Chapter 126

"Hmm...You are reading those medical books again. Is it your reason to diligently study every day? Do you want to be a doctor?" Prince Edmund asked as he saw the books that Renneshia was reading.

It was a thick book that contained about the disease and how to cure it. It was so thick that it made most people avoided it except if they wanted to be a doctor. It was not something a Lady would read because it contained pictures of human anatomy, disturbing medical methods and the picture of people with some disease. But even in such a detailed book, Renneshia is unable to find the cure for her mother.

"No, I never thought that I would be able to become a doctor. I was stupid so it would be hard if I wanted to be a doctor. Besides I am not fit to be a doctor." Renneshia answered his answer with a sad tone.

"What are you talking about? The tutors always praised you for being a genius when they met me. They also said that I need to try harder to be able to be your partner. But if you said that you are stupid, then what about me?" Prince Edmund asked with a wry smile.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I didn't mean to say something like that." Renneshia rose from her seat and made a perfect ninety-degree bow.

It was something that Renneshia mastered after living in that hell-like place for years. To apologize and beg for forgiveness from another person. In that place, she was powerless and everyone always blamed her for everything. For every misfortune that happens in that place, they always blame her even if it has nothing to do with her or it was their own fault. That's why Renneshia always apologizes to them even when didn't do anything wrong. 

As Renneshia grows in such an environment, she becomes sensitive to people's anger or displeased. She feels afraid to make other people angry at her. That's why when she heard Prince Edmund's words, she was afraid that he would hate her and punish her like what she always gets in Ruach's mansion.

"You don't have to exaggerate it like that. I'm not angry with you. So please raise your head." Prince Edmund said with a panic tone.

Prince Edmund never thought that Renneshia would act like that. He thought that it was normal to speak like that because they needed to act like they had a close relationship. Even though Prince Edmund knows that Renneshia is the illegitimate child of Viscount Ruach, from how well-educated Renneshia is, he will not be able to guess how the people in Ruach's mansion are always her until she becomes like this.

"Thank you for forgiving me for my rude words." Renneshia thanked him.

Renneshia behaviour might make other people feel that she was building a thick wall between them but in reality, she was acting like that because she never interacts with others normally. She also never had any friends or have someone who cared about her before. It was a hard life that other people wouldn't be able to imagine happening to a person.

"Haa, forget it. You need to attend tomorrow's party with me so we need to prepare for it. About your dress..." price Edmund changed the topic and looked at how Renneshia dresses.

Most of the dresses that she usually wears were the old dress that the Viscountess wanted to throw away. Some of it has been torn or has some stains, but Renneshia sewed it or made embroidery to hide it. For the people who saw it, it looks like a beautiful dress. But still, the design of the dress didn't fit Renneshia's appearance and made her look as if she didn't have any fashion sense.

"If you don't have any dresses for the party, how about we look for some new dresses today? Because I was the one who suggested it, I will buy it for you." Prince Edmund said with a smile on his face.

"Then, I will do as you tell me. Should we go now?" Renneshia asked with a flat tone.

"Let's go to the most popular store in the Capital City." Prince Edmund held her hand and took her to the city with the carriage.

'His hand is so warm. My heart feels like being squeezed whenever he acts like this to me. His smile looked like a sun, it was too bright. Did he act like this because we need to act like we love each other? Will he act like this to another woman too?' Renneshia wonders as she follows Prince Edmund.

After half an hour, they arrived at the most popular boutique in Capital City. It was a large store with the currently popular designer as the store owner. When they entered the store, the waiters greeted them politely and took them into a private room that only VIP customers were able to use. The VIP room has a luxurious design and makes Renneshia feel uncomfortable as she is not used to it.

They didn't have to wait for too long as the owner of the store quickly came to greet them. She was a woman with purple hair and eyes. It was unexpected because people with dark attributes especially in the human race are extremely rare. If she was born in the East area she would definitely have been discriminated against by the people in the East. It was said that the people with dark attribute was the descendants of human who married the demon race.

"Welcome, Your Highness! We are grateful for your grace in visiting our store. How could we help you today?" The store owner politely greets Prince Edmund and asks.

"Owner, I want you to make a few dresses that will suit this Lady. We will have a party tomorrow and we also need some dresses for different occasions and different seasons." Prince Edmund asks the store owner.

"Oh my! What a cute little Lady! Nice to meet you, Milady. Please just call me Owner or Big Sister. Do you have any preference for your dress? You can also tell me if you have anything that you want me to make. What about our popular dress? What colour do you prefer to wear?" The owner suddenly kept talking enthusiastically to Renneshia and made her feel afraid for some reason as she tried to hide behind Prince Edmund.

"Cute..." Prince Edmund mutters in a small voice.

"Oh my goodness, what a cute and shy little Lady! Do you feel confused because of my questions?" The owner changed her tone and spoke more gently to Renneshia. 

Renneshia nodded her head while she seemed still felt afraid of the owner. But her reaction seems to cause the people who saw her to feel that they want to protect her. The owner slowly comes closer to her with a smile but Renneshia feels dangerous from her smile.

"If you don't know about what will suit you, my suggestion is for you to find out what is best for you. Then please come with me and try all of the dresses available. Your Highness, please wait here and help her to find what suits her. I will make her the cutest Lady you ever see." The owner winked at Prince Edmund and took Renneshia with her.

It was like a nightmare and tiring experience for Renneshia. The owner took her into the dressing room and with her helper put on different types of dresses. She makes her do something similar to a fashion show in front of Prince Edmund until she feels really tired. She felt too embarrassed because it was the first time people had helped her with put on her dress and put on make-up. They also changed her hairstyle and tried it in different ways. 

Prince Edmund seems to enjoy the fashion show and buys all the dresses that she tried in the store. He also tells the owner to let Renneshia wear the last dress that she wearing and leave the store. After buying the dresses, they went to a famous restaurant in Capital City. It was a great place with delicious food. It was like a date if they were an ordinary person. But for Renneshia what they were doing was more like an act to show how close their relationship to the other. 

When Renneshia finally arrives at her room after her first outing, she feels tired and falls asleep. Renneshia can feel that her heart is still beating so fast. She never thought that the day she would be able to walk around to look at the world that she only read in the book would be like this. 

She saw her palm and remembered the time when Prince Edmund held her hand when they walking around the city. She could still feel his warmth. She didn't know what kinds of feeling she currently felt but even if it made her more emotional, she wanted to keep this feeling in her heart.

As she fell asleep,  the surroundings became dark. 

***

When I opened my eyes, it was the usual jail-like room and she was standing in front of me. 

"We meet again." I said to the Renneshia that standing in front of me. 

"You might hate him or maybe be afraid of him. But this time, I beg you to help them. Please don't make him make the same mistake." The Renneshia in front of me suddenly begs me with a sorrowful tone.

"I won't meet with Prince Edmund but I will help his friends. The three of them are currently my friends too so I will not let them die like what happened in the game. Is it alright with you?" I told her what I was thinking.

"I'm glad you will save them. It was your ### ###..." Renneshia seemed to want to say something but I couldn't hear it and her voice disappeared.

And I wake up from the dream.

<to be continue>