Wouldn't That Be Too Much of a Coincidence?
Princess Louise slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Alice's tear-streaked face.
This girl, who had been with her since childhood, sharing her secrets and alleviating her loneliness, was one of the few warm supports she had in this cold palace.
Seeing Alice so heartbroken, the taut string in her heart, which she had been trying to keep calm, seemed to be plucked hard, and a wave of sorrow washed over her.
She reached out her hand, her fingers icy cold, and gently patted Alice's trembling hand. She forced a pale, weak smile, a smile brimming with bitterness, "Don't cry, Alice... silly girl... yes, it's time... to take one last look, to see the place where we grew up."
She stood up and said to Alice, "Help me change into some very ordinary casual clothes, so I don't attract attention."
A moment later, a young woman wearing a dark gray woolen cloak with most of her face covered by the hood, accompanied by two equally simply dressed maids, quietly walked out of the side gate of the palace and disappeared into the bustling streets of Prye City.
Prye City remains bustling, with heavy traffic and a lively atmosphere.
But all of this was shrouded in the gray of parting in Louise's eyes.
She wandered aimlessly, her gaze sweeping over familiar streets, shops, and squares, until finally, her steps involuntarily stopped in front of a magnificent and quiet building.
The Royal Library.
This is the temple of knowledge in Prye City, and also the place where she most secretly finds solace in the depths of her heart.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The library is tall and spacious, with rows of huge bookshelves under the dome, like a silent forest, and the air is filled with the unique fragrance of old paper and ink.
It's so quiet here you can hear your own heartbeat.
Louise gestured for her maid to wait at the door, while she walked alone along the familiar path towards a relatively quiet reading area deep inside the library.
Her heart began to race involuntarily.
She knew that he was very likely here at this time.
Sure enough, when she turned around a bookshelf and her gaze fell on the sunlit seat by the window, she stopped in her tracks and her breath hitched slightly.
There sat a young man, dressed in a clean but slightly worn Scholar's Robe, intently flipping through a thick ancient book.
The sunlight outlined his handsome and focused profile, with a high nose bridge and slightly furrowed brows, as if he were immersed in an ocean of knowledge.
He was Henry Rochfort, the eldest son of the Earl Rochefort and Charlotte's brother.
According to the kingdom's custom, governors or Count guarding important borders must leave their eldest sons in the Royal Capital Prye City.
Ostensibly, they were there to receive a better education and courtly training, but in reality, they were sent as hostages to guard against border officials colluding with enemy states or harboring rebellious intentions.
Henry was like that; he had lived in Prye City for many years and, with his gentle nature and intelligent mind, was well-known among scholars, yet he remained far from the center of his family's power.
Louise and Henry's acquaintance stemmed from a chance encounter.
Several years ago, to escape the suffocating formalities of court life and her stepmother's subtle attempts to ostracize her, Louise would often sneak off to the library for a moment of peace.
Once, she almost fell while standing on tiptoe to reach a book placed on a high shelf, but Henry, who happened to be passing by, caught her in time.
From then on, the two often "bumped into" each other in the library. Their initial nodding acquaintances gradually developed into discussions about history and literature, and sharing their innermost thoughts.
Henry admired Louise's quietness and intelligence, while Louise was attracted to Henry's erudition, gentleness, and purity that was far removed from the vortex of power.
Outside this palace filled with intrigue and scheming, the library became their only sanctuary where they could briefly respite and connect on a deeper level.
A hazy yet sincere emotion quietly blossomed amidst the fragrance of books and ink.
Henry seemed to notice the gaze and looked up.
When he saw that familiar, pale face standing not far away, peeking out from under the hood, his eyes were instantly filled with surprise and joy, but were soon overwhelmed by immense sorrow and helplessness.
He quickly stood up, subconsciously straightened his robes, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
The news that the Princess was about to be married off to a distant land had already spread throughout the Royal Capital.
"Henry ..." Louise stepped forward, her voice as soft as a sigh. She took off her hood, revealing her beautiful face, which was filled with sorrow.
"Your Highness..." Henry bowed slightly, his voice low, "You... you've come? Tomorrow is..."
He simply couldn't bring himself to say what came next.
"Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow," Louise walked up to him, looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, "I wanted to... come and see this place again, to see... you."
These few simple words contain a thousand unspoken words and endless heartache.
The library was silent, with only sunlight dancing in the dust.
The two remained silent, the air thick with an overwhelming sense of sorrow at parting.
Finally, Louise mustered her courage, took out a small amulet carefully wrapped in silk thread from her bosom, and handed it to Henry.
It was an antique-style silver badge, engraved with the Broomflower Royal Family.
"This... is for you," Louise's voice trembled slightly, "It was left to me by my mother. She said it would protect the wearer."
Henry stared at the amulet, still warm from his body, and was deeply shaken.
He solemnly accepted it with both hands, holding it tightly in his palms as if he were holding a priceless treasure.
Then, he took off a thin silver chain from around his neck. The pendant was a smooth amber with natural patterns, and in the center of the amber was a small, emerald green leaf.
"Your Highness...this is for you," Henry said in a hoarse voice, placing the amber necklace in Louise's hands. "This is...this is the most common amber from the forests of my homeland Hewenham Territory. It's not worth much, but the leaves inside represent life and longing. May it accompany you, so you won't be too lonely in the Northern Territory."
Louise clutched the amber, still warm from Henry's body, and tears finally streamed down her face.
She raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked at Henry, making a heavy but firm promise, word by word:
"Henry, remember... no matter where I am, no matter who I marry... my heart will always belong only to the sunlight in the library, and to the one who... held me up. I will remain loyal to you. I will definitely find a way back, I will!"
Henry looked into the unwavering resolve and deep affection in the Princess's eyes, feeling both moved and powerless.
He nodded heavily, his voice choked with emotion yet resolute. "I understand... Your Highness, I will also be here... waiting for you. My heart has already left here, and there is no room for anyone else."
The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, as if trying to etch each other's faces into the depths of their souls; time seemed to stand still at that moment.
After some time, the Princess heard a soft cough from a maid in the distance, reminding her that it was getting late.
Louise knew she had to go.
She gave Henry one last, deep look, as if trying to imprint everything about him in her heart.
Then, she turned around abruptly, pulled her hood up again to hide her tear-streaked face, and strode quickly out of the library, never looking back.
Henry stood there, clutching the amulet still warm from the Princess's body, watching her resolute and sorrowful figure disappear at the far end of the bookshelf, unable to move for a long time.
The sunlight was still warm, and the library was still quiet, but he knew that the most precious ray of light in his life had already left him.
Such is the absurdity and irrationality of fate's cruel tricks.
Far away in the Northern Territory, Karl longed for his sister Charlotte, while Princess Louise, who was about to marry into the North, had her heart set on her Henry.