CH 32

A cool breeze blew through the trees.

Edward, who was walking down the corridor, stopped when he heard the rustling of leaves.

Suddenly, he looked out the window and saw that the stronger sunlight was shining on the green leaves in a deep color, foreshadowing the arrival of summer.

The tree in front of the house was planted in the year of Edward's birth, and he was a little surprised to see how big it had grown.

When Edward was still young, the tree was low and had a branch in a good position, so he once tried to climb it because he felt he could climb it as soon as he put his hand on the branch.

He tried to climb up the branch, but the attendant immediately found him and got angry with him.

Edward was tired of listening to the attendant getting angry all the time, so he looked around, and his eyes met those of Mariabelle, who was just walking down this corridor.

Her emerald green eyes, brighter than the green in front of her, were wide and round, and she looked at Edward as if surprised.

Come to think of it, it seemed to me that in the past, her face was quick to show his emotions of joy, anger, and sorrow.

Edward remembered the familiar emotionless, cold face of his childhood friend, with whom he broke off their engagement, and wondered when she became like that.

Shaking his head lightly, Edward thought it was not worth thinking about, and proceeded to the end of the corridor.

The corner at the end of the palace is where the queen's education takes place.

It is equipped with a small hall for not only classroom lectures but also for dance practice.

Edward came to the hall to partner with his new fiancée, Annette, just in time to start dance practice.

These days, her dancing has improved and she no longer steps on Edward's toes.

She still can't dance as perfectly as Mariabelle, but she will get better in time.

That's what he has been thinking, but perhaps because it's earlier than usual, Annette hasn't arrived yet.

Edward was disappointed to see the empty hall.

Somehow, he wanted to be soothed by seeing that smile.

Edward usually waited for Annette in the hall, but on a whim, he decided to go to the room where Annette was studying.

Annette, who had just started learning, had asked Edward not to come to the study room because she was embarrassed to be seen studying.

She would probably be in a bad mood if he went to see her, but it must be okay if he sneaked in to see her.

Mrs. Dudley's successor had praised Annette for her hard work, and Edward was sure she would be in a better mood if he praised her later.

Edward thought so and went to visit her secretly.

The door to the classroom was left open when a woman was inside.

Even if the teacher is a woman, the queen is not allowed to be in the room with the door closed at any time, except when she is in her bedroom.

The room where Annette was studying also had its door wide open.

"Miss Annette, I think your spelling is wrong."

A gentle teacher's voice could be heard in the back of the room.

Mrs. Smith, who had been invited to replace Mrs. Dudley, was from a baronet's family, but Annette seemed to adore her, so she must be doing very well in her studies.

Edward listens with a smile.

"Huh? No way. Oh, it's true. Oh God, why is it so hard?"

"Don't worry, you'll learn it in no time. Now, please watch this example again and learn it. After that, without looking at the example, please write it down.

"Let's see, Annette Danzel... Is that all right?"

As a commoner, Annette had no last name. But now that she is the adopted daughter of Duke Danzel, she goes by Danzel as her last name.

"As expected of Miss Annette, you remember it immediately. Now, let's write Master Edward's name. Here is an example for you."

"Wow, this is annoying... Why can't I just call him Ed already?"

"You can't omit the crown prince's name."

"Yes, I understand."

Edward, who was listening to the exchange between Annette and Mrs. Smith, turned pale and left the scene.

The guards panicked, wondering if he was feeling ill.

"No, I'm fine," he said. "Don't worry."

He looked pale even as he said this.

"But if something happens to you---"

"Greg."

"Ha."

Edward stopped and called out the name of the longest-serving of the guards.

"Could it be that Annette can't read or write?"

Greg stammered for a moment, then nodded.

"She was originally a commoner, so she can read simple words, but she is still learning to write."

"Yes..."

It was a shocking revelation to Edward.

He knew Annette was a commoner, but he didn't think she couldn't write.

Besides, that language.

It didn't bother me when I met her on the street, but hearing her like this in the royal palace, sounded very ungraceful.

Suddenly, he remembered Mrs. Dudley's words at the time of her retirement.

"Since Mariabelle, who was called a perfect lady, was your former fiancée, Annette must show that she is an even better woman than her. It's not enough to be ordinary or just good. She must be more attractive than anyone else. Please, do not forget that."

At the time, he had thought it was obvious, but seeing Annette's condition earlier, he felt a sense of uneasiness fall over him.

"Greg. Annette is..."

He was about to ask him if she would make a fine queen, but he stopped.

He was the one who broke off his engagement with Mariabelle and chose Annette.

If that is the case, it is Edward's role to support Annette in becoming a suitable queen.

After all, Annette is his true love...

Edward put a lid on the anxiety that welled up in his chest.