“What is this…….”

I am at a loss as to whether I should congratulate Jeniel for waking up or point out the disloyalty that is pinching Irea’s cheek. Jenial looked at Ruinel and said calmly.

“It just went well. Please, take Your Highness and return. At this rate, my hands don’t bleed, so I’m going to lie down sick again.”

“Ah. All right.”

Ruinel, who quickly came to his senses, put his hands in Irea’s armpits and raised her up. It looked like a cat caught in someone’s hand…… Jeniel didn’t care much.

“You seem to have just fallen asleep, so go back to the Lotus Palace and put her on the bed in the bedroom.”

“Is that okay? Your Highness wanted to see the professor get up.”

“It’s okay. If my professorship isn’t revoked, we’ll meet in the next class anyway. There is no need to rush, as we will be able to solve the unanswered questions at that time.”

Well, Jenial’s words weren’t wrong. Ruinel nodded his head, turned around, put Irea on his back, and walked toward the door.

Then I suddenly stop and look back at Jeniel. It was because he felt that he had not been able to convey what he should have said.

“Me, professor.”

The eyes meet each other.

Feeling apologetic somewhere, Louis Nell bowed his head seriously.

“Thank you very much for saving Her Highness.”

I tried to say something, but it was nothing.

“I just did what I was supposed to do as Your Highness’ educator.”

Ruinel felt a strange respect for Jenial, who spoke indifferently. But he couldn’t show it off, so he just lowered his head again and left the room.

*

Late at night, Seryl returns to her mansion in a black dress with her cape on. Cheryl was groaning as she cradled his stack of papers.

Seryl, who could not give up both nursing care and work, brought all the police reports provided by the inspector who was collaborating with the case file in the office in order to start working from home tomorrow.

It was quite a lot of paperwork for her small and delicate frame, but Seryl did not call a separate servant. This is because he was reluctant to expose his case files to others.

Seryl, who was crossing the front yard of the mansion, came to a halt before long. It was because he had found Jennie Earl in a flower bed not far away.

With a bandage on his shoulder and a splint on his arm, Jenny Earle was leisurely admiring the hyacinths in the flower bed in the moonlight.

That embarrassed Seril. It was because it didn’t make sense to me that Jenial, who was supposed to be lying on a bed, was outside.

Are you dreaming right now? Or hallucinations? These days, the amount of time he sleeps has decreased and he has been working and nursing at the same time, so he could have seen enough things.

“Ah.”

But when Jenny Earle, who thought it was a hallucination, turned towards her, Seryl recognized that he was her living brother.

“Ceryl. You’re struggling until late. Rather, come over here and take a look at this. Your favorite hyacinth has bloomed so beautifully…….”

His hands gave out and he lost his bundle of papers. At that moment, the wind blows, and the papers protruding from the fallen paperwork are scattered in the air.

But Seryl only looked at Jenial. His feet went out before he thought, and when he came to his senses, he was already running towards Jenial.

Eventually, Seryl arrived at a short distance and opened her arms to hug Jenny Earl. I do my best as if I want to confirm that this is not a dream but reality.

“Huh, uhm… ….”

It was pitiful to see her swallowing her tears. After hesitating for a moment, Jenial raised her intact hand and lightly patted Seryl on the back.

“I am sorry that I have worried you. But now that I’m all better, I don’t have to worry anymore.”

“Nu, who was worried…….”

It seemed like he was trying to deny it, but his cries were so clear that everyone was exposed. Seryl, who hiccupped and barely held back his tears, let go of the hand that was holding Jenny Earl and took a step back.

“Cee…… If you wake up, at least say something in advance. Then I would have quit my job and returned to the mansion.”

“I didn’t say that because I was afraid. Because your work will be more important than me, who is now okay.”

“Aren’t you stupid? How could work be more important than my brother!?”

Shouting in anger, Seryl looked away from her, her face reddening after a few seconds. For a moment, she was overcome with emotions and she screamed at her own will.

“Hmmm! Are the wounds okay? Is there any difficulty in moving?”

Ceryl tried to get over it, but Jenial didn’t miss the opportunity. A situation arose in which she could bully her younger sister, but as her older brother, how could she go over it?

“I am more important than work. I’m so moved that I’m almost in tears. I didn’t know that my younger brother, who usually just laughs, would think of me this deeply.”

“Stop it… ….”

“It’s really unfortunate that we didn’t record. It was to the point where I wanted to make it into an heirloom and carry it around.”

“I told you to stop.”

Cheryl glares at Jennie Earl with her new flushed face. She thought that if she played around a little longer, she would probably get hit, so she decided to take care of herself.

In addition, what Cheryl said was more than enough for Jeniel to understand. Having lost her mother in her childhood, Cheryl had only her father and brother to rely on.

For making Seryl worry, it was as if she had no qualifications as her older brother. Jenny Earl smiled bitterly and felt sorry for Seryl as she opened her words.

“I heard from the employee. That you nursed me with utmost sincerity while I was in a coma. So what are you saying…….”

Jenny Earl puts his hand on Cheryl’s head. Jeniel gently stroked his hair and continued.

“It will be difficult this year because we are busy with work, but next year let’s all go flower viewing together. I will try to convince my father too.”

When she was young, Cheryl, who loved flowers, once told Jennie Earl that she wanted to go flower viewing with her family.

At that time, Jenial had bitterly refused Cheryl’s request. Even though she knows that Seryl, who has been rejected for her request, will swallow tears in the room alone.

So, Jeniel tried to correct that mistake from now on. Seryl also didn’t show any signs of disapproval, as if she knew how Jenial felt.

“Okay. You don’t have to go to flower viewing, so take care of your health from now on. If you lie down sick again, you know that oppa is disqualified. Okay?”

Though she said that, Seryl’s expression brightened even more. Jenny Earl, who was looking at Cheryl patiently, smiled lightly and nodded her head.

“Yes. Don’t mind.”