I’m Supposed to Be the Neglected Princess in the Future, but Something Seems Strange... - 22 - Letter 4
The restaurant where Rose and Raphael went for breakfast was surprisingly quiet.
It seemed that there were many delicious foods at Huig Port, so most people were eating somewhere near the port.
Raphael said he had plans again today, so he apologized that he couldn’t go sightseeing with Rose around Huig Port.
“Once everything is settled, we can enjoy the rest of the stops together,” Raphael said.
Rose gave a small smile. She knew Raphael was busy with something, but she didn’t know what it was.
Raphael didn’t know that Lea had sent a letter to Rose. Once Lea was found, Raphael probably wouldn’t spend much time with Rose anymore. Rose would go back to her old room at the back of the ship, and the room next to Raphael’s would go back to Rare, its original owner.
“You seem a bit down today,” Raphael said, pushing a grape to Rose’s lips.
Thinking that this might be the last time he would feed her like this made Rose feel very lonely.
She wondered if Raphael had ever fed Lea like this too. If Lea was found, Raphael would probably be eating with her like this instead.
As Rose absentmindedly chewed the grape, Raphael called over a server and ordered something. Soon after, a giant pancake covered in fruit and cream was brought to Rose’s table. Raphael scooped some cream and fruit with a spoon and held it up to Rose.
“Here, it’s sweet and delicious,” he said.
It looked good, but the portion was too much after already eating breakfast.
Rose opened her mouth and took the bite Raphael offered. At the same time, she lightly touched her stomach, and Raphael chuckled.
“Let’s have the rest brought to your room,” he said, putting a smaller portion onto a side plate.
Rose felt relieved. If it was brought back to the room, Mira could help eat it too. That way, the pancakes wouldn’t go to waste.
When Rose smiled, Raphael let out a soft sigh of relief.
“Yeah. I really like it when you smile like that.”
“Huh?”
Her heart skipped a beat. It surprised her when Raphael said “I like it.” Of course, she knew he didn’t mean he liked her in that way, but it still made her heart feel restless and uneasy.
“Rose,” Raphael said. “I told you before, but after this journey, you should come to the Kingdom of Martan. There are so many beautiful things, and lots of delicious food. I think you’d really enjoy it.”
“But…”
If only that could happen. It would be wonderful to live in the Kingdom of Martan with Raphael, without becoming a mistreated princess. It would be a dream come true. But would he still say those things after Lea was found? Once his real fiancée returned, Rose would no longer be needed.
Her heart ached painfully. And Rose already had a feeling what this pain meant. She had been afraid to admit it, but now she had to face it.
She liked Raphael—this kind and gentle young man—her sister’s fiancé.
If Lea wasn’t rescued, maybe Raphael would treat Rose like his fiancée instead. She hated herself for even thinking about that.
(I have to stay strong… I can’t leave my sister like this.)
Lea must be suffering. Rose had never received or given love from family, but Lea was still her sister. So Rose had to save her—because Lea had reached out for help only to her.
As Rose took another bite of pancake from Raphael’s spoon, she quietly whispered her wish.
“…I want to go to the Kingdom of Martan with you, Raphael.”
She knew that wish probably wouldn’t come true.
Rose looked down to hide her sadness—but Raphael gave her a big smile, like he had just won something important.
“I’ll definitely bring you back to my country.”
Just hearing those words was enough for Rose.
She thought, That’s enough for me.