♔亞緣腐宅窩♔

Story Event－Forget Me Not

（True Love Route：Chapter 1）

＞＞＞True Love Route

Forget Me Not: True Love, Chapter 1：

I left the study and hurried down the corridor, thinking about my schedule for the day.

（Next up I have to decide what outfit to wear for the opera house opening ceremony.）
（I'd better hurry!）

＊＊＊

My fitting session soon started, and the dressmakers continued to praise me as they brought me dress after dress.
Woman：Ahh, I suppose I should expect nothing less of the princess! Everything suits you so well!
Jily：Thank you very much.
I gazed at myself in the mirror, sighing softly as I studied my appearance.

（You all just keep saying that no matter which outfit I try on.）
（It makes it really hard for me to pick just one!）

As I stood there thinking it over, there was a knock at the door and Leo stepped into the room.
Jily：Leo!
Leo studied me knowingly for a moment, and then smiled brightly at the dressmakers.
Leo：Could I have a moment alone with the princess?
The women shared glances, their expressions clearly surprised, but after a moment they nodded.

＊＊＊

Leo waited until the women had left and then shut the door behind them.
Leo：I heard them lavishing you with praise as I was passing by.
Leo：I figured you'd never be able to decide if they kept that up.
Jily：Wait a minute—

（You did that just to help me out?）

I felt a sudden sense of relief and gratitude at Leo's words.

Choose 1>>> Thank you, Leo.
Jily：Thank you, Leo.
My words were warm and sure, and Leo smiled cheerfully at me.
Leo：You're most welcome.

Choose 2>>> I'm glad you came along!
Jily：Ahh, I'm so glad you came along!
Leo smiled gently at my words, and spoke softly.
Leo：I couldn't just ignore you when you're in need.

Choose 3>>> However can I thank you!
Jily：Gosh, however can I thank you!
The words tumbled out of me in a rush, and Leo gave me a chagrined smile.
Leo：Don't make too big a deal out of it, Jily.

Leo stepped towards me and gently swept my hair over one side of my shoulder.
Leo：I can't exactly help you get changed, but I can at least help with this.
He smirked brightly as he reached for the accessories on my boudoir table.

＊＊＊

Leo had me sit down at the boudoir, and then he stood behind me.
He began to pick up various necklaces, earrings and hairclips, holding them up against me to compare.

（Sometimes it feels like you're always helping me out when things go wrong, Leo.）

I looked up at Leo's reflection in the mirror as I sat there quietly in thought.
After a moment he seemed to notice my gaze, and he grinned suddenly.
Leo：If you stare at me too much you'll get me all excited.
Jily：Geez, Leo!
I wrinkled my nose up at him in the mirror, and he laughed softly.
Leo：You're so easy to read.
He leaned closer and held up a pair of earrings to my ears as he met my gaze in the mirror.
Leo：Yep, I think these ones really suit you.
I took the earrings from Leo and tried them on, smiling as I looked at my reflection.

（They really are gorgeous.）

I looked up at Leo again, saying the first thing that came to mind.
Jily：You really can do anything, can't you, Leo?
Leo：I can?
Jily：Well, your lessons are always so easy to understand, and you're so good at this, too.
I smiled up at him as I spoke, and after a moment he smiled back.
Leo：I wonder.

＊＊＊

Later after my outfit was decided, I was summoned by Giles to meet him in the study.
Giles：As you know, we have invited several guests to attend the opera house opening ceremony.
Giles：King Byron of Stein has asked for a moment to greet you personally.
I blinked in surprise at Giles's unexpected words.
Jily：King Byron? Really?

＊＊＊

I visited the guest suite in order to greet King Byron as requested.
I found him standing at the window staring out at the sky.
Jily：King Byron?
Byron turned at the sound of my voice, and nodded slowly as our eyes met.
Byron：An errand brought me nearby, so I thought I'd visit.
He went on to tell me that he'd been informed I was very busy with preparations for the party.
Byron：Sorry for dropping in at a time like this.
I shook my head quickly at his words and hastened to answer.

Choose 1>>> I'm glad to see you.
Jily：Not at all. I'm glad to see you.
I smiled at him, and Byron's expression relaxed into a smile in return.
Byron：I'm glad to see you too.

Choose 2>>> I'm honored by your visit.
Jily：I'm honored by your visit.
I smiled brightly at him, and Byron gave me a smile in return.
Byron：I see. That's good to hear.

Choose 3>>> Not at all. I'm grateful.
Jily：Not at all. I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak with you.
Byron's lips curved into a small smile at my words.
Byron：I see. That makes my visit worthwhile.

I crossed the room to where Byron was standing.
He watched me approach, his expression curious as he spoke again.
Byron：I heard that the opera house is being restored.
Byron：That must be a lot of trouble.
His words reminded me of all that had happened recently.

（Well, it's true that we've had some resistance from a few people.）
（And it was pretty tough raising the funds to make it happen. But—）

Jily：It has been a lot of trouble, but—
Jily：When it comes to things that make the people happy, I always want to do whatever it takes to make them happen.

（After all, I believe that's my job as the princess.）

I spoke the words thoughtfully, looking up at Byron again as I did so.
To my surprise he smiled slowly.
Byron smiled slowly at my words, and spoke in a low voice.
Byron：I feel the same way.
Jily：You do?
Byron：Yes. I think nothing is more important than making the people happy.
Byron turned to look out the window again as he spoke.
A soft breeze filtered in through the open window, ruffling his hair.
Byron：The weather is lovely today.
Jily：Yes, it is.
The room was quiet around us, and the atmosphere felt gentle somehow.

（Looking at the same scenery with you, and thinking the same things—）
（It feels special.）

I looked out the window as well, feeling lighthearted and happy.

＊＊＊

At last I saw Byron off again, and made my way through the corridors to my next appointment.
As I did so I spied a familiar figure up ahead.
Jily：Alyn?
Alyn：Hmm? Oh, it's you.
Alyn walked towards me, and stopped right in front of me.
His expression was unusually serious, and I blinked up at him.
Jily：What's wrong?
I waited for his response, and his gaze moved towards my ears.
Alyn：Yaknow—
Jily：Yes?
Alyn reached out slowly, his fingers brushing lightly against my hair.
Alyn reached out and gently touched my earrings.
Alyn：Huh. They suit you.
Jily：They—
I stared up at him in surprise, my cheeks flushing a little at the unexpected compliment.

（You hardly ever give me praise like that, Alyn.）

Jily：Do they really?
I found myself smiling up at him as I spoke, and his hand fell away again.
Alyn：So what's up with them? They special?
Jily：Oh, I was thinking of wearing them to the ceremony at the opera house.
I realized then that I wasn't used to seeing him in the palace at this hour.
Jily：Where are you headed to, Alyn?
Alyn：A meeting about your escort for the ceremony.
Alyn glanced down at the sword strapped to his waist.

（You know, you're always protecting me, and it means a lot to me.）

I looked up at Alyn, and gave him a bright smile.

Choose 1>>> Thank you for all you do.
Jily：Thank you for all you do, Alyn.
My words were heartfelt, and Alyn frowned uncomfortably in response.
Alyn：Stop saying weird things.
Alyn：Protecting you is my job.

Choose 2>>> I feel safe thanks to you.
Jily：I feel safe knowing that you're always there to protect me.
Alyn's eyes widened at my words, his cheeks flushing red.
Alyn：Where did that come from?
Alyn：That's just what I do.

Choose 3>>> Don't overdo it, okay?
Jily：Don't overdo it, okay?
I met his gaze as I spoke, and he gave me a satisfied smile.
Alyn：I won't.
Alyn：But before you go worrying about other people—

Alyn reached out and flicked my forehead lightly with his finger.
Alyn：Just let me protect you and be done with it.
Jily：Alyn!
I frowned at him as I reached up to press a hand against my forehead.
Alyn gave me a bright, teasing smile and then walked off down the corridor.

＊＊＊

At last it was the day of the opera house opening ceremony.
The carriage was taking me to the venue, and I sighed softly as I gazed out the window.

（I can't believe it's raining so hard, today of all days!）

The sky was an angry dark grey, and rain was pelting down, soaking everything in sight.

（I hope there's no problems with the ceremony because of the rain...）

But even as I sat there thinking that—
Jily：Ahhh!
There was a sudden loud clap of thunder, followed immediately by a flash of lightning.
My shoulders hunched up in surprise, and then I heard a high-pitched squeal from one of the horses.

（What happened?!）

I sat up with a start, but as I did so the carriage swayed and shook violently.
Jily：No!
My body was thrown against the door of the carriage with a loud crack, and my vision went dim.

（Help me!）

As my consciousness faded, my thoughts clung desperately to the image of one man...

◆ Select a Suitor ◆

＞＞＞Choose Alyn：http://a168119.pixnet.net/blog/post/384678475

＞＞＞Choose Leo：http://a168119.pixnet.net/blog/post/384678481

＞＞＞Choose Byron：http://a168119.pixnet.net/blog/post/384433768