Chapter 23
23
Chapter 6. More Than Just a Rehearsal (2)
I had forgotten.
‘The Prince and the Duke's acquaintances… can't be ordinary…’
Why didn't I consider that they would at least be nobles, and most likely royalty? I nestled in Dad's arms, glaring daggers at Raven's head.
‘It's all because he's so articulate for a kid!’
I definitely didn't want to agree at first. But somehow, not only did I give my permission, but I ended up begging my parents to let me do it.
Besides, I only said I wanted to try healing Raven's acquaintance, but my parents were already discussing where to build my hospital.
Deciding on a future dream doesn't mean I want to do it right away.
Childhood dreams and future aspirations change several times a day, don't they? I just thought it would be appropriate to bring it up since I was lucky enough to have a natural talent. I need to earn money to feed two children who want to get jobs.
It wasn't as admirable as Raven made it out to be. It's nice to live off my parents, but I just want to earn enough money to not feel like a lazy bum.
Let's live comfortably in this complicated world.
Even if I have the rare ability to heal Shifters, I don't have the admirable ideal of healing everyone in the world.
In the first place, that's impossible. I'm not some great god, just a person.
But as much as I can, as far as I can see, I want to help those I can… that's all. It's human nature. And it would be nice to make some money while I'm at it.
That's what Raven said too. Think of it as a rehearsal, he said casually.
But…
"Welcome, Duke Wentworth. I've heard the story."
"You don't have to bow, Marquis Valtr. I'm just granting my daughter's request."
"This way, please."
What is this atmosphere?
‘Why am I in the Imperial Palace?’
I know who I am… but where am I?
Raven and my parents were frighteningly quick to get things done as if they had to see things through once they decided. Raven came to visit in the early afternoon after I finished lunch, and now it's only around 4 PM, but I'm already in the Imperial Palace for the first time in my life.
What's with my parents' and Raven's execution skills…
When I first got on the carriage, I was cheerful, saying, "Wow, the ride is terrible!" It was my first outing, even if it was unexpected!
They didn't tell me where they were taking me, but since my parents were coming with me, it couldn't be a dangerous place. It must be somewhere outside the house…
But the sight I saw when I got out of the carriage was a luxurious mansion that rivaled the palaces in textbooks, and just when I thought it was so dazzlingly luxurious, my father told me that this was the Imperial Palace.
The corridors, oh my, the gold on the floors, walls, and ceilings, is it all real gold, really…? My father was holding me and walking quickly, so I didn't get a good look, but if the interior was meant to overwhelm people, I'd say it succeeded.
Seeing my stiff face, my father made eye contact with me and said,
"Are you nervous? Shana."
"…A widdle bit."
Raven didn't miss the chance to tease me.
"Isn't this just like coming to my house? Why be scared when you're just visiting a friend's house?"
"It's my fiwst outing, Waven, you dummy."
Marquis Valtr, who was walking ahead in the corridor, flinched. Raven noticed that I was being mindful of others and said as if he didn't like something.
"Why are you paying attention to them? You're my friend."
"B-but."
"Pay more attention to me than to people who have nothing to do with you."
My father chuckled at Raven's words. My mother, who was walking alongside me, said,
"His Highness must be craving your attention, Shana."
"But Dad is the one Shana likes the most, right?"
"Kyle, are you trying to start a fight here? Shana likes Mom the most."
You're both embarrassing, stop it.
I sighed inwardly. I thought they wouldn't be like this outside, but they were the same. Raven said,
"Too bad for both of you. Unfortunately, Shana likes someone else the most."
"What?"
"Your Highness, I can't let that slide."
Marquis Valtr's back looked increasingly pathetic and faint. I felt sorry for Marquis Valtr, who was pretending not to hear the three of them.
I'm sorry that the Duke and Duchess and the Prince are having such a conversation…
"Unfortunately, Shana likes the new puppy she picked up the most. Isn't that right, Shana?"
"Huh?"
No, why are you asking me at this moment?
"You said you liked Evelyn the most, right?"
"No, uh?"
"If you weren't lying to me, then I must be right."
My mother and father asked gently and kindly, "Shana? Is that true?"
"I wike Evelyn…"
"More than Mom?"
"More than Dad?"
"How can I compawe that?"
There are other things to compare.
"Dat man is wistenin', I'm embawassed…"
"What's embarrassing about wanting to hear your daughter say she loves you the most?"
"We're confident, Shana."
"I'm embawassed…"
I put my hand on my forehead. It was all Raven's fault. I glared at Raven, and he smiled.
"I told you there's nothing to be nervous about."
I was nervous because it was an unfamiliar place, but when I saw my parents and Raven, I didn't care where I was. Wherever I am, my parents won't change, and as Raven said, this is just a friend's house…
"…"
I'm scared of myself for thinking that way. That's why humans are creatures of adaptation.
After a while, we stopped in front of a large door. I snuggled deeper into my father's arms. The door was so big that I had to crane my neck to look up at it, and somehow it had a dark and eerie atmosphere. Even though it was decorated with gold, the dark feeling came first.
"Mother, it's Raven."
What?
A moment later, the door opened. Raven went in first, and while I was opening my mouth in surprise, my parents started walking after him.
W-wait, wait a minute.
You said it was a rehearsal. You told me to think lightly!
‘That's your mom, Raven, you crazy bastard!’
Don't say it lightly!
"She suddenly collapsed ten days ago. We've called Magicians and high priests to heal her, but…"
Marquis Valtr bit his lip.
"Whether it's a powerful curse or a deep illness, we haven't seen any improvement."
Raven was standing alone next to the huge bed. It seemed like no one was around him. I often forget because of his annoying face, but he's still just a child.
"My guess was right."
"We're keeping it a secret because it's before he was appointed as Crown Prince, but…"
"There's a limit to stopping rumors."
Raven is listening to everything, adults…
‘Is that the fate of the Prince…?’
Having a high status is a problem, and having a low status is a problem.
I lived in a country where there was no such thing as status in my previous life, but in reality, there is an invisible status in Korea as well. They divided each other based on more detailed and trivial criteria.
‘Where's Raven's dad?’
There was no one who looked like an Emperor. I felt sorry for Raven standing alone, so I struggled in my father's arms and went down to the floor.
And I ran to Raven's side with small steps.
I'm glad I'm not wearing squeaky shoes. If the squeaky sound echoed in this quiet place, I would have wanted to die.
Raven was looking at the white hand that came out of the blanket with an indescribable expression. It was a pale white hand that looked almost blue.
‘It looks like my mom's hand.’
My mom, who had been sick for a long time and was only in the hospital.
Actually, I couldn't see my mom very often. My dad, who would take me to the hospital, was busy every day, and when I stayed at my relatives' or my dad's friends' houses, it was hard to say that I missed my mom.
And even if I went to see her, there weren't many days when my mom was awake.
My dad's face when he looked at my mom lying down and Raven's face now were somewhat similar. I couldn't stand it and grabbed Raven's hand.
Raven was surprised and looked at me, and I held his hand tightly and shouted firmly.
"Twust me!"
"…"
"I'll, save you!"
I was relieved that my pronunciation wasn't too slurred. Raven, who had been expressionless, stared at me with wide eyes for a moment, then smiled and said.
"You're going to save me? You?"
"Yeah! Me!"
"…"
Raven looked down at the hand I was holding. I don't know what he's thinking, but I was satisfied that he wasn't laughing at me.
"I can do it!"
"You don't have to. I told you to think of it as a rehearsal."
However, contrary to his light tone, Raven's hand holding my hand didn't lose its strength.
"Don't you know you should do anything to achieve your goal?"
"What's that?"
"Dat's what dey say… If you stawt something, you gotta finish it. Dere's no giving up in my dictionawy. Giving up is only used when counting cabbages."
"You're saying weirder things."
"It means you shouldn't give up. Anyway, don't wowwy, 'cause I'm hewe."
By the way, are you going to keep holding my hand? Raven still had an annoying expression, but I thought that his hand that he wasn't letting go was his true feelings.
I felt so bad for the little child standing alone next to the bed that I wanted to let him know that he wasn't alone. I held his hand and tried to grab the hand on the bed…
"…"
Short.
Raven smiled and picked me up. It was a child holding a child, but Raven was strong, so it wasn't too difficult for him to put me on the bed.
From behind, I heard Marquis Valtr say, "You can't, mmmph!" He was pitifully gagged…
‘She's beautiful.’
Although her complexion was as dark as gray, her eyes were tightly closed, and her face was pale and gaunt, I could see Raven's features.
I held Raven's hand with my left hand and Raven's mother's hand with my right hand.
As I poured the Healing Clay that I had gathered since entering the room through my hands, a subtle light filled the room.
Raven held my hand tightly until the light disappeared.
