Chapter 3
Alaric always kept his promises. He gave all the good things to Vivienne.
There was only one piece of shimmering silk in the world. He promised me he would find it for me, but in the end, it ended up draped over Vivienne’s shoulders.
The seven–colored gems from the Southern Sea–he said he would collect a hundred of them to make a headdress for me. Yet, every one of them was placed in Vivienne’s hair.
What I had, Vivienne had.
What I didn’t have, Vivienne didn’t lack.
My father and brother, seeing how aggrieved I was, sent many treasures from the frontier to comfort me.
I wrapped myself in a tiger skin, holding a crossbow in my left hand and a quiver of golden arrows in my right.
Elara remarked that I looked like a wealthy savage, living in a deep forest.
We both burst into laughter.
I laughed so hard, tears came to my eyes.
“No wonder Mother always says Father is such a rough man, he’s as clumsy as can be, and so is my brother. The gifts they sent me are a mess.”
I collapsed onto the couch, burying my head in the pillow, my tears soaking into the cotton.
Elara fell silent, then asked cautiously, “Your Majesty, if you miss home, shall I send for your lady mother?”
Seeing I said nothing, she suddenly brightened and said, “Wow, there’s even a fox tail hidden here! It’s so soft and thick. A fox fur coat would look great on you!”
I clenched my fists, swallowing my sorrow.
Turning to her, I smiled, “Go tell them to embroider lambs on my cloak, and maybe even calves, with patches of grasslands…”
I longed for the landscapes of the frontier.
I didn’t want to stay here any longer.
Before autumn arrived, my fox fur cloak was finished.
Elara, holding it, chattered away as we walked, praising the lambs and the endless grassy fields.
In the end, she couldn’t resist complimenting me, “Your taste is just exquisite, Your Majesty.”
As we reached the bridge, I happened to run into Alaric.
He paused when he saw me!
“Why have you lost weight?”
He took a couple of steps forward, reaching for my sleeve, but I turned away, awkwardly curtsying.
1
Alaric suppressed his breath, pulling me up from the ground. He gripped my hand and wouldn’t let go.
I was too stubborn. Whenever I got angry, I wouldn’t make up with him for at least half an hour.
In the past, if I was upset, Alaric would hold me firmly, kiss me, tease me, and I would scold and hit him, but he would always come closer.
I used to enjoy that, but now, it seemed childish and a little bothersome.
Alaric seemed to notice my irritation. He gently released his grip, staring at his empty hand, his expression one of hurt.
Vivienne, holding, a kite, ran up and urgently called his name, complaining,
“Alaric! You told me to find you, but you’ve come here.”
Perhaps he had seen me, which was why he hadn’t gone to look for Vivienne.
But that was impossible. I laughed bitterly.
My smile seemed to irritate Vivienne.
She probably thought I was mocking her. Her eyes narrowed, and she quickly shifted her gaze to the fox fur cloak in Elara’s hands.
“What a beautiful fur!”
She snatched the fox tail and brought it over to Alaric, cheerfully saying, “I want it!”
Alaric pinched her cheek and smiled, “Alright, whatever you like.”
She had already taken so much from me.
But those were Alaric’s things. He could give them to anyone he wanted. I didn’t care.
However, the fox fur was a gift from my father, and no one would take it from me.
Without thinking about manners, I lunged forward to snatch back my cloak, but Vivienne held on tightly.
In the ensuing tug–of–war, her fist struck my forehead.
My ears began to buzz, and the world spun.
I gritted my teeth and shoved her, and Vivienne screamed as she fell into the water.
