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Chapter 8 - Behind The Palace Walls

Here's the continuation in English narrative style:

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In the midst of the crowd's bustle and the festival decorations being set up, Eva stood among them, her eyes filled with seriousness and intense focus on something in a nearby shop. She muttered to herself:

"Hmm... this one... no, not this... ohh... this..."

Her muttering caught the attention of one of her fellow knights, who approached to ask:

Knight: Excuse me, Commander...

But Eva paid him no attention, still lost in her muttering.

Knight, again: Ahem!!... Excuse me...

Still no response. The knight tried every way to get her attention until a large-built knight with crimson hair approached and spoke in a sharp tone:

??? : It seems something has caught our Pearl Knight's attention. Commander, would you grace us with your attention and tell us what has you so captivated?

Eva snapped to attention immediately upon recognizing the voice and tone—no one else spoke that way except one person: Gilbert.

Eva: Ah, Gilbert! You came at the right time!! Of course, I want your opinion!

Eva pointed to a display of dresses for little girls.

Eva: Look how beautiful they are! They would look lovely on Foutaba. But I don't know which to choose—the red, the green, or the blue. I can already imagine how she'd look in them!

Eva's eyes sparkled with excitement and shone at the beauty of the dresses she wanted to try on Foutaba. Gilbert, on the other hand, stood there in silence, staring at her.

Gilbert: Ugh... White Knight, you should be focused on work. You shouldn't act like a chil—

Eva: By the heavens, you're always so gloomy and miserable and joyless! This is exactly why your reputation among women is so bad!

Gilbert: Work is work, Eva, and leisure comes later. And what do you mean my reputation is bad among women?!

Eva: Ugh... which color should I choose—red or green?

Gilbert, in a firm tone: Red!!

Eva: Alright, so—

Gilbert: Because it's the symbol of our wise Red Queen It also represents the dawn that brings victory and new goo—

Eva: Yes, green looks better.

Eva decided on the right color and went to purchase it, completely ignoring Gilbert's speech that would have lasted two days about how great the kingdom is.

Eva: Hmm... I should also buy something for the boy. I almost forgot...

__

In that massive palace, someone sat upon the golden throne covered in red roses, saying:

??? : Hmm-, it seems my people are working hard for the festival these days.

One of her knights replied: Yes, Your Majesty. They seem very excited—of course, as they are every month.

??? : Yes, indeed.

Silence fell between them for a few minutes as she tapped her fingers on the throne. Then she suddenly screamed in frustration:

??? : Why is everyone having fun while I sit here waiting to be killed by boredom?! This is unfair, Eugene!!!

Eugene (the knight): Ugh... calm down, Your Majesty. This is unbecoming—you're a mature woman, not an eleven-year-old child.

??? : No! My feet are numb from sitting here! I want to get out of here!!!! I'm going out, and that's an order!

Eugene: But Your Majesty, you can't just go out among the commoners like this. It's—

??? : Of course, you naive fool! I'll disguise myself as always. I want to see the preparations. And also—call me Rosaline. No need for formalities, Eugene. No one else is here.

Eugene: R-right, Your Majest—... Rosaline.

Rosaline: Alright, let's go! I'm burning with excitement to see the kingdom!

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The Red Queen

Rosaline Alexander was the rightful heir to the royal throne. She took power at a young age after the tragic incident that claimed her family's lives at the hands of the shadows. Those were sorrowful days for the kingdom, for the king had been a wise and kind-hearted man. But no one grieved more than Rosaline at the loss of her father—yet she refused to show it to her people, unwilling to appear weak or helpless. The only one who truly knew what was in her heart was her childhood friend, Eugene, one of the Red Dawn knights. They had grown up together, and he had sworn to protect her with his life.

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—In the kingdom—

Rosaline walked through the streets with Eugene at her side, guarding her. She looked around in awe, mesmerized by the hanging decorations.

Rosaline: Waaah! They're so beautiful! They look even better up close! Look, look, Eugene! The decorations!

Eugene: Please, Your Majesty, calm down. Don't make a scene—people are looking at us.

Rosaline: Relax, please. There's nothing to worry about. Let me enjoy myself.

Eugene: sighs ...Alright.

The queen was enchanted by all the preparations and went shopping at every stall she laid eyes on.

Vendor: Thank you for your purchase!

Rosaline: You're welcome! I can't wait to try this candy. Lucky me!

But her joy was short-lived when two children running collided with her, causing her to drop her treat.

Eugene: Your Majest—... Miss Rose!!

Rosaline: It's fine, I'm alright. Oh my, you two! Are you okay?? You're not hurt, are you?

Little girl: No, we're fine! Thank you! And we're sorry—we made you drop your things!

Rosaline: It's alright, as long as you're okay. Just be more careful next time.

Little girl: We will! Hey, Byeol, we're going to be late!

Rosaline waved goodbye to the two children. Then she turned to Eugene, crying like a child.

Rosaline: My mini cake!!! It's dead, Eugene! Do something!!!

Eugene: By the heavens, Your Majesty! Stop crying—it's just candy!

Rosaline: WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Eugene: Ughhh... fine, fine! Stop! I'll buy you another one! People are staring at us!

Rosaline, muttering to herself: (Ha! Works every time.) ...Alright, I want it in apple and cherry flavor.

Eugene: Of course.

Rosaline: By the way, that girl looks familiar.

Eugene: Ah, the one with Golden hair. She's the adopted daughter of the White Pearl Knights' commander.

Rosaline: I see... so that's that "Wonder girl".

Eugene: Of course. ...It's getting late. We should return to the palace.

Rosaline: You mean return to deadly boredom?

Eugene: No excuses!

At that moment—with Foutaba and Byeol—

Foutaba: We're so late! I hope Eva hasn't returned home yet. She's going to kill me—the sun is already down!

Byeol: Foutaba!!

Foutaba: What??

Byeol: You know I can fly, right? Or did you forget?

Foutaba: Ohh! It completely slipped my mind! Oh my god, Byeol, I forgot you can use magic! So what are we waiting for? Let's go!

Byeol: Hold on tight!

Byeol grabbed Foutaba and shot through the sky at incredible speed.

Foutaba: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!.

To be continued...

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