Chapter 41: Chapter 41 - I’m Sure The Crown Prince Will Like It

Chapter 41 – I’m Sure The Crown Prince Will Like It

I glanced at Claude’s teacup. “Oh dear, you finished your tea. Would you like some more?”

“Thank you,” Claude replied, smiling gratefully as I poured him another cup. Even though the green tea had already cooled down, the scent floated to my side.

He lifted the cup towards his mouth and murmured softly. “The scent is nice.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Claude then looked straight into my eyes. “Oh, Lady Maristella.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Actually, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“Favor?”

“Yes.” A charming smile played across his face. “I don’t know if you know, but it’s my birthday in two months.”

“…”

I didn’t know that, but for the sake of Claude’s mental health, I decided to act as if I did.

“Oh, yes.”

“There’s going to be a party at my mansion then. Will you be my dance partner?”

“Dance partner?” I repeated, flustered by the sudden suggestion. Based on what I read in the novel, one’s dance partner was usually someone who was close to them—whether a family member, spouse, or someone they were dating.

“Is that alright?” I asked.

“As you know, my mother passed away three years ago, and I don’t have a girlfriend, let alone a spouse. So there’s no one to be my dance partner for my birthday party.”

“Ah…”

“So if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you.”

It wouldn’t be any problem to accept. I didn’t know any male nobles in society anyway.

“Of course, Your Grace. I will be your dance partner,” I said with a happy nod towards him.

“Really?”

“Yes. A friend in need is a friend indeed, right?”

It was a well-known expression across all ages and in all countries of the world. However, Claude’s face dimmed when he heard the saying. I thought I had said something wrong, but upon reflection, my words were harmless.

What was it? What went wrong?

“Your Grace…?” I said carefully.

Claude blinked and his expression gradually relaxed. “Ah, yes.”

“What is it? Your face suddenly darkened…”

“Nothing. I was thinking about something else.”

“You said you didn’t sleep well last night. You must be tired. I think you should go home and get some rest,” I suggested worriedly.

He nodded and gave me a faint smile. “I suppose I have to. It would be a nuisance for me to stay too long.”

“That’s not true. However, your health is more important than anything else.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Maristella. I’m touched.”

“It’s nothing. It’s natural for friends.”

“…Yes. I’m happy that I feel like I’m special to you.”

He slowly rose from his seat, and I followed suit.

“I will be going now, Lady Maristella. Don’t overwork, and rest well,” he said with a friendly smile.

“I will, Your Grace. Have a safe trip.”

I accompanied Claude to the front of the gate, and only after I watched him ride away in his carriage that I went back to my room. There I saw Florinda and the other maids tidying up.

“Should I go out?” I asked quietly.

“No, My Lady. We’re done,” Florinda said, and as soon as she finished her sentence, the maids began to file out one-by-one. Only Florinda remained, and I was left alone with her.

I flopped down on my bed and picked up the envelope that was on the table. It was a reply from Thurman Palace.

“That was fast,” I muttered, but I did not open the envelope.

“I was surprised too,” Florinda remarked. “Fortunately, the Imperial Palace is not too far away from Bellafleur mansion.”

I opened the silver envelope with keen anticipation. My eyes flew over the letter, and at some point I breathed out a long sigh. Florinda, who was watching from the side, looked at me nervously.

“W-what’s wrong, My Lady? Did he refuse you?” she asked.

“No. Thankfully, he allowed me to visit.”

I was worried that he would be too busy and would end up rejecting me. I placed the letter back in the envelope with relief.

“That’s great! Then when are you going to the Imperial Palace?” Florinda asked excitedly.

“Ah.”

I was so happy that I completely missed that crucial detail. Embarrassed, I took the letter out of the envelope again. When I re-read the letter, this time bewilderment crossed my face.

“What’s wrong?” Florinda asked in curiosity.

“It says…this Friday.”

“Pardon?” Florinda’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Friday? Really?”

“He wrote that he will be available then, and that he wants to have lunch with me.”

“But that’s quite soon. Friday is in two days.”

I paused in thought for a moment, but it couldn’t be helped. “I can’t ask someone as busy as him to accommodate my schedule, so I will have to be accommodating to him. Please get me some stationary, Florinda.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

While Florinda went to get paper, I thought about what I should bring to the palace as a gift two days from now. Xavier was the Crown Prince, so it was highly unlikely that he would even bat an eyelash at luxurious items. What was something I could give him that he would like?

“Here, My Lady.”

Soon, Florinda returned and gave a pen and paper. I wrote down in round handwriting that I would visit at lunchtime on Friday, then I folded the letter neatly and put it in the envelope.

After instructing Florinda to send the letter to Thurman Palace, I began to puzzle over the things that Xavier might like.

‘What does he like again in the book?’

Because of his status, Xavier didn’t really like things that one could buy with money. In fact, he gravitated towards gifts given with full sincerity. In the novel, he couldn’t be more happy when Dorothea wrote him a letter full of love, or when she gave him cookies that she worked hard on even though it tasted a little bad.  Of course, I wasn’t the one that Xavier liked, but considering his moves in the novel, I thought he was more likely to respond to a sincere gift.

‘Should I bake some cookies too?’

I remembered how I was treated to an awesome class of desserts at Thurman Palace last time. No matter how important sincerity was, I couldn’t bring desserts. That would be embarrassing for both the giver and the recipient.

“What should I bring?” I thought out loud.

After a while, I suddenly recalled the handkerchief that Xavier had given me last time.

Isn’t a handkerchief the final boss of all sincere gifts? I clenched my first and smiled widely. That’s it, I would give him a handkerchief as a gift!

‘But can I finish it by then?’

I agonized over the decision. Embroidery may seem easy at first glance, but it required a lot of effort and concentration. Moreover, it was very difficult to embroider a handkerchief in less than two days.

“Ah, whatever!” I exploded, throwing my hands in the air.

It would work out somehow if I stay up all night. With that thought, I rubbed my eyes.

Five cups of green tea would help me endure the night!

***

My prediction was right. I drank another five cups of green tea on Thursday, and I felt an enormous amount of caffeine surging through my body like rocket fuel. It was the first time since I came here that I didn’t sleep.

“But somehow I managed to finish it…”

I looked proudly at my creation, an embroidered light gray handkerchief. With the green tea spirit, I managed to embroider the crest of House of Yonas on one corner of the handkerchief. Since the crest of the Imperial House was elaborate and complicated, sewing the intricate details was a formidable task. Fortunately, I was able to do it easier than I thought, since Maristella was good at embroidery.

As expected, even though the mind had changed, the body retained old memories.

Knock knock.

A knock from outside interrupted me.

“My Lady, it’s Florinda,” a voice said from beyond the door.

“Come in.”

Florinda came into the room with water as usual, but was appalled once she saw my hideous appearance.

“Oh my god!” she exclaimed.

“…”

Did I look that bad? I felt a sting of hurt, and I scrubbed my face with an embarrassed look.

“I guess my face must have worsened through the night.”

“Oh my god, My Lady. Did you stay up all night doing embroidery? You have dark bags underneath your eyes,” she fretted, and she came near to bed to peer at my face.

“Is it that bad?” I said nonchalantly. I had no idea because I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet.

“You look like you’re going to pass out anytime. Are you really fine?” Florinda said, looking at me in shock.

“Haha.”

As I gave a short chuckle at her words, she glanced at the light gray handkerchief on the bed. Her eyes grew as large as dinner plates.

“You finished this in two days? Really?” she said in awe.

“I don’t think it was a full two days. I started the evening two days ago.”

“It really is. I knew you were good at embroidery, but I didn’t know you were this good… You’re really amazing.”

“I’m afraid it’s a little sloppy.”

“Not at all. You’re really good!” Florinda gushed. She constantly kept giving me rambling compliments. “I’m sure the Crown Prince will like it too. It’s such a heartfelt gift!”

“I hope so.” I smiled and folded the completed handkerchief.

Florinda gave me another studious stare. “You’re going to Thurman Palace today… You can’t go like this. We need to take extraordinary measures.”

“Extraordinary measures?”

“Yes.” Florinda looked at me with a serious expression. “I will do my best to put on your makeup today.”