Flower of Steel

Hong Heesu3-4 minutes

Well. I guess the people who gathered here all liked watching stuff like that. As for me, I had been watching Rey and his teacher… Huh? The lights turned dark while I was thinking that.

“Oh? It must be starting now.”

My heart began pounding at Lumi’s words. Oh, I see it now. The reason why my heart raced just now… was because I was looking forward to a play! I’m a newbie who’s watching one for the first time, after all!

Soon, the play started, and I dived right into it, forgetting everything on my mind. The beautiful main protagonist of the play was smart and decisive. She was such a perfect woman.

‘I envy her.’

From the way she controlled the wind to everything else, she was well-suited to be the protagonist. She was a fallen noble like me in the past but was confident all the time, which wasn’t like me. And she had a very kind but also strong will when needed. She was the perfect lady in the story, and I can see why she was the protagonist.

But if I act that boldly in real life, I would be pummeled to dust. Well, most people will think of her as themselves while watching the play, but I was different. It was for a simple reason. I had no control over the wind and didn’t marry a king. I was a complete observer here. I, who wasn’t pretty nor good, was never going to become a queen like that. Come to think of it, I think I’m just a side character in a story. I guess I would show up as an “Officer 1” in the story even if I did manage to show up. But a side character has their own life. Although I couldn’t be the protagonist, I’m trying my best to live my life.

While I was watching the play with such thoughts, I felt heaviness on my right shoulder. I froze up and turned my head a bit to the side and saw the Crown Prince sleeping with his head on my shoulder.

‘How can he fall asleep while watching such a great story?’ I thought for a brief moment before realizing I had to find a way to overcome this problem. If I took my shoulder away, then the Crown Prince was going to wake up, but I couldn’t stay frozen like this either. My heart began pounding strongly, so I was worried that he would feel its movement.

“Your Highness.”

I called him quietly, but he didn’t respond. Why does he always have to put me in such a spot? I became troubled when I heard Rian asking me quietly from my left.

“Marin, did His Highness fall asleep?”

“Yes.”

Rian sighed and stood up after I answered. He then moved the Crown Prince’s head up to the back of the seat and shook his head, “I guess he overdid himself. He couldn’t sleep well for the last two months.”

“Pardon? Why?”

What made the Crown Prince skip sleeping? Did he work so hard even then? Rian looked at me with his lake-like blue eyes at my shock. “I’m not sure. But… maybe something happened that made him think hard about it.”

Honestly, it never came to me that the Crown Prince was the type to think about anything. He was arrogant and did whatever he wanted. But even when he had a bad reputation, I felt saddened and sympathetic towards him the moment I heard that.

He was erratic but recognized my ability, was thoughtful of my feelings, and sometimes changed his mind for me. Yeah, that made me come to know him well. It must be sympathy that I am feeling right now.