Chapter 7: The Truth of This World
“HAAAH.”
Fiona sighed heavily inside the palace’s reference room. She hadn’t planned on visiting the palace today, but the need to research various things upended that. She would have preferred her usual office, except Linus would inevitably show up.
Despite the carte blanche he took when it came to kissing her hair, she hadn’t minded it because she’d believed his behavior stemmed from his overflowing love for black hair. However, the Linus of late was a different story. He constantly invaded her personal space. He was always much too close and touched her much too often.
While she appreciated his attempts to help her adjust to aristocrats’ preference for close contact, Fiona was a commoner through and through. Even she was starting to wonder if he was going overboard with the kisses on her cheek and forehead in public.
She also had a bone to pick with Budget and Management. Why did they never stop him? Management had told her that gentlemen didn’t kiss one’s hair, yet Fiona found it strange that the other woman left Linus alone whenever he pressed his lips, not just to her hair but her cheek as well.
And Linus, the rogue, knowing no one could stop him, petted Fiona’s black hair endlessly. When opportunity struck, he’d wrap his arms around her and kiss her all over. He was turning into a beautiful, sexually harassing gentleman. She worried whether it was acceptable for a crown prince to be like this.
To break the deadlock of the situation, Fiona had suggested a few days ago that she could learn about nobles’ preference for physical closeness from others. His reaction remained burned in her mind even now. No trace of dark emotion had clouded his beautiful face, yet his aura had instantly transformed from the warmth of a midsummer sun to the extreme cold in the dead of winter.
Budget had trembled uncontrollably and lost the ability to speak. Management, meanwhile, clung desperately to Fiona’s arm and beseeched her with the mysterious words, “Recant. Please recant your statement! Before the halls of the palace are awash in blood!”
For whatever inexplicable reason, she at least understood that their lives had been in danger. Fiona’s instincts had told her as much, so she’d given into Management’s plea and retracted her suggestion. In response, Linus, his attitude threatening, had muttered something along the lines of, “I thought slow and steady would win the race, but at this rate, someone might steal her from me, so perhaps the time has come to show no mercy.” In the meantime, Budget and Management wept with relief and held hands, overjoyed at still being alive.
Unable to comprehend the sequence of events but recognizing that stopping Linus’ sexual harassment was too dangerous, Fiona continued to be on the losing side of her and Linus’ close-quarters battle.
Frankly, he made her feel restless. She wished he would rein it in a bit.
She sighed again, then began reading through the pile of documents stacked in front of her. She needed to set some priorities regarding developing the national highway infrastructure, which meant learning about the industries of the towns and cities on the major roads. Apparently, there was also a knack for laying down flagstones on places that saw heavy carriage and cart traffic. Or so she’d heard. Fiona felt guilty about delegating everything to the government officials and tradesfolk, so she’d decided she had to study the topic as well.
By the time she finished poring through a large number of reference materials, dusk had already fallen outside the window. Thinking it was time to go home, she tidied all the papers, but when she put her hand on the door, it refused to budge.
“Is the lock broken?”
Though Fiona didn’t remember locking the door, it showed signs of age. Perhaps she had accidentally locked herself in by pushing the door closed earlier.
“No matter, a patrol will come by eventually.”
It wasn’t as if she was trapped in the middle of a forest. Neither would she be in danger should she be forced to spend the night here. However, she’d likely catch a cold if she slept here, so she might as well stay up flipping through more documents.
In the worst-case scenario, she could simply jump out of the window if she wanted to leave. Knowing she wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to gain more knowledge, Fiona sat back down in a chair and opened a book.
After reading several volumes and returning them to the shelves, a book sporting the word “saint” on the cover caught her eye. It would be perfect for a change of pace, so she picked it up, sat down again, and began flipping through it.
“‘Black hair is the sign of a saint. Saints are not born in the surrounding region, including the Kingdom of Gene.’ Hm… I see.”
Which meant Fiona must have been born in a far, faraway land. As far as she knew, no one had searched for her, so there must have been a reason for her exile. Or perhaps she had been sold. By no means was she praising the practice, but she’d heard stories of poor families selling their children to reduce the number of mouths to feed. She wondered if that was how she ended up in this country.
…I really don’t remember anything about that day a decade ago.
She’d found herself cocooned in light upon regaining consciousness. When she had been terrified and didn’t know what to do, Linus took her hand.
“I’ll protect you, Fiona. So, in exchange, stay by my side forever.”
He’d said those words to encourage the girl who’d lost her memories. She knew they hadn’t meant much to him, and he’d probably already forgotten them by now. Even so, they had been the light breaking through the darkness anxiety had created in her heart and the lifeline she had needed to survive in this world.