Chapter 1

I was kicked by a horse

It isn’t like I ever interfered with other people’s romance.

Yes, it was really an unfortunate incident. Born as the daughter of a Duke in the Great kingdom of Altair, a kingdom loved by god himself and home to many talented sorcerers, it was a very unfortunate accident for me to encounter.

That day under the clear sky, my fiance, the crown prince Lewis, unusually invited me on a date. Did I mention the destination was a popular botanical garden in the royal capital?

Although he had been my fiancee for as long as I can remember, Prince had almost never asked me on a date. Because of that, I felt anxious.

Usually, I used to dress soberly because no matter how much I tried, I could never match my beautiful younger sister but for this day I decided to put a little more effort than usual into my make-up.

I decorated my flax-colored hair with the finest items I received as a gift from Prince on my last birthday.

Dressed in a new pale cream dress, my flax-colored eyes in the mirror reflected an unconcealable joy.

As usual, His Highness came to pick me up on time. We rode the magnificent Royal carriage decorated with gold. With his slightly longer moonlight silver hair fluttering with wind, His Highness wore an unreadable expression. Even so, I was happy.

Maybe I was careless. Maybe if I had been a little more attentive I could have avoided it.

I loved the warmth of His Highness’s hands through the thin silk gloves. I stared at our joined hands. I developed this habit years ago. His Highness didn’t particularly pay attention to it.

And yet, at that time His Highness was looking only at me, with his astonished blue jewel-like eyes.

“Layla!!”

When His Highness called my name, at the same time I heard a neigh of a horse that was supposed to be tied to the carriage.

By the time I turned around, it was already too late. A well-groomed white horse who should have been taken care of by a royal servant swung its forefoot towards me. Immediately behind it, I saw a coachman desperately trying to calm the horse

Oh, I saw a horse’s belly for the first time. Even when I was taking riding lessons, I always rode a small pony.

My thoughts were all over the place and my memories felt fuzzy. My head was hurting as I felt a warm liquid gushing around my face, sticking to my skin, making me uncomfortable.

I could no longer hear the voices of His Highness or the royal servant around me. I felt scared.

I wonder what happened to me after that.

I wonder if I went along with His Highness just like that. I can’t remember.

Even though His highness invited me on a date, why did I have to ruin it.

Next time we meet, I need to apologize.

With that determination in my hazy consciousness, I woke up as if nothing had happened.

My body felt as heavy as lead. That was the only thing I felt as soon as I woke up. Even my eyelids sting when I tried to open them a little.

The canopy bed with the painting by a well-known artist was definitely mine.

Although I couldn’t move my body, I managed to assess my surroundings with only my eyes.

Through the shiny thin silk curtain, I could see the figure of a maid. She seemed to be working on something at the small table beside my bed.

…… Oh, I wonder if I always had a side table in that place.

I tried to call her but I couldn’t manage to make any voice. Instead, a scratchy breath was squeezed from the back of my throat.

“All right Miss, today as well I will prepare you for morning”

Suddenly the silk curtains opened, it was my maid Jessica who was speaking. My most trusted maid who has been with me since I was a little girl.

But Jessica never addressed me until I got out of bed, so what happened today?

I tried to call her but I couldn’t manage to make any voice. Instead, a scratchy breath was squeezed from the back of the throat.

“All right Miss, Today as well I will prepare you for morning”

Suddenly the silk curtains opened, it was my maid Jessica who was speaking. My most trusted maid who has been with me since I was a little girl. But Jessica never addressed me until I got out of bed, so what happened today?

I wanted to speak but my voice was lost. Instead, Jessica’s reddish-brown eyes met mine as they widened from surprise. The rose-patterned brush fell from her hands. It was unlike her to make a mistake.

“…..Miss!? Miss Layla…!! You opened your eyes!!?”

I frowned slightly at her loud voice which was different from her usual ladylike personality. It wasn’t unpleasant. I was just surprised by her yelling as soon as I woke up.

“Jessica, What happened? Why are you yelling?”

I could hear the voice of another woman somewhere in the room, maybe another maid. It was an unfamiliar voice.

……Weird, I should be able to recognize the voices of my maids immediately.

Jessica in front of me looked terribly confused and started shedding tears.

“My…young Lady has….Miss Layla has…”

“What happened to the young lady?”

Suddenly I heard an unfamiliar voice of a strange woman mixed with anxiety. Silk curtains were thrown into disarrangement as the strange woman appeared beside Jessica. She was wearing the same uniform as Jessica.

I wonder if this maid has always worked in Duke’s house. She didn’t look like my sister’s maid as well.

Distracted by my thoughts I looked up at Jessica and the unfamiliar maid, she seized Jessica’s shoulder and started shaking her.

“What are you thinking Jessica!!! Go call Master and Madam. I’ll bring the Physician!!”

“Ye..Yess!!”

Jessica wiped her tears and gave me an awkward smile.

“Miss, I’ll go and call Master and Madam…! Please wait a little.”

I just opened my eyes so I couldn’t understand why they are making it a big deal. I didn’t understand the situation. I was wondering about what kind of tea I should drink today while waiting for my parents to be informed.

With a lot of cushions on my back, I was finally able to sit up a little.

Beside me was my father who was staring at me as if he was watching a ghost and my mother was trembling while clutching her lace handkerchief.

My father’s flax-colored hair had some white hair mixed in it, making me realize how real it was.

“….You mean, I have been asleep for 2 years.”

“My parents came rushing to my room and told me everything, It was all too unexpected.

That day, I received a kick from the horse which gave me a head injury, since then I have been asleep for 2 years.

To prove that, my limbs had become thin as a stick and I couldn’t walk at all.

“Physician had said that you may not wake up…, but it is all good now.”

Is it, I wonder

I stared at my father with eyes full of doubt.

Originally, my relationship with my parents had always been indifferent.

It was unavoidable since I had a sister like Rosa, who was not only cute but also resembled our mother.

“Yes, I am happy to hear your voice again, Layla..”

Contrary to those words, my mother carried a gloomy expression.

I knew I wasn’t loved but her attitude after I opened my eyes was harsh.

“Mother, Father, I apologize for the inconvenience I have caused. I will do my best to return to normal life as soon as possible.”

I bowed slightly to my parents with all my strength. The cost of spending 2 years doing nothing is great.

My wedding with His Highness is supposed to happen a year later.

“I’ll somehow manage to conduct myself until the wedding ceremony…”

That is probably the biggest concern for my parents.

They have always told me to conduct myself appropriately as the daughter of the Duke of Ashbury. So much so that my ears hurt from hearing it.

“Layla, about that..”

Oddly enough, my mother hesitated to voice her words. Always resolute, known as Flower of High society, It was my first time watching her get flustered.

“….It is okay. I’ll tell her.”

The father spoke to help my mother, who had since become silent and continued to look down. I braced myself as my father took a deep breath and stood straight. What on earth are you going to say?

“Layla, Listen to me carefully…”

I could see my extremely miserable face reflected in his flax-colored eyes. Such kind of appearance as Fiancee of His Highness would be definitely mocked.

“….His Highness The Crown Prince is going to marry Rose.”

For a while, I couldn’t understand what my father was saying. A heavy silence fell in the room.

His Highness and Rose are getting married?

What…What did my Father just say?

I am supposed to be his Fiancee. No one else but me, Layla Ashbury.

“That joke is not funny, Father”

My lips twisted into a bitter smile as I stared at my father.

At last, unable to bear the weight of my gaze my father also looked down just like my mother.

“I am sorry, Layla. We were told that you may not wake up again. Even so, the Royal family insisted on marrying into our family by any means. So instead of you, Rose is marrying His Highness…”

A big teardrop fell on the back of my hand. Even though my body had been asleep for 2 years, I can still shed tears but I wasn’t comfortable showing my tears.

Ah, I must be looking like an idiot.

For as long as I can remember, I have been training as the future Crown princess and someday A Queen.

It was part of me like it is in my blood. Instead of reading novels, I read about this country’s history, geography, economics and all the books about allied countries.

To dance perfectly, I practiced until the skin of my heel peeled off. I didn’t want to be mocked for my plain features, so I put more effort into conditioning my skin and glossing my hair.

I can still remember the sweet smile that His Highness occasionally showed and his shiny blue eyes.

Even if he didn’t love me, I was happy by just staying by his side.

But now even that wasn’t possible. It was all for nothing.

“But…I want to ask this once, now that I am awake is the engagement between Rose and His Highness still valid?”

I knew I was asking the impossible but there was no harm in trying.

Father raised his head lightly and squeezed out his words. He gazed at me awfully.

“…If the situation had been different, it might have been possible…”

For the first time in my life, I was getting irritated by my father’s words. Do you think I’ll feel comfort from your vague words? I clutched my bed sheets unconsciously as my voice gained some strength.

“Please, tell me clearly! Are you saying that once-injured young women can’t marry into the sacred Royal family..? Or does the Royal family prefer the more beautiful Rose over me. I don’t know how much better she is.”

Hearing my loud voice, my parents looked at me with widened eyes. Understandable. I can’t remember when was the last time I raised my voice.

I’ve always conducted myself like the way my parents wanted. I never broke my act. On the other hand, my sister was free to spend her days like she wanted.

“No Layla, That isn’t what this is about..”

Mother raised her voice to stop me. Tears fell from her beautiful sky like blue eyes.

It was my first time seeing my mother, an exemplary model of a beautiful lady crying.

“Rose is carrying His Highness’s child..”

Mother pressed her handkerchief against her eyes and spoke in a quivering voice.

Rose is pregnant, with His Highness’s child?

“That is why we are rushing with the marriage ceremony. We will hold the ceremony in February before the belly becomes visible.”

Once again my mother fell silent. Father was the same. I could no longer figure out what to reply, I was just letting words spill out of my mouth.

”..Is that so. Congratulations..”

Having a child before marriage is considered breaking of sacred vow to God therefore it wasn’t acceptable.

But if it is a child of a Royals it was a different story. Who could oppose the birth of a new life in the Royal family.

Aah, I feel like a real idiot.

Naturally, a self-deprecating smile appeared on my lips. His highness and I got engaged at age 9. We were engaged for 7 long years but we didn’t kiss even once. Rose who was engaged for barely 2 years was already carrying his child.

Maybe if I also had platinum hair like Rose with sky-like blue eyes, I would have been loved as well. If I also had a cute laugh like Rose and behaved in a seemingly unrestrained manner.

The fact that Rose was carrying His Highness’s child seemed to negate my entire life, no, my very existence.

“…If things are like this, it would have been better if I never woke up.”

Once again, tears started to fall. Dumbfounded, I muttered to myself. I had the same self-deprecating smile on my lips once again.

“Layla, Don’t say anything absurd. I and your father can’t tell you how relieved we are now that you are awake..”

For some reason, my mother broke down into tears, my father lowered his eyebrows and gazed at me.

“Please don’t worry about me. Even if I never woke up, your reputation would still be good. I am really sorry. I am not worthy of being the daughter of Duke of Ashbury.”

“Layla!”

“Please leave me alone. I am not feeling well so please let me rest.”

“Layla…I am sorry, As your mother, I should have believed that you would wake up.”

“Fufufu…Mother would have been happier if I never woke up. You always wanted your beloved Rose to be Crown princess, can’t help but feel happy about this .”

“Layla! What are you saying to your mother! I love you and Rose both equally. Your father as well.”

Father hugged her shoulder desperately to support her. Enough, I don’t care, I want you to get out of here right now.

“If you are going to speak lies that even a child can understand then it is better to not speak at all. Please, are you not going to leave. If you two aren’t going to leave then I’ll go out.”

I forced my aching body to get out of the bed. Looking at my thin and ugly exposed legs made me feel nauseous. Jessica and other maids who were waiting in the corner of the room screamed.

“Lady!!”

“Layla! Please stop! If you keep doing this, you’ll hurt yourself! We’ll leave immediately so please calm down.”

Father stood up while holding my sobbing mother in his arms and quickly walked towards the massive door.

“.. I’ll come again later. Make sure to eat properly.”

Don’t bother showing a worried gesture just before leaving the room. I can’t stop smiling at your obvious act.

“Miss.., Ahh, Miss Layla..How unreasonable of you to act like that.”

Jessica quickly walked up to me and helped my body back to bed. When I laid down, tears started to flow down my face. I felt so miserable that I couldn’t even lift my hands to wipe off the tears, I cried harder.

“It is okay. Jessica…Just leave me alone.”

What a ridiculous life!

Once again, such feelings filled my heart. It would be better for me to die, No, It is too late now, I wish I could die in sleep.

With this small wish, I closed my eyes softly.