Chapter 102: That Plant Died

"Is that so...?"

My brows rose as I set my eyes back on him. Daniel wasn't looking at me anymore but was gazing at the withering plant ahead. For a split second that I wasn't looking, I felt this strange feeling in his tone. A tone that made me think he knew something, or he was hiding something. 

'I should stop thinking about this now,' I told myself and mentally shook my head. 'It won't help anyone to doubt everyone just because I am going through an existential crisis.' I flinched when Daniel spoke once again.

"Your Highness?" I called with raised brows, tilting my head to the side. 

Daniel glanced at me again. "A family heirloom. Usually kept hidden and in a secure place. Do you know about it?" 

"Usually kept hidden and in a secure place?"

"If you don't know, it's alright. I just want to ask." His eyes stayed on me as if studying my every slight movement. I felt pressured under his gaze, forcing me to think of an answer so he wouldn't get angry. Even though he told me it was alright if I don't know.

"Your Highness, I don't know about any family heirloom," I said in full honesty, throwing away all other distractive thoughts I had previously. 

Daniel rocked his head in understanding. He just looked at me in silence with closed lips. 

"Usually kept hidden and in a secure place," he murmured to himself, but with the silence, I heard him loud and clear. "Doesn't that ring a bell?"

Ring a bell? I frowned before it faded into a surprised expression. Usually kept hidden and in a secure place? That... sounded like me. I knew by now that the royal family in this empire surely knew about the story of my life since they had taken in a sole survivor from another small kingdom. 

I frowned at the thought. Was he saying I was a family heirloom and not a human being because of that? Daniel had this roundabout way of talking that made it hard for the other person to argue. If I spoke my dismay, it would sound like I started an argument. Daniel was still the crown prince, even though he was Hugo's brother. 

"It doesn't, Your Highness. My apologies." I shook my head lightly. "I just came by to take a look, so I will be going now."

I bowed out of habit, turned around, and carefully walked away without making a sound. I halted and looked back at Daniel when he spoke once again. 

"I said, between you and Hugo, I will always choose my brother." Daniel cast me a look with a gentle smile plastered on his face. "It's not a threat, it's actually a good thing."

How was that a good thing? That was what I wanted to ask, but well, it was not like he had to choose. 

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I smiled back. "I am sincerely relieved, Your Highness. That is very reassuring." I tilted my head down and resumed in my strides. As I did, I felt a cold chill down my spine, which I squashed down almost instantly. I could still feel his gaze on my back, but I pretended not to know as I departed the greenhouse. 

When I was outside, I looked back at the greenhouse. I discovered a disheartening truth behind this greenhouse Hugo didn't mention. Now, I didn't know what to do with this information. Not that I didn't plan to keep my mouth shut and pretend I didn't know unless Hugo mention it first. 

"The crown prince..." I murmured, peeling my eyes away from the greenhouse to continue walking away. "... why do you sound so sad, Your Highness?" 

More than the other unsettling feeling around Daniel, his eyes appeared to be so lonely. That was why I couldn't really get angry when he said all the things he had uttered. Some of them should be offensive, but my heart somehow understood that he had his reasons. 

Daniel was the person who would lead his people someday. So, it was presumptuous to assume he was like a saint. Even when he said between Hugo and I, he would choose his brother. I was sincerely relieved to hear that. For why he had to choose between me and Hugo, I already assumed it was about my circumstance and the people after me. That was the reason I was relieved. 

I could die, but I wouldn't forgive myself if Hugo was also harmed because of me. I just wanted the best for Hugo, and I wanted him to live happily. That was my one and only wish — of course, I also wished I was part of that happiness. It would be unfair to me if he was the only one happy. We should be happy together.

"I shouldn't think about too many things too much." I shook my head, picking up a stone in the middle of the pathway to toss it aside. "I should focus on preparing for our departure tomorrow."

******

"The crown prince... why do you sound so sad?" 

Daniel's eyes lowered as he heard her mumblings even from that distance. His eyes remained on the withering plant ahead.

"That plant died..." he pointed out under his breath. "Despite putting all my efforts to make it grow, it still withered."

He cocked his head back, staring at the transparent glass ceiling that was filtering the sunlight. "Was it because it needs more attention? Or was it because I simply have no talent to grow plants? Maybe these hands are meant for destroying?"

He didn't know the answer, but he knew the answer to her question. Why did he sound sad?

"Because I am disheartened in a way," he mumbled, letting out a deep sigh. "The unbreakable bond no one can break feels so fragile these days. It feels like I am walking on thin ice around Hugh and one wrong step... this family will shatter just like that."

He slowly closed his eyes to rest, collecting his scattered thoughts. "It's appalling how things turn around in a blink of an eye. And it all started when you came.... with those loathsome vampires chasing after your trail."

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