[IHTTMBW] Chapter 12

“Prince Euphil, how are you?”

High officials approached him and politely extended their courtesies. It was unthinkable not to formally greet a prince before the King, even if the prince was abandoned.

But, they all seemed confused regarding me, who was standing there hanging on to Euphil’s hand.

I blinked, determined never to let go of the hand I was holding.

One of the aristocrats met my eyes. I shyly took my other hand and bit my finger. I felt the aristocrat’s face relax.

That moment.

One of them seemed startled, looking at my eyes.

“Purple…? Princess Myrthi?”

“Princess Myrthi?”

In just a moment, there was a commotion amongst them.

Wow, even the King’s closest associates don’t recognise my face? They didn’t pay much attention to my existence after all.

Then, the belated pleasantries began.

“Princess Myrthi.”

“Princess Myrthi. It is a fine afternoon.”

They saw a princess they had never seen before, and her appearance apparently did not resemble that of my mother.

Even so, the officials could not keep their eyes off me. Their flustered expressions when I gave them a big smile were identical to Valk’s.

It was an expression that said, ‘She’s adorable, but I have to keep a straight face here.’

‘Oh, whatever.’

Charge!

I put on my most innocent expression and waved my hand softly, whether the King was looking or not. It was to show that I was glad to meet them as well.

“Haha.”

The premier finally let out a laugh. I secretly smiled triumphantly, looking into his soft eyes, which were akin to those of a pair of eyes looking at a baby animal.

Until I met the King’s eyes.

Contrastingly, the King’s eyes were cold.

His gaze toward me and Euphil were eyes completely devoid of emotions.

‘How can he look at his children like that?’

Euphil and I must be abandoned children. I shivered a little, and Euphil squeezed my hand, which was holding his for the first time.

The King spoke towards him:

“Euphil.”

“Your Majesty.”

It was an extremely short conversation.

He treated the King with the utmost respect, which is difficult to expect from a ten-year-old boy. Looking at this, I could understand why a ten-year-old child tried so hard to act maturely.

To tell the truth, I knew this King. It was because I was someone who read the book.

He was a king with several children but was cold to all. He had four queens, three of whom had already passed away. If I had just read the book, I might have thought that was why he turned into such a cold person, but this was directly related to me. If that King had just taken good care of Euphil, I wouldn’t have to try this hard to evade murder.

In other words, I was sure that he was a terrible father. It doesn’t take a person who’s read the book to realise this. I could count the number of times that he even looked at me when I came across him.

After refusing to give me attention, he turned his head slightly and glanced at me. No, I couldn’t even call it a glance. This rotten King ran his eyes over me like an insignificant insect and turned to Euphil.

“You’re wasting time with silly play, just like your mother.”

The current queen’s younger brother took a deep breath. The premier did the same.

The King nonchalantly started a conversation with Euphil.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

The book didn’t describe how Euphil’s mother, the first queen, died. It was only written that she died from an illness.

So I didn’t know what he meant by silly play, but everyone here knew the silly thing here was ‘me.’ I knew that, but it ached me to hear those words somehow.

Before Euphil could say anything, he glided by Euphil and me at a pace so fast that the three men following him were left confounded.

“So you remember.”

Euphil said to the King, who was walking away. The King stopped for a split second and then continued away.

How desolate an atmosphere that was left behind.

It felt as if a tempest called the King had swept over me. Strange. I knew already; Ante had also relentlessly told me. But facing it in real life gave me a different feeling.

‘Should I be thankful that he taught me a new feeling?’

I silently let go of Euphil’s hand and poked at the ground with the tip of my foot.

I was getting a headache trying to think of what to say. Firstly, Euphil should not think of me as silly and useless.

‘Should I say that I’m not useless?’

Or should I do my best to convince him of my use?

I had no idea what my use was exactly right now. If I had known something like this would happen, I might have predicted the future.

I felt something grasp my hand tightly.

I turned my head sideways, my eyes wide open.

Euphil was quietly looking ahead, holding my hand and not looking at me.

“Bro…ther?”

Did Euphil just hold my hand? My hand?