I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 104
52. — A Fairy Tale Just for You (2)
The following year, a severe drought hit the village. Once again, people went to the stone statue and prayed for help. This time, the statue removed a jewel from its left hand and handed it to the people. Those who received the jewel were happy again.
The next year, a major plague struck the village.
People went to the statue again, begging for it to save their lives. The statue, this time, removed a jewel from its right leg and handed it to the people. Happily, the people returned once again.
The following year, people from neighboring villages invaded the village. Once again, the villagers went to the stone statue, pleading for help. The statue, without saying a word, removed the last remaining jewel and handed it to the people, who returned with joy. The child was saddened to see the statue that had lost all its jewels. The statue, which had lost all its vitality, was now left with only death.
As the child asked why the statue had given the jewels to the people, the statue smiled and said.
I wanted to protect you.
The child, upon hearing this story, felt sorrow for causing the statue’s death. Still, the statue looked happy even as it saw the child’s tears. He thought he was left alone in the world and believed that the statue had died because of him.
When the villagers heard the story of the statue’s death, they came to the child’s house.
A little child held out a wreath to him. The child had saved lives using the statue’s jewel during a flood. Next, a bushy-bearded man handed the child a splendid cape, telling him that his family could survive a severe drought because of the statue’s jewel. As the villagers who came to the child’s house handed over gifts to the child one by one, the gifts from people began adorning the once unimpressive stone statue, now without jewels.
The child looked at the stone statue adorned with a beautiful crown and a splendid cape.
The people told the child that he was no longer alone. Everyone in the village said that they would come to his house to play on behalf of the stone statue. Still, although the child’s house was now filled with people, he felt lonely.
He wished for the stone statue, who had always been by his side, to return.
The child thought he would protect the statue this time. From that day on, he cleaned the statue every day. He ate meals and read fairy tales to the statue. Every day, they talked and slept together.
“…Every day, we talked and slept together.”
He just quietly listened to my tale as it continued calmly. Even as he looked at the ridiculous drawings I drew on each page, he didn’t smile.
I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and read the last sentence.
“…The child continued to make efforts every day until the stone statue opened its eyes.”
Before I knew it, the fairy tale was over and I closed the last page. Cain’s gaze, which had been directed at the storybook, turned towards me as the story was abruptly interrupted.
I met his gaze as he looked at me and slowly raised the corner of my mouth.
“Your Highness.”
“….”
“I’ll come to you every day, just like the child in this fairy tale. I will eat with you and talk with you every day so that you can be happy.”
“….”
“So, don’t think that no one wishes for your happiness, because I do. I want you to be happy enough to create a fairy tale like this with your words.”
“….”
“Until the day you can believe it.”
Cain said nothing despite my sincerity conveyed with embarrassment. He simply gazed at the storybook placed on my leg for a long time.
I felt a twinge of regret, wondering if my story hadn’t comforted him.
Placing the book down on the seat next to me, I rose from my seat and opened my mouth again, “Well, the story is a bit clumsy, isn’t it? I’ll make it more convincing next time.”
“….”
“It’s getting very late now. I hope you can have happy dreams tonight…”
As I rambled on, his large hand touched my wrist once again. While I was confused by him suddenly grabbing my wrist, Cain slowly pulled me in front of him. I stood between Cain’s thighs, and his gaze, which had been focused on the storybook, now moved up to my face.
My face heated up at the sight of his eyes.
“Read it again.”
“…Yes?”
“Again, from the beginning.”
His low voice sent a dry swallow down my throat. As if trapped by his gaze on me, I silently nodded my head.
I hoped this story would bring him some small comfort.
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