Chapter 36: Chapter 35: A Promise under the night sky

Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria Empire

It is in the middle of the night and Crown Prince Justinian can’t sleep thinking of what Duke Kristoph had talked to him during the meeting. He knows that the Duke’s concern was spot-on and he needed to face it someday sooner than letting it fester and grow into a big problem.

He thinks about what is Lin for him. Is she just a friend, companion, ally, or someone special? He can’t just sleep this and decides to go out of the building to get some fresh air. He stands up and walks outside his room. Only the light from the stars shine the night as he trotted across the building. He walks towards the exit of the building and looks up at the night skies.

He can see the stars and the moon shining brightly in this cold winter. It is December and the coldness of the place can be felt even if a person is wearing an article of thick clothing. Every time he breathes, a cold fleeting, and misty cloud forms due to the coldness of the surroundings. His surrounding is eerily silent and dark as the soldiers are already sleeping aside from the men who are assigned to patrolling and guarding the camp.

“You’re here Your Highness.”

Crown Prince Justinian is surprised that there is also another person awake and with him in the same spot watching the night skies. It is no other than Lin who seems not also sleepy and wants to watch the skies.

“You’re also awake Lin?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Can’t sleep?”

“Yes…”

Both are just gazing at the skies and making small talk with each other. They talked about school, the event during the day, the travel, and many small things that make them comfortable talking. The awkwardness and distance they have these past few days are now non-existent in their conversation.

The night was very peaceful and relaxing and they didn’t notice that they were very near to each other. Their arms and hands are already touching and with that, they notice their closeness with each other. They immediately distance themselves from each other slightly and both are blushing from the events.

“Uhmm… Justinian… how do you see me as? Why are you so good to me?”

It is Lin who breaks the ice between the two of them. She thinks that this time is the perfect time to ask Justinian why he treats her differently from others. She lets go of her fear and asks him directly and hoping that the Crown Prince would respond to her truthfully and genuinely.

“To tell you the truth Lin. I still don’t know why I’m feeling like this towards you. At first, it might be because you’re different and interesting that’s why I’m drawn to you. But now, I don’t know…”

“What do you mean Justinian?”

“I think I like you but I’m still torn between my personal feelings or for the nation, and whether you like me or not also.”

“Uhhh… Justinian… Ahhh…”

Lin is having a hard time processing what just the Crown Prince had just said. He said that he likes her and she thinks it is in a romantic way. She pinches her cheeks to know whether she is dreaming or not, and she only felt pain.

Crown Prince Justinian laughs when he sees what just Lin had done.

“You are not dreaming Lin… What I had said is true.”

“Your Highness…”

Lin is teary-eyed facing the Crown Prince. She didn’t expect that the feelings would be mutual. She is really happy but also sad about their situation. She knew that Monarchs and Royals would not marry based on their personal feelings but for the sake of their own nations and legitimacy. Such love would not bear any fruit in the face of duty and honor. Nonetheless, Lin is happy and contends that Justinian’s feeling is mutual toward her, and for her, that is already enough. She won’t ask for more.

But Crown Prince Justinian is thinking differently. He can’t just give up that easily until he exhausted all means. Crown Prince Justinian admitting his feelings is his way of showing that he would commit and tries his best to make it a possibility. He can’t just give up easily and have no regrets about not trying.

“Lin… I hope you would wait for me. I will try to find a way to make it work.”

“Justinian…”

Tears fall from Lin’s eyes. She didn’t expect that the Crown Prince would fight for his feelings. She feels that the Crown Prince is serious about it.

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“I hope your feelings won't change Lin. Please wait for me.”

Crown Prince Justinian shows a simple smile toward her. A smile that is very honest and genuine that you can see its emotion laid bare. With the night skies in the background, his smile looks ephemeral and majestic. Lin also gives a genuine smile toward the Crown Prince. Their hands slowly intertwined with each other and they continue to look up at the stars and the moon in the night skies.

Both of them were tired of standing, they search for a place where they could sit. After walking a few meters from where they are standing, they found a bench that they could sit on. They sit and continue to talk about insignificant and funny things. Some soldiers and sentries see the two and are amazed to see their Young Monarch with an ordinary foreign girl. Some feel weird and curious about the relationship between the two. But if they think about it without judging her, she is pretty and is good for their beloved Crown Prince. They can see that the Crown Prince is just a man with emotions like them and enjoying his youth.

“Your Highness… Which is better, night or day?”

“I think I would choose night over day Lin.”

“Why night Justinian?”

“Because I like the night skies. It is peaceful and silent. It soothes the soul. You can see that even in darkness, there is still the light that would guide us. How about you Lin?”

“I also like the night Justinian. I feel at peace and in serenity during the night. There are only a few things that can disturb me and I can think more deeply and calmly.”

Lin feels at peace with Crown Prince Justinian. She feels refreshed that the Crown Prince has answered her questions that are plaguing her mind for a long time.

Both of them feel tired and drowsy but they also don’t want to end this special moment that they were sharing. Lin unconsciously leans her head to Justinian’s shoulder while watching the stars. She is already yawning and her movement is sluggish. But she still tries to keep herself awake and continues talking with Justinian.

“Justinian… if ever you are not a crown prince and just an ordinary person like me, what would you want to be?”

Because Lin is barely awake. things that she won’t normally ask or say are just blurted out in the open. She asks him out of her curiosity about what would be the Crown Prince wants to be if ever he is just a regular man.

“Hmmm… if I’m just an ordinary person what would I want to be… hmmm… I just want to start my own farm and have a family. A beautiful wife like you and maybe three children… I also want to raise animals and livestock in the barn. In short, just a simple life in the countryside.”

Lin is amazed at how simple the Crown Prince wants to be if he is not a monarch. Living a simple and quiet life in the countryside is the total opposite of what he is now – ruling a large country with a large population and in a complex situation.

Lin feels that what Crown Prince Justinian had said is what he really wants in life but because of being born as the Crown Prince of Austria, he feels that it is his destiny and fate to rule and lead.

“How about you Lin? What do you want to be in life aside from helping your family business?”

“Uhmmm… I want to be a doctor… I want to treat the people who are sick and in need of help, especially medical help.”

“That’s a very noble one Lin. You a doctor is just really suitable for you. Why not be one? You are smart and a hard worker, I’m sure you can achieve it if you try.”

Crown prince Justinian after knowing what Lin wants to be encourages her to be a doctor. He can see that Lin genuinely wants to be a doctor to help other people. It would be better to make your dreams come true and not regret anything.

But Lin can only shake her head. She declines to be a doctor even if he is encouraged by the Crown Prince. It is just a folly of hers and becoming a doctor would take a lot of time. She prioritizes supporting and helping her family and she is already contented with what she had now and what she is doing.

Studying in her current field is also the reason she met the Crown Prince and make them close with each other. She is really happy meeting him and their meeting really changed her life.

“Thank you for the encouragement Justinian. But I’m already happy with what I’m doing now, and I meet you. There’s nothing more wonderful than that, becoming close to someone becoming a future emperor.”

“You underestimate yourself again Lin. But if that’s what you think, then I’m okay with it.”

Both of them smile at each other and continue to look up towards the stars. They hope that this moment would last forever.