I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 54

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"Hey! Stop crying!"

A young boy with red hair and beautiful bright golden hair asked with a frown. He reached out his hand and passed a handkerchief to me.

I was crouched down at a corner of a Pergola in the Royal Garden and was crying silently. It was probably days after Grandfather's death. 

I was devastated. By losing the only family I can remember… My Grandfather. I saw some people looking at me with cold eyes when Grandfather was alive. At first, I was scared. But Grandfather's gentle smile and his gentle pat on my head made me forget everything about those people and their cold gaze. And at that time, there were more people who smiled at me than those who didn't.

But after Grandfather's dead those people also started looking at me with a cold gaze. There were some maids who looked at me with pitiful eyes, but I didn't see them again in the palace. My room was changed to the top floor of the palace or the attic. The maids didn't bring any food to me. Or they brought bread which was too hard to eat for the child me.

I was devastated by Grandfather's death, devastated by people's sudden change in behaviour. I was lonely. I was also hungry. I was afraid. So I ran away from my room and hid in a corner of a Pergola in the Royal Garden. It was wrapped around with dried up vines. 

But then he appeared… Daniel.

"Wipe your tears with this."

A strange boy… That was my first impression of Daniel. 

I sniffled and took the handkerchief. Then wiped away my tears. I was afraid that he would also scold me like the maids.

"Here! Take this too!"

The strange boy handed me cakes which were wrapped around by a handkerchief.

I was surprised to see it. I looked up at him.

"This…"

"What are you looking at? Just hurry up and eat them. Are you not hungry?"

The boy yelled.

"That- Thank you."

Saying that I started eating the cakes. I hadn't eaten anything for a day and a half. So I started gobbling up the cakes.

"Hey! Slow down! No one's going to snatch them from you."

Cough* Cough*

I started coughing as I was just gobbling the cakes without breathing.

"Tch! Didn't I tell you to slow down?"

The boy said while giving me a bottle of water.

"Drink it."

"Yes."

I didn't say anything and listened to him.

I started drinking the water.

Daniel: "H-Hey! Why are you crying?"

Isabella: "Huh?"

I cried without realising. It was the first time after Grandfather's death, that someone behaved so kindly towards me…. That someone gave me something decent to eat. I was grateful… sad… angry… disappointed… 

Why are they behaving that way towards me? I didn't do anything! Why did Grandfather leave me? Was it because I was crying? Was it because I was a bad girl? 

All kinds of emotions were storming inside my little mind.

Soon I started crying loudly.

Wahh~ Hic* 

"Hey! Shush! D-Don't cry!"

The boy flustered and said, panicking. But soon he started patting my head.

"It's okay! You are a good girl!"

He said while wiping my tears with his handkerchief.

Sniff*

"Yes. Good girl, Isabella."

He soothes me with a gentle voice.

"W-Who are you?"

I asked with curiosity. Who was that strange boy who helped me? Why is he helping me to begin with? Why did he give me delicious cakes?

But hearing my question, he looked at me with sad eyes. As if he was hurt by the question.

"It seems you don't remember…"

He mumbled to himself.

"Hmm? Did I ask something wrong?"

And I don't remember? What is he talking about? Did I ever meet him?

"Nothing. You don't need to know. Now go back to your room."

"But I am afraid to go there."

"Hurry up and go. Or else I will tell everyone that you are hiding here."

His tone changed. He said with a harsh voice. 

I trembled at the sudden change. Was I mistaken? Is he not a kind person? I hurriedly ran away from him and returned to my room. Of course, no one said anything to me. At first, I thought they didn't care about what I do. But later, I found out they didn't even know that I ran away.

After that day, I saw him many times. But each time he only caused trouble for me. 

One day he pushed me to a lake that was in front of the garden. I was drowning as I didn't know how to swim. But after several minutes he jumped down to the lake and took me to the ground. 

Another day he brought a small monster in a cage then released it in front of me. I was afraid of it. Was trying my best to run away. But while running away I stumbled on a rock and fell to the ground. The monster soon bit my leg. It hurt a lot. My leg was bleeding. But then he burned the monster with his magic with cold eyes right in front of me. 

To be honest, I was more terrified at the sight of a burning monster screaming for its dear life, than my wound. After that, he placed his hand on my wound and pressed it.

Ouch*

I cried in pain

Daniel: "Does it hurt?"

He asked with a cold voice dazing over my wound.

Daniel: "Are you having a hard time?"

Daniel: "Me too."

He said with a sad voice then healed my wound with his warm fire magic.

I resented him for the things he had done to me. But for some strange reason, I couldn't hate him entirely. I never truly understood him to this day. To me, he is a strange person who loved playing with me.

But then again because of him, I learned many things. It's probably because of him, I wasn't mentally broken after being beaten by the Emperor.

After that day, he kept doing whatever he wanted and caused trouble for me. But then again it was him, who saved me in the end from that trouble. 

Soon after, I found out that he was the Second Prince who was a month younger than me. That means my little brother. But seeing his physique, it never occurred to me that he would be younger than me.

>

Time passed by… Both of us grew up. 

He also started to avoid me as time passed by. And one day I heard that he joined the Royal Academy of Loire and left the palace to study there. Although he visited the palace occasionally from the academy, I never actually saw him. Still, I was relieved that I didn't have to meet him. 

The last time I saw him was at the Birthday Banquet of Rubena. Although that was months before my wedding to Leonus.

And now he is running towards me with dishevelled hair… My Younger Brother… Daniel.

I can't believe my eyes. I am afraid. I am shocked. I had never imagined that he would come here.

" Huff* Huff* Isabella!"

Daniel said while taking rough breaths. He is now standing in front of me. His eyes are wide open. He seems flustered. Is it because he ran all the way here?

But why is he here? I don't want to see him.

"I-Isabella!"

He called my name with a dazed expression.

"Hey! Who are you? How dare you speak of My Lady's name with your mouth?"

Ella frowned and started scolding Daniel.

He flinched hearing Ella. It seems like he returned to his senses.

"Apologies! Greetings, Her Highness, the Crown Princess, Isabella Von Hagen Loire."

Flustered, Daniel replied.

"Hey! Are you serious? She is Crown Princess Isabella Albus Carados Fellmirr, not Isabella Von Hagen Loire!"

Ella informed with an angry voice.

"Ah. I forgot."

Daniel said absent-mindedly.

"My Lady! Should I send this person away?"

Ella said with an annoyed expression.

Isabella: "Yes. Please s-"

"Isabella! Look. I know you are angry but I have something important to say."

Daniel pleaded.

"This guy- Hah!"

Ella scoffed as if she could believe he was still calling me by my name.

Daniel: "Please~"

Ella: "You- How dare-"

Isabella: "Alright."

"What? But My Lady! You don't even know who he is."

Ella grumbled.

Isabella: "No. I know him. He is the Second Prince of the Loire Empire. Daniel Luth Loire."

"Oh… Then he is your Brother, My Lady?"

Ella asked with a cold sweat.

Both Isabella and Daniel hardened hearing her.

'Brother… Not anyone from the Loire acted like a family to me.'

Isabella scoffed inwardly.

"Yes. He is."

But soon she composed herself and replied. Then both Isabella and Daniel sit at a table.

"So what do you want to say?"

"Huh? That-"

Daniel hesitated, looking at Ella.

"I will stand in the corner."

Taking the hint, Ella walked away from my side and stood at a corner of the tent.

"So what is it that you want to say?"

"How are you, Isabella?"

Daniel asked hesitatingly.

"I am fine. Why? Did you expect me to not stay fine?"

"What? That's not it!"

"Why are you here? Are you going to cause trouble again?"

"No, Isabella! That's not it! Sigh~ I am just here to warn you about something."

Huh? What is he saying?

"Don't trust Father, Mother or Rubena. No matter how well they behave. No matter what they say."

"What?"

What is he talking about?!

"I can't say anything to you now. But I promise to let you know soon. You don't need to trust me. But please! Don't trust anything they say! I am begging you."

Daniel said with a desperate voice. 

What is going on? I don't understand! I won't understand if he doesn't say anything to me. 

"Daniel…"

Daniel flinched hearing my voice. He soon got up from his chair in a hurry and slightly bowed.

"Then, I will be going. As you might know, I will join the hunt."

Saying that he hurriedly got away from the tent and went towards the direction of his tent.

Why did he say that? Is something bad going to happen? I feel so restless… 

I hope Leonus will be fine.

Madeleine: "Princess!"

Kayleigh: "Crown Princess! Why are you still sitting here?"

Azleza: "Yes. You said you will join us soon!"

Suddenly the ladies came out of nowhere like a storm. 

Isabella: "Ah-Yes."

"Come! Come~"

Sarah said while pulling my hand gently.

Isabella: "Oh. Yes. Let's go."

"But My Lady was just going to eat some light snacks."

Ella said, protesting.

Druella: "Don't worry. We have plenty of snacks there."

Azleza: "You can come along too. You can talk with Biscuit and the others meanwhile."

"Ah. Yes. I would have followed her even if the Lady didn't say anything."

Ella answered with a calm tone.

"Yes. Let's go then, Princess."

After that, Sarah took my arm and we walked towards their tent.