I saw him hesitate, grasp the fork tightly and then gently shake it a few times, so I modeled it for him myself.
"Like this. Oh like this."
Immediately, he imitated the exact same thing.
“That's right, great job.”
"YES."
Looking at him chewing voraciously, his mouth still full of fever, I suddenly felt like I was not looking at my husband but like a five-year-old child.
Cesar licked off the remaining sauce on his lips, then rubbed his face on the tablecloth to remove it. Well, more precisely, he is not a child.
Yes, he looks like a big dog.
Thinking like that, my mind seems much more peaceful.
“Cesar.”
I called his name softly. His eyes immediately showed concentration, looking straight at me.
“I'm Irenea.”
“…I-Ren.”
He seemed to understand my words, slowly repeating my name: Iren, Ireane, Irenea. He repeated it several times.
“Annalisa used to call me Ren.”
"Lace."
Immediately, he uttered that nickname. Ren, Ren. He repeated it a few times, then burst out laughing. Laughter is clear, pure and adorable.
“We are now husband and wife.”
"Couple?"
“Yes, husband and wife.”
We got married, in a wedding that no one thought I could survive. Curses from the maids who despised me, the upcoming blue stone palace we would live in, and even the Queen who shunned me.
In this royal palace, there really aren't many people I can rely on. But if there was one person… just one person, that person was Cesar.
“I will stand by Cesar.”
“Party?”
“Yes, we are on the same side.”
“Together…”
But more than anything, I couldn't let those who treated him so badly go unpunished.
Even if he was considered the Cursed Prince, no one deserved to be treated like that.
“If someone bullies you like before…”
“Bully… bully?”
“Yes, those servants treated me badly just now.”
I gestured, imitating the servants' actions. He immediately turned serious.
"Impossible."
Just thinking back to that scene made him uncomfortable, shaking his head vigorously. Negative words like “no” or “hate” are pronounced extremely clearly. It's not difficult to guess the reason.
“….”
He sighed, shaking his head. Regarding Cesar's abusers, serious improvement is needed.
“If they do that again, tell me.”
"…YES."
I'm not sure if I can help, but obviously, I can't leave him tied up with a hood or chains anymore. That's the way to treat him like an animal.
“Remember that?”
I raised my pinky finger and touched his pinky finger. He just watched quietly, not protesting.
“This is a promise.”
I forced myself to hook his finger into mine.
“Promise…”
I really don't know if my words entered his mind. But Cesar closed his eyes and then opened them, his clear eyes seemed to convey something.
“Understood?”
"YES."
Then he smiled again, a smile without any malice, so pure that I was sure he understood.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, then the door creaked open.
“…Oh my god!”
The person who entered was a middle-aged lady, about fifty years old. When I moved, she approached, her eyes full of emotion.
“Your Majesty…!”
“Who are you?”
“Oh, please excuse me. I am Mercedes Aronzo, servant to Prince Cesar.”
Cesar looked at her with gentle eyes. Must be his acquaintance.
“Mercedes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She cried softly, quickly wiping her tears with her hand.
"I heard that you two had moved to the blue stone palace, so I rushed over. But..."
Mercedes is the one who raised Cesar. I heard her tell many things.
“Previously, I was a servant to the previous Queen, Adelaide.”
When the current Queen, Cornelia, ascended the throne, she banished all of Adelaide's servants. Mercedes is left because she is the one who raised the Prince. Since childhood, Cesar only listened to her grandmother.
Even though Cesar is eighteen this year, it is special to still follow her care closely.
“The Prince has been very… sensitive lately…”
Mercedes said that Cesar's condition was so bad that he couldn't be touched, even had to use medicine and tie him up.
“…Is it to that extent—”
Before I could ask, my eyes fell on her hands. Rough, cracked, traces of harsh labor.
That is the hand that has endured many hardships of royal life. She was once a servant from a noble family and became the Prince's nanny after losing her husband in the war.
Mercedes burst into tears.
“Sorry. I can't stand Mrs. Cornelia…”
I didn't know how to comfort her, so I bit my lip. But she held my hand tightly.
“Your Majesty, this is a miracle.”
“What?”
His brown eyes were bright and sharp.
“No one has ever made Prince Cesar obey like this!”
Recently, Cesar's condition has been too serious. It was almost impossible for him to sit still and do nothing.
"YES…."
I can't say that I used blood to calm him down. The wound on my hand was hidden behind my dress, my lips were bitten tightly.
This is a secret that must be kept. If others knew I used blood to "tame" Cesar, the consequences would be dire. I could be accused of being a witch, and could even commit the crime of insulting the royal family. The outcome will be tragic.
I decided to keep this secret.
"Lace."
Cesar pulled my hand. I smiled, trying to reassure.
"It's time to go to bed. There's a lot of work tomorrow."
"Yes."
According to Mercedes, I will soon have to attend a tea party with Queen Cornelia. It is an opportunity for me to greet my superiors, who are now members of the Royal Family.
“Phew…”
Even though I was warmly welcomed, just thinking about what was to come made my stomach ache.
Mercedes leads me to my new bedroom. Fortunately, this room is quite neat compared to other places in the palace.
“Ha…am.”
I yawned, my body tired after two days of continuous fighting. Stomach is full, body is lethargic and tired.
Being helped into light pajamas, I plopped down on the bed. Cesar will sleep in the next room, tonight I can rest peacefully…
But then, it felt like my toes were being gently pulled by someone, making it difficult for me to fully fall asleep.