The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 49 - 45: Congratulations to the General (IV).

Chapter 49: Chapter 45: Congratulations to the General (IV).

Chapter 45: Congratulations to the General (IV).

===

The Tent

===

"Zzz..."

The sleeping figure of the princess could be seen by her maid, she’s used to such a sight but unlike her usual good morning wanting to immediately wake her up...

"Five minutes..." (Sylvie) counts the time that has passed, remembering General Rowan’s instructions- to let the princess sleep for about five more minutes. "It should be about that much by now."

She glances at the princess before sighing, she begins to gently grab her arm and shakes it.

"Your highness." (Sylvie) calls out.

"Mm..." (Princess Camille) was having the most wonderful dream of cuddling with Rowan.

She reaches out to grab one of her pillows and pretends it was her. Princess Camille dreams of them getting married as promised, having a small stable for all of their pets.

"Rowan..." She hugs the pillow tightly before finally looking back to see their small little girl- somehow that dream of hers feels so real.

’Through sickness and health. I’ll always be by your side- I love you and forever will.’

(Rowan) kisses the back of her hand in a dream, the ring gleams on her finger as another child with a face that she couldn’t make out calls her as mother.

’Mom!’ In her dream she smiles, cupping her cheek. ’I won’t go back to my old world anymore as long as I get to be with you. I love the place we’ve built, the people who support us and our kingdom.’

Kingdom?

’My Queen.’

Queen?!

This dream was way too good to wake up.

...

"Your highness, please wake up." (Sylvie) calls yet again but this time she’s going to be a little rough. "My apologies to her highness but I am not your fiance."

The maid pulls on her pillow with force, leaving Princess Camille stunned with it and wakes up quickly after breaking out from that lovely dream.

"Wah!" She almost slips and falls out of the bed tent. Princess Camille looks around and realizes that Sylvie was inside their tent. "W-What are you doing here, Sylvie?!"

Sylvie stares at her with a look of disappointment, forgetting that her duty is her personal maid- she’s here to take care of her but then she dares to ask what she’s doing there?

"I came here to help you prepare for the morning, everyone else is waking up and getting ready to leave." She gestures to the sound outside, the others have already started packing and readying up the horses. The pajamas that Princess Camille borrowed before were sitting by the side of the bed, folded neatly. "And I’m here to take back what you borrowed last night. I’ll give it a good wash before returning it to Michael."

"A-Ah... right." The princess mutters, almost forgetting about that. "Have you seen General Bonheur?"

"She wanted you to sleep for a while and rest, it seems she tired you out so much last night that the general has asked me to make sure to wake you up gently." (Sylvie) remembers the sad and depressed look of the general the moment she parts away from the princess.

Their current relationship should be that of strangers... but with the time that they spent bonding in the palace, would that be enough to fall in love?

"..."

Sylvie observes the princess who slumps after seeing Rowan was not inside the room.

"That’s... without good context people are going to misunderstand her words, she should be more careful with her words." With another tired look, she stands up front from the bed and waits for Sylvie to start prepping everything. "Hah... anyways if you’re here to help then I’ll be in your care."

Inside the modest confines of the tent, the scent of pine and damp earth seeped through the canvas, mingling with the faint fragrance of lavender water Sylvie had brought for the princess. A single lantern cast a golden glow, flickering with each shift of the wind outside.

Sylvie, ever the diligent maid, stood beside Princess Camille, comb in hand.

"Hold still, Your Highness," She murmured as she ran the fine-toothed ivory comb through Camille’s long hair untangling the knots left by the hours of being in the bed. "Sleeping has certainly had its way with your hair."

Princess Camille sits on the small wooden stool placed in front of the folding mirror. "I hardly think it matters. We’re in the middle of the woods, not a grand ballroom."

Sylvie tsked, parting her mistress’s hair with deft fingers.

"Presentation always matters, even here. You never know who might lay eyes on you." She began twisting strands into a delicate braid, her fingers nimble from years of practice. "Besides, you have a certain someone to meet soon, do you not? Wouldn’t you like to look good for the general?"

"Perhaps... you’re right." The princess stiffened for just a moment before schooling her expression. She remembers the playful night that they had, "Maybe I’ll try another type of braid today, something that she’ll notice and praise me for." She muttered.

Sylvie could hear the effort in her voice to sound indifferent.

A hand held mirror was placed in front, Sylvie peaks to make sure the princess had her front hair in prim and proper shape, but she sees her face puffing and looking rather pouty.

"The princess does not need to pout like that when your fiance is waiting for you outside." She chuckles.

"I’m a little... disappointed that she wasn’t in bed this morning." The maid nods, understanding the princess’ worries but at the same time if she had only known how guilty and sad the general looked when she needed to leave- she wouldn’t be pouting.

"Perhaps the general intended to say goodbye but she just didn’t have the heart to. I could tell how the way she looked at you she didn’t want to leave the tent and just wanted to stay by your side." (Sylvie) winks, tending to her hair, placing a few expensive accessories before nodding with satisfaction.

"Really?" (Princess Camille) thinks of how Rowan must’ve looked. "Now I’m rather envious that you get to see that adorable side of her. Did she resemble a little puppy that didn’t want to leave me be?"

Princess Camille couldn’t help but chuckle hearing that. "Indeed, how did you know?"

"I’m starting to get to know her better. Did you know that the great crimson general is a very good singer?"

A very good singer?

Well that certainly tingled her curiosity, she can’t imagine the great crimson general singing. "...that’s quite unexpected and rather adorable of the general to confess that to you, your highness."

"I hope one day I can hear her sing." Her heart flutters a little saying that. "Goodness me, you know- I have had the most peculiar dream before you came in... It seems that the general and I have successfully married and had children there."

"Two lovely girls, I can’t see them clearly but the way that they called me mother somehow it felt rather real." She smiles, feeling a little bashful to confess this to her personal maid.

Sylvie tilts her head, the two of them having children is utterly impossible- not unless... they’re planning to adopt. "Really? That’s quite the dream, your highness. Are you sure two girls would be enough? How about a son?"

Princess Camille thinks it through, she doesn’t really care much for the gender as long as the child is healthy- but in this world the sex or gender of one’s child is very important when it comes to political work in the royal family.

Just like hers, the women are sent off to different powerful families to be married and ensure the alliances between them are strong. And the men take on many high ranking important positions while also being in the same situation as the women, they’re off to be married as well.

"..."

This world’s old unconventional laws are still troublesome, they’ll get a son once they’re ready for such responsibility.

"We’ll... ahem... you know it’s merely a dream we’re rather unsure of the future. Cough... Can we please change the topic? Besides- the general and I are still getting to know each other better."

"So your highness, mind telling me what do you plan on doing after getting into Rosewood Village?"

"I’m not sure... I’m sure the villagers and General Rowan’s friends would be taking up most of her time the moment we get to her home." Celebrations should be in order after all, in the original story one where the generals are technically forced to stay in the palace to romance the love interests- there was no celebration other than the audience meeting.

Her true friends and people who she considered family are somewhere else.

"But if she’s free at night, I suppose I would like to invite her to dinner to thank her for... inviting me out on a date last time." Giving it much thought, she’ll have loads of free time compared to the high life of royalty- as a proper wife she should at least commit to the role of making the heroine some good food to eat.

Back in her past life she would cook often for herself...

"Ah, rewarding her with dinner." (Sylvie) teased, securing the braid with a silk ribbon. "How come I didn’t hear you going on a date, your highness?"

Princess Camille turned in her seat, narrowing her eyes. "You are awfully nosy today, Sylvie. I thought the news had already spread that I’ve gone on a date or are you just teasing me?"

The maid merely smiled, stepping back to examine her work. Satisfied, she moved toward the trunk at the foot of the cot, flipping it open. "And you, my lady, are terribly transparent."