The Imperial Prince's Surrogate Wife

Chapter 9: My Answer is No

The seemingly royal banquet to be held in the castle was put off. The Duke and the Duchess of Croshine extended their hands in the situation of the Royal Princess' condition. Everyone's attention in Emerald Palace has been diverted to Princess Arabella's sickness making the May Day celebration to a halt. It wasn't long enough for her to make it through to apprehend her existing state.

Czarina, who has been pretty edgy and tense ever since this afternoon couldn't hide her worries and frustrations towards Princess Arabella. Felice had no choice but to keep her occupied in order to keep her shape at relief.

"Lady Czarina, it's time for your hot bath." Czarina's lady-in-waiting has prepared a bath with herbs for her. It is essential for the surrogate's health and composure.

Czarina took a glimpse at the door and hurled a deep sigh. "I still couldn't appease myself from pondering about the Princess' condition, Felice. She's too kind to get that sort of illness."

They cannot blame Czarina for worrying about the Princess. Princess Arabella has been one of the people who gave her hope that humanity is still there, existing. She considers the Princess to be one of the most compassionate people she has ever met.

"I am certain that she will recuperate and will get better soon, Lady Czarina," Felice assured her.

Thereupon their small talk, Czarina then took a hot bath and lay on her soft-velvety mattress. Even though she feels that she shouldn't be dozing pleasingly, she has to preserve her composure and get a nice bedtime.

The next morning, since the celebration was delayed, the day went as usual for the people of Emerald Kingdom. Princess Arabella remained at the infirmary for her recovery making the Grand Prince, Prince Grey, disregard his obligations in the castle. After the King heard about the Prince's misbehavior, he began to presume about the conceivable things after handing over the throne to the Grand Prince.

On the other hand, Czarina roused up feeling dizzy. She had a nightmare that is distinct from the dreams she had before. It was way threatening. She dreamt of ending her life after giving birth to the successive heir to the throne.

"That was awful..." she gently whispered, racking her arms up. She ceased when she heard a c***k on the wooden door.

Felice entered with fair-yellow garments in her hands. "Good morning, Lady Czarina. It's time for your dress-up."

"Do we have something to accomplish today, Felice?" Czarina directly asked. If there's none, she wishes to visit the Princess after breakfast.

Her lady-in-waiting quivered her head and put down the garments on the opaque table. Generally, all tables in the palace are made opaque in order to distract any light rays through it.

After Czarina took a bath, they immediately proceeded to the royal dining room for breakfast. There, she was welcomed by the King and the Queen Consort themselves which made Czarina bend her knees on the floor. It was not mannerly to cause the King and Queen to wait for a commoner like her.

"I am deeply sorry, Your Majesties. It wasn't my intention to—"

"Stand up, Dear." The Queen Consort mandated, seizing a peek at her lady-in-waiting. "Help her."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When everything was calmed, everyone began eating the breakfast prepared by the royal chef. It was not too long after Czarina realized that the Grand Prince and the Princess isn't at the table with them. It was already anticipated after what happened, so she just resumed chewing off the cheese and cinnamon while thinking of seeing Princess Arabella.

The Grand Duke and Duchess, on the other hand, were not present for breakfast because of some errands they have to carry out in the meantime, but Czarina did not dare in delving into auxiliary queries for their privacy. And merely, she did not have the authority to do that.

Fifteen minutes have passed. The King and the Queen Consort began their obligations in the palace making Czarina unrestrained in doing what she wishes for—but still, under the compliance of Felice.

"Just let me see the Princess for a moment, Felice. I promise I won't cause any trouble," Czarina beseeched after they arrived at the infirmary's foyer, just behind the palace grounds.

Felice comprehends that she could not cease Czarina from doing what she wants after being with her for nearly few weeks. She nodded as a way of conforming to her request. "You really should not do anything erroneous, Lady Czarina. You know Prince Grey's temper primarily when it comes to her wife."

"Thank you so much!" Czarina couldn't suppress her happiness and embraced Felice before cheerfully entering the opening to the infirmary.

The building was built for the people of Emerald to receive care and treatment for their sickness. When Czarina opened the dual-wooden door, a vast room with ample numbers of mattresses astonished her. It was packed with gold furnishings that are a hundred ways better than Soulhearth. As what the public could anticipate from the royal infirmary.

Czarina's lips widen after seeing the Princess laying on an enormous golden mattress while peacefully resting. The Grand Prince was also present, accompanying his wife while sitting on the side. That juncture Czarina witnessed was a perfect illustration of consummate love—an ideal type of love.

"Your Highness." She bowed her head. "I came here to visit the Princess," she added.

"Your presence isn't required in here. Leave." The frigid and oppressive voice of the Prince echoed in the whole room.

Czarina bit her lower lips out of frustration. "I hope the Princess gets better, Prince Grey. I wish her recovery."

"I won't reiterate myself, Pauper." His voice became more apparent and colder.

To Czarina's surprise, after being called a 'pauper', which is referring to a poor, indigent person. She immediately left the infirmary after bowing to both of them. The idea of her thinking about the Prince's attitude is somehow out of her league. She couldn't figure out any reason to comprehend it.

As she was about to stride out of the facility, a tall man in armor approached her. It took her a few seconds to familiarize the person. It was Edward, the Commander-in-Chief of the palace's military brigade.

"Czarina, what are you doing here?" Edward asked, taking a glance at the infirmary on her back and finding out something. "Ah, you came here to visit the Princess, didn't you?"

It wasn't long before Czarina reacted. "Yes. But I didn't have the opportunity to see the Princess's condition. The Prince was protective of her."

There was a soft chuckle from the Commander’s voice. He discreetly considers that Czarina is adorable and amusing in a certain way he could not elucidate. “As what you could expect from the Grand Prince.”

“Yeah...”

Edward noticed something was up about Czarina’s mood. He immediately let his guard down and asked Czarina, “do you want to come with me to Leonidas?”

A whiff of a smile flashed on Czarina’s face. She nodded but after a few seconds, her mood abruptly negated. “But I still need to ask for Felice’s approval.” She seized a glimpse of her surroundings but she couldn’t find her lady-in-waiting. “I can’t seem to find Felice at the moment,” she mumbled bleakly.

“Then let’s do it quickly. We will be back in a few minutes.” Edward was making an effort to boost her dismay. “It's summertime and certainly a good period for dried fruits.”

As someone who was raised inside the four corners of the orphanage, Czarina wasn’t able to eat what she wants during that period and she thought that she could have that nominal leeway for a while. Without reluctance, she accepted Edward’s request and fled with him.

They rode a carriage in order to get on time outside the Emerald City. It’s been a while since Czarina has caught a glimpse of the captivating stone walls that protect the Palace from attacks. The protracted green flags with a white raven in the center which is an insignia of the palace can be shown everywhere.

“This feels surreal...” Those words came out of Czarina’s mouth out of nowhere. She couldn’t hide her enjoyment of visiting the Leonidas without the being afraid.

“I’m glad you like it,” Edward uttered, steadily gazing at Czarina.

The carriage quelled in the facade of a hefty kiosk of fresh fruits and vegetables. The whiff of scent from the freshly picked fruits alleviated them. Czarina was the first one to depart the carriage heeded by Edward. People around the area were gaping at them for the sense that the people inside the palace seldom visits the place.

Edward strode towards Czarina’s direction and handed her some dried fruits. “Have you eaten this?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t and I’d like to try some dried pomegranate ever since.”

“Then this is your chance.”

Czarina accepted the fruit and started chewing it slowly. There was a faint cranberry taste on the fruit and while it was being dried, a sense of tartness and sweetness underneath consumed Czarina’s taste buds.

“This is the best dried fruit I’ve ever tasted,” she exclaimed, peeking at Edward who was also gobbling a dried pomegranate. “Great thanks for making me experience this, Edward.”

“My pleasure, Lady Czarina,” he chuckled.

“I told you to stop calling me ‘Lady’,” Czarina retorted.

Edward sneered. “I was just picking on you.”

Both of them relished their time together as they were not mindful that there are people secretly admiring them as a fine couple together without figuring out that Czarina is the surrogate for the future King of the Emerald Kingdom.

***

Inside the infirmary, Princess Arabella gradually opened her eyes, and the foremost person she caught a glimpse of was his husband, Prince Grey. She then discovered that she was inside the royal infirmary and things began blurting out after she slowly remembered everything that has happened.

She held a faint smile at the Prince and gently caressed his soft cheeks. “M...my love.”

“Finally, you’re awake, my love.” Prince Edward recklessly stood up, he was panicking. “Call the Physician this instant!” He shrieked at the four nurses behind him.

A few seconds passed and the Physician started examining the Princess’s condition. He hung back for a beat after discovering that Princess Arabella’s state is reaching worse but knowing about the consequences, he couldn’t fathom concealing the truth.

“T...the Princess’s condition is getting w...worse, Your Highness,” he faintly emitted.

“What did you just say?!”

As anticipated, the Grand Prince was beyond infuriated after hearing the Physician. Yet, he was taken back by the Princess, who instructed everyone to leave them unattended for a while.

“My love, I hope you should admit it already. I won’t live for too long...”

Princess Arabella’s words were cut after the Grand Prince put a finger on her lips ceasing her from speaking. “I don’t like hearing those words.” His voice was already coarse, he was hurt and agitated. He slowly removed his finger to let her rest.

“I have a question for you then,” Princess Arabella muttered.

“What is it?”

“Are you willing to take Czarina as my substitute in giving you the best life you dreamed of and serve this Kingdom together with her?” The Princess asked, smiling.

“No.”