AWWEWNR Chapter 7

“I’m fine, Your Highness.”

 

Hanaella said, trying to take the suit off her shoulders. But her hands were soon stopped by Lloyd’s hand.

 

“Keep it on, I’m hot.”

 

“No, really, I’m fine…!”

 

“Do I seem like the kind of person who would refuse a favor I offer someone?”

 

“…But how dare I…”

 

“Since it’s just the two of us, you can do as you please.”

 

“…Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

Hanaella only nodded.

 

“It’s almost time for my sister to join the party.”

 

Aha!

 

At Lloyd’s words, Hanaella jumped to her feet. Lloyd glanced at her and pointed out that there was still some time.

 

“You can see the palace carriage leaving from here, so if you see it, it won’t be too late.”

 

At his words, Hanaella sat back down in her chair, and Lloyd gave her a knowing smile. Blushing at his smile, Hanaella turned her attention back to the forest.

 

A cool breeze ruffled her face and hair. A strand of Hanaella’s long hair blew in the wind and tickled Lloyd’s cheek.

 

Lloyd unconsciously grabbed a lock of windblown hair and brought it to his nose. It smelled sweet and pleasant. 

 

Suddenly, Hanaella swiveled to look at him. Lloyd smiled, and her face stiffened in surprise.

 

“Your hair is tickling my cheeks.”

 

“…Ah! Sorry… Oops!”

 

“Careful!”

 

In her panic, Hanaella pulled back and fell to the floor, landing on her hip. 

 

Lloyd, who was a step too late to catch her, looked down at her in bewilderment, and Hanaella, whose dress had slipped up to her thighs from the fall, let out a small scream and scrambled to her feet.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

An ethereal silence fell between them. Hanaella closed her eyes tightly. She truly felt like dying. 

 

Coming to her coming-of-age ceremony, interrupting the Crown Prince’s rest, wearing his robe, and showing her thighs.

 

Things had happened all at once that had never happened before. 

 

In trying to escape from Tharrott, something worse happened. Now, as a newly grown woman, showing her thighs to a stranger would surely be considered indecent.

 

“…Are you okay?”

 

“…Yes…”

 

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see what just happened, so don’t worry too much.”

 

“…It’s okay, it’s not like I’m going to die just because I showed my thighs…”

 

“…Pfft—!”

 

Lloyd suddenly laughed, causing Hanaella to stare at him. The corners of Lloyd’s mouth twitched up at the sight of Hanaella, who looked like she might cry at any moment, trying to convince him that she was fine.

 

“Ah! The imperial carriage started to move!”

 

At that moment, Hanaella exclaimed, looking in the direction of the imperial carriage. 

 

When Lloyd turned his head to look there, Hanaella quickly took off that same robe and set it down beside him.

 

“I’ll go inside first, then, may the favor of Atheronia be with you always.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Before Lloyd could finish his sentence, Hanaella took off running. Staring after her, Lloyd muttered to himself under his breath.

 

“…theronia’s favor be with you.”

 

💫

 

Tharrott’s eyes widened at the sight of the elusive Hanaella quickly entering the party. No, it would be more accurate to say his eyes widened at her beauty.

 

Her cheeks, slightly flushed from wherever she’d been, made her white face vibrant against her dark hair, and her slightly disheveled hairstyle made her look effortless and natural compared to the other women’s overly adorned hairstyles. 

 

Tharrott walked quickly toward her, as if mesmerized by something.

 

Watching her from a distance, Rosaryn smiled with conviction.

 

‘Yes, Tharrott. This is where it begins, making her yours for our love.’ 

 

Covering her face with her fan, Rosaryn watched as Tharrott approached Hanaella.

 

“Lady Hanaella.”

 

At the sound of Tharott’s voice, Hanaella’s face instantly stiffened. 

 

No matter how much she tried to avoid this bastard, she realized that she’d wasted her time by meeting the Crown Prince. No matter how hard she tried to avoid them, they would eventually seek her out and take her on.

 

“Yes.”

 

She answered coldly on purpose. Tharrott tried to smile, seeing the embarrassment on Hanaella’s face as the cold wind blew across it.

 

“I see we are finally meeting.”

 

“What do you need from me?”

 

“Oh, actually…”

 

Hanaella stared at his face as Tharott spoke. 

 

He was certainly handsome, though she was less impressed after seeing the Crown Prince. She’d been mesmerized by his handsome, dashing ways in the past.

 

“…That’s why I was looking forward to meeting you today.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

The usual response. Something about Hanaella’s reaction was bewildering to him, so different from other women’s. 

 

The way most women viewed him fell into one of three categories. The look of admiration, the look of desire, and the look of someone they could never have.

 

But Hanaella was different, and for some reason, she was cold to him from the moment they met. 

 

In truth, Tharrott had never been to the Duke of Deliofe’s banquet, so Rosaryn had lied when she said that’s when he met Hanaella.

 

“Would you be willing to partner with me today?”

 

“…”

 

At Tharrott’s words, Hanaella stared at his outstretched hand instead of answering. If she took it now, it would take her wherever they wanted her to go. 

 

Yet, she has no other partner to take her hand. 

 

No man, however much they admire the Darkness of Hayden, would want to be associated with a witch who practiced dark magic.

 

‘If I turn down the offer and stay alone, I’m sure there will be rumors, but I don’t want to be taken, and I don’t want to play into their plans.’

 

“Lady Hanaella?”

 

Tharrott called out to Hanaella, and she reluctantly extended her hand to him.

 

‘I can’t help it, today…’

 

Hanaella squeezed her eyes shut.

 

Then one moment after…

 

There was a snap, and a hand snatched away.

 

And a commotion surrounded her.

 

When Hanaella opened her eyes, she recognized the hand that had grabbed hers before it had reached Tharrott’s. 

 

And it was Lloyd, his radiant face crinkling into a smirk.

 

“You didn’t forget you’re supposed to be my partner today, did you?”

 

Squeal—

 

Clamor—!

 

The chatter grew louder at the Crown Prince’s words. But their stares and murmurs quickly dispersed at the sight of the Princess.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

Hanaella asked Lloyd in a whisper. Lloyd was amused by her reaction and whispered in her ear.

 

“Didn’t I just save you?”

 

“…!”

 

“You look troubled, but you don’t seem to be thanking me for saving you.”

 

“I, I’m grateful, I mean thank you, but…!”

 

The way she’d run around, shouting in the smallest of voices, hoping to be heard, made him giggle. 

 

If he’d known that the uptight Duke of Ariel’s only daughter was such a delight, he’d have summoned her to the palace more often. 

 

He’d probably have been denied, since the Duke had kept her hidden until she came of age.

 

“I’m grateful.”

 

“Shouldn’t you be with the Princess?”

 

“Why? I’m your partner for the day.”

 

“But today is Her Highness’ coming-of-age ceremony…!”

 

“Huh?”

 

No matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to get through to Lloyd, and Hanaella’s face was flushed red, while Lloyd continued to smirk at her reaction. 

 

Rosaryn, watching from a distance, grew impatient that things were not going as she had hoped.

 

‘Why would you partner with the Crown Prince, and more importantly, since when has he been so close to her?’ 

 

Well… she’s the daughter of the Duke of Ariel, so it’s not surprising that she’s close to him, but he’s the reason my Tharo hasn’t been able to appeal to Hanaella. The Crown Prince is more of an obstacle than I thought…

 

Rosaryn turned her head to stare at Tharrott. He, too, was staring at Hanaella and Lloyd from a few feet away. 

 

Feeling a sense of pity for his dejection at the way things hadn’t gone as planned, Rosaryn walked over to him.