Chapter 112 - 112
True to her word, Mother began filling my room with so many dresses and accessories it felt like it would overflow. I was like her personal dress-up doll, and I lost track of how many times I changed. By the time we decided on a pale mint green dress, I was exhausted and slumped onto the sofa. Still, seeing Mother's satisfied face, I decided it was worth it.
I did have one question, though. I asked her why she was so fired up when this wasn't a royal ball or a tea party hosted by the Queen. Mother simply gave me a beaming smile and said, "It's been a while since your last date with His Highness, hasn't it? Why not show him a version of yourself so beautiful it startles him?"
Then came the day of the date.
Hearing that His Highness had arrived to pick me up, I headed to the hall with Sarah. As I descended the stairs, his golden hair, sparkling in the sunlight streaming through the window, caught my eye. Just that sight made my heart throb. The moment His Highness noticed me and turned around, I saw his eyes widen in surprise. Then, he immediately narrowed his eyes happily and walked slowly toward me with a smile.
If other women were here, they would surely be captivated by him. His smile was sweet and gentle, yet I felt a distinct heat in his gaze.
"Rachel, you look stunning."
His Highness reached me and held out his hand. As I placed mine upon it, his smile deepened. I felt my cheeks flush from the sweet heat he radiated. I managed to say, "You look wonderful as well, Your Highness," but I worried my voice might be trembling.
Why is this? It wasn't as if it had been a long time since we last met... yet just meeting him made my heart race and tighten.
"Thank you. I'm so happy thinking that I get to have such a beautiful version of you all to myself today. Am I being conceited to think I wasn't the only one looking forward to today?"
Without breaking eye contact, His Highness brought my hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
"Your... Your Highness."
"It seems I'm more excited than I realized."
Aware of his words and the touch of his lips on my hand, my face grew hot enough to feel like it was on fire. Watching me with a gentle expression, he let out a delighted laugh. "Come, let's go," he said, leading me by the hand. I walked beside him, stealing glances at his face. When he noticed my gaze and asked, "Is something wrong?" I found myself at a loss for words. Still, I realized I shouldn't just wait for him to speak; I had to convey my own feelings too. I opened my mouth hesitantly.
"...Um, I was. I was looking forward to today as well."
At my small, strained voice, His Highness's eyes widened slightly. Then, his cheeks flushed faintly as he broke into a broad grin.
Riding in the carriage with him, I reflected on how it had been a while since we'd gone out without any heavy burdens. Lately, I had been preoccupied with the Spirit Land where the Spirit of Darkness lived. I had been so desperate to regain my mana that spending a day thinking only of him, with my heart fluttering... it felt almost ticklish. Whenever I looked at him, he immediately returned a smile. I focused all my attention on him, making sure not to miss a single word or expression. Just thinking about how happy this time was made my face relax.
The carriage from the Marquis's estate arrived at the detached palace in no time. With His Highness's help, I stepped down from the carriage, and a sea of colorful, beautiful flowers filled my vision.
"It's beautiful... what a lovely place."
"Yes. This detached palace is said to have been dearly loved by a princess about three hundred years ago. She passed away young, but the flowers here continue to bloom as beautifully as they did back then."
"I see. Is that why it's called the Palace of Flowers?"
"So it seems. Apparently, a special spell was cast on this place, and the soil is better than elsewhere."
There were many beautiful gardens in this country—the royal palace, noble estates, and royal parks. But this place was different. It was well-maintained, yet it felt natural. It was as if I had wandered into a flower field from a fairy tale.
I was looking around in awe when I heard a faint chuckle. I turned to see His Highness smiling. "I'm glad I could bring you here, Rachel."
"There's an interesting spot over here. Shall we go?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
Led by his hand, we went further in until we found a small, unassuming wooden door tucked away. His Highness held his hand over the door without hesitation, and the area around the lock glowed with a faint light.
"Oh, this? A special spell is cast so that only the royal family can enter. It looks like a fragile wooden door, but it's actually sturdy and unbreakable."
"Is it truly alright for me to enter?"
"Of course. Come, this way."
When he swung the door open, the scene was different from the manicured garden before. From the ground to the sky above, everything was filled with grass, trees, and blooming flowers.
"How wonderful! It's like a tunnel of flowers."
"The gardeners don't tend to this area."
"Really? And yet, they bloom so vibrantly and beautifully?"
"Yeah. The power of spirits is likely at work here too."
I see, the power of spirits. It was indeed a mysterious place that made me feel calm and gentle, much like the Spirit Land. I gazed at the sky covered in flowers and greenery, trying to burn the image into my memory. Sunlight filtered through the gaps here and there, looking like paths of light.
"It's so beautiful... I'm at a loss for words."
"I understand. I was surprised when I first came here as a child. I think this might have been the first place where I truly felt the power of spirits."
His Highness reached out toward the streaming light. The light illuminating his palm sparkled like dancing jewels. I blinked, thinking I might be seeing things, but the brilliance remained. It was a mysterious sight, as if the light itself were alive.
"Your Highness, thank you for bringing me here."
"Rachel, thank you for coming with me."
Our words of gratitude overlapped. Realizing we had said nearly the same thing, we looked at each other in surprise. As the situation sank in, we both burst into laughter, our shoulders shaking.
"How strange, it seems we feel the same way."
"Yes, it seems so. Your Highness, I am truly enjoying myself right now."
"Yeah. I feel exactly the same."
As he spoke, flower petals fluttered up around us as if caught in a breeze. I let out a gasp of admiration at the petals falling over us, as if magic were being used. With a gentle, sweet gaze, His Highness softly touched my hair. My heart throbbed at his proximity. Looking up, I saw him holding a single petal. It must have been caught in my hair.
"It seems even the flowers are welcoming us."
As he narrowed his eyes and smiled at me, I caught my breath, completely captivated.
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The date will continue in the next update.
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