Flower of Steel - Chapter 87

“Look, it’s warm. Isn’t it? Sometimes it’s not bad to hug like this. It’s my first time making it, but I’ve got a lot of compliments!”

“It’s your first time?” he asked.

“Yeah! It’s the first doll that I ever made.”

At that, his expression froze, and he turned to the doll in his arms. He didn’t look unhappy. Then, he commented, “…It’s cute.”

“Yeah! Isn’t it?”

That’s when his beautiful eyes turned to me. Yes, it was the eyes that I wanted to protect. Those eyes were like those of a young wounded predator. That’s why I couldn’t look away.

“Yeah,” he said.

I think I was mesmerized by his bright, wonderful smile and that my younger self had blushed quite a bit. I had the urge. Yes, it was due to that urge that I did what I did to you. No, it wasn’t an urge. I had been suppressing it. It was proof of love that I had grown up with while looking at it. It was something that I wanted to do to you. It was a kiss.

It still feels fresh, the moment when I had my lips on your lovely lips, the almost teary eyes, and your shaking shoulders. You were the essence of loveliness itself.

“I like you,” I said.

Hearing my words, he hugged me. My heart began to pound heavily. Then, I heard a low voice in my ears, “It’s your fault.” I was shocked and looked at him. His entire face was red. He pointed at his chest and continued, “It’s banging like crazy here. You made me weird.”

I was happy about that because you were just like me. I wasn’t the only one. That’s why I was so happy. I replied, “Yeah, it’s my fault. I’ll take care of you.”

However, right after I had said those words, a fierce voice was heard from behind, “Rina! Who are you with right n…”

I couldn’t forget the shock on my father’s face and the way he froze when he saw the boy. Then, he said, “W-what are you…”

Father was about to scold me when he saw the boy and stopped. He then grabbed my hand and dragged me. Confused, I asked, “Father! What are you doing?!”

I tried to resist, but he picked me up and left the scene as if he was running away. After that, I was forbidden from visiting the palace, and I never saw the boy again. Every time I wanted to talk about the boy with my father, he fiercely scolded me. His stern look was so scary that I couldn’t dare to ask him. And that’s how my first love ended.

No, it wasn’t over though, up until I met Kyles, I remembered him and missed him. Only after meeting Kyles, I was able to let go of my useless longing. However, my heart still races whenever I think about him. I experienced this for the first time in my life, and it was likely I would never feel that way again. The deep kiss that I shared with Kyles never made my heart race like the childish kiss that I shared with the boy.

As I reminisced over the past, I remembered the doll that I first made for him. I wasn’t skilled then, but my feelings of liking someone for the first time ever went into that doll. It was deemed the masterpiece of my lifetime. Once more, I’ll try making a doll for him. Although I may never meet him again, the Crown Prince, who seemed crazy over dolls, would take care of it.

***

On my way to the Financial Department, close to the Crown Prince’s palace, I turned to the gazebo and thought, ‘Huh? That’s…’

It was the Crown Prince, sitting there. I think I held my breath as I took a sneak peek at him. The combination of the Crown Prince and the gazebo surrounded by fully bloomed flowers was beautiful, like a painting. The reason why I’m sneaking a peek at him isn’t that I have feelings for him. It’s more similar to when you’re admiring a famous painting. He sure is handsome, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s crazy. Still, I can’t…

‘Take my eyes off of him.’ I barely managed to pull my eyes away from this view and leaned on the pillar where I was hiding. Then, I sighed.