Lovers Beyond the Mirror

Chapter 2 – Lady Looking In The Mirror (2)

Suddenly, as if something was broken in her body, Seriana couldn’t move.

The word ‘future husband’ and the image of him in the mirror overlapped, and she was choked.

However, Elaire continued her words, arranging her disheveled skirt, not knowing of her daughter’s condition or not.

“Did you lose your mind because your husband is coming? I said several times that you had to stay out of the sun to keep your fair skin, but what’s with all those dragonfly wing-like curtains!”

“They recently replaced the thick curtains used in the winter. Therefore…”

“I’ll tell His Majesty. Even the barbarian bride is a princess of Rajen, though you can’t get married with an ugly face.”

“Yes…”

Seriana answered, swallowing her sigh.

Anyway, her mother wouldn’t care about her complexion. It was clear that she had come here for a different purpose.

“By the way, sweetheart, do you remember my request to make me queen before the barbarians arrive?”

“Yes, I remember. But, mother… how could I make mother the queen?”

Her throat is tight.

Her mother was only thinking about her greed while her daughter was being sold.

“Of course, the Princess’ mother must be the queen!”

“Mother, please…”

“Stupid! You should have been locked up in your room and never been visited by His Majesty.”

At that, the corners of her eyes were raised as she spoke and clapped her palms with the fan in her hands, as if really angry.

“Queen Mayer also has a princess.”

And, the Crown Prince…

Seriana swallowed her words and bowed her head.

If the one who gave birth to a king’s child should become a queen, then the current queen was far more suited to the position now that she gave birth to the next king, the Crown Prince, who would lead this Rajen.

The others shook their heads, thinking the words were outrageous, although Seriana knew.

…Her mother truly thought so.

“If he took my daughter to stop the war, of course, they should bring me, too! Do you think it makes sense to be the only one in this royal castle to be called a princess?”

“I didn’t want to come here.”

Nevertheless, her small voice, as always, did not reach Elaire’s ears.

Elaire was an incredibly beautiful woman that it was hard to believe that she was a woman with an eighteen years old daughter, as she ripped off her fan with anger.

That’s why she can still go in and out of the King’s bedroom.

Rajen was a monogamous country, but in the Kingdom, divorce was allowed. Instead, it was strictly forbidden to have concubines, but those with money and power secretly had two or three concubines.

It was perhaps taken for granted that the richest and most powerful King in Rajen had a concubine.

As Elaire captured the King, she was the concubine who had been warming his bedroom ever since. The King turned to many young women halfway through, and found her again from Elaire’s single tear and savage smile.

Seriana was the illegitimate child of such a King and Elaire…

If the barbarian Chaitun had not crossed the border and attacked Rajen, she would have been destined to be sold here and there as such an illegitimate child according to the king’s needs.

“At today’s banquet, unconditionally stick to His Majesty’s side and be a cute daughter. Like that foxy princess, Lumius, shake His Majesty’s heart!”

“…I will try.”

“You can’t just try! You have to do your best. Do you understand?”

“Yes, mother.”

Perhaps, Seriana will not be able to say a word to the king who will sit on the highest seat of Rajen tonight.

Knowing that, she made a promise she couldn’t keep, nodding her head obediently.

Elaire got up from her seat as she was satisfied with the appearance of her obedient daughter, gushing at her as when she was in the mansion of the Count Fjord.

“Are you going already?”

“What would you do if I stayed for a long time? Prepare to meet your husband.”

“Mo, mother, if you could stay just a little longer…”

“Where does a grown-up kid act like a baby? I’m tired, too. If I want to stay by His Majesty’s side during today’s banquet, I should sleep soundly from now on.”

Eventually, Elaire, who patted the hem of the crumpled dress with her hand, walked to the door without hesitation.

Seriana’s mouth froze as she tried to hold onto her a little longer at the sight of her mother not feeling the slightest bit of pity for her daughter.

“Heed my words. Understand?”

In the end, she left the room without hearing any answer.

Outside the door, she heard her mother’s voice chasing the maids. There was no hint of concern for Seriana in the earlier attitude, her voice that scolded the maid who didn’t even look at her and greet her properly.

Seriana walked over to the mirror covered in the white cloth.

She looked like she was about to cry, though she held it back by clasping her hands.

Beyond the mirror, he was resolute even when he was very young.

He didn’t shed any tears.

She remembered him, and she held back her tears.

“I’m, okay. It’s okay…”

It was as if a wind from the sandy desert she had never felt before was blowing and wiping her tears away.

She is comforted by a man whom she neither knows the name nor the voice.

Seriana was able to endure the sadness of now just by thinking of the man.

“Princess Seriana.”

“Has Mother, the Countess left?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

The morning preparation continued as if nothing had happened.

Gazing out the window, she nodded her head like a doll when the maid said that breakfast had not been prepared for the final fitting of the dress.

Skipping meals has been something she’s been accustomed to since she was at County.

In Rajen, where the thin and slender body and white skin like a blank sheet were the standards of beauty, not only Seriana, but many noblewomen would skip meals in this way. As a result, people often collapsed in the banquet hall, and the number of times they collapsed in the banquet hall became the pride of noblewomen.

“Can I… take a walk?”

“Right now, Crown Prince Gyro is enjoying a walk in the backyard.”

“Ah…”

There were only a few places in this royal castle where Seriana could set her feet.

And, among those places, the only place where she could enjoy a walk was the garden of the Imperial Palace. However, if the Crown Prince is there… it was right that she avoided him.

“Then, won’t you tell me when the walk is over?”

“Is the sun going to rise high?”

“Bring me long sleeves and a parasol.”

“I will.”

Pure white skin was the first condition for a beautiful woman in Rajen and a necessary condition for a new bride.

Seriana, who was worried about breaking the groom’s excitement on the wedding day by any chance, turned her gaze out of the window again.

Everything was a splendid space, though the tightly closed windows seemed to say that this was a prison.

‘No, that window doesn’t open from the inside, so it might be a prison…’

All of the windows in Seriana’s room were fixed in order for her to not run away. Even if the window was opened, it would be impossible for her to escape on her own in the fifth-story room, but the King of Rajen didn’t want to leave any danger behind.

“Any other morning plans?”

“Theology class awaits.”

It was the science of God that she couldn’t even call the name if she left Rajen anyway.

Moreover, the God of Rajen does not take care of her.

If the God had cared for her, God would have shown even the slightest mercy to her… But, the God turned away from her, and Seriana no longer called the God’s name.

It was that she had given up on God since the day she cried out the name of God when she was very young.

“…Please get ready.”

Nevertheless, there was no veto for her in the first place.

In the first place, she was such a being here in Rajen.

Seriana shut her eyes as she watched the maid go out to call the priest to lead the class. She had just opened her eyes, although she was already missing the moonlit night.

The theology class ended sooner than expected.

She wasn’t motivated, but thanks to her close proximity to books, Seriana was able to learn very quickly.

After the priest, who had thrown a few words of praise, retreated, Seriana, ready to go out, went to the garden. She had just eaten a plate of soup and a salad full without dressing.

Although she had no energy, the early spring sunlight was gently caressing her inside, which was stuffy.

“Do not step out of the shade of the parasol.”

“It’s okay to walk for a while.”

“It’s not possible. If the parasol bothers you, only walk in the shade. The priest will have a ceremony soon.”

“…Yes.”

Even though she wanted to get a little more sun, the maid who followed her didn’t give up on the hardline attitude.

She was the fake princess, whom the maid had to serve temporarily, so the maid seemed to focus on making her the perfect bride rather than cultivating an acquaintance with her.

Seriana started walking again carefully, trying not to escape the shade created by the parasol, and she wondered if she would ever see this kind of green again as she looked at the flowers that started to bloom brightly.

Chaitun, who wanted to welcome her as their bride, was a realm based in the desert.

This might be the last time she saw tender leaves.

‘Though in the desert… I might see an oasis.’

That was all to be expected.

Not everyone in the desert has an oasis, but she had to pray that Chaitun, where she will live in the future, has the same environment as the desert he lived in in the mirror. Of course, the god of Rajen will not grant her wish this time, too, still…

Again melancholy engulfed her.

Then, the bright flowers in front of her could not be seen, and the voices of the maids following her could not be heard.

So, it would have been

For some reason, she was out of the shade of the parasol that didn’t move and went ahead.

“Oh!”

Seriana lost her center of gravity when she bumped into someone she had never seen before.

She’s really out of her mind. She thought so as she fell, and she laughed at her pathetic self.

As she closed her eyes, feeling the floor coming closer, something hot grabbed her arm. Surprised by the heat in an instant, Seriana soon realized that it was the body temperature of a person.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, no. Thank you for helping me.”

The warmth that had touched her skin moved away as quickly as it approached.

Seriana bowed her head to thank, without even looking straight into the face of the one who saved her from a fall.

It was as if she could hear the voice of the queen, who had come to her room on the first day in the royal palace and shouted that she should not cause any trouble until the day of her wedding.

‘If there’s a problem, I might even be banned from walking!’

Not many things were allowed to Seriana in this royal castle. Still, there were countless things that were forbidden.

It was a royal castle that felt like a prison.

Even when she went for a walk in the garden, she had to pay attention to her surroundings like a prisoner watching the guard.

However, what if she can’t even take a walk like that…?

‘I’m going to choke to death…’

She couldn’t say she was still alive, but she hated it.

“Once again, I apologize. I couldn’t see properly.”

“I heard that Rajen’s royals are arrogant, but it seems that wasn’t the case with all of them. Or, is it another nobleman who resembles royalty only with the color of the hair?”

“That, that…”

Seriana trembled at the opponent’s voice, which was calm but filled with doubts.

Because she had met at the royal patronage, she only thought that it was, of course, a nobleman who came to meet the King of Rajen. Yet, that didn’t seem to be the case?

There was a man who was suspicious that Seriana might not be royal.

“Kudra, you must not move alone.”

“Kayan, you are too worried.”

“Isn’t it natural to be very worried because my master is reckless?”

“Isn’t recklessness my prerogative?”

“You are right, but…”

“You came all the way here to nag me. You are not Chiarin.”

“That Chiarin is also looking for Kudra, so you’ll hear it sooner or later, that nagging.”

“I hate that…”

The conversation continued as if a group of men had arrived.

But, Seriana heard nothing but the word “Kudra”.

Kudra was a word for the King of Chaitun, who would definitely welcome her as the bride. She knew he was arriving today, but already…?

Seriana did not know that they would also meet at the royal garden like this.

“But, who?”

“My guess is that the Princess of Razen. Although she was a little different from what I heard from Nurabi.”

Seriana took a deep breath at the man’s words.

She shouldn’t be suspicious.

Before the ceremony was even held, it was likely that war could break out again.

“I am Seriana… Winne Darmian of Rajen. Greetings to Kudra of Chaitun.”

It was an awkward name.

Seriana, who bowed her knees slightly to greet, waited for the man’s reply.

Does he know the bride’s name? If he doesn’t know, shouldn’t she just let him know that she’s going to be his bride? Seriana’s small brain was getting complicated.

“Hey, I happened to see my Ranua by chance. Is this also from Helaim or Kayan?”

“It seems so.”

Fortunately, he seemed to know his bride’s name.

It seemed that when the royal family of Rajen sent a reply to the King of Chaitun, they seemed to have given her name as well.

As she heard the man’s answer as though he was always sarcastic, she involuntarily lifted her head up and checked his face.

“Vaisha Khun Kudra, who will be the Princess’s husband.”

Dark hair that shines even under the Rajen sun, a face with thick lines, and skin tinted with copper. And, the amber eyes…

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The moment Seriana checked his face, she forgot how to breathe.

Dream? Fantasy?

…Is this the mirage that only exists in the desert?

He, who existed only beyond the mirror, appeared in front of Seriana and was gazing at her.