Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

The last time we met, I had been so disconnected from my emotions, I could not confirm whether or not I was mistaken. Back then, I had still found it difficult to understand intricate emotions. Still, it was strange. Because the Cjezarn I was now seeing showed no signs of attraction to Rusbella.

“Well, when I went to find her, I mean, see her, upon your request, I did think she was a very beautiful person.”

He then tilted his head and scratched his chin. As his gaze wandered into the air, it looked as if he was trying to recall the past.

“Ah, of course, you are much much much prettier, princess.”

After a moment of bewilderment, I asked him if he was feeling alright before he lowered his reddening face.

“Also…”

Averting my expectations, he was hesitant to speak. His reaction was unfamiliar to me because he had always been so excited to tell me things. I nodded my head and upon my permission, Cjezarn spoke cautiously.

“It felt like I was being bewitched? It was almost as if I had to fall in love… And… My heart was fluttering. Like she had been my first love… It really is strange, isn’t it? It was almost as if I no longer had control over my heartbeat. “

As he recounted his experiences, his tone remained wary and it was evident he was a little confused.

“After I notified you of her presence, princess, I never got close to her again. Because…”

Lowering his head, he had muttered, “I felt I might fall in love if I did.”

He then glanced towards me but as soon as our eyes met, he averted his gaze.

“It felt like I had to fall in love with her.”

Looking confused, he continued talking about his emotions and how he felt as if he had lost control over them. And that was all we talked about regarding Rusbella. Afterward, I had busied myself with Pontus and Rusbella, and hadn’t gotten the chance to see him again.

“Princess.”

It wasn’t as if I was oblivious to the reason why his face would turn red whenever he looked at me. But I had no idea why Cjezarn liked me. But what was clear was that though he liked me, his heart was shaken the moment he met Rusbella.

Rusbella was born right here in Kaltanias and if she really was of a branch lineage, her ‘bewitching’ looks might have been due to her powers.

Although Castor was the worst tyrant to ever live, everyone could acknowledge his charms. The power to manipulate people’s emotions. Even if I had those powers as well, they were powers I would never use. Rusbella might be using those powers subconsciously.

Thump.

Something struck my forehead. I looked up in shock.

“What are you daydreaming about all by yourself?”

Amor smirked. No, his face was barely visible because of the moonlight so I could only guess from the sounds he made that he was smirking. He was resting his chin on the knees he had propped up. As the curtains by the windows fluttered, moonlight scattered atop his head and the white drapes. Unable to see his face as he sat against the light, I had subconsciously started walking towards him before stopping after a short while.

“What… What happened to your face!”

“Ah. Just as I had expected, that’s the first thing you’re going to talk about.”

Finally illuminated by the moonlight, his face looked to be a mess. There were bruises scattered across his face and cuts on his cheek as if a beast had clawed at him. No, the wounds on his left cheek looked more like it had come from a sword. As soon as I noticed the dried bloodstain next to his lips, my outstretched hand stopped midair.

“It’s nothing much. The emperor tried to bring me to the Central Palace but I resisted a little too much.”

“Did you get into a fight?”

“It wasn’t a fight. I mean, it was.”

Noticing my expression, he quickly changed his tune.

He had refused to obey and placed his body on the line? He was still a patient, one who was fortunate enough not to die. I did think something must have happened for the plants to have wrapped themselves around the palace so tightly but he had been left in tatters. And all this time, I had been eating well and doing just fine at the academy. In the meantime, Amor had been risking his life to defend his palace while Fleon was now trapped in a cold prison cell due to the coup. As I recoiled from the sadness raging in my heart, a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled.

“Don’t make that face.”

Staring at me, he brought my palm to his cheek. With eyes filled with joy and an elated expression that made it seem as if he didn’t care about the wounds he had sustained.

“Because you were coming back. I wanted to protect this place.”

He let out a long sigh of relief. I could soon feel a ticklish sensation caress my palm. Wearing a defenceless smile, he kissed my palm. His gaze slowly shifted to my side.

“But Dane Lowell is not the one accompanying you this time.”

“Ah.”

It was only then did I turn my head. Rusbella was staring at the two of us about two steps away. When our eyes met, she smiled awkwardly. Under an air of awkwardness, I scratched my cheek. I quickly muttered an introduction to Amor.

“… She’s a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yes. A friend I made in the Academy.”

I should just say that I met her in the Academy. He looked at me with momentary astonishment. From his expression, I could tell that he was half suspicious as to how I made a friend so quickly given how wary I usually was and half confused as to why I brought my friend to his palace.

He soon massaged his forehead. He lifted his head as if he was about to rustle my hair. As soon as his strangely pointed eyes curled gently, I widened my eyes.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Amor Noche Kaltanias. The 4th Prince of the Empire.”

“Ah. Rusbella. I am Rusbella.”

He then whispered gently and softly.

“I am sorry I couldn’t prepare anything in my palace for your visit.”

His voice was clear as it rang in the room.

“I had sent all the footmen and maids out for their safety. So, there may be many shortcomings to this welcome by a noble such as myself.”

Amor lifted his eyebrows before giving an apologetic look. My insides were churning. No, my heart was pounding. In the following moment, as i witnessed it for the very first time, I learned that even Amor could flash such an endearing smile.

“No, not at all.”

That look of anticipation. His voice that sounded as if it was melting. I stared blankly at the sight of the two greeting each other. It felt as if I had been pushed to the background, like that curtain that was blowing into the room.

I could tell instinctively. This was probably… the expression and voice Amor held as he faced Rusbella in the novel.

“It is nice to meet you.”

I never thought I would get to see this. I had thought I would end up dead before witnessing them at first before questioning what Amor’s response could possibly be once Rusbella appeared.

I thought I shouldn’t touch the original plot of the story.

By changing the fates of Rebecca and Ahasia, I hadn’t changed the main plot of the story at all. I had stayed firm by my decision not to. The reason why I didn’t want to change the main plot was simple. I didn’t know what would happen to me as a result. But my heart was being thrown into shambles by the sight before me.

This was something I had really not expected to see or rather something that I actually did not want to witness. I gently bit my lip. I covered my eyes with the back of my hand so that I could no longer see it.

I pressed the back of my hand into my face to hide the emotions pouring out of my heart. The Amor I met through his letters crossed my mind. Unlike his usual stiffness, he had been friendly and gentle in his letters. I grimaced. I didn’t want him to see the expression I was wearing now. I must have looked hideous and disgusting.

He was really meant to be sweet to the female lead.

“What’s wrong?”

As the hand that was covering my eyes was slowly pushed down, his usual face was right in front of mine. The gentleness he had shown Rusbella had came and went before the face I was so used to seeing took its place.

“Are you hurt?”

Noticing the anxiety in his green eyes, I shook my head quickly.

“No.”

This was not the time. As I stared back at his face filled with scars, I pulled myself together.

“It’s nothing.”

I flashed a wide smile. Amor shook my hand a couple of times anxiously as he repeatedly asked if I was hurt. But I continued to insist that I was fine as I shook my head.

I then gestured at Rusbella who nodded quickly before opening the bag she had been carrying.

“Rusbella came for you.”

What she fished out of her cloth bag that she slung across her body were the experimental apparatus I previously saw at the Academy. They were the tools she used to make medicine.

“Rusbella will be making you medicine to cure your illness.”

I explained the reason why Rusbella visited.

“This medicine exists no where else in the world.”

Amor grimaced before flashing a wary expression.

“Was it called ‘Nectar’?”

“Huh?”

Unable to hide his surprise, he moistened his lips.

“A medicine that no longer exists… Rather than calling it a medicine, it’s more like an artefact only clerics can make. There’s no way it exists.”

“No. Rusbella can make it.”

Rusbella quickly nodded.

“Yes! I can!”

Amor stared at Rusbella and I alternately before furrowing his beautiful eyebrows. Even with wounds all over his face, his breathtaking beauty shone through. Actually, it was more like his lethal charms stood out even more with the wounds like a flower doused with water. Even though he was injured, I was in awe of how pure his beauty remained.

Amor scanned the ingredients before damping his lips. He seemed to have finally realised that she was seriously about to make nectar.

“… You can make it?”

“Yes.”

It was said that ‘nectar’ was a medicinal syrup only clerics could possibly make a long time ago. It might seem like information about this medicine had leaked to other countries but Rusbella was able to make it because she was from Kaltanias and also had extensive knowledge on medicine.

“What the heck were you up to at the Academy?”

The novel had just mentioned that she was well studied but perhaps her divinity had played a part. After hearing everything, Amor still could not erase his scepticism. He might be finding it hard to believe that the disease that had tortured him for so long could disappear like this.

“She promised to cure you of your illness, brother.”

“… My illness is a curse.”

“Yes. Be it a curse or an illness. It can cure it. Because it’s ‘nectar’.”

Amor seemed to have given up on arguing any further. For a while, only sounds of liquid bubbling filled the room. As did in the Academy, it didn’t take long to complete.

“Once we put this in, it’ll be complete.”

As the final step, Rusbella added the daffodil petals as per how she did in the neglected toilet. Amor’s eyes widened when he noticed the murky colour turn golden. I quickly grabbed his hand before he could say anything. I made eye contact with him and shook my head.

“No.”

I knew what he was about to say. But it was best if Rusbella remained unaware of her powers. She never knew about her powers in the original plot either. The future was already distorted and had deviated from the original novel but I no longer wanted to touch the plot anymore.

It might just be my arrogance.

But I smiled bitterly at the two of them.