The next day.
The news arrived that the road construction was finished. I immediately prepared and set out for the Lemut estate once again. The weather was beautiful after the storm, clear and bright.
'The road is actually in better shape than it was before,' I noted as the carriage glided smoothly. It had been a good investment to hire those workers. They hadn't stopped at just the road, either; they were still busy helping the villagers repair their damaged homes.
But when we reached the castle gates, I was met with a familiar refrain.
"The Duke refuses to see the Princess."
That made five times now. I wasn't surprised. It was practically part of the routine. I crossed my arms and stared at the knight who had delivered the news. One second, two seconds, three... the poor man began to sweat profusely.
"Susan, stop glaring at him," I said. "Anna, don't look at me like that. Beth, don't you dare turn your back and start cursing."
The maids flinched. They looked at me with tearful eyes, like abandoned puppies. They’d changed since that rainy night when they’d nursed me through my fever. I’d given them each a limited-edition accessory as a thank-you, and now they were fiercely protective of me.
"I’m not giving you any more money, no matter how much you pout," I teased.
"Princess! It’s not about the money!"
"Yes! How can you not hate this place after they left you in the rain while you were so ill?!"
I’d meant it as a joke, but the avalanche of sincere concern was a bit overwhelming. It felt strange. These women had been the first to see past Charlize’s notoriety, and their loyalty was starting to feel real.
"...Fine, fine. I get it," I muttered, blushing. I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment for having assumed they only cared about the gold. I turned away, trying to hide my face.
"If I can't wait inside, I’ll just wait in the garden again."
I headed back to the spot where I’d "camped" before. I’d already parked the carriage there, anticipating this outcome.
'I should probably just apologize to Askin,' I thought. 'I have plenty of regrets, and the way things went down in the rain was a mess. But will he even listen to me?'
"Your tea, Princess."
"Thank you, Susan."
I sat in the garden, sipping my tea and observing the flowers. There were some truly beautiful specimens I hadn't noticed when I was "homeless." The colors were stunning.
'Alright, Askin. Let’s see who gives in first—your stubbornness or my patience.'
I was in the middle of my second cup when I felt a gaze on me. I assumed it was the curious servants or the wary knights, but when I looked up, I saw someone else entirely.
'...Aria?'
She was peeking out from behind a large tree, her silver hair catching the sunlight. Her shoulders shook when our eyes met, but she didn't run away. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached.
"Oh... hello, Princess."
"Hello, Aria."
In the bright daylight, she looked even more fragile than she had at night. Her skin was incredibly pale, but her beauty was undeniable. She was easily one of the most stunning women in the Empire. It ran in the family, I suppose.
"I... I’m sorry, Princess," she stammered.
I blinked. "What are you sorry for? You haven't done anything to me."
"Oh! No, I mean... about last time. My brother... he misunderstood everything. He shouldn't have..."
I remembered the fall in the rain. "Are you alright? You fell pretty hard that day."
"I'm fine! I'm strong!"
I gave the maids a look, signaling them to keep their distance and let us talk. They nodded and stepped back. I needed to get close to Aria; she was my best chance at getting Askin to actually talk to me.
"Don't worry about me," I said. "Even if I was sick, I have plenty of money to get the best treatment."
I realized too late that maybe bragging about wealth wasn't the best thing to do in front of the sickly, impoverished girl. I wanted to slap myself. But to my surprise, Aria let out a soft laugh.
"I suppose you’re right," she said gently. "I think... I had some prejudices about you, Princess. Because of the things people say."
'Prejudices? Girl, remember what Charlize actually did!' I thought. But she was so naive, so willing to see the best in me just because I’d been halfway decent to her a couple of times. My conscience pricked me.
"...Would you like some tea?" it was all I could think to say.
Aria’s face lit up. "I’d love some!" She sat down across from me. "My brother isn't in the castle right now. He had to go out for a while before an important guest arrives this afternoon..."
Aria was a goldmine of information. She was practically handing me Askin’s schedule on a silver platter.
"An important guest, you say?"
"Yes! Oh... was I not supposed to say that?" She looked worried for a second, but I quickly distracted her by asking about the flowers.
"I was just admiring the garden. These flowers are beautiful. Especially that one over there."
"The flowers! Do you like them, Mama?"
I nearly choked on my tea. 'Mama?' Then I realized she was likely referring to the flower’s name or something similar. I jumped, nearly knocking over my cup. Aria was immediately apologetic, but since the tea was cool, no one was hurt.
"It’s fine, it’s fine! You said you took care of these yourself?"
Aria’s hobby was gardening, specifically cross-breeding species to create new seeds. She was quite serious about it.
'In the book, she was just a tragic character who died because of Charlize,' I remembered. Seeing her so happy, so full of life despite her illness, made my heart ache. She told me she couldn't stay outside for long, but she worked in the garden whenever she felt strong enough.
As she was explaining her latest project, she began to cough.
"We should stop for today," I said firmly.
"Oh... already?"
"I think it’s best if you go back inside and rest."
Aria looked disappointed, but I gave her a warm smile. "It’s not like today is the only day. I’ll come back, but only if you promise to take care of yourself."
"...Really?"
She nodded and stood up. I handed her my handkerchief as her coughing continued, and her pale cheeks turned a soft pink.
"Princess... may I ask you something?"
"You can ask me two things."
Aria clutched the handkerchief to her chest. "Are we... are we friends?"
"..."
I was speechless. I felt like I was being purified just by being near her. My manipulative intentions toward Askin felt dirty in the face of her pure heart.
"Oh, I’m sorry!" she said quickly, seeing my silence. "I shouldn't have asked. Someone like me... and a Princess like you... I just don't have any friends, so I wondered..."
She looked like a sad little bunny.
"Being friends isn't that hard," I said softly. "And as far as I'm concerned, we already are. But friends should use each other's names. Can I call you Aria?"
A beautiful smile bloomed on her face. "Yes! Please!"
I felt a wave of sadness knowing this sweet girl was destined to die so young. 'Is there a cure in the original story? I have to find out.'
I stood up to escort her back toward the castle. She followed me like a little chick following its mother.
"Princess, where are you going?"
"Not Princess. It’s Charlize. And I’m walking you back."
"Oh! Right. Charlize..."
I realized why Askin loved his sister so much. It wasn't just her illness; it was her incredible, pure spirit.
We were halfway to the entrance when a loud groan echoed through the garden. I turned and saw a crowd of people gathered on the other side of the grounds.
'What's going on now?'