He Was Kind If I Stopped

“It was my mother’s.” Hazel said casually.

“The Queen?”

Lorette was startled and tried to take off the necklace.

“There’s no need for that.”

Hazel raised her hand and stopped Lorette. Lorette flinched and lowered her hand. Then, Hazel lifted the earrings and placed them over Lorette’s ears.

The emeralds dangling from Lorette’s earlobes were lovely. Hazel laughed and said,

“They look good on you.”

‘’No, this belongs to you. The Queen gave them to you. They’re not even the same color as my eyes.”

Loretto has beautiful eyes, as blue as the sky. Her hair was also beautiful blonde. She looked just like her mother. It doubled the reason why Hazel hated her more.

The daughter of the woman who made Hazel’s mother sick, had the same face as her mother and took all the heart of her father and her first love.

“Wear this to the welcoming ceremony.”

“Oh, no, I can’t do that. It’s too much for me.”

When Lorette tried to take the necklace off again, Hazel prevented her.

“Why do you think I put this on you?”

“I was just…”

“I didn’t put it on you just to show off.”

Hazel said as she stroked the emerald that was hanging on Lorette’s neck.

“I’ll lend it to you, and then you can read the welcome speech with pride. Do you understand?”

“You really, really want me to have this?”

“You don’t have the right jewelry, do you?”

“I have jewels that my mother has prepared for me.”

When Lorette spoke cautiously, Hazel burst out laughing.

“No, simple things are not appropriate for such an occasion. You need jewelry that matches the style. Everyone in the royal family knows that. The Queen was the owner of this jewel.”

“…….”

“If you wear this, it means that you are proudly recognized as a member of the royal family.”

“Are you really, truly going to acknowledge me as your sister and princess of Land in front of everyone?”

“Of course. It seems rather too late. I should have done it sooner.”

When Hazel hugged Lorette, she was at a loss for words as she was held in the arms of her half-sister.

“I won’t let you down, I promise I’ll make Land proud.”

“I believe in you. Of course. I know you’ll do well. You’re father’s daughter and you’re my sister.”

Hazel swallowed her next words and smiled.

“I’ll make you a proud princess of Land.”

‘’Thank you for recognizing me.Thank you so much.”

Lorette’s eyes teared up with gratitude, and Hazel whispered softly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Don’t need to say thank you. We’re sisters. It’s only natural.”

“Princess Hazel…”

Hazel again corrected Lorette’s vaguely spoken words.

“Call me sister…”

“…….”

“Now go and show your mother.”

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

Lorette repeated, tears falling down her face. Hazel added quickly.

“Hurry up and go. You need to memorize the speech before the welcome ceremony. You need to look perfect in front of the Crown Princes.”

“I understand.”

“Especially for Prince Sisef.”

“…….”

Lorette’s face, which was glowing with joy, turned red as soon as she heard the name that came out of Hazel’s mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m… I’m…”

“What do you know about him?”

“What?”

Lorette’s eyes grew wide with surprise as Hazel stared at her. Her eyes, as clear and blue as the sky, were filled with bewilderment.

“You two are close, aren’t you?”

“He’s more like my brother, the one I knew before you….I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. For the sake of the friendly relations between our kingdom and the Demophos Empire, it’s good for you to get along with the prince.”

“Really?”

“So show your dignified self. Perhaps the Prince will see you differently when you read the welcome speech. You must show your dignity as the princess who represents our kingdom to the fullest.”

“Yes, I understand. I will show my dignity as a princess. Absolutely no one will be able to ignore it.”

Lorette, who swore with a solemn look on her face, nodded to Hazel several times before getting up.

“I hope that sister gets well soon. I’m praying for you.”

“With your prayers, I’m sure I will heal. Thank you.”

Hazel leaned her head against the cushion.

“I’m tired from all the talking. Now, please go and give a perfect welcome to the guests of the Demophos Empire.”

“Yes, I’ll go. Please make yourself comfortable. I’ll make sure the jewelry won’t get scratched.”

Lorette bowed several times and left the bedroom. Hazel, who was watching her leave, straightened up again.

As soon as Lorette left, Mary came running with startled eyes and asked,

“Princess, are you serious?’

“What?”

“The necklace and earrings. Are you really lending them to her?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Hazel took a grape Mary had brought and put it in her mouth.

“It’s a precious jewel that the Queen had treasured before her death. No one but the Queen can wear it.”

“Why can’t I share it with my sister?”

“Everyone knows that the necklace and earrings belong to princess!”

“Of course they know. That’s why I lent them to her.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I just lent her a sisterly love. I didn’t give her anything, what’s wrong with you?”

Mary put her hand on her chest, almost breathless with surprise at the answer.

“I can’t believe Princess even helped her write the welcome speech!”

“Well, it would be an embarrassment to our country if she read a bad speech, wouldn’t it?”

Hazel poured out answers in a steady stream. Mary added, nodding her head for a moment.

“And…Prince Sisef.”

“What…what is with the prince?”

Hazel’s voice became a little sharper.

“What?”

Mary whispered in a hushed voice.

“The last time the prince was here, you were furious when you found out that he and Princess Lorette had met together, so why would you want those two…”

“Mary.”

Mary suddenly lowered her head and stared at Hazel nervously.

“I’m sorry for the presumptuous comment. But I really don’t understand….”

Hazel sighed deeply as she looked at Mary, who hesitated but didn’t say anything wrong.

“That’s why you died first.”

“……What?”

Looking at Mary’s dazed face, the vivid memory of the past flooded Hazel’s mind.

“The Empress is the last person to cheat on her husband. His Majesty must have misunderstood something! It’s not fair!”

Mary was dragged and placed in front of Hazel and killed. She was pierced by a spear of a knight.

Mary was the maid who served the Empress (*Hazel married Achilleon and became Empress in the past) as her closest aide, and she was brought directly from Hazel’s family home, but Hazel could do nothing to save her life. Mary died cruelly.

“Anyway, it’s not something for you to understand.”

“…….”

“Lorette is my half sister. And as her older sister, I have a duty to guide her well.”

In a rather reverent tone, Mary began to speak awkwardly.

“Princess ……I don’t mean to tell you this, but…”

“What is it?”

“Are you sick or something? Are you hurt?”

Hazel said, pointing her finger.

“I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry about it. By the way, where is Titty?”

“She’s drinking milk.”

“Meow.”

As soon as the words were over, a white cat came running through the door.

“Titty! Come here.”

The cat jumped up on the bed and Mary laughed cheerfully when she saw it.

“She still scratches the person who feeds her everyday. You don’t know how sharp her claws are.”

Mary rolled up her sleeves, revealing her old and new scars.

“Only her master can tame her.”

Mary looked at the cat curiously.

“Then I am the master, but who will she obey if not me?”

The pure white haired cat, a gift from the Duchess of Conces on Hazel’s mother’s side, obeyed her owner, Hazel, very well.

“The only thing you do is to please them. It’s amazing.”

“…..Your mouth.”

“I’m sorry.”

Mary said, smacking her lips.

“Isn’t it enough? Should I sew it up?”

“Princess…”

Hazel looked at Mary, who opened her mouth as if in great shock, and gave a small sigh.

“If you weren’t my nanny’s daughter, what would have happened to your mouth?”

“I’ll be careful from now on.”

Hazel chuckled and patted the cat, who rubbed her head against her hand.

“You know how they say that animals instinctively know who loves them?”

“By the way, animals take after their owners, or rather, they really do.”

“Really?”

“Look at those big green eyes.”

“Do I look this bad?”

Hazel grabbed the cat’s face and turned it this way and that.

“No way, your eyes are big and shiny.”

“Do I look like a nice person? Just like Lorette. Don’t you just want to burst into tears and do everything she asks?”

“Oh, my God, that face is plain. It’s all over the place.”

Mary said, pulling the tails of her eyes all the way down. Hazel hugged the cat and giggled at the silly sight of Mary.

“You passed.” Hazel said.

“What?”

“Your mouth.”