AWWEWNR Chapter 6 

Amid all the festivities of the coming-of-age celebration, Branz spotted Hanaella and was delighted to spot her. 

 

Apparently, she hadn’t been seen at the party, and Rosaryn had told Brandz to look for her.

 

“I couldn’t believe how long I looked for you. My gosh, you look so beautiful tonight.”

 

“Lady Branz is beautiful, as well.”

 

“Oh, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been very nervous about celebrating my coming-of-age with the Princess, so why are you here?”

 

“Oh… I’m just a little tired.”

 

“Oh, you don’t seem to be feeling well, I’d better call a doctor, please wait a moment.”

 

“No, I’m fine…!”

 

Before Hanaella could finish her sentence, Branz left the break room. 

 

Obviously, she was headed to either Rosaryn or Tharrott, not the doctor. 

 

With a short sigh, Hanaella rose to her feet. She’d been deliberately avoiding him, because if Branz had brought Tharott here, it would have been far worse than their encounter at the party.

 

She quickly exited the break room, glanced around, and stepped in a direction that seemed to be deserted. 

 

Once outside the room, she turned the corner at the far end of the hallway and saw a sliding door. 

 

Pushing it open a little, Hanaella’s face lit up as she realized it led to a small terrace.

 

‘Oh— this would be a great place to hide.’ 

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, she pushed the door open, deciding that an open terrace was far preferable to the cramped break room. 

 

The terrace was on the other side of the castle, out of the open sun, but the cold, chilly feeling wasn’t bad. 

 

Moreover, the castle had no separate palace, so the view of the forest was spectacular. 

 

The coming-of-age party was held in a castle right next to the royal castle, so as I turned my head a little, I could see the royal castle.

 

As I leaned out over the terrace railing, a cool breeze ruffled my hair.

 

“It’s refreshing.”

 

Closing my eyes, I breathed in the breeze, which felt both refreshing and comforting.

 

Moments later.

 

“You’ll fall off.”

 

The abruptness of the voice from the side startled Hanaella, causing her to lean forward.

 

“Kyaah!”

 

Thud—

 

A long, firm hand quickly grabbed her arm as she nearly fell forward.

 

“Look, I told you, you’re going to fall.”

 

Hanaella stared up at the voice’s source in surprise.

 

“…!!”

 

Shiny platinum hair that was almost white, deep, dark blue eyes that seemed like they could swallow her whole, and a beautiful appearance that was both radiant and frightening at the same time.

 

“…Crown Prince…!!

 

Hanaella forgot to breathe in surprise as the Prince, whom she had only met once before, at the Empire’s New Year’s party, was now in front of her.

 

“Lady—?”

 

“…!!”

 

“Breathe, my lady.”

 

Crown Prince Lloyd Ren Arthur Hayden tugged weakly on Hanaella’s arm, who had forgotten to breathe in surprise at seeing him.

 

“I know my beauty is breathtaking, but don’t you think it would be a bit embarrassing for me if you actually forgot to breathe?”

 

“Whew—!”

 

Hanaella let out the breath she’d been holding, and Lloyd let go of her arm with a smirk of amusement.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

“I, the little sun of the Empire, greet His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”

 

Hanaella said, bowing quickly.

 

Curtsy~

 

Lloyd nodded once.

 

“I apologize, Your Highness. I did not realize you were here.”

 

“Never mind. I wasn’t hiding.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you here for your coming-of-age ceremony? By your dark hair and dark eyes, you must be a Lady of the House of Ariel.”

 

“I am Hanaella Liv Ariel.”

 

“The Empire is at peace because of the valor of the Knights. I, too, honor you for your service.”

 

“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”

 

“That’s enough of the formal greetings. We’re alone, so make yourself at ease.”

 

“No, not in the presence of the future Emperor…”

 

“You are the next head of House Ariel, the so-called Darkness of Hayden.”

 

“…”

 

‘Next head of the family… I foolishly passed the position to Tharrott.’

 

“Sit down, if you don’t mind.”

 

‘I do not want to.’ 

 

“If you don’t want to, but I don’t mind, so of course you should sit.”

 

Sigh—

 

Lloyd grinned like a fool.

 

Hanaella grumbled to herself, “If you’re not going to let me say no in the first place, you might as well give me an order,” as she plopped down next to him.

 

“Wow—”

 

She sat back in the chair, the view of the forest and sky much better.

 

“You can see it better this way, right?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“This is my secret place.”

 

“…”

 

“I have to attend the annual coming-of-age ceremony all the time, so I need a place to relax, and this is a quiet place to pass the time, and it’s rarely visited.”

 

“I’ve come to your resting place, I see.”

 

“I won’t ask you to leave, so make yourself comfortable.”

 

“…”

 

‘What is it…? Something’s wrong. Is this the way he is…’

 

“Well, it’s about time.”

 

“…”

 

“Although you look like you’re dying of discomfort.”

 

After saying that, Lloyd smiled warmly at Hanaella. 

 

Seeing his blindingly beautiful smile, Hanaella involuntarily blushed. It was an unexpected turn of events to meet the Crown Prince here in the first place. The same Prince she had only met once in the past.

 

‘…Huh…? Come to think of it, he wasn’t the one who became Emperor when I was burned at the stake, it was the Second Prince, Lionel Dune Harth Hayden, so what happened to the current Crown Prince?’ 

 

Suddenly remembering the past, Hanaella glared at Lloyd’s sideways glance. As Lloyd turned his head towards her, she gasped and looked away.

 

“Do you have something to say to me?”

 

“Oh, no.”

 

“Then you’re looking at me because you want to capture me in your eyes? Well, I’ll admit, I do look good enough to make you want to look at me.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t stare, just look. It doesn’t get worn out, so I can show it to you as much as I want. I don’t want you to touch it, though.”

 

‘I don’t want to touch you either!’

 

“Ah- Since it’s just the two of us, should I let you touch it?”

 

“No, thanks.”

 

Hanaella replied with a straight face, causing Lloyd to scratch his head and stare at her.

 

“Why, I’m sure you just want to stare and touch it.”

 

“I don’t.”

 

“Oh, no. Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Don’t you think I’m handsome?”

 

“What…?”

 

At Hanaella’s confused question, Lloyd pointed his index finger at himself, and when she finally understood what he meant, she nodded awkwardly.

 

“Yeah… well…”

 

“So do I. It’s a face blessed by the male god of beauty.”

 

“Do you usually speak in your own words, or is it because you’re a Crown Prince or something?

 

“It’s a very sinful face.”

 

“It’s only because you’re the Crown Prince, isn’t it?”

 

“Well, you are as beautiful as rumored.”

 

Hanaella’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment.

 

“The Darkness of Hayden. A witch born with the power of dark magic at its fullest.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s been two hundred years since a girl was born to the Ariel family.”

 

It had been. For generations, the Ariel family had been blessed with children born with the power of dark magic, but the power of dark magic in girls was much greater and more powerful than in males. 

 

It was said that males were born with half the power and females with the full power. And it was true. 

 

Unaware of the ‘dark’ side of magic, she was able to cast a forbidden curse that even her father could not use, and it cost her life.

 

Shudder—

 

Hanaella trembled as the memory resurfaced. Just then, a robe that didn’t feel heavy draped over her shoulders. 

 

She turned her head in surprise, and Lloyd, who had taken off his robe and placed it over her shoulders, smiled at her.

 

“Are you cold?”

 

💫

 

“There is no one!”

 

Rosaryn exclaimed, glaring at Branz.

 

“This is strange. She’s in here complaining of a headache… and I told her I was bringing a doctor.”

 

Rosaryn bit down on her lower lip.

 

‘Where in the world has this mudfish of a woman gone?’

 

She must have been at the party, but she was nowhere to be seen. 

 

Even Tharo couldn’t find her, and I could tell he was frustrated. There was no way Hanaella wouldn’t have come, since she was the celebrant of the coming-of-age ceremony, but I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t at the party. 

 

After telling Brandz to search the break room, she searched the terraces of the party.

 

‘If only things were easier with Tharo, but this stupid wench is running around, and I have to go looking for her again.’ 

 

Rosaryn frowned, irritation rising to the top of her head.

 

“You should have brought Miss Hanaella all by yourself, not brought me here. Is your head not working that way, Lady Brandz?”

 

“…!”

 

“What in the world is so hard about bringing her to where the Tharo is that you have to screw things up like this…! Hah… seriously.”

 

“…”

 

“Find her again, and as soon as you do, take her with you and bring her to Tharo.”

 

“…”

 

“What are you doing? Not leaving.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Branz turned, the sound of Rosaryn’s tongue clicking behind her. Branz clenched her fists and bit her lip.

 

‘Even though I’m in such a position that I have to do her bidding for the property, she’s treating me, who’s a lady of the same Count’s House, like I’m a nobody.’ 

 

Technically, she’s not even a lady of House Thearine, so what gives her the right to do this to me? Once I get to the building, I won’t leave her alone.

 

Branz swallowed hard at the rising anger and moved to find Hanaella.