The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 55

‘But… he said he liked me…’

 

Grace thought back to the day she believed she and Frederick had truly connected. Frederick had definitely said he liked her too, looking shy and flustered.

 

Or… was she mistaken? Had it all just been her imagination? Did he only say that because she confessed first?

 

She had confessed her feelings honestly, with no lies or hesitation—she liked Frederick as a man. Her heart had fluttered for him. She had blushed because of him.

 

But maybe what he meant was that he liked her as a person, just in a friendly way. After all, she did tend to act indifferent around him most of the time… Lost in thought, Grace let out a sigh.

 

“How was tea time?”

 

That evening, Frederick asked Grace as they sat in their room.

 

“It was fine. A lot of people gathered, and we had a nice time.”

 

“Nothing bad happened?”

 

“No… Why do you ask?”

 

“You just seem a little down.”

 

Frederick was puzzled. Grace usually had a bright energy about her, but tonight, something felt different. It was as if a shadow had fallen over her face.

 

“Did someone say something that upset you?”

 

“No, nothing like that. We just talked about everyday things.”

 

It still felt strange. Normally, she would have told him all the details—what they talked about, how it went. But now, she said nothing.

 

“Whatever it was, just ignore it.”

 

Frederick decided not to press any further. It could’ve been one of those conversations between women that was hard to explain to a man.

 

“Frederick.”

 

After a short pause, Grace spoke.

 

“Did… the late Duke ever say anything about me?”

 

“My father?”

 

Her question came from wondering if the late Duke of Winstaine had mentioned anything to Frederick, especially if the issue of heirs was serious.

 

“He didn’t say anything specific. Just told me to get along well. Why do you ask?”

 

But Frederick didn’t mention anything remotely related.

 

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

‘There’s definitely something going on.’

 

Seeing the flicker in Grace’s eyes, Frederick sensed something was wrong. But he had no idea what it could be. For now, he decided to leave her be.

 

 

Grace cautiously stepped into the forest.

 

The forest of the Marquisate of Sertil felt very different from the one in Winstaine.

 

Maybe it was because of the towering trees that seemed to pierce the sky. The sunlight barely reached the ground, giving the forest a dim, shadowy feel.

 

This way.

 

Though it was her first time on this path, an indescribable, mysterious force seemed to guide her. Like a butterfly drawn to honey, Grace kept walking, step by step.

 

I have to go. Quickly.

 

She didn’t know her destination, but she didn’t stop. She had to find out what this force was—what this unknown presence was calling her.

 

My heart’s racing. I’m so excited.

 

Her heart swelled with emotion. It felt like she was about to meet something long-lost and precious.

 

After walking for quite some time, eyes only on the path ahead, she suddenly stopped, sensing something.

 

She turned her head—and her lips parted in awe.

 

“A bird…?”

 

A pure white bird was flapping its wings in front of her. It was large—almost the size of a grown man—and had red eyes.

 

This is what I was looking for.

 

Grace slowly approached the bird. This was what had drawn her here.

 

“So beautiful…”

 

She whispered in admiration. So this was the source of the power that had been calling to her.

 

She reached out her hand toward the bird. The bird, silently watching her, extended the tip of its wing toward her.

 

“There, that’s it. Good… Huh?”

 

The moment the bird touched her, a white light burst out from where they made contact.

 

The force that had been guiding her became even stronger—more intense than before. What was this? Grace didn’t know, only that it was pulling her in.

 

“…?”

 

Suddenly, a feeling of dread came over her.

 

She turned her head and spotted two unfamiliar figures. Both wore black hoods pulled down low and were approaching the bird.

 

No.

 

She instinctively felt they were dangerous. They were going to harm the bird. Grace quickly stepped in front of it.

 

“Stop!”

 

She shouted loudly. But the hooded figures didn’t react at all. It was like they didn’t even see her. One of them drew a spear. Its silver blade gleamed in the sunlight.

 

“No, don’t!”

 

Don’t kill it. You can’t. Something terrible will happen. The world will fall into chaos. This is wrong.

 

The tip of the spear aimed at the bird, and Grace screamed.

 

But the hooded figure didn’t stop. They raised the spear and came closer.

 

As if they would strike at any moment. As if blood would burst out at any second.

 

“…No. You can’t.”

 

Grace jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

 

A dream…?

 

The room was still dark. She looked out the window. The sky was dim—it must be just before dawn.

 

Another strange dream. It was similar to the others she’d been having lately—so vivid, like it was real.

 

“What… can’t happen?”

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

A sleepy voice mumbled beside her. Grace quickly apologized.

 

“Did you have a bad dream?”

 

“Yes. Sorry I woke you.”

 

“What was it about?”

 

“It was just… a dream where something was chasing me.”

 

Frederick asked, but Grace gave a vague answer.

 

“Is something bothering you lately?”

 

Frederick wondered if something was wrong. Maybe it was since yesterday, after the tea time with the other women…

 

“No, really. There’s nothing. Please don’t worry.”

 

But since she kept insisting it was nothing, he couldn’t press her anymore.

 

“Alright. Try to get some more sleep.”

 

“Okay…”

 

Though she was already wide awake, Grace lay back down.

 

What was that power?

 

Even before the dream, she had felt something strange drawing her to the forest. In the dream, she had simply followed that pull. But she had no way of knowing what it was. Grace let out a quiet sigh.

 

 

The next day, the Marchioness of Sertil suggested they go boating on the lake. Grace gladly accepted.

 

“The nature here… it’s so beautiful.”

 

From the lake, the view of the garden was breathtaking. Grace admired the dense, green forest.

 

“Isn’t it? I’ve lived in this land for decades, and I’ve traveled all over to places said to have beautiful nature—but none of them compare to this.”

 

As they enjoyed the view, Grace spotted the entrance to the forest. Unlike the night of the banquet, it was clearly visible in the daytime.

 

Yes. It’s strange.

 

Just like that night, just like in her dream, she kept feeling the urge to go inside. Was there really some mysterious force in that forest?

 

“Do you go into the forest often?”

 

Grace asked, pointing to it.

 

“When my heart feels heavy, I often go there.”

 

The Marchioness replied.

 

“And just looking at it calms me. It feels like the forest is protecting our land. Maybe it’s because of the legend.”

 

“Legend?”

 

“There’s a story that a guardian deity lives in the forest—one that protects the continent.”

 

A guardian deity? Grace leaned in, curious.

 

“It was during a war hundreds of years ago with a place called the Ajan Empire from another continent. Their army invaded, but then the guardian appeared and drove them out. They say it looked like a giant bird.”

 

“A bird…?”

 

“Am I sounding too much like a fairy tale for someone my age?”

 

The Marchioness chuckled. But Grace couldn’t laugh along. In her dream, the creature was a bird too. She couldn’t believe it was just coincidence.

 

“Of course, no one’s actually seen it since, so it might just be a made-up story.”

 

“I see…”

 

“But I like the story. It makes me feel like our land is special and mysterious.”

 

Could the bird from her dream be that guardian deity of the continent?

 

But she didn’t know enough. She couldn’t be sure of anything.

 

“How has your time here been? Are you doing well?”

 

“Yes. The late Duke was so kind to me, and you’ve been incredibly welcoming…”

 

“Of course we have. And honestly, we should be the ones thanking you.”