" Here is the transportation rails that have been modified. Inside the rails, there are several magic stones planted so that now the carts will be moving on their own. It's been several days but, there were no major problems so we could move.... Ms. Irisha?" asked Edward, who just using his sign language while showing Irsha who is now inspecting the modified mining cave inside Rocky Mountain. Yet, the woman in front of him seems to have something in her mind and not focusing on what he said.

He sighs, as he looks around to the sparkling beautiful cave that is naturally made of glowing natural stones. They are all sparkling even in the darkness, and creating beautiful scenery. Especially when the river inside it reflects the shimmering light of the stones as if they are in the milky way sky. It is beautiful, and he was not at all aware of it before he then met Irisha. Irisha was the one who was so excited about this scenery the first time they were here, her eyes were sparkling even though she was trying to compose herself during the first survey.

She was beautiful.

She still is.

"... and I am so excited about bringing you here today," he muttered. Yet, the woman is still not yet aware of what is going on. He smiles, weakly. " What are you thinking right now actually?" while somehow hoping, she is not thinking about something else whenever she is with him.

[... ah, what is it?] and then she wakes up from her thought. Looking at him with her usual smile, who is now always making his heart thump like crazy. [ ... Excuse me, I am not looking at you. Did you say something?]

and he could not even hide his blushing whenever he looks at her. " ... Pardon me, you have to tighten your helmet-" and he finds himself always seeking an opportunity to make him and the woman in front of him get even a little bit closer- just like tightening the loose helmet of hers.

And, Edward, the youngest wealthy businessman in this empire who always succeeds in seducing women-finds himself awkwardly holding the rope of her helmet. Especially when he has to bend his body to lean toward her and find himself close to her face. He feels his cheeks burning and his heart is annoyingly loud right now.

[ Ah, thank you.] but the woman will just brush him away as smoothly as she could. While takes a step back and looks away like it was nothing. [ So what is it, Mr.Edward?], and pretending there's nothing happened.

'... you do know, did not you?' as her action slowly changing whenever he tried to get closer to her. So, how could he not realize that she is now trying to avoid him?

Yet he smiles, and he did a good job faking his smiles as he is one of the capable businessmen in this capital. He has many experiences in faking expression but never he wanted to do it in front of this woman, " ... I was talking about the progress of this mining site, the rail system is working and I think we could proceed to the next level."

and she nods after looking at him. [ Alright, I guess we can proceed with it.] she said, while again looking to nowhere as the thought of her is trying to drown her again.

" Ms.Irisha." but then he grabs her, found her looking at him confusedly before he lets her go. Then he looks at her with eyes that are hoping for her to look at him right now. "... Are you okay?" because it is hurting him in a way he could not explain whenever he looks at her like this.

Then she tilts her head, smiles a little in confusion. [ What do you mean?] and fakes it as it is not so obvious.

And, his heart aching "... today, you always lost in your thought, so maybe... if there is something burdening you, I could he-"

[ Mr.Edward,] but she stops him while smiling with a wide smile that feels so wrong. It feels so different from her sincere smile. [ Let's just focus on our business.] and she closes herself as always every time he tries to get a little bit closer to her.

and it will frustrate him so much, in a way he never understands. As it is the first time a woman do this to him, and this is also the first time he has this kind of feeling.

' ... It much better if I am not falling for you.' he sometimes thinks about that, but he is not really sure if he really wanted that, because the smile she once gave to him was so lovely and beautiful. The way she treats the others is so sincere whether they are noblemen or beggars, she always treats them kindly and gives them the appropriate respect that's not just everyone, could ever do that.

Then, despite the fact of her condition, in this hierarchy and the patriarchal world- She stands so proudly and bravely in the middle of men's world and shows them the truth of her intelligence. This is the first time he sees a woman equally being listened to by men with their high pride and it's not a mere pity or coercion. They really astonished by her ideas and way of thinking. He could not stop feeling the same way by this tiny woman who once he despised. That's then becoming the only reason for his biggest regret.

Then, her love and affection toward her only little sister... always makes him envious of that young girl. An abnormal and wicked feeling toward an eighth years old child. To think, ' It will be nice if I were you.' that makes him laugh at himself and he feels so absurd to think that way. Whenever she looks at her little's sister eyes, affectionately brushes her hair and tells her how much she loved her- the things he desired the most. Yet, what could he do? As she never lets him get the chance to start with.

[ Then, we will wrap this thing here.] and the only time they have a chance to talk is when there is a business-related thing but, after this meeting, she will eventually go without even saying anything.

" Ms. Irisha!" but, he could not stop... strangely enough.

'... am I actually a masochist?' as he feels hurt whenever she looks at him with a smile that looks bothered by what he did.

[... Let's not talk about a matter that is not related to business, Mr.Edward.] and she even stopped him before he even talks.

".... But, Ms.Irish-"

" Ms. Irisha!" then an imperial maid, running toward her in hurry. Who makes him them pokes her to let her aware. Just after Irisha looks at her way, the maid says frantically, " Ms.Arisha! Ms.Arisha is injured!"

and that moment is the first time when the woman he falls over with, paled white as if the world has ended and runs like times is running out quickly. He, who is following her now could not help himself to think,

' What kind of expression you've shown me, until now?' even back then, when he screamed and yelled and cursed her, she was just looking at him as it was nothing at all. Even though she was in a critical situation when people showed her intimidating faces, she could stay composed as it never bothered her to begin with.

" Stop there."

but then, the famous wicked prince holds her in front of the infirmary.

" Arisha is being treated, she is okay so don't go inside." with his deep voice and strong charisma, talking with fluent sign language that is not matched with his personality. Yet, the most abnormal one is the fact that he is now could casually talk and touch Irisha as they've been doing this all the time.

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[ Let me in.] and she glares at him while forcing herself to go inside. Something no one could even do in front of the wicked crown prince.

" You can be mad at me but, you can't go inside." and he calmly, saying about something that a tyrant moreover the wicked one should not say to anyone.

[ Let me go inside!]

" No."

[ I want to see my sister!]

" She is alright. You need to calm down."

[ Why you do this?] and Edward could see that Irisha now does not even care the courtesy to speak in front of the royal because of how she is now in fury.

and the man looks at her deeply, strangely letting this thing happen toward him, "... you know why."

then, it is the first time Edward sees Irisha who throws all expressions he has never once seen to the man that everyone is terrified with. The mixed emotions show all the way in her face while ignoring the man who everyone will never be able to do that. He could see, a bond between them that he never ever expected before.

" Sister?" and then, the young one running happily toward her sister who is surprised in grateful after seeing Arisha.

[ Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?] asked her frantically.

and Arisha giggles weakly. " I was not looking when I was playing and fell down. I hit my nose and it was bleeding." she said, " but, it is okay! The maids and His Grace found me and the nurse helped me with his healing ability!" she said cheerfully.

then Irisha sighed in relief while hugging her sister tightly. As if, her life was once back again to her.

" I am so sorry sister, I will be more careful."

and she just smiles, after brushing her sister gently. [ Please be careful, next time.] as if the previous expressions she showed were nothing. [... Sister is already done, let's go home.]

Arisha nodded, " Are we going to buy something for tomorrow?"

[ Yes.] she said. While standing and holding Arisha's hand who then gives a glance at the prince who is standing beside them all time. She is not trying to hide her feeling at all, as she looks at him in fury.

and he smiles weakly, [...so, you will just let Arisha know?] said the prince while using sign language and his mouth shuts while Arisha's attention turns her to the maids who are now talking to her. [ Don't be so hypocritical, you know, you do not want it.]

[ I already told you several times, that is not your business.] Said Irisha before she turns away and let her sister says good bye to the maids before leaving and left Edward, the crown prince, and several maids in front of the infirmary.

Then, Edward sees a sudden change of expression, the expression of the wicked prince that he, himself more familiar with. This is followed by a sudden attack on his breath caused by a sudden high pheromone.

"... Next time, tell everything to me first before deciding to tell Irisha."

and the maids nods, as the princes then leave them be. The heavy air then becomes lighter and they could easily breathe.

"... seems they still not yet makeup." said the maid.

and they look disappointed, "... what is happening between those two? They were so lovely and get along so well."

"... Ms.Arisha told me that Ms.Irisha did not even talk to his grace."

"... I hope they are going to make it up soon."

" Yes, me too! I am always happy whenever I see them together." and both of the maids talk about something he could not even imagine. Not even once, because the depiction of how the crown prince is in his memories is far from what the maids just said.

" Lovely, you say?" Edward muttered, as he then laughs weakly. "... Is not it so unfair, Ms.Irisha?" everything that is now being shown to him in one go, feels so unfair. While he, never once was given a chance to get closer to her, yet he is now is being shown by the fact that the woman he fells in love with could show many expressions he could not even imagine in front of the famous wicked prince. Then, his expression darkened, and his cheerfulness, somehow hard to be found.

He then contemplated quite a while in this heavy silence.

.

.

....because she could not imagine, how it hurt him so much to stand beside her when he knows that he could not even hold her in his embrace. Where he knows there is not a single chance for him-

"... "

"...It is truly unfair Ms.Irisha."

***

.

.

.

" I will go fishing with Lisa and her father there," said Arisha while using sign language. She is so excited with her cute straw hat in this wonderful lake.

Irisha nodded while giving a gesture to Lisa's parent who looks at her politely. They are really nice people as they really do not show any uncomfortable expressions while she is joining them. Their only problem in the end just the lack of communication because Lisa's parents could not speak in sign language and it is too much hassle to write something while doing a picnic. They also could not depend on Arisha only because she will just run around with Lisa.

Then, only while looking at her sister who is excitedly fishing in the dock with Lisa and Lisa's parents, she could finally finely breathes. While looking at this lake that gives a strange atmosphere like they are inside the fairy tale. She mays exaggerating things but, it truly feels like that. This quite large lake, which is surrounded by many tall orange-ish and red-ish trees, reflects the suns' light with a sparkles illusion. It is like fireflies in the day times, and the sparkles are shine so brightly.

Lisa's father said, it is happening because there are fairies' familiars flying above this lake. They then absorb the light and then reflect it again, and creating this miraculous phenomenon.

'...It is so beautiful.' and surely, it is. If she knew about it sooner, she might just come all the way by herself to see this view. It is that beautiful for her to say that way, it is really beautiful that it should make her feel so calm.

... yet, she finds it hard to feel that way. Even though, this kind of environment always her best healing just like back in the lake near Montar City or the magnificent beautiful sky.

".... Are you still mad to His Grace?" asked Arisha, yesterday night. Looked at her in concern while they had their supper.

[ I am not. Why do you think that way?]

and Arisha seems still concerned even though she is sure her face shows a bright smile. "... Sister, both of you are always happy whenever you are together," she said. "... So please, don't be mad at him."

and even though her concern might be just shallow speculation of an eight years old's children, she could not deny it anymore. Especially when recently many people justified their point of view toward them.

' I could not deny it.' and it becomes harder when she then realizes every detail of what he has done in her life. '

Every time they are together, he always gives her the best smile of him.

Treats her gently with his big hands.

Touches her, in a very comforting way.

'...It becomes an addiction.' because she is not a teenager for not knowing about that obvious thing- and, how could she is not falling when he drowns her with such kindness where people surround her could not even get.

When... he is also the one who will look straight into her eyes and believe in what she said.

When... he is the one who sees her equally despite who is she and how her condition is.

'you are the one.' who then gives her a chance and supports her to stand by her own feet.

He is also the one who shows her the beauty of the world she has never ever seen.

then she frowned while holding her chest. '...it hurts.' and it hurts her more when she could not stop the indescribable fury whenever he tries to get inside her world. Because she always tries to keep it inside, she always hides it so no one could ever touch it.

'...You can't go inside.'

No one should not and could not get into her life.

' Because I am a sinner.'

' A murderer.'

' It is better if no one could ever know about i-'

" SISTER!" and she is startled, as she looks at Arisha who grabbed her hands frantically " RUN!" she screams while giving her a sudden sign, where Irisha observes the situation immediately when a horrifying madness happens in front of her eyes. In a second she lost in her thought, the entire forest starts to be shallowed by a sudden fire. Strange people with strange robes, surrounded by lights with strange circles flying around their bodies. That then, from nothing in the air, they are creating big fireballs that eliminate the whole forest in just a second. Her eyes take a glance at the symbols that she feels familiar with.

'... Jahar-' and she gasped before she grabs Arisha's hand, who then run with the other residents who running in panic.

Her heart starts to race uncontrollably,

she could not hear anything but people's expressions showed the horrifying tension. She could not hear anything, and it pressures her so much that she could not expect what will happen. She could only run while grabbing Arisha's hand. Running as far as she could, as fast as her feet could do. She feels a sudden throb in her heart when Arisha fell down, she holds her desperately and ran again. People slowly disappear, no one here with them. She feels scared to look back, she does not know anything as she could not hear any sound. The silence she is in feels so dreadful, she is drowning in the limitless despair that she could not even explain.

' Help me!'

' Please, someone!'

Yet, no sounds out from her screams and the body that hugs her tightly trembling. Every second from there, she feels only threat and terror.

.... just why now, she admits that she misses those golden eyeballs.

***