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“This is my room. I don’t use it much though.”
After breakfast, His Majesty, the King returned to his work. Prince Curtis was showing me around the palace just as His Majesty told him to do.
Prince Curtis and I lined up, with Garusia following behind as my escort.
“There’s a nap room next to my office. That’s where I sleep. I work until late at night, so I don’t even bother anymore to go back to my room.”
Curtis smiled at me like an innocent child. He must have had a hard time working.
Garusia sighed in disbelief.
Curtis blatantly ignored it. His subjects must have had a hard time working with him too.
Next, Curtis showed me around the library of the palace. Just as I had expected, the libabry’s bookshelves almost reached the ceiling and there were so many books on display. There were cookbooks, history books, books about flowers, romance and adventure, medical books, art books, archeology books and many more. This library will make bookstores go out of business.
“These are a collection of books from the royal families of the past. There are many different kinds of books here. Anyone can come in here and use them as they please.”
“I see. Do you have books here that you read, Prince Curtis?”
“Oh. Finally interested in me?”
Curtis patted my head happily.
He showed me some books about history and adventure.
“It will take decades to read all the books here.”
“You’re right. It’s also impossible for me to do so. But I think Father and Label have read through all of them.”
Label was introduced to me by Prince Curtis before we entered the library.
She had green curly hair, reddish brown eyes and red-rimmed glasses. A 30-year-old old maid who seemed to hate social interaction.
When Prince Curtis introduced her to me, she had only given him the minimum courtesy and had immediately resumed reading. Prince Curtis only smiled, as if he was used to how Label acted.
Curtis opened the door behind Label and went inside, where we found two knights standing behind a door further inside the room. The door to that room was locked and heavily guarded. Inside there were books of historical value and those that can only be seen with the king’s permission.
Prince Curtis said that he had never been inside it.
He can only enter inside once he succeeds to the throne.
“That’s pretty much what the royal palace is like. I’ll show you around the garden next.”
“Okay.”
Prince Curtis led me to a garden where purple violets were in full bloom instead of roses normally favored by royalty and the nobility. I didn’t expect this.
“Hahaha. Are you surprised?”
Prince Curtis laughed at me with the face of a child who had successfully pulled off a prank as I rolled my eyes.
This phrase I’m going to say next is kind of rude so I’ll keep it to myself—but I thought that he was a little cute.
Though I don’t think this is a good impression a subject should have to its superior.
“My mother hated conspicuous flowers. She loved flowers that bloomed neatly. She said that royals don’t need to be charming like a rose. What they need is to have the core strength to continue to bloom even in the midst of a storm, just like these flowers.”
Prince Curtis looked at the violets with nostalgia.
It’s true that roses are quite heavy, so their stems tend to break off during a storm. Those words were true but they were also a bit blunt.
“What happened to her…?”
“She experienced difficulties after giving birth to my brother. And unfortunately…”
“Is that so…”
“Dahlia, what was your mother like?”
“I don’t remember much about her. But I do remember that she always smiled. At least to me.”
“I see.”
“Have you met my mother, Your Highness?”
“A few times when I was young. She was very frail, but she had a gentle temperament. She was kind, and just like you said, she always smiled.”
“I see.”
As I saw Prince Curtis smiling gently, I wondered what it would be like if mother was still here. My memories of her fade over time, and I can hardly recall what she looks like anymore.
What a heartless girl I am, I thought to myself.
“Do you want to visit your mother’s room?”
Prince Curtis suggested. I wonder if my sudden silence made him worry and think that I was lonely.
My mother’s room back at my father’s mansion was luxurious but it had a quiet atmosphere. Perhaps because she didn’t need to use it, the furniture and other items inside her room were not designed according to her tastes.
I decided to agree to Prince Curtis’ suggestion. I was curious about what my mother’s room looks like.
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