Chapter 23

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there. The owner of the voice was lying on a branch, holding a book. He closed the book that he had been covering his face with and placed it beside him, gesturing to Misaki.

"Come up?"

The prince nodded.

"The tree is the least visible to people."

There was still plenty of time before the audience with the queen. There was no need to rush to pick the peonies. She nodded and stepped on the trunk of the tree with her own strength to climb up to the prince's side. However, due to the voluminous dress, she couldn't muster the strength to leap up.

"Need help?"

She had no choice but to accept the offer. She extended her hand towards Prince Alfonso, and he took it. His unusually large and thick hand touched Misaki's long, slender fingers.

"This way, right."

Holding her hand was not enough for Misaki to safely sit on the branch. The prince lifted her almost as if carrying her, placing her on the oak branch. Only then did he notice a problem.

"Oh, your dress is white."

Misaki burst out laughing in response.

"What, you told me to come up without even looking?"

Alfonso laughed along with her. He had called her over as soon as he saw her, without even noticing her clothes.

Alfonso pondered for a moment and then took off the cloak he was wearing.

"Can you come up here for a moment?"

The prince pointed to his own knee. Misaki's eyes widened.

'This is too direct.'

But again, she had no choice. Alfonso's kindness was the golden ticket that would allow her to live freely and safely away from the de Mare family and Cesare. When she obediently shifted her center of gravity to Alfonso's knee, he laid his cloak on the now empty branch and helped her sit back on it.

"Is this better now?"

His movements were clean and efficient, without any unnecessary touches. It seemed that the romantic thoughts were only in Misaki's heart. Her face turned red, and she only nodded.

"Alfonso, but why were you here?"

Alfonso smiled back.

"That's what I was going to ask you. Why did you come here?"

Well, it wasn't strange for the prince to be in the palace. Misaki laughed bitterly at her own foolish question.

"I have an audience with Queen Marguerite today."

"Oh! Today is the day!"

It was known that the second daughter of the de Mare Cardinal, who had defeated the apostles of Asereto, would come to the palace to receive commendations from the King and Queen and a gift from the Queen.

"Your Majesty praised you highly."

"Really?"

Misaki couldn't be purely happy about being highly evaluated by the King. It was true that a good reputation would broaden her options. However, King Leo III had many unusual ideas. It was uncertain whether being noticed by him would be entirely beneficial.

"He said it's a pity he can't award you the Order of Chivalry."

Prince Alfonso, the only heir to the throne, maintained a good relationship with the King. The King doted on his young son, so his close aides had no qualms about informing the prince about the King's plans.

"That's a shame. It was a chance to become a knight."

He laughed as if it was a joke, but he was genuinely disappointed. If he had that title, he could have left the de Mare family and lived freely.

"Do you want to be a knight?"

Alfonso's eyes sparkled. He was proficient in all the skills required of a knight, such as jousting, horseback riding, swordsmanship, and shield work. He was also praised for embodying the seven virtues of a knight: courage, justice, generosity, purity, reverence for God, and abstinence and temperance. His dream was to become a ruler of the central continent, respected by all knights.

"I'll knight you someday."

"Do I have to swear an oath of fealty?"

- I swear by my soul that from this moment on, I will be loyal to my lord. I will protect him in any adversity, place his safety above my own life, live for a greater good beyond personal gain, always tell the truth to my lord, keep my promises to him, remain unchanged, and never leave his side, always guarding him.

Misaki knew the oath of fealty that a knight must swear to his lord. She thought it was a hopelessly romantic and impossible promise to keep.

'Besides, a knight who takes the lord's life is no different from a traitor like Judas of Carioth in the holy scriptures.'

Misaki decided she must never swear an oath of fealty to Alfonso. She had once trapped him, which was because she was Cesare's person. If she became Alfonso's knight after committing such a sin, she would deserve to burn in hell forever.

"I can't knight you now because I'm not the ruler. When the day comes, I'll give you the honor of becoming my knight."

"I can't even use a sword or a spear."

"Learn by then."

Misaki laughed at his firm belief in the importance of martial skills.

"Do you think you can protect the country with just a sword? Civil servants can be useful too."

"Those people are also necessary. They are excellent talents. But they are not knights."

A knight, who confronts the enemy on the front lines to protect the country in times of conflict. Alfonso planned to become a ruler who would revitalize the Etruscan Kingdom with a loyal golden knight corps.

"So you're planning nepotism. You're going to knight someone who can't use a sword or a spear just because you like them."

"Upon hearing your story, I see that. To avoid being a tyrant, I should cancel it."

Misaki hastily waved her hands.

"No. I'll learn, the spear and sword skills."

She exaggerated her gestures and declared loudly.

"I will learn swordsmanship from now on and become the first sword of Your Majesty, the best knight in the world. I will not disappoint you with my excellent sword skills."

A knight who makes empty promises was the antithesis of a good knight. They both laughed, and Misaki, who was laughing loudly, felt her balance shift.

'Oh, oh?'

There was a strange floating sensation behind her back. It felt as if nothing was supporting her weight. Misaki flailed her arms.

"Danger!"

Alfonso, the prince, saved Misaki, who was about to fall from the tree. Alfonso threw himself to catch her. First, their arms touched, then Alfonso briefly embraced her, and as the center of gravity stabilized, the surroundings became quiet, and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the rustling of silk against silk could be heard.

"Ah."

Misaki's face turned red. It seemed that the prince had no ulterior motives, but her own expectations were building up. She bit the inside of her cheek to manage her expression. She didn't want to make things awkward. Strategically and emotionally, she didn't want to look foolish in front of Alfonso. Looking like a fool in front of the golden prince was the worst.

Fortunately, the prince helped her sit properly and changed the subject.

"Why are you here? This isn't the way to the Queen's audience room."

Misaki's face turned to one of confusion.

"Well..."

She had to pretend not to know what flowers the Queen's patronage included. Misaki quickly found an excuse.

"I was looking for a flower to wear in my hair. I thought my appearance was too plain for the audience with the Queen... Is this the garden?"

A half-truth. She was indeed on her way to the garden, but she knew exactly where it was. She didn't want to admit to Alfonso that her attire was inadequate, but one can't have everything they want.

Alfonso looked at Misaki with wide eyes.

"Plain?"

To him, the black-haired girl was perfect as she was.

"Pretty?"

Misaki's face turned red again. In front of Prince Alfonso, she felt like a real fifteen-year-old girl, which was unfamiliar.

She pointed to her hair, trying to argue logically. When she didn't know the answer or her emotions, she thought with her head and logic, a way she had lived her whole life.

"There are no accessories, so I decorated with fresh flowers, but the buds are small, so it's not very impressive. I'm the only one who will go to see the Queen like this at San Carlo."

Even a prince ignorant of women's fashion could understand that the girl's hair was decorated with only flowers and no jewels.

"Oh, that's what bothered you."

He frowned for a moment.

"What time is the Queen's audience?"

"Three o'clock this afternoon."

There was only about an hour left. Alfonso shook his head.

"Then it's a bit tight."

The prince's palace had many treasures, but ready-made women's hair accessories were not among them. He thought for a moment about what he could provide.

"Let's use this for now."

He pulled the long ribbon from his sleeve. Small jewels were embroidered between the stitches on the green silk, shining brightly. Alfonso tied the jeweled ribbon in Misaki's hair like a ribbon.

"Is this okay?"

Misaki was sure the green ribbon would look like a bundle of straw. From the prince's movements, it was clear he wasn't skilled at tying women's hair ribbons. But the thoughtfulness of Alfonso, who had taken off his own decoration and tied it in her hair, was very beautiful.

She smiled at him.

"Thank you. I really like it."

* * *

Alfonso and Misaki, who had been loitering by the abandoned fountain, returned to the waiting room of the Queen's palace in time. The ceremony for the King's gifts was usually a grand event hosted by several court officials. However, Queen Marguerite, who was extremely introverted, did not enjoy such events, and a large ceremony would give her no excuse not to invite Lucrezia, Misaki's mother, officially.

Therefore, the audience with the Queen took place in the same reception room where Misaki had been invited to the Queen's mass, with only a few of the Queen's Gallican maids, the Marchioness, and the Countess Cibo present.

"-Therefore, I, King Leo III, award the following prizes to the second daughter of the de Mare Cardinal, hoping she will continue to serve the state."

Sitting in her cozy chair, Queen Marguerite finally finished reading the King's decree, filled with words like "merit," "filial piety," and "loyalty," to Misaki, who was kneeling with one knee on the ground in front of her. She extended her hand and said kindly.

"Finally, you can stand. Come closer."

Misaki stood up, following the court etiquette, and bowed, then took a step closer to the Queen.

"Come closer."

The Queen had brought out a large jewelry box carved with intricate designs on black wood and gilded with gold and silver.

"I didn't expect His Majesty to give you this."

Misaki sensed something was amiss from the Queen's tone.

"May I ask what it is?"

The Queen, in response to Misaki's question, opened the decree on the side table and read the last part of the parchment.

"The gift is 50 ducats of gold, a box of jewelry chosen by Queen Marguerite, and the 'Heart of the Blue Abyss.'"

Misaki's face turned pale. The Queen opened the black wood jewelry box, and a dazzling light emerged. It was a necklace, with a small, deep blue sapphire surrounded by tiny, brilliant diamonds, exquisitely crafted, overwhelmingly luxurious, and incomparably beautiful.

Misaki immediately stood up, took a step back, and knelt on both knees, bowing her head to the ground, and called out loudly.

"Your Majesty, I cannot possibly accept this! Please understand!"