The Marrying The Prince

90

Francesca again glanced at the face that was in front of her, a beautiful face that was very carefully treating the wound next to her neck, even the movements of her hands were too careful with exaggeration. From the tail of her eyes, Francesca also glanced back, glancing at her twin who continued to frown while occasionally grimacing as Bernadeth's hand rubbed gently the wound next to her stomach.

"Finish Frans"

Anastasia spoke softly in a stifled voice, a voice that seemed to be holding something back. Something must be very big is in Anastasia's possession.

Until Anastasia's hand finished cleaning her tools, while breathing out a long breath, Anastasia looked back at Francesca's face covered in a small bandage next to her cheek. Anastasia's hands were raised again to tidy up Francesca's hair that was flying because of the wind, and the bandages and gestures blocked Anstasia, finally making Francesca lazily open the conversation

"He's fine. A sword scratch like that won't make him die An"

The smile on Anastasia's lips turned back, the direction she looked at Francesca with both eyes so it began to ponder

"Yes, I'm not that worried"

Lazily Francesca just kept quiet while playing the worn embroidery on the dress she borrowed. The dress was so worn and simple that Anastasia lent her, that it was impossible for Francesca to wear her dress. The dresses will definitely look very striking in a very simple state that is being overlapped.

"It's over Your Highness"

Bernadeth politely spoke, then began to tidy up his tools. Ferdinand grimaced as his feet were about to move, and the sight instantly made Bernadeth stop the movement of his hand on the tool, and instantly move to hold onto Ferdinand

"You need something, Your Highness?"

"Ck! I want my wife!"

Ferdinand deliberately raised his voice, and with a pouting face Ferdinand continued to stare at Anastasia.

Anastasia did not know that her husband kept looking at her with a frown. Anastasia refused to take care of Ferdinand's wounds and preferred to take care of Francesca. Finally, Anastasia let out a deep breath and began to draw closer to Ferdinand's bed.

Ferdinand's sullen countenance finally changed slightly as his wife was already sitting next to his bed. Bernadeth who saw it could only smile amusedly sambio pushed his trolly. Bernadeth stared at Fracesca and Ferdinand alternately

"I'm stepping down, Your Highness"

Francesca gave a brief nod to Bernadeth, while Ferdinand ignored everything and just looked at his wife who continued to stare at the bandage next to his stomach.

"I'm fine An"

Ferdinand's words again made Anastasia could only take a deep breath, until Francesca's voice made them both look at Francesca

"When Ferdinand's injury could make him go back to travel?"

Anastasia seemed to think for a moment, then confidently replied

"Just four or five days, Frans"

Francesca's head nodded confidently, then looked back at Anastasia.

"We have to get back An"

"French-"

"You should go back"

This is what makes Anastasia feel uncomfortable and continue to fear. On the one hand he was very happy when he could meet his sister-in-law again, but on the other hand he also definitely had to face this problem. Anastasia looked fixedly at Francesca and took a deep breath before saying a word

"I can't go back Frans, I'm sorry"

With a flat face, and an unreadable flat gaze, Francesca spoke coldly again

"Actually I don't want to tell you this, but I have to An-" Francesca searched, then looked more and more at Anastasia intently when she saw the look on Anastasia's face that already looked curious. "It's about George. George is very sick and maybe it's not too long"

Not only was Anastasia immediately startled, Ferdinand's countenance had already turned shocked to the point of opening his mouth

"No way Frans, papa during-"

"George fell off the horse and hit his head strongly. Gapa now can't do anything. His body could only lie on the bed" Francesca's gaze stared at Anastasia. "How often do you ask. Maybe George is waiting for you to leave in peace. You're Ana's favorite daughter-in-law"

Anastasia's feeling instantly became very upset, her chest was already filled with fear and worry until her two eyes started to tear up.

"W-is that true Frans?"

With an extremely flat face indecipherable, Francesca looked at Anastasia and Ferdinand alternately.

"We must return soon" Francesca looked back at Anastasia intently. "I won't force you An, it's your right to return or not. Because your happiness is important. We will respect whatever your decision is. Don't be burdened by this"

After Francesca spoke, Anastasia's sobbing could no longer be contained. Anastasia's memory of the gray-eyed old man who always smiled kindly made Anastasia's chest even more tight. George was a friendly and warm old man who always rubbed his hair gently, making Anastasia's feeling more raging, especially when he imagined if the old man was now lying sick. Only able to lie down without being able to do anything, maybe even George now could only breathe while waiting for his death. Oh my... Anastasia loved the old man so much, what should she do now?

Anastasia's increasingly strong issue made Ferdinand immediately bring Anastasia into his decapitation. The direction of his gaze looked at Francesca who started moving to leave.

Ferdinand stared intently at Francesca, looking around for any lies he might find on his twin sister's face. But, even she herself now could not find any lies on the masked face of her sister. So does this all mean right? There's no way a bad guy like George would die soon! George should at least live for a hundred more years! Gapa they can't die! Oh my God, Ferdinand's feelings now felt very chaotic and anxious.

"Dinand... George...."

"Sstt.. All will be well An. George will be fine, baby"

Ferdinand's hand continued to rub Anastasia's head with the direction of his gaze that was already staring at Francesca's back which was starting to disappear from the door.

--000--

Bernadeth put down his cup at the sight of Anastasia who invited him to meet and talk, not even opening her mouth. Anastasia just kept silent pensively, her gaze only continued to stare at the books on Bernadeth's table. Eventually, Benadeth took a deep breath and started a conversation

"Just tell An. Just tell me everything you're feeling right now"

Finally, Anastasia looked back at Bernadeth who kept looking at her gently. Anastasia's lips smiled faintly and began to open her voice

"I'm confused Bernadeth. I'm so confused"

"What makes you confused?"

"I-" Anastasia searched while nibbling on her lips in agitation. "I'm confused, do I have to go back or do I have to?"

Bernadeth's head again took a short nudge while smiling gently again

"Tell me and just tell me everything, son, what's going on?"

Finally, Anastasia began to tell him everything that Francesca had said this afternoon. He also tells about his confusion that will come back or not, as well as his anxiety about George's condition.

Bernadeth who finally understood again smiled gently while nodding.

"I know Ana, you don't want to go back because you feel inferior to come back, do you? you also don't dare to face His Highness' family because of your miscarriage?"

Anastasia's head bowed while playing her fingers. His feelings again felt mixed, his lips began to tremble, speaking softly

"I feel very inappropriate and very guilty Bernadeth. I. I'm ashamed"

Looking at the two shoulders of Anastasia who were beginning to shake, Bernadeth immediately stood up from his seat and immediately hugged Anastasia. Bernadeth's warm hand rubbed Anastasia's head gently while making a sound.

"They are now Ana's family. They're now your new home, a place where you've bonded with those people. The people I believe are very affectionate and want you back"

"But I am guilty and unworthy of Bernadeth. I was too unsuccessful to be in that wonderful family. I'm not sure they can accept this very useless me"

Bernadeth's lips smiled again as he continued to gently rub Anastasia's head.

"I'm not sure they think you're like that An. I'm not sure a family that always finds out about your situation thinks you're a useless and failed person. Even from afar, they always hope that you can be happy and always be okay without daring to force you to change your decision"

In the midst of his sobbing, the new Anastasia could digest well Bernadeth's words instantly releasing their embrace. Anastasia's gaze fixedly looked at Bernadeth

"What's the max of 'finding out' Bernadeth??"

With a warm smile constantly imprinted on his lips, Bernadeth began to rise up from the chair. He went straight to the closet to pick up something. When what he had found, Bernadeth immediately handed a small wooden box to Anastasia. Anastasia confusedly, stared at the wooden box and Benadeth alternately

"This what?"

"Open up, kid"

Slowly, Anastasia began to open the lid of the wooden box. His hands immediately fumbled over the many mail envelopes that were piling up there.

Bernadeth smiled again and began to stand up from his chair.

"I'll leave you to see all these letters"

Bernadeth's hand slapped softly on Anastasia's shoulder, then began to move away.

Upon seeing the closed door, Anastasia's hand began to slowly open one letter with the longest date of all the letters. Any date that indicates if the letter is sent every two weeks. Even the most recent date is the last two weeks, which means that the letter still continues to reply to each other.

Anastasia began to read her first letter, which was named from: Riri to: sister Bernadeth. Riri's name is a small name someone who can finally remember Anastasia. And the name of Anastasia's memory began to make Anastasia's lips smile.

Anastasia started opening the envelopes. The first, second, third and so on letters still contain the same heart. The content that always asks how the African weather, the state of Africa, and most importantly, if the main content of each kiraman letters is a question about how Anastasia is doing.

A lot of questions in every letter like how was Anastasia's life? is Anastasia happy? is Anastasia healthy? does Anastasia feel like she is lacking something? Until Anastasia's hand opened a letter that was dated not far from the date of the day of her miscarriage.

There, it is clearly written that 'Riri' is very worried and very sad because of the fear of something happening to Anastasia. Just that, no one else, even Riri also never asked why she could miscarry, or even just wanted to ask about how old she was. That is, if each letter is only about Anastasia, the contents of the letter are only always concerned and worried about Anastasia's life.

Anastasia's small talk began to be heard as the letter reported how Ferdinand was doing. How sad Ferdinand was when he had left Francia for several months. And what makes Anastasia's sobbing stronger is, if Riri says, that Riri is very sorry for being a mother who failed to educate her son and a mother who failed to take care of her daughter, daughter-in-law, Anastasia.

"Ohh Your Majesty..."

Anastasia muttered in between her stuffing, with both eyes constantly shedding tears until the ink in the letters faded as the clear liquid that continued to flow profusely from both eyes.

"You don't like this, you're not wrong. I was wrong. I'm sorry"

Anastasia's hand stopped at the sixteenth letter, her hand directly hugging the letter while sobbing strongly with both eyes closed firmly. A letter that contains, birthday wishes for Anastasia, a letter that says if Riri misses so much and if possible, Riri is eager to hug Anastasia to wish her a happy birthday. Even Riri hopes if he can make a festive birthday celebration for his beloved daughter-in-law, Anastasia.

All the contents of Riri's heart really made Anastasia's cry explode. It turned out that Anastasia had been wrong, very wrong because it left parents who always missed and paid attention to her. Anastasia is too selfish about her own feelings to forget that there may be others who continue to feel guilty and fail, just like her, or may be much more disappointed in herself. His passing which turned out to be heartbreaking for a mother because she felt failed to carry out her role to look after her daughter-in-law.

Anastasia's hand began to put all the letters back in the box. Anastasia quickly kept the letters neatly back and headed straight for the door.

With both eyes still in tears, Anastasia immediately ran around looking for someone. His steps immediately headed towards Ferdinand's tent, where there, Francecsa was sitting quietly alone while cleaning her sword

"Frances"

Francesca's hand movements stopped, her head raised to look at the direction of the voice. But, Francesca could not see clearly Anastasia's face, a strong hug directly hit her

"I'm sorry Frances. I'm sorry Frans"

Anastasia sobbed strongly while hugging Francesca who was only silent in confusion. But Francesca warmly kept back Anastasia's sad embrace.

"I was wrong Frans, I hurt His Majesty, especially Her majesty. I thought I was the only one who suffered so much"

In silence, Francesca kept rubbing Anastasia's back. He who was still confused, now a little more could understand the meaning of Anastasia's cry. Although Francesca did not know why Anastasia could become like that.

Francesca's lips twinkled when she saw Ferdinand with Solar who was about to enter the tent, but stopped their steps immediately upon hearing Anastasia's sobbing.

Ferdinand's brows furrowed deeply as he looked at Francesca by asking 'Why?'. Francesca, who was asked invisible question, only answered 'Either away' from her gaze.

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