Chapter 8

"Sorry!"

Orvia ran like a hare and dove into the crowd.

Shocked cries rose from the people she bumped into.

The prince remained kneeling as if his soul had been sucked out.

I forgot that Sadias was with me and chased after Orvia, who had fled.

"Orvia…!"

Pushing through the crowd, I didn't even care that one of my shoes had come off, and I rushed into the courtyard where Orvia had disappeared.

"Orvia!"

In the darkness, I found her golden hair, which glowed faintly, and spotted her hiding in the bushes.

"Orvia…"

"O-Onee-sama… I…"

The moment she saw my face, Orvia started sobbing, tears like pearls streaming down her pale blue eyes.

No matter what, I decided to hug the crying Orvia.

"Onee-sama, are you angry?"

Her words were hard to understand as she sobbed.

Trying to calm her down, I patted her back.

"I'm not angry at all. I'm just confused… I thought Orvia admired the prince."

"I don't hate him. He's just very kind to me. Father and Mother told me to be friends with him, so I thought of him as a friend."

"You thought of him as a friend!?"

I was so surprised that I couldn't help but shout.

No, but, a friend.

How, how ridiculous.

After all the advances he made?

Ha… it can't be…

And no one, not even me, told her that the prince thought of her as a lover, not a friend!

I can't believe even Mother didn't properly inform her!

"Because I always thought I would live with Father and Onee-sama at home… If not, there would be no point in Father and Mother being alive…"

"That's…"

I have often heard her say such things.

But it was a wish for a sickly daughter who found it hard to live long…

No, Orvia took those words seriously.

She had been told this over and over again.

"Besides, it's impossible for me to become the prince's wife! I know that much!"

"Orvia…"

"What should I do? Father will scold me…"

While stroking Orvia's head as she cried, I was utterly at a loss.

I understood the situation and Orvia's feelings, but what should I do?

Father is lenient with Orvia, so if he realizes she is seriously against it, he might try to help.

But once Father gets angry, no one can stop him.

What if he hits her in a fit of rage?

I was jealous of Orvia, who was pampered and cherished, but I never wanted her to suffer.

I know the pain and sadness of being hit without being heard, so I wish she could avoid it if possible.

I know that once a wound and pain are inflicted, they never go away.

"Amarye"

I heard Sadias' muffled voice as he searched for me.

While hugging my sister, I waved to show him where I was, and he quickly noticed and crouched down to approach.

"The inside is in a great commotion. It doesn't look like we can return for a while."

"Father is…"

"Your mother fainted from shock, and the earl is in a panic."

Sadias glanced at Orvia, who was sobbing in my arms, and gently placed his hand on my back.

His touch was warm, and I realized for the first time how cold the courtyard was.

He silently nodded and placed something at my feet.

It was my shoe, which had come off and disappeared somewhere.

He had brought it for me.

His kindness gave me courage, and I gathered my resolve to speak.

"Lord Sadias. Could you hide us for a little while?"