Chapter 14 - A Breath of Fresh Air
"What is this? It looks like a chair with wheels attached."
"It's called a wheelchair. I thought it might allow you to take strolls through the garden."
My eyes widened as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrived with a strange-looking chair. It looked like a miniature version of a carriage. I leaned in to inspect the wheelchair more closely. It had two large wheels and two smaller ones, with handles on the back. It seemed it was meant to be pushed.
"I heard that commoners use carts for transport, and that these wheelchairs are quite common in the neighboring kingdom," Louis explained.
"I see. With this, I could enjoy the garden without tiring myself out."
"Yes. I consulted with some craftsmen to have it built based on what I'd heard. ...Will you try sitting in it? I've confirmed its durability myself. I even sat in it to check the movement."
His Highness didn't have his usual air of absolute confidence; instead, his brow was lowered in a flicker of anxiety. The sudden gift was a surprise, but he had clearly put a great deal of thought into my well-being.
"You sat in it yourself?"
"Of course. I couldn't have you getting injured if it broke."
The Crown Prince of a nation, debating back and forth with craftsmen to build this... The mental image was so endearing that I couldn't suppress a giggle.
"Fufu, thank you. I'm feeling quite well today, so shall we try going out to the garden?"
"Very well. I'll carry you to the hall. Cyril, bring the wheelchair down."
"Understood."
Cyril, who had been standing by, lifted the wheelchair and left the room. Then, His Highness gently scooped me up in his arms. He had carried me like this before, but it was still incredibly embarrassing. If I looked up even slightly, his perfectly composed, handsome face was right there.
Still, a wheelchair... Since I'd started eating better, I had been trying to walk around the house as much as possible, even if I had to stop and rest. But the mere act of moving often drained my strength. I had felt guilty making Sarah bring chairs to me constantly. With this, perhaps I would be less of a burden.
Once we reached the hall, His Highness carefully settled me into the wheelchair. "Wait here for a moment," he told the servants. It seemed he intended to push the chair himself as he moved behind me. "How is the seat?"
"It's fine. It feels comfortable enough to sit in for a long time."
"Good. Let's move, then."
"Oh! It really moves!"
"I'll go as slowly as possible. Tell me if it's too fast."
"Ojou-sama, your hat. The sun is quite bright today," Sarah said, stepping forward to hand me a wide-brimmed hat. I had been indoors for so long that I'd forgotten the basic necessity of a hat or parasol.
"Let's go," His Highness said, and we began to move. The ride was smoother than I expected. More than anything, the sensation of moving while at such a low eye level felt novel. As we passed through the grand entrance, the first thing I noticed was the fresh air. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
The sky was so blue. The birds were singing. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The wheelchair glided through the garden, surrounded by the scent of dahlias and roses carried on the gentle autumn breeze.
"The world outside is so radiant. The blue of the sky, the sweet fragrance of the flowers, the sparkle of the fountain... It's all so mundane, yet I had forgotten how beautiful it is."
"If I weren't here with you, I wouldn't have stopped to look at the flowers or the sky either," Louis said. He stopped the chair near the fountain in the center of the garden and knelt down to meet my eyes.
"Your Highness, thank you for such a wonderful gift."
Tears pricked at my eyes from the sheer emotion of it. I must have looked incredibly happy. I knew I would never forget this moment—the feeling of returning to the world and rediscovering its beauty.
"Good grief," His Highness muttered softly. "You're far too dazzling. Thank you, Rachel."
"Why? I am the one who should be thanking you..."
"No, this is fine. This is the first time I've found the world so beautiful, or a moment so precious. I can't find the words for it, but these are all things you've given me."
I didn't fully understand what he meant, but his expression was so clear and full of resolve that I found myself speechless. "Now, let's head back before you catch a chill," he said, draping his jacket over my shoulders before pushing me back toward the entrance.
As he prepared to leave, he added, "I don't think I'll be able to visit for a while, but I've arranged for a tutor. Write to me if you need anything." With that, he made a swift departure.