Chapter 3: Chapter 3

My mother was wearing a beautiful dress, it was a rich, deep blue, with silver and diamond jewelry adorning her neck and hair.

She smelled like vanilla, and leaning into her, I could see the smiles on the faces of the other members of my new family through the corner of my eyes.

The emperor was looking down at me with doting and slightly red eyes, at the sight of me leaning into my mother and I could see her smiling lips when glancing back up at her.

Looking at my father again, he was wearing a kingly outfit with the royal insignia of the kingdom on his chest highlighted by his deep red and gold embroidered armored suit. He had a heavy cobalt cloak, with silver trimmings, matching my mother’s outfit.

They must look like a beautiful couple standing side by side.

-

My father, the emperor’s real name is Leon, while my mother is named Lilliane, after a flower, just like me. They were both from prominent families but still married for love. 

They had always wished for a daughter, so when the princess was born, the entire kingdom was in celebration.

The entire family loved and pampered her, but she was frail from a young age and had to stay inside for most of her life. The entire kingdom was grieving with the royal family as everyone loved them because of their kind and just ruling of the kingdom.

Their only sorrow was the weakness and illness of her majesty the princess.

The members of the Church of Helena and their healing mages came and tried to heal her, but they were unable to heal her ailment. They said that she was truly loved by Helena, but that this disease was a hereditary disease that all the true descendants of the saintess that were pure heart were cursed with.

It was common knowledge in the kingdom that the beautiful and kind princess was ailed with a curse because of being the descendant of the saintess of Helene.

It wasn’t that hard to believe when you saw her delicate skin, beautiful curled golden hair and bright blue eyes.

But I digress.

-

Sitting at the table was me, Roseanne, able to eat together with my new family.

Being able to make this kind royal family happy is truly a blessing for me.

I’m truly happy to have such a loving family.

“I’m so happy to be able to eat with my family,” I exclaim happily.

My mother and father look at me with bright smiles upon their faces, clearly moved by my casual words, and my oldest brother, the crown prince Arthur, had tears in his eyes.

My younger brother Martin, only two years older than me, was also smiling at me with a strained smile.

Both of them are wearing beautiful, tailored clothing, Arthur with his warrior physique, and Martin with the lithe body of a scholar.

-

We start eating and the food is light, but incredibly delicious.

It seems like they’ve tailored the food for my delicate stomach, with soups and soft breads.

My father and brothers talk about the kingdom, including me in conversation from time to time, giving me compliments for simple things.

My mother helps me by cutting the bread into smaller pieces, and even cleans my face with the handkerchief when I get some soup on the edge of my mouth.

It’s a warm and lovely atmosphere of a loving family having a meal together, and I can see the maids and knights all have happy expressions on their faces.

The food is delicious, and I eat quite a bit, though my appetite isn’t very large.

“I really want to see more of the kingdom,” I say after I’ve finished eating.

They all look at me in surprise.

My mother looks at me with pity and love in her eyes, taking my hand in hers.

“I’m not sure you’re healthy enough to move around much” she says somberly looking into my eyes.

Looking at the others, I can see that they also have pity in their eyes while looking at me with sad smiles.

“It’s okay. I feel much better than usual, it’s like I’m finally healing.” I say with a smile.

My mother just squeezes my hand and hugs me closer while starting to cry.

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“You’re so brave, even though you coughed so much blood this morning, you’re still acting this strong in front of us,” she said.

My brothers and father also had tears at the edge of their eyes looking at me, while I could hear some of the maids crying softly.

“It’s really okay.” I say, standing up from my chair, twirling around in my dress, long skirts spinning around me.

Everyone looks at me with surprise in their eyes.

Nobody says anything.

Though suddenly after the twirl, my throat feels a bit uncomfortable, and I take out my handkerchief and cough into it.

Looking back at it, I can see that I coughed up blood again.

-

I quickly fold the handkerchief and try to hide it in my hands. 

Why did I have to cough up blood right now, they’ll think that I’m still very sick!

Putting it behind my back, I can see everyone staring at my hands with shocked and sad expressions.

“Roseanne” my father exclaims, rushing over to me, cleaning around my mouth with his own handkerchief and I can see a bit of blood on his handkerchief.

Busted!

“You don’t have to act strong in front of us!” He exclaims loudly, his voice breaking, while taking me in his arms and carrying me to bed.

“I can explain! I feel much better already-,” I tried speaking but am stopped by my father tucking me into the bed.

I feel slightly tired, so this isn’t the worst outcome, though I really have to end this misunderstanding.

“Mom!” I say, and she comes over, hugging me close while crying.

“It’s okay. I don’t feel ill anymore, and I really enjoyed eating with you all again,” I say with a real smile on my face.

All the maids start crying more loudly, and everyone has moved expressions on their faces.

“She is so noble.”

“She is so caring and kind, why does she have to be burdened with such illness!”

“She really is the light of the kingdom.”

It’s obvious that nothing I say now will be taken correctly, so I just melt into the bed asking my mother if she’ll accompany me into bed so that I can hug her close.

She gets a smile on her face and gets under the covers while I hug her tightly enjoying the sensation of the soft mattress of my mother’s love.

My eyes start dropping, and I feel very content; clean and warm with a delicious meal in my stomach.

-

The emperor and the two princes look at the princess leaning into and hugging her mother in her sleep, with smiles on their faces. Lilleane also has a soft smile on her face while brushing through her daughter’s hair with her fingers.

She’s sitting with pillows behind her back, with her daughter’s head in her lap.

It’s an incredibly moving scene, and everyone gets teary-eyed just looking at this beautiful scene.

You can clearly see that the empress is truly happy to be able to be so close to- and taking care of her daughter.

-

Roseanne, sleeping tightly, has no idea about this beautiful scene she unwittingly created that would be treasured by her mother for the rest of her life.