Royal Princess of Blood Vol. 2 Chapter 27: Would You Consider Going Out With Me?

Lucious glanced at Rogan who was beside for a second, I turned to look at Rogan to see him wearing a small smile, but I could tell he was amused.

I returned my beautiful and innocent eyes to Lucious.

“Lucious… hi.”

“Hello, Estelia…” he glanced at my book. “Is it a bad ti?”

“... Um, no. This is rely a casual read.”

“Quite a thick one.”

“Well, it is the history of the kingdom.”

“I see.”

He awkwardly looked away as though thinking what he should say next. Haaaaah, do I need to help you with this?

“What brought you here, Lucious? I’m surprised my brother let you go. Oh, and, you can sit down.”

He nodded his head and slowly sat down at the chair in front of .

“Well, we managed to finish all important tasks yesterday, so it’s fine to take it slow for today.”

“That’s great! Best to have a rest once in a while. I’m sure you must be stressed out by the amount of work you two have to do.”

I laid my elbow on the table and positioned my hand on my cheek, squishing them a little as I stared straight into his eyes with a child-like smile.

“It’s not that big of a problem really. In fact, I am more concerned about you.”

My eyes widened for a mont.

“.... W-What do you an?”

“I heard you have been working hard. And I believe it now even more seeing you read this thousand pages book.”

“... I did this of my own volition to pass the ti, so… it’s not that troubleso.”

“Are you doing alright though? You’re not feeling too much pressure, yes?”

I lowered my hand and sadly raised my eyes towards him.

“I know you have already heard everything that happened, Lucious....” I smiled with sadness. “So, do you think I would not feel any pressure at all?”

“... I’m sorry I asked. That was foolish of .”

I glanced around and realized that Rogan had already moved off a bit away from , his smile no longer around his face. He must have heard. The sa worried expressions were also evident on ra and Vernon’s faces.

“But it’s alright, I’m sure everyone is working hard. I believe in them. So this is not sothing to be so distressed about.”

I showed a forced smile, as though trying to say and express that everything would be alright. That there was nothing to worry about. I have faith in everyone.

Lucious stared at with a pained expression, opening and closing his mouth, hesitating to speak.

“... Estelia, do you have ti for a leisure walk?” he asked.

“I think so…”

“Then…” he swiftly stood up and gracefully extended a hand before , like a gentleman asking for a fair maiden’s hand. “May I take you out for a walk, milady?”

How bold.

My cheeks flushed red as I stared with shock at the hand presented to . I seemingly beca frantic, looking confused, but he didn’t budge at all, he remained steadfast. No hesitating now, huh. It’s like him making the conviction to not let go this ti.

As there was no other choice, I slowly reached out for his hand. He had a smooth hand with only a little roughness, not the hand of a fighter. He gently helped stand up, and we now stood right before each other, face to face with only a couple of inches apart.

I imdiately took a step back with embarrassnt. He smiled a little, seemingly expecting this. Well, I made it blatantly apparent that I’m embarrassed.

“... U-Um, w-where are we going, Lucious?”

“I have one place in mind, it should be peaceful and morable.”

“...”

I have no idea what he's talking about.

“Have you forgotten?”

“I can’t tell what you’re talking about.”

“The tree.”

“Oh.”

That one, huh.

“Let’s go?”

“...Okay.”

I followed a bit behind him with ekness. My servants followed behind , keeping their fair distance. Helloooo? A bit of privacy? The flowers of youth are blooming here. Don’t be a killjoy. Don’t be the bees that suck the sweetness out.

We walked down the corridor quietly. Um, no conversation? No nothing? Co on Lucious. Rogan way surpassed you in any type of conversation initiation. You’ll be left behind. It’s awkward here.

Oh yeah I need to watch out for any family mbers seeing . But they seed to have forgotten about it, hehehe I’m just a so behaved daughter that they weren’t so strict when it cos to punishnts.

But, I guess there’s nothing I need to worry about, everyone was busy anyway… And we barely talk anymore.

We reached the stairs and Lucious stopped in place.

“Hold my hand.”

Um, what?

“I learned of what happened, and I don’t want it happening again on my watch.”

Yeah, Mr. Stairs was so cruel that ti. Piece of shit, I almost died… no wait, I did technically die… maybe?

“... O-Oh…”

I hesitantly received his hand, then he slowly led down the stairs. Truth be told, this wasn’t necessary, but of course as he only arrived and recently heard about it, the information was still fresh in his mind.

“By the way, your request, it’s coming tomorrow.”

“T-That’s great! Thank you…”

There the conversation ended. Booooo…!

That aside, it’s tomorrow already?! Shit, I haven’t made any designs yet. Guess I’ll do so work later.

Now then, what to do with this awkward atmosphere.

“Um, Lucious, you said you would tell about your adventure to Myra, right? How is it outside?”

Yeah, I’m gonna initiate a conversation. I gave him a bit of sympathy and empathy since it’s not that easy to co up with a good conversation with soone you like. I understand that, and no need to be afraid when I’m the accompanying party, I’m a generous girl. But if this happens again, I’m not gonna do anything anymore.

I timidly glanced his way, seeing him with a restrained smile.

“Oh yeah, I did ntion that. That was my first ti going beyond the kingdom. And I should say, the journey was not easy.”

I quietly waited for him to continue, my eyes hinting at anticipation for his story. I am actually quite expecting what the outside would entail.

Then as we made our way to our destination, he told his story of his adventure to Myra. He shared to his experience in encountering types of monsters for the first ti, ones that wouldn’t be found around here in the capital.

So, could this an certain monsters have their own habitats or sothing? If that’s the case, they’re like animals? Damn, now I’m concerned if I encounter what seems like a normal wolf, but turns out to be a monster or sothing.

Lucious ntioned what he heard from the knights that the monsters they encountered were easier to deal with than the monsters found in our nearby dangerous forest. I still don’t have any asurent on what that ans.

He then shared that it was pretty much his first ti camping out in the wilderness, but it was fun. Good for you, would be hard for a lady like . If I’m gonna go outside, I think I’ll just stay around the kingdom where I have a proper place to stay. That being said, it all depends on my mood, hehehe. Also if I can find a good motel or hotel, that would be great.

Lucious continued on his arrival to the kingdom of knights. He ntioned how he enjoyed the dances the commoners did on the town square along with the soldiers and knights. He tried participating but he did not know their dance at all.

He described the sceneries around that nation and how they were almost similar to Wisteria. But the most noteworthy of all was the mineral called Kaleidronite, the sa material as my necklace gifted to . He still couldn’t forget the mont during the night where a path was filled with Kaleidronite smashed into tiny pieces, almost powder.

The casters of magic would cast their mana unto the stones scattered on the ground, then they would light up with countless colors, more colorful than the stars in the night sky.

I stared up at him, he was full of enthusiasm as he described everything, his face colored and bright with a wide smile. Soone might even be chard by his joy alone.

Oh well.

Shortly we arrived at our destination. A lone tree stood in the middle of the yard, a few colorful flowers scattered around, and the soil covered completely by lush greenery. I rember this place very well.

This was the place we hung out with my brothers when we were young and had nothing else to worry about. Well, when I say hung out, I an dragged. They say I should at least get under the sun once in a while, and they would force out of the palace because I didn’t want to get out.

Needless to say, I stayed under the shade of this tree all of the ti, no way I’m getting under the sun, so bright and the heat was botherso. Here we would just casually sit around with my brothers, Estevan, and Eleden, then there’s Lucious, and rarely our female cousin.

So, yeah, most of the ti when I was dragged here, I was one of the boys basically. Whenever they play around though, I’m just under the shade watching them. And I was quite satisfied with that.

I smiled at seeing this scenery from my mory. When we got older, we of course couldn’t co here anymore, so it was bizarre to see this place personally.

We sat down on the grass, I leaned my back on the tree trunk, savoring the fresh air and cold wind. My servants were nowhere to be seen, they must be around here sowhere.

“Got so weight off your shoulders?”

Lucious asked softly.

“... Yes.”

“When was the last ti we’re here? Five? Or Six years ago?”

“I think around those… and my brothers were with us.”

“Yeah…”

“Why did you bring here? Wouldn’t it be more fun with Eleden and Estevan here?”

I glanced at him and t his eyes.

“It’s not about having fun, Estelia.”

He smiled softly, telling only just that.

“... Is that so…”

Then there was silence, leaving only the sounds of the grass blades waving in the wind.

“Estelia…”

“... Hm?”

“Um… will you be going out to the festival?”

He must be talking about the festival happening in a few months.

“.... Why do you ask?”

I shifted my eyes towards him, but he avoided my eyes, feeling shy it seems.

“Well… I’m just, I’m just wondering if it would be alright to… to bring you out and go to the festival with .”

My eyes widened a little at his proposal.

“... Y-Yes, I suppose I am planning to… but I’m not so sure.”

“Then, if you do, would you consider going out with ?”

I retracted a little.

“W-What are you… Why are you asking ?”

“Why not?”

“But…”

“Of course, if you have others you plan on coming with, it’s fine I won’t interfere.”

He looked past , towards soone perhaps.

“N-No, I don’t…”

“Then, at least for a day, let be your escort.”

He suddenly reached out for my hand and held them gently. My cheeks flushed red and my eyes turned frantic, looking around just not his eyes.

“Why are you… a-asking ? I’m, I’m not a g-good company. There are others that are better than .”

“There are no others, I want you, Estelia.”

“!”

The pressure of this mont was evident on my face as the edges of my eyes moistened.

“N-No… y-you couldn’t possibly—”

“I an it, I want no one else but you, Estelia. I want to be with you.”

“...”

As though an involuntary action, I pulled my hand away from his hand as my body shook, confused by everything.

“Estelia—”

“T-This i-is… I-I…”

With trembling lips I stood up, stepping back a couple of tis, breathing a bit heavily, as if shocked.

“L-Lucious, I… E-Excuse !”

I turned around and walked away with hasty steps, my cheeks to my ears were beet red. My head lowered and only focused on the path in front of , avoiding anyone’s eyes.

“W-Wait, Estelia…”

I heard Lucious’s voice trailing off behind , but I kept facing forward. On the way, I ca across my servants.

“Princess.”

Rogan called out to , but I ignored him and went straight ahead. Their footsteps loudly followed behind — no, there were only two pairs of footsteps.

Doesn’t matter, I’m certain it was Rogan and ra anyway.

Eventually, I arrived at my room and locked myself inside.