Chapter 44: Chapter 44 - I Often Feel That Way

Chapter 44 – I Often Feel That Way

He accepted my favor, but I couldn’t help but feel a small tinge of regret. I would need to pay it back someday.

“But how do you know it was Dorothea who made that request?” I asked.

“As I said before, only the daughter of Cornohen would make such a request to you. I know you don’t usually have anything to do with rude people, except for her.”

“That’s true,” I said with a faint smile. “It was also my fault. Strangely, I sometimes react childishly when I’m around Dorothea. I want to irritate her, tease her… Maybe it’s because I’m a little petty,” I confessed.

“Still,” Xavier said with a low chuckle, “that’s natural. I often feel that way with Duke Escliffe.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Even recently.”

So someone like Xavier could be touchy, though I found that difficult to imagine. My perception of him from the novel was strongly embedded in my mind. By my standards, Xavier was a rational man who was never fazed by anything.

But if his opponent was Claude, then perhaps the pettiness made sense. If someone like Claude was determined to irritate someone, then very few people would be able to brush him off.

That included me.

“So don’t blame yourself. In any case, it all ended well,” Xavier concluded.

“But I will be more careful next time.”

“I appreciate it though.”

“Pardon?” I said, confused.

“For the first time, I am grateful to Lady Cornohen. If it were not for her, you wouldn’t have visited Thurman Palace. If it weren’t for the tea leaves, you would have sent the handkerchief to Thurman Palace through a servant.”

“Ah…” I felt embarrassed at the accuracy of his statement. He was right. “If you need a conversation partner, just let me know, Your Highness. I’m always free, so I can take the time to visit Thurman Palace.”

“I’m so glad you said that.” A radiant smile spread on his handsome face. “How do you find dessert?”

“It was amazing,” I praised. From the appetizers to dessert, the meal was an incredible experience, and I gave him a contented smile. “I enjoyed my meal thanks to you, Your Highness.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“Well, Your Highness. Do you…” I hesitated over my next words. “Do you have any thoughts on going on a blind date?”

“…A blind date?”

“Yes. As I said last time, I would like to arrange a meeting between you and Lady Odeletta. Of course, only if you agree,” I quickly added.

“Hmm…”

Xavier fell quiet as he considered my suggestion. My heart pounded fretfully as I waited for his answer. It wasn’t until several anxious moments later did he open his mouth to reply.

“I will consider it, Lady Maristella. Actually, this isn’t the best time for me to agree on something right now,” he said.

“Of course, Your Highness. I don’t mean to rush you,” I replied, nodding in understanding. “Take your time to think about it. It is not urgent.”

“…I will.”

Xavier smiled at me, and I finally felt like I managed to solve one problem.

In any case, the best way to wind up Dorothea was to have Xavier marry another woman. No woman other than Odeletta would infuriate Dorothea more if she were the Crown Prince’s partner.

Then, Sir Dilton’s voice interrupted from outside, cutting off our conversation.

“Your Highness.”

Xavier turned his head. “I have a guest here. What’s going on, Sir Dilton?”

“My apologies, Your Highness. It is urgent…” Sir Dilton said, his voice noticeably on edge. “His Imperial Majesty is looking for you.”

“…”

Xavier’s face immediately stiffened. I slowly recalled what his relationship with his father was like in the book.

‘It wasn’t entirely good.’

Xavier’s father—Henry XIV—intensely opposed the idea of having Dorothea as his daughter-in-law. Their father-son relationship, which had never been harmonious in the first place, crumbled to dust.

“My deepest apologies, Lady Maristella. My father is calling me, and I’m afraid I will have to go,” he said humbly.

I waved my hand to indicate that it was alright. “Not at all, Your Highness. It just so happens that I’ve overstayed my welcome… I was about to go.”

After smiling sheepishly, I stood up. A despairing look sat on Xavier’s face, and I somehow felt even worse than he did.

“I was already taking up too much of your time, so I was already going to leave, Your Highness,” I tried to explain. “This won’t be my only visit to Thurman Palace. There is no need to be sorry.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Lady Maristella. I regret that I cannot see you off. Sir Dilton will escort you out of the palace,” he said.

“Many thanks for that, Your Highness. I will be going now.”

I gave a formal bow, then quickly left the dining room just in case I might delay his visit to the Central Palace.

Sir Dilton guided me back to the carriage outside. Then, at the front gates, he presented with a package of Nilgiri tea leaves.

“These are the tea leaves you requested. It’s a shame that they are not for you.”

“I still have plenty of the tea His Highness gave me. I am grateful for his kindness,” I replied courteously.

“It’s also a shame you couldn’t spend more time at Thurman Palace. His Highness also seemed to be very sorry about it,” Sir Dilton murmured in regret.

“It cannot be helped. It’s not just anyone who called him, but His Majesty the Emperor. Since His Highness is so busy, I don’t think it’s polite to take up too much of his time,” I answered in a quiet voice, then bowed my head again and gave my farewell to Sir Dilton. “Then, Sir Dilton, I hope you will be safe until we meet again.”

“Lady Maristella. Be healthy until we meet again.”

“Yes, Sir Dilton. I will stay healthy for sure.”

I left him with a faint smile, then climbed onto the carriage. It immediately set off for the Bellafleur mansion.

2. Mixed Minds

After sending Maristella back to Bellafleur mansion, Xavier immediately strode towards the Imperial hall. As he made his way through the palace to meet his father, the warm expression he wore when meeting Maristella melted away. His face was perfectly blank, looking so devoid of emotion that any onlooker would think he was not alive.

When he finally reached the hall, a servant outside dutifully bowed to him. “Greetings to the Little Sun of the Empire.”

Xavier turned his head without a word, and the servant immediately informed Henry XIV that Xavier had arrived. As soon as permission was granted, Xavier stepped inside the room.

“…”

There was a spacious hall accommodating the many aristocrats attending the noble council. Situated at the highest position was a golden throne, upon which a man sat regally.

There was only one man who could sit on that spot. The only man above Xavier. The absolute ruler of this Empire.

“Greetings to the shining Sun of Yonas. May your reign last forever,” Xavier said.

The man was his father, Emperor Henry XIV. However, Xavier’s eyes when he looked at his father were as cold as a glacier’s.

“Did I interrupt something?” Henry asked.

“…No, Your Imperial Majesty,” Xavier said shortly, then went straight to business. “What’s going on?”

“Does something special need to happen for a father to see his own son?”

“…”

Henry was right, of course. How can a father-son relationship be based only on business? And yet, that was the reality of their association. It was perfectly business-like, and it had to stay like that.

Xavier continued his words with a straight face. “Are you saying you don’t have anything to say to me?”

“…No, that’s not what I meant,” Henry said, stroking his chin, then he spoke again. “You are twenty-three years old now.”