Chapter 10 - Viviana de feur Lostel - 'His Majesty was too much.'

Inside the Taiyou palace, a man emitting extreme cold is sitting on the throne. "Have you investigated the matter?"

"Yes, you majesty."

"And..?"

"Your Majesty, Princess Viviana doesn't know that woman's name."

"Doesn't know?" The man spoke with ironic voice, "How do you explain that?"

"this… your majesty, this subordinate also doesn't know. I've asked the maids around the princess and they swore they never mentioned that woman's name ever since your majesty imposed the ban."

The man was silent for a moment… "Are you sure?"

"Yes, this subordinate isn't lying." Leo is having cold sweats as he was bowing towards Vernon. He was made to investigate how that name was known by the Princess and in this investigation, he should get the answers thru whatever means he could use. He even threatened the maids using their own families so how could they lie to him?

The man waved his hand, "You are dismissed."

Leo sighed and thanked his emperor.

Vernon, the emperor, went back to his room. He sat on his couch facing the windows which reflects the shadow of the moon and clouds. He sat there motionless with a frown and his thoughts wandering somewhere that he doesn't really want to explore. Slowly, he fell asleep, dreaming of the memories he buried deep.

A blurry image and vague voice appeared in his mind piece by piece.

Of all the women, you are the only one that caught my attention.

"You, what is your name?"

"The name of this one is Linnea from Tueinfleu Family, your Majesty."

...You wouldn't like wealth nor fame, but those vulgar things instead.

"What is that thing you're trying to find?"

"Oh, it's a flower. Linnaea Borealis. I am named after it."

You have an enthusiastic spirit, and your warm smiles dazzles me so.

But I guess every person have their own secrets... including you.

"Of all people, it should be you who shouldn't betray me. You are mine!"

"… I am my own."

The determination and indifference in your eyes makes me mad but at the same time - helpless.

What should I do? I think.... you have been deeply engraved in my very soul.

"No! I will not allow it!"

"VERNON! Promise me! Promise me that you'll take care of our baby…please."

...That I couldn't do without you when I lost you.

Vernon was startled awake with tears on the corner of his eyes. After a moment his eyes regained its former coldness, and went back to his study to do some paper works seeming to look normal when he dreamed of that woman.

And that woman is Linnea Tueinfleu,

The only woman of the Emperor and the mother of Princess Viviana.

--

Ling Mei hasn't gone out of her room for almost a week. She still has lingering fears from what happened last week and didn't dare to go out.

But she was starting to get bored. All she did was eat occasionally, read her books, and sometimes talk to Ferr and Lucy.

However, the books she has have already been read by her this week, and she couldn't really talk to Ferr and Lucy all the time.

Lately, she had been staring at the scenery outside her windows, longing for the outside world. Still, she didn't dare to go out for fear of encountering that… that… bwastward. Just thinking of him, she would start having a hard time to breath. He really left a trauma on her.

With her mind wandering, Viviana wasn't aware that outside her room, her maids were also having a serious discussion, each with worried expression on their faces.

"It has been a week and her highness still doesn't want to go out." - Jesa

"Even her favorite corn porridge, she didn't eat much." Sana sighed.

"Her highness seemed to have lost some weight and her spirits are low." Seol felt sad.

"It's no wonder. His Majesty really left a deep mark on her. His Majesty was… was.. too much." Jesa lowly complained for fear of being heard by others.

There was a moment of silence not until Sana remembered something. "Ahh! Tiffany! Aren't you going to the town at the west today?"

Seol and Jesa looked over, their eyes brightened. "That's right! You can go out with her highness!"

But Seol immediately hesitated. "But will it be allowed? What if His Majesty knew?"

The others were also downhearted.

"Isn't it okay though? His Majesty doesn't give much importance to our Princess anyways." Jesa said with a sulking voice and slight mockery.

Tiffany on the other hand hesitated for a moment but in the end decided to do it. She thought, 'Her Highness couldn't continue like this, or else she'll grew up taciturn.'

"Okay, I'll go to Dahlie with her highness." And then walked towards the door to knock.

--

Inside, Ling Mei who has finished talking with Lucy heard a knock.

"Princess."

She didn't respond and continued to curl up on her bed.

"Princess… I'll be going out. Would you like to come with me?"

Her closed eyes suddenly opened. Her eyes were hesitant. Her mind pondering whether they were just saying this to make her come out.

In the end she got up from her bed and slowly walked to the door. She didn't open it but with a hoarse voice, "are you really going to take me?"

"Yes, this maid has an errand in Dahlie Town and plans to go out with Her Highness." Tiffany thought of explaining. "This maid thought her highness hasn't seen what a town looks like, and took this chance by the way."

Ling Mei was silent… and then quietly asked. "then… then, will we be passing by on that direction?"

Tiffany was lost for a moment but soon understood. 'Well, it's fastest if they passed in the direction of His Majesty's Palace. But ------ they could just take the longest route if this makes her highness less tense.' With that thought, Tiffany responded. "Yes."