Chapter 7 As He Held Her in His Arms

After a few hours, the Crown Prince came to the room where Amara was treated. She just sat there in the bed and did not say anything while the Crown Prince talked about the incident that happened in the garden. She made herself appear that she was listening but her eyes were lost to the colour of the Crown Prince’s eyes. The more she looks at it, the more she thinks that it was the same with Esteban.

“She was still shocked, your highness.” Silla reported to the Crown Prince after he came out of Lady Amara’s room.

“Make sure that she does not remember everything, Silla.” The Crown Prince mumbled with his brows furrowed. He tapped Silla’s shoulder so hard that she bit her tongue to not groan from pain. “Yes, your highness.”

When the Crown Prince finally left, Silla stretched her arms to relieve the pain on her shoulder. She had a dissatisfied look on her face as if disgusted to the existence of the Crown Prince. She is now regretting the fact that she once recognized him as her friend.

It was long ago, in that specific town. The Crown Prince was living a commoner life just like everyone else. They were friends and the other kids but then years later, he got adopted by a noble and he never came back. After three years, he came back to the town as the Crown Prince and he took Silla as a maid in the palace, as his spy and informant. Now, she wonders if she is a ‘friend’ in his eyes.

“Silla.” Lady Amara called for her so she immediately came inside to hear her lady’s concern. “Let’s leave this place.”, “Yes, your majesty.”

After some time of recuperating her feelings, Lady Amara, the late Emperor Darya, finally had the opportunity to go to an Imperial banquet. It was the birthday banquet of the current Empress. Silla did her best to make her stand out and insisted on assisting her during the ball.

When it was time to leave, Count Sebastian came to pick her up in her room as they went out the manor together. While in the carriage, the ride was silent at first until Count Sebastian spoke.

“Does the Crown Prince treat you well?” Count Sebastian had been curious about this. He can see that her daughter has changed since that incident. He is also worried that something is going on but he has no idea.

Amara was silenced as she thought of whether lying or telling the truth to Count Sebastian. She then found herself showing a small smile to not make him too concerned. “We are well and we understand each other, father.” She replied, choosing to stay neutral without telling both the exact truth and a made up lie.

Count Sebastian’s brows furrowed and later, he had a gentle look on his face. “You fell out of love, didn't you?” He knows his daughter better than anyone else.

Amara did not speak. So Lady Amara did love the Crown Prince? After accidentally finding out about Lady Amara’s personal diary, she found out that the Crown Prince was cheating on his fiancé. Lady Amara met the Crown Prince’s mistress a few times and had bullied her. Lady Amara was a kind lady and is very passionate about being honest with her feelings. At first, she had no feelings with the Crown Prince but she eventually fell in love after meeting him a few times. There was also an incident where she witnessed the Crown Prince help a poor child, making her fall in love even more.

The way Lady Amara described the Crown Prince in her diary, Darya can say that she had really fallen in love with the physical appearance of the Crown Prince without any other investigations. She looked at the Crown Prince highly, complimented him and respected him with his position. It was purely a simple attraction for a young woman to have fallen in love for the first time.

“I failed to have reserved the amorous sentiment in my heart, father.” Lady Amara answered, feeling sad that she does not know whether the real Amara liked what she replied. She had no idea if Amara still likes the Crown Prince. How would the Count react if he finds out that his only daughter has actually died after she learned that her fiancée was cheating on her?

Amara looked down upon seeing the Count’s silence after hearing her reply. Count Sebastian might not be the best father but at least he cared for his daughter and did not leave her alone when she was sick before her death. Until then, she heard a small laugh from Count Sebastian.

“That’s good to hear from you, my daughter.”

Amara raised her head upon hearing the Count’s unexpected reaction. She watched the relief on the Count’s face as she also felt relieved to see that the Count was happy to hear her reply. “Honestly, I have not liked the idea of you engaging with the Crown Prince. If it was not because you look at him with such admiration, I would have chosen to get punished rather than forcing my only daughter to accept an ‘ignorant’ man. I am sorry for the term.” The Count laughed with his last sentence.

And as the former Emperor, how could she have not noticed the presence and sincere feelings of the Count during her time? Count Sebastian, and as far as she can remember, he was the silent one among the nobles. He has a calm personality and is only speaking if he speaks relevance. Now she knows why Count Sebastian rarely attended ceremonies. It was because… Lady Amara, his only daughter and only family, was always sick.