Chapter 19: The Prince’s Curiosity (1)
"After the Archmage of Blue Flame, the Guardian of Kaelin, bravely repelled the monsters all the way back to the Tenebrous Mountain, he chose not to return to his old homeland. Instead, he settled in the wild lands near that very mountain, building a home, a castle, and later... a kingdom. And that is how the Valemere Kingdom came to be... born from magic, courage, and the will of one great man."
Closing the picture book in her hands, Silas looked down at the little prince, Adrian, who was sitting quietly in her lap. He was staring off into the distance with that same spaced-out look again... except this time, he seemed to be deep in thought—still seriously concentrating on the story he had just heard about the founder of his kingdom.
'Cuuute.'
Silas almost wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. He looked so serious, yet, his little side profile, those round, soft cheeks that puffed out adorably, it gave anything but a serious vibe. If anything, it just made the whole situation feel strangely funny.
And she had an irresistible urge to pinch those squishy cheeks.
But... knowing her place, and aware that even having such thoughts was already stepping out of line, she tried to restrain herself.
In the end though, after placing the picture book gently to the side, she couldn't help it. Her hand reached out almost on its own, and she began softly brushing his hair.
His beautiful, silky ash-brown hair slid effortlessly through her fingers. 'Why couldn't it have been light blue, just like the sky?' she still couldn't help but lament inwardly though.
It wasn't because the color of his hair wasn't beautiful, nor because it was disliked. But being born into the royal family and not possessing its signature trait, the sky-like blue hair, was bound to make things difficult for him in the future.
... And the worst part was that she knew she probably wouldn't be able to shield him from those difficulties.
Suddenly, feeling his head move slightly beneath her hand, and then seeing those gray, mesmerizing eyes, just like jewels, gazing straight into hers, Silas finally snapped out of her reverie.