WCB 4

Chapter 4

Lili was sitting in front of a large mirror, getting dressed up.

The entire estate was bustling with excitement due to the prince’s visit.

“The 5th Prince is the only legitimate prince of the Taehwa Kingdom.”

“Though his health is somewhat weak, his bloodline and appearance are unmatched.”

“Could it really be true that he’s visiting to arrange an engagement with our young lady?”

“Perhaps our Lady Lili might become the bride of the Golden Dragon.”

“That’s right! Lady Lili is the only legitimate daughter of the Four Divine Beast Families!”

“Besides, His Highness the Prince is only two years older than our young lady, so their ages are similar too…”

The servant women helping with Lili’s preparations were chattering excitedly, more thrilled than anyone.

Soya could only listen silently from a corner, unable to join their conversation.

Lili’s servant women hated Soya as much as they pitied Lili.

Especially when Lili showed affection for Soya, not knowing she was a wicked child who had stolen her place, they hated and tormented Soya even more out of pity for their kind young lady.

For instance, they would call Soya out to lock her in a dark storage room and starve her, assign her many tasks she couldn’t handle alone, or pinch her in places that wouldn’t show to leave marks.

“Bride of the Golden Dragon. That’s too much of an honor for me.”

When Lili blushed and waved her hands dismissively, the servant women became indignant at their lady’s modesty and raised their voices.

“Too much of an honor? Look in the mirror – you’re so beautiful!”

“You look just like a fairy from old tales!”

“His Highness the Prince would surely fall in love at first sight if he saw our young lady!”

Soya inwardly agreed with their words.

Just as the servant women said, Lady Lili looked incredibly beautiful after getting dressed up.

Especially that brilliant red hair like flames, resembling the master and young master…

“And what about this beautiful red hair that only direct descendants of the Suzaku Family can possess! It’s not a color just anyone can have.”

“Exactly. It’s not a color you can imitate even if you try. Sometimes I worry that some foolish children who don’t know their place might see our young lady and harbor vain dreams.”

The servant women praised Lili’s red hair while subtly glancing at Soya.

Soya understood that the ‘foolish child who doesn’t know her place’ they were referring to was herself, and her face flushed hot.

Fortunately, Lady Lili didn’t seem to notice…

“Oh my, everyone saying such things makes me embarrassed. What do you think, Soya?”

Lili asked Soya with a bright smile.

Soya flinched at that clear smile.

Whenever Lili looked after Soya like this, the servant women’s gazes became sharp.

“Hey, the young lady is asking you a question, so why aren’t you answering quickly?”

One of the servant women painfully jabbed Soya’s side.

That spot was where they had pinched her a few days ago, leaving a bruise.

Soya endured the throbbing pain in her side and nodded.

“Y-yes… You’re beautiful. Very…”

Soya barely managed to answer under the piercing gazes.

“Well, she is incomparably more beautiful than your shabby white hair.”

Giggling laughter followed one servant woman’s casual remark.

“You shouldn’t say things like that, everyone. It’s not like Soya chose to be born that way.”

Lili stopped the servant women with compassionate words.

As she looked at Soya, Lili’s face briefly showed traces of superiority and satisfaction.

“Today, Soya, you’ll attend to me.”

Lili stood up and spoke to Soya.

“What? B-but I…”

Soya asked back in confusion.

Today was the day a very important guest was visiting.

And Soya’s appearance was by no means suitable for appearing before such an important guest.

Even though she must have known this, Lili pulled Soya’s wrist and smiled brightly.

“You’re my most cherished friend.”

Sharp gazes full of jealousy and hatred turned toward Soya.

Lili hummed a tune as she walked.

Soya followed behind with her head hung low, not knowing what to do.

She had planned to avoid drawing attention from her father and brother as much as possible, but she couldn’t disobey the young lady’s command.

From the family head Jeok Ayun to the Suzaku Family’s retainers and household members, everyone from the family had gathered in front of the estate to wait for the prince’s arrival.

“Father! Big brother!”

“Lili’s here.”

“Lili!”

When Jeok Hwayu smiled brightly and spread his arms wide, Lili slipped into his embrace.

“Our Lili, you’re even prettier than usual today? You must have taken extra care because His Highness the Prince is coming.”

“Oh my, Lili was always pretty.”

Patting Lili as she pouted playfully, Jeok Hwayu smiled affectionately.

“Yes, yes. This big brother knows best how pretty our Lili is.”

“But what about His Highness the Prince?”

“He’ll arrive soon. Let’s wait here together.”

Jeok Hwayu took Lili and stood beside his father, Jeok Ayun.

Soya, who had been following behind, watched them quietly before standing silently at the end of the line of household members.

Finally, the prince’s palanquin arrived.

The palanquin door opened, and a boy about Soya’s age stepped out, holding a guard’s hand.

The first thing that caught her eye was platinum-colored hair scattering in the gentle breeze.

Soya’s gaze moved toward the hair that sparkled like golden thread.

Just then, the prince turned his head toward Soya.

Blue-green eyes resembling fresh greenery looked toward Soya.

The two children’s gazes gently intertwined in the air.

‘Ah…’

Soya’s small lips, like cherries, parted slightly.

Soya found herself staring at him blankly for a moment without realizing it.

It was the first time she had seen someone more beautiful than her father.

It seemed she wasn’t the only one thinking this, as everyone was staring at the young prince in a daze.

“Hello, Your Highness the Prince. Welcome to the Land of Suzaku. I’m Lili.”

Lili’s coquettish voice interrupted, and Soya suddenly realized her situation.

Soya quickly lowered her head.

Thump, thump, thump, thump…

Her heart pounded at the thought that she had impudently stared directly at His Highness the Prince’s face.

“You must have had a difficult journey, Your Highness the Prince.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Jeok.”

The eleven-year-old prince showed no sign of being intimidated even when facing Jeok Ayun, who was much larger than himself.

Soya was inwardly amazed by his dignified and graceful appearance.

However, strangely, she kept feeling the prince’s gaze directed toward her, so Soya couldn’t bring herself to lift her head and could only stare at her own feet.

* * *

It was a dusky night.

Due to the servant women’s torment, Soya could only return to her quarters late at night.

She hadn’t eaten dinner properly and had to be locked in the storage room attached to the kitchen for nearly an hour, but since it was familiar torment, she didn’t cry.

Fortunately, thanks to His Highness the Prince’s visit, lights were lit throughout the estate, so it wasn’t dark.

‘Thank goodness. Darkness is a little scary.’

It was when Soya was quickening her pace toward her quarters.

Hearing a rustling sound, Soya unconsciously turned her head and froze in surprise.

‘…!’

Under the moonlight, a boy with shimmering platinum hair was quietly gazing at her.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”

Soya quickly bowed in greeting.

However, the prince did not respond.

Instead, he quietly studied Soya’s face for a long while….

“As I thought.”

He suddenly took a step closer to her and spoke.

“It really is you, Soya.”

Soya froze at hearing her own name flow from his lips.

“You don’t remember me.”

The prince smiled bitterly as he pulled out an ornament embedded with red jade from his chest.

“Three years ago. At Duke Sanyu’s departure ceremony. In the Imperial Palace.”

Soya’s eyes gradually widened.

“Even if I return this, you still won’t remember me.”

The prince gently took Soya’s hand and placed the ornament in her palm.

[This ornament is what Soya’s late mother left for her.]

In that moment, a fragment of forgotten memory surfaced in Soya’s mind.

Soya too had once had times when she would throw tantrums and be stubborn with her family, just like Miss Lili.

Three years ago, when she had thrown a tantrum wanting to see off her eldest brother who was departing for war, and went to the Imperial Palace.

There, in the rear garden, she had met a young lord who was grieving over his mother’s death.

[Whenever Soya misses her mother, she looks at this and finds comfort. Now I’ll give it to you, big brother. I hope you can find comfort with this too.]

[But, Soya. This is your mother’s keepsake. I can’t accept such a precious thing….]

She had smiled brightly at the young lord who was shaking his head, saying he couldn’t accept the ornament she was offering.

[You can just come back to return it later.]

[Ah….]

[When you’re no longer sad anymore, you’ll come back to return it then, right?]

[…Yes. I promise. I’ll definitely come back to return it.]

The frail young lord had covered his face with a face cloth.

[Then it’s a promise, Big Brother Rim.]

So she hadn’t known.

That the kind young lord was actually the sole legitimate prince of Taehwa Kingdom.

“I came to find you to keep our promise.”

“Big Brother… Rim…?”