EURL CH 07

Chapter 7

I was extremely anxious about what kind of foolish expression I must be wearing right now.

Rubellus’s deep violet eyes curved again.

Why… why is he smiling at me like that?

Normally, whenever he saw me, his expression would turn cold. But since earlier, he has been smiling the whole time. Maybe he’s just in a good mood because he’s becoming Emperor today.

“Do you understand what it means, Aira?”

I don’t…

Just as I blinked again, he tilted his head slightly to the left and looked straight into my eyes.

Then his beautiful lips parted once more, and he continued in a much softer voice, almost like a whisper.

“My secret.”

Ah.

My eyes widened instantly.

That’s right.

I knew Rubellus’s one and only secret.

I glanced at my bracelet, then back at his face. The secret I had learned when I was four years old—and never told a single soul.

Those beautiful violet eyes, like blooming violets, were not his real eye color.

More precisely, they were thin glass lenses crafted by a mage.

Rubellus’s true eye color was—

Like the rubellite hanging from my wrist.

A bright crimson red.

“…”

I swallowed.

I felt like I could speak now, but strangely, I didn’t want to.

I had given up on my one-sided love long ago. I wasn’t saying I still liked him.

I just… wanted to look at his face a little longer.

It had been so long since I’d seen him like this. And this might be the last time.

How many chances would I ever have to see the emperor of a nation like this again?

Ah… perhaps once.

When he becomes emperor and holds a wedding ceremony with another woman.

That woman would learn his secret too.

She would stand much closer to him, worry about him, stay by his side…

A dull ache throbbed just below my chest.

“So, now do you understand?”

At that moment, Rubellus extended his hand gently toward me.

Huh?

I stared at the hand he had offered.

While I had been lost in thought, had I missed something? What was he asking me to understand?

And why was he holding out his hand?

Was I supposed to take it?

For what reason?

I wasn’t falling down. Why was he offering his hand?

As I blinked awkwardly at his outstretched hand, Rubellus smiled again.

I wasn’t imagining it. Today, the Crown Prince was smiling at me far more than usual.

The silence between us stretched awkwardly.

Rubellus briefly furrowed his brows, though the smile remained.

“What I’m asking,” he said, still smiling, “is whether you now understand the meaning of that bracelet, Aira.”

What is he talking about?

I stared at him blankly.

I didn’t understand a single word.

Am I… stupid?

But Rubellus looked completely certain that I should understand.

Look at that subtle expectation in his eyes. It felt like I was supposed to gasp and say, “Oh my, Your Highness…!”

But I had no idea why I should react that way.

What meaning does this bracelet have?

Mother, Father… You don’t need to demand a refund from my tutor after all. I think I’m just not very bright.

I understood the connection between rubellus and rubellite.

The bracelet had rubellite on it.

But this bracelet was from my brother.

Elphine gave it to me.

If he’s suddenly connecting himself to a bracelet my brother gave me, what reaction am I supposed to have?

At that moment, the expectant look on Rubellus’s face disappeared. His expression froze, as if he had just realized something unexpected.

“Aira?”

He called my name much more carefully than before.

I didn’t want to disappoint him.

But I couldn’t lie when I didn’t even understand.

I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath.

“…I—I don’t really understand.”

The moment I said that, all the color drained from Rubellus’s face.

He blinked slowly, as if struggling to process my words.

“…You don’t understand?”

I hesitated, then held up my bracelet so he could see it clearly.

“I know the gemstone is rubellite.”

“Yes.”

“And I know rubellite is the same color as Your Highness’s real eyes. It’s really beautiful.”

“That’s right.”

“But this bracelet… was a gift from my brother.”

“…What?”

His expression twisted instantly.

Oh dear.

The aura around him turned frighteningly intense.

I couldn’t even look at him directly.

My gaze wandered awkwardly before I lowered my head completely.

“This bracelet was my birthday gift. So I don’t understand why it would be connected to Your Highness—I mean, Your Majesty—I mean… I’ll just say, Your Highness. I don’t understand why it has anything to do with you.”

“…”

“Do you know Elphine? He’s my brother. You saw him at the knighting ceremony, right? So…”

Even with my head lowered, I could feel it.

The more I tried to explain, the heavier the atmosphere became.

Rubellus must look like a demon right now.

“Good heavens.”

He muttered in a very low voice.

But to me, it sounded like thunder.

Why?

Why is he reacting like that?

Did I mess up again?

With my head bowed, I began blinking rapidly.

It was a habit I had whenever I was flustered.

This is bad. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place.

I could have hidden somewhere else…

“…I’m sorry.”

In the end, I slumped my shoulders and apologized.

I wasn’t even sure what I was apologizing for.

I just didn’t want him to be angry.

Three years ago, he always looked at me with a blank expression.

But today, he had been smiling at me.

I didn’t want to be the reason that smile disappeared.

Suddenly, my vision blurred.

Oh no.

I’m about to cry.

Panic rose in my chest.

If I cry here, I’ll just look like a foolish girl who bursts into tears without knowing her place.

No. Don’t cry.

Crying isn’t dignified.

It’s been three years. I should act mature.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please don’t be angry.”

“Aira.”

“I—I’ve never seen you smile at me before… so I was surprised. Normally I react better than this… I probably would’ve understood why you’re upset…”

My voice trembled.

So much for being mature. I could hear how rambling I sounded.

It’s always like this.

For some reason, I turn into an idiot whenever I stand in front of him.

Things I know disappear from my mind. Things I’m sure of become wrong.

Just looking at his face makes my brain go blank.

Maybe this is what trauma feels like.

“Aira, that’s not it. You don’t need to apologize. I’m not angry—”

“N-No.”

My shoulders shook as I forced back my tears.

“I understand. I think I do. I—I should go now.”

Even my words sounded strange.

I barely held my expression together.

I’ll just go home and kick the blanket Bianca gave me.

She’s a genius. How did she know something like this would happen today? From now on, if she calls rice barley, I’ll believe her.

“Aira.”

At that moment—

I realized that Rubellus’s face was suddenly in my lowered field of vision.

I lifted my tear-filled eyes in shock.

At first, I thought I was imagining it.

He was much taller than me. How could he be looking up at me?

“…!”

Wait.

He was kneeling on one knee.

My eyes widened.

I even forgot to swallow my tears. A large tear slipped from my eye and fell to the ground.

He was kneeling before me.

One knee on the ground, holding one of my hands in both of his.

His brows were drawn together, and his violet eyes trembled with something that looked almost like desperation.

He spoke, his voice filled with earnestness.

“Aira, don’t cry. Please. I’m not angry at you.”

I must be crazy.

It sounded like he was pleading.

“Please.”

Do I need a hearing test?

I blinked, unable to understand what was happening in front of me.

It was too unreal.

I couldn’t even speak.

If I said anything, I felt like I would wake up from a dream.

Your Highness… Is that really you?

“I—”

“Crown Prince Rubellus A de Jahard.”

Just as I tried to speak, there was a loud rustling in the bushes.

I turned quickly toward the sound.

But Rubellus stood up first, stepping in front of me.

“Who’s there?”