# Chapter 44
“Your Highness, wouldn’t sprinkling flowers alone be a little dull at the opening ceremony?”
The day was suffocatingly hot, and seeing Eclat clinging to Edmund made me sigh.
I couldn't help but notice again how tactless the heroine was.
Do you really need to ask him about every little detail like this?
“Fireworks won't be seen well in daylight, so what if we used air guns instead?”
The reason ECLA was discussing Edmund about the UMFA opening ceremony was because I had full control of the medical care system, and I simply could not keep up with everything else.
Given that, Dante or even Natasha or Mago, who were more experienced than her, could have handled this task. But because Ikla was from Vogliche, the people of the Umfa region had great confidence in her.
For this reason, His Majesty himself suggested to Edmund that Eclat take on the role of host of the ceremony. So, of course, she took over the opening duties for me.
“The presence of strangers there makes shooting an inappropriate idea. It might remind them of the days of war. And then we just had a peace festival.”
“Ah! Well, then I’ll rule it out.”
So, after Eclat took over the party, she ran to Edmund's side whenever something new came up, and then she ended up bringing her own chair and sitting right next to him.
In my memory, Eclat in the novel was more daring than this. She spoke her mind clearly to Edmund, and worked hard for Voglich.
Did this change because of my intervention in the course of events? Or because she was severely reprimanded after she formed a volunteer group without permission? She now asks permission for everything big and small, even for matters that she can handle on her own.
It's true that asking permission is better than making a big mistake later, but...isn't that a bit exaggerated?
Seeing Eclat clinging to his arm made me feel more and more upset. Don't they feel hot? Why are they so close?
Especially when her chest was touching his arm, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with my flat chest. Why should I even be upset about something like this?
“Your Highness, do you think the decorations for the party are sufficient?”
If Edmund were his usual self, he would say: “If you can’t even make this decision, then leave it to someone else!”
But he...
“Don't you think it's overrated? The real hero here is not the party, but the Umfa district itself.”
Contrary to his habit, he was not upset, but answered her calmly.
“Ah, right. As I expected, Your Highness is truly wonderful!”
She smiled and clapped cheerfully, looking so cute, as if she was actually created to be the heroine.
As for Edmund, he smiled at her with a gentle smile, as if the world around them had become a scene from a beautiful movie.
The breeze was moving the curtains behind him, making the light and air sway.
While everyone was moving busy, a different calm aura surrounded them, as if they were living in another world.
Whenever I saw them together, I felt like I was nothing but an obstacle between them.
If I had not been here, they would have met long ago, and perhaps Eclat would now be sitting in my place, loving Edmund as in the original novel.
"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
My eyes met his. The air rushed through the open window, the white curtains fluttered, and his face appeared more prominent under the light.
"Oh, no! Nothing at all!"
My face turned red all at once.
Right, black and white... a perfect combination since time immemorial, right? Even in stones, black and white complement each other. And in Chinese ink paintings, the shades harmonize perfectly! Yes, exactly like that!
“Olivia, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Your face is red. I'm afraid you're overexerting yourself.”
Ecla said in a worried tone.
“If it is difficult for you to complete the matter alone, you can leave it to me. His Highness Edmund is helping me, and we will finish quickly.”
She has been working since the morning on coordinating the stage decor and the ceremony schedule. Can she even help me with my work? Especially since this medical care system is not a concept that exists in this world!
“But no, I have to do my job myself. Remember? We agreed that each person would accomplish what he was assigned to do without putting it on others.”
From her perspective, her intentions were good. She is the heroine with a pure heart, and you will see that she is just trying to help.
As for me, in the eyes of this world I was a foreign body, acting out of not-so-innocent motives towards Edmund and Gallerhead.
“Oh, sorry.”
Even after my harsh words, she immediately apologized without hesitation. And that's exactly why I find myself hating her even more.
She stands in the bright light, and I am in the dark shadow.
As if I were a black duck in the middle of a white flock.
“Olivia.”
"Yes?"
As I was trying to focus back on work, I heard his voice calling to me. His voice was low, but he sounded a little angry.
She stood up and headed towards him.
“Did you call me Your Highness?”
I felt my heartbeat accelerate, like a student whose eyes met the eyes of his teacher as he searched for someone to solve a difficult problem.
“Come with me.”
He said with long strides, heading outside. What now? Don't I have a lot of work? Did he just summon me to reprimand me for my conversation with Ecla?
I sighed and followed him. I wanted to say: “Why?”, but in the end, he is the prince and I am just a follower.
Did I say something that spoiled the atmosphere? Will he scold me? I have to be careful.
I walked behind him with heavy steps, my head lowered. I didn't dare look at him, but I could see the heels of his black shoes shining, and his steps were steady and consistent.
I gradually raised my gaze.
Do princes also practice walking? How straight he walks!
He did not look around, just continued walking with a steady gaze ahead of him. His shoulders are broad, and his back is tight.
I never saw him fold his legs while sitting, nor extend his neck forward like others. Does the pose really reflect the personality?
I straightened my back and saw my reflection in the window glass next to me.
Edmund continued walking out of the palace with determined steps.
Where is it taking me? Is he going to scold me to this extent?
The road led to the back garden, a private place for the imperial family that was rarely crowded. Could he punish me here out of sight?
“Hmm, Olivia.”
Finally we reached the garden, and he walked forward with slow steps, then cleared his voice lightly.
“Your Highness, I apologize!”
I bent down until I was almost touching the ground.
“...What? What are you saying suddenly?”
I've always believed in the old principle: Apologizing first ensures survival.
Yes, the initiative to apologize is the real victory.
I quickly repeated my apology: “I didn't mean to be rude, really! It just came out of my head.”
In practical life, whoever wants to be loved by others should quickly admit his mistake.
“I just wanted to do my own work, so I sounded a little harsh towards Ecla.”
“What exactly are you talking about?”
There was some confusion in his voice.
“Didn't you summon me to scold me?”
“Me? Why?”
I slowly raised my head. He looked at me with sincere amazement.
“I thought you were angry because of what you said to Ecla.”
"Why would I scold you because of her? You were right. She does tend to depend on others too much."
'And who encourages her to do that except you...'
But if not to rebuke, then why?
“We're going out for a ride now.”
“Tour...incognito?”
He turned his body, and only then did I see the simple carriage behind him.
It did not have any royal emblems on it, it looked like an ordinary goods cart.
Incognito tour? With him? So suddenly?
“So, get rid of this.”
"… What?!"
I stared at him in disbelief. I wasn't sure if I heard right or not. But his serious features confirmed that he was not joking.