Flower of Steel

How can a human be so beautiful… Ugh, this is strange. There’s no way I will fall asleep… But I’m getting so sleepy. My eyelids became heavy, and my eyes turned dark. And soon, I fell into the deep depths of sleep.

***

“Rina, I’m sorry. It’s my fault that you…”

The young boy without colors. My first love is crying again. Is it because he misses his mother? I felt sad, so I reached out my hand to him to speak.

“It’s okay. I promise I’ll return to you.”

***

I suddenly woke up from my slumber as I felt my head tilt forward, and realized something was placed over me. This… It’s the Crown Prince’s jacket! I turned in disbelief, and God- the Crown Prince had his head laying on the seat of the carriage with just a shirt on as he was sleeping.

I- I fell asleep in front of him! And why did he put his jacket over me? Did he… Did he realize what he did to me was bad and felt sorry about it? No way! That’s impossible! When he’s asleep, he looks like a young man his age.

He didn’t look his age when he was awake because he was always glaring at me, but now that he looks so calm and serene, it almost makes him look innocent. Tsk, that nut job can never be innocent… Yeah, I must be out of my mind. I’ve gone mad. Marina, Marina. Wake up! How can you fight your enemies in your current state?

I got up, so I could put the jacket over him. That’s when my wrist was snatched and pulled in aggressively. Soon, I was under him while awkwardly holding the jacket. The purple eyes that were a bit dazed returned to his sight.

“Marina… von Harrant?”

His words sounded a bit higher in the end, which made it seem like he had done it unconsciously. I was certain he had made a mistake, but my heart raced in shock. I stuttered as I answered, which wasn’t like me at all.

“Y-Your Highness. Can you move away from me if  you’re awake?”

The Crown Prince hurriedly moved in response to my words. I, too, got up and returned to my seat to straighten myself. My heart was racing like crazy. But I couldn’t show it. If he thinks I have become sick and leaves me behind… that actually sounds good. However, I might get fired, so I have to be careful. For that reason, I calmly handed over the jacket to the Crown Prince, who sat some distance from me.

“Here you go.”

The Crown Prince took the jacket with a low sigh and said to me, “I’m getting tired.”

I thought about the meaning of those words, then remembered he was attacked at the theater a while ago. I heard from Rian that day that the Crown Prince wasn’t getting enough sleep and was pushing himself. Was he having such a hard time that he couldn’t even sleep? Was that why he was sleeping in this carriage to push himself? But if he gives up on protecting himself, he will only meet death.

“Don’t give up.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes became large at my words as he turned to look at me. I, too, looked at him and told him, “A beautiful flower will bloom if you hang on and endure.”

At my words, he turned to look at the window and spoke softly, “Yeah. I’ll never give up.”

He looked a bit at ease, and I, too, felt my bad feelings easing a bit. I then returned my focus back to situations surrounding me when I heard a soft voice.