The Tale of Madeline's Ruby

There was an angelic princess that the entire empire favored, so the emperor did everything to protect her from the negative things surrounding this world. He forbade the princess from playing outside, and for her playmates, they had to go through the emperor’s deliberate selection.

The princess understood why her parents did that, but she still wanted to be free. She did not have the courage to express the request, it would shatter into pieces just by imagining the consequences.

One day, the emperor had to travel to the other kingdom.

“Father, be careful on your journey, I’ll wait for your return.”

The emperor kissed the child on the forehead before riding on his carriage.

The princess's skin tingled when she witnessed the intrusion of an unknown man.

“Mister, if you wanted to propose, I can’t accept it. Before the knights found you, leave my sight now,” she said.

The handsome stranger knelt down and said, “Forgive my audacity, but I am here to fulfill your passion,”

“Mister, maybe you mistook me for another person.” 

“Your Highness, a person like you was like a solar eclipse, so there’s no way I came to the wrong place.”

All the Princess did was to nod as if she couldn’t make a rebuttal. She did not want to disobey her father’s command, but wanted to experience how to live as a normal person.

She accepted the stranger offered and saw her world on a new horizon. They played in the woods, ate a variety of food in the market, and caught insects.

She knew that they should not repeat this boldness, but this friendship cured her depression.

Days passed, and the emperor returned, and the first thing that he did was running toward the Princess’s room, only to find her playing with an unknown man.

On the spur of the moment, the emperor slapped the princess, imprisoned the man, and doubled his daughter’s guards. The princess’s eyes widened as she witnessed everything. She admitted her mistake but did not expect his father’s mind to be too narrow.

The princess locked herself in her room, bedsheets would be always wet because of her tears. She did not even move the food or drink served to her.

Her unusual action alarmed the emperor. He knocked on the princess’s room, but it was all too late — stiff corpse exposed him.

Amidst his mourning was a dazzling light coming from a six prong ruby ​​ring with a golden band.

He didn’t remember giving such a gift to her. He pulled the ring from her finger and stored it in a box.

It was not a surprise that I found this artifact in his manor. That greedy Count might have had a new scheme, so he invited important people in his manor.

But why did he have the courage to display it? Whatever his reason is, I don’t care anymore. Let us proceed to the plan.

“My Lady, is there a problem?”

“No, this might be my lucky day. I feel it! Come on, we have to return these.”

When we went to their solar , their aides informed us they went outside to deal with an important business.

Handsome men scattered in novels and simulation games, but why in actual life these straight men were like endangered species?

“My Lady, we would relay your message,” they said.

I gave them my sweet smile before I thanked them.

When we got back to my room, I held Nora’s hands. Her soul is no longer in this world, I must shake her like a fever medicine to retrieve her!

I was already grinning because she was still gaping until now.

“Which of them drove you crazy?”

“My lady, in that regard, would you agree if I marry James?”

“I would only agree if James himself informed me. Besides, you probably know who he really is, don’t you?”

James is Frederick’s aide, the illegitimate child of the Rauch House… a nobleman. He would just make my precious Nora cry!

“You’re right, My Lady.”

She frowned while looking on the ground.

Did I say something wrong? Why was she like this?

“Giving up was only for the weak! Mr Right was just in the corner, we would meet soon after My Lady found her one true love!”

I breathed a sigh of relief when Nora’s enthusiasm returned. She looked like an anime character that has a fiery aura.

****

The long oak table stood at the center of the spacious dining room. The three golden candelabras placed as one of the table decors reminded me of a character in a famous fairy tale. Different delicacies from roasted boar to apple filled turnovers lined beautifully. 

Did Count Viscar think that were beasts? 

Nevermind, he was right. These gentlemen gobbled the meat like there was no tomorrow. Seriously, do they have another chamber in their stomach?

Despite all this, everything I ate tasted like water except for dessert.

“Is it not to your liking, Lady Bethany?” Countess Janice asked.

Of course, in order not to offend the hosts, I gave them my toothpaste-like commercial smile. I even accompanied it with compliments.

“I want your recipe for these wonderful apple turnovers. I understood why Count Viscar loved you so much.”

Laughter filled the room. All right, just celebrate because I’m about to detonate the bomb.

“Thank you for your compliment, but I can’t share my secret recipe.”

“I understand Countess Janice. Count Viscar, you have an exquisite manor.  There were lots of great decorations!”

The perfect situation where exaggeration could be handy came.

“I appreciate it, Lady Bethany. Do you like decorations? Even if Janice can’t give you her secret recipe, you could take home anything from this manor.”

My left hand was on my chin as if I’m in deep thought.

“Anything I want?”

With a strained voice, he said, “Yes, Lady Bethany. You can count on that,”

I turned to my parents. I do not know how I understood the message of their stares. They want me to be Ms. Smarty Pants that my hands should land on a diamond. I got you guys!

“In fact, the statue of the woman on the way to the Chapel fascinated me.”

“Lady Bethany. Were you sure about that? There were no exceptional things about those statues, yes, talented sculptors carved it, but may I know what you saw there?”

I gave him a condescending sneer.

“Count Viscar, if there were no extraordinary thing about those statues, then what word should describe Madeline’s Ruby?”

It was at this moment he knew… he fucked up.