THE young handmaid who accompanied Sonia rushed in a mad flurry to inform her of a guest. “D-Duchess Sonia! The most astounding visitor has come to wish you a speedy recovery!” the handmaid cried with her face burning bright red. For all her alarm, her gaze was drifting as if in a dream.
“So? Who is it?”
Sonia barely had time to get the words out of her mouth before the guest asked, “May I come in, my darling friend?”
Recognizing the face peeking through the small crack in the door, Sonia gasped, “Ah!” in surprise and broke into a broad smile. “Prince Severin?”
“I’m glad you still recognize me, Sonia,” he said. Upon hearing his name, the young man had pulled his head from the crack and boldly swung open the door.
If any single word could describe him, “handsome” was it. Sunlight almost seemed to shine through the slightly wavy blond hair that fell over his ears. His blue eyes were reminiscent of the deep, blue sea. He spoke in sweet whispers that seemed tailor-made to roll off his lips, cocked into a refined smile. Had he painted his pearly white face with lamé glitter powder to make it sparkle?
He wore a neatly bound lace scarf with a jacket that matched the color of his eyes. His slim-fit tights tucked into thigh-high leather engraved boots. The attire was most becoming set upon his frame that lacked even an ounce of excess weight.
Thigh-highs are all the rage right now! Not to mention that light wave perm! He totally nailed the sparkle effect with the lamé glitter powder!
Sonia’s eyes quickly began checking off the various fads she’d had heard about from Chris. As expected, there was no getting past a woman’s critical eye. But either Severin was accustomed to women sizing him up or he was confident in his sense of fashion, for he casually approached Sonia. Once by her side, he presented her with a single red rose.
“Ever since Father told me the news, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again. But then I heard that with one thing after the next, from that accident to falling ill, your arrival to the palace has been delayed. So I figured I’d come pay you a visit,” he explained.
There was a ribbon with silver embroidery tied around the stem of the rose he gave Sonia.
“I imagine Father already gave you a large bouquet, so I wanted to give you one flower filled with love, you know what I mean?” Severin said with a quick wink, which felt completely natural and innocent. It suited him so well that Sonia was just as hopelessly mesmerized as the handmaid waiting to be called on at her side.
“Th-Thank you. And I’m sorry you had to see me like this for our big reunion,” Sonia apologized. Suddenly recalling her surroundings, she hastily tried to climb out of bed.
“It’s fine. Stay as you are. No matter your condition, it doesn’t change the fact that a cute young lady is still cute.” He personally readjusted her blankets.
“...?” Sonia tilted her head, perplexed. Something about Severin’s kind and gentle act struck Sonia as odd.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, it’s nothing... Did you come incognito today, Prince Severin? Where are your attendants?” she asked.
“Waiting outside. I’ll draw a commotion if I stay too long, so I should probably head back now. Let’s meet at the palace next time and relive the old days,” Severin told her, before offering a respectful bow, kissing the handmaid on the hand, and taking his leave.
“The prince truly is in a class all his own! Every gesture was so elegant and refined! It’d be laughable if your average Joe tried to pull that off, but he made it all so enchanting!” the handmaid he’d kissed on the hand gushed. She went on to continue in her excitement but eventually fell silent when she noticed something was amiss with Sonia. Bunching the blanket in her fists, Sonia stared fixedly at one spot.
“Duchess Sonia? Are you feeling ill again?” she asked in a hesitant tone, but Sonia didn’t seem to hear her.
Sonia muttered weakly, “...Prince Severin went out of his way not to touch me...”
Running back over the encounter in her mind, the handmaid gasped, blood draining from her face as the realization struck. Sonia was right. Normally, Severin should have kissed Sonia’s hand first, since she was not only of higher status but the handmaid’s mistress. Although he was most respectful, he hadn’t treated her like a lady.
“Do you think he forgot...?” the handmaid asked sheepishly, regretting how the prince’s kiss had made her so happy that she’d gotten carried away in front of her mistress.
Sonia didn’t pay her any mind, for she was preoccupied with doubts about Severin.
He used the utmost care not to touch me when he pulled the blanket up. That was what felt off. Now she understood what had struck her as odd in the moment he’d kissed the handmaid farewell. With the exception of an awkward interlude, his movements had been poetry in motion. And the awkwardness arose because he’d been careful so his hands didn’t accidentally touch Sonia as he held the blanket.
“Have rumors about my castle spread? Clear up to the palace...?”
✦ ✦ ✦
WHEN Chris was informed of Prince Severin’s visit upon his return from the church, a look of surprise flashed across his face as he exclaimed, “He did?” But he quickly regained his composure and moved on to discuss when they should visit the church the day after. Sonia was of the opinion the sooner the better, so Chris left to arrange an early breakfast. Sonia asked the maids to pack their belongings so they would be ready to leave first thing in the morning.
Upon telling Chris about the incident with Severin, Sonia hadn’t failed to notice his reaction of surprise mixed with a tinge of dismay. He stood as a mentor figure to the heir apparent, Prince Henry, and his brother Prince Severin, teaching them swordsmanship and chivalry. In other words, they shared a master-pupil relationship. Sonia felt Chris should have acted a bit happier when he learned that his pupil snuck out to this transient town beyond the capital perimeter to see her. Likewise, Severin should have said, “I’ll leave after I see Master Chris.”
“Sir Chris, are you disappointed that you didn’t get to see Prince Severin?” she asked, afraid he was acting tough for her.
“Not really. I can see him at the palace,” he responded bluntly, but...
He’s giving off such hostile airs! They’re piercing! He exuded waves of undeniable anger, prickling her skin.
“By any chance, are you having a fight with Prince Severin?” Sonia ventured.
Chris grumbled at her question with his head tilted. “How could I? Everything I say falls on deaf ears, and lately he’s outright avoiding me...”
“What are his current duties?”
“He doesn’t particularly have any... If I absolutely had to come up with something—and this would be a stretch if ever there was one—I suppose you could say he’s ‘in charge of entertaining the ladies.’”
“...I could see that. It’d explain why he had such impeccable fashion.”
“I wish he would get over indulging in the pleasures of fashion and women... He was already graceful and handsome to begin with...the women at court flocked to him at an early age. Unlike the crown prince, he couldn’t differentiate between the harpies and the ladies,” Chris groaned.
Come to think of it, Severin never spoke his mind when we played together as children. Whenever I’d ask something, he’d simply smile and agree, “Okay, sure.” Could it be that…he’s turned out this way because he’s always going with the flow and never developed an independent mind?
“His Majesty believes he’ll change once he finds his calling or realizes what he’d like to do,” Chris said. Sonia got the impression he felt exasperated but resigned himself to wait and watch over the prince for the time being since his hands were tied. But with all that said...
He’s certainly changed a lot since I saw him a decade ago, Sonia thought, somewhat shocked.
Severin had been a cute little boy with a lofty, sweet smile. Nonetheless, he still maintained the graceful appearance of royalty. But the childhood friend who had come to see her after all these years had surpassed “lofty” and grown into a young man best described as “flighty.”
But there is no hiding his royal upbringing. Not to mention...he was my first brush with love... That thought made her heart pitter-patter.
“I am terribly sorry, Princess. I shouldn’t speak ill of the man you’ve cared for all these years...” Chris apologized with a bow, alarming Sonia.
“It’s fine! I can understand from your words that he’s been quite the handful,” she replied with a fake giggle.
If you knew it’d bother me, don’t diss him in the first place! she snapped in the back of her mind.