Chapter 79. Theo’s Guest

“But Your Highness’s skin is already so clear and clean that it might be hard to see the effects… Still, you must use my gift occasionally!”

“Maelyn, you didn’t have to do this. I’m so happy that we have the Tea-Pie gathering. That’s all thanks to you, isn’t it?”

“Hehe. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”

Yuelina was surprised by the unexpected gift and touched by Maelyn’s thoughtful heart.

Maelyn was always a precious person who took the trouble to come to the mansion for her.

To receive a gift from such a person was overwhelming.

Just then, Raye broke the touching moment between Yuelina and Maelyn by poking Maelyn’s side.

“Maelyn, where’s mine? Is this all our friendship means to you?”

“Raye, your skin would improve if you just stopped going to the training grounds.”

“……”

“And do you know how much that costs? I even had to touch my brother’s wallet.”

Maelyn whispered quietly so Yuelina couldn’t hear.

“Tch. Fine! I get it!”

Raye pouted.

“Don’t be like that, let’s buy some for Maelyn and Raye too! No, should we buy one for each of our Tea-Pie friends?”

At Yuelina’s words, Raye’s eyes sparkled.

“Great! Using His Highness the Grand Duke’s money is always welcome!”

Raye chuckled while mentally salivating over Theo’s money.

* * *

After her bath, Yuelina opened the night cream that Maelyn had gifted her.

The contents had a light pink, slimy texture.

It had a subtle rose scent that wasn’t off-putting.

“They say it makes your face glow?”

Yuelina muttered softly as she tied her hair back tightly and applied the cream carefully.

“Did I put on too much?”

She burst into laughter looking at her reflection in the mirror.

It was hard to even laugh with the thick pink cream on her face.

But she had to endure it since it was supposed to make her face bright.

In two days, Theo would finally arrive at the Black Mansion.

That much time had already passed since she last saw Theo’s face.

Perhaps because of this, Yuelina had a strong desire to show her best self to Theo after being apart for so long.

The refreshingly changed garden,

The comfortable and peaceful appearance of the Black Mansion,

And Yuelina herself.

Yuelina recalled Theo’s voice from their last conversation.

He had said he missed her too.

Though it was a brief call, Yuelina often recalled his voice.

It made her even more curious about Theo’s face.

What expression did he have when he said he missed her?

His voice was plain and calm as usual…

If there had been even a small smile on his face, if she could have seen that, Yuelina would have been overjoyed.

So Yuelina made one resolution.

When Theo arrived, she would tell him again that she missed him.

Then perhaps he would respond in person, saying he missed her too, just as he had during their call.

This would be her chance to take in his expression fully.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, are you in?”

“!”

Just then, a familiar voice was heard from outside the door. Yuelina’s heart fluttered.

She quickly put on her robe and opened the door leading to the bridge wide.

“Ulysse!”

“Uhh…”

It was Ulysse standing at the door. Yuelina’s heart beat even faster.

Ulysse being at the mansion meant that Theo had also arrived at the mansion.

Theo had come to the mansion. Yuelina swallowed her excited breath.

But Ulysse’s expression was somewhat peculiar. He was studying her face intently.

Ulysse slowly opened his mouth.

“So, Your Highness was in the middle of something? Your face is a bit…”

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

Yuelina hurriedly put her hands to her face.

She had forgotten she still had the cream on her face.

Fortunately, the cream had hardened and peeled off easily.

Only then did Ulysse look at Yuelina’s face and smile brightly.

“Somehow, you seem much brighter! Fortunately, you look good!”

Embarrassed, Yuelina quickly spoke.

“Haha. Ma-Maelyn gave it to me as a gift. She said it’s from Franz’s makeup room…”

“Franz’s makeup room? That must be really expensive… Where did she get the money?”

Ulysse’s brow gradually furrowed.

The wallet hidden under his bedroom floor kept coming to mind.

That wasn’t a good sign.

Yuelina awkwardly smiled and glanced behind Ulysse.

However, Theo was nowhere to be seen.

“Did you arrive today?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“I thought you weren’t coming for another two days.”

Ulysse strongly agreed with Yuelina’s words.

“I thought so too. Haha. Less than 5 days from Sebran region to Phaenyx Principality. It’s not like we were trying to set a record…”

Ulysse muttered with a deranged expression. Yuelina stared at his face intently.

Looking carefully, Ulysse seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

No, more precisely than losing weight, his face looked haggard overall.

His cheeks were sunken, and dark circles under his eyes cast deep shadows, making his whole person appear dark.

“Ulysse. Was it very difficult?”

Ulysse choked up at the kind Grand Duchess’s voice.

“Yes! It was quite an ordeal… but His Highness the Grand Duke was very considerate, so we came very comfortably!”

But Theo’s cold face suddenly flashed in his mind.

Ulysse barely hid the truth and smiled awkwardly at Yuelina.

This was serious.

If he didn’t keep his wits about him, things could go wrong.

He wasn’t in his right mind right now. He couldn’t be.

Ulysse had moved day and night under the single order to reach the north.

He could barely remember when he had last properly laid in a bed, or what sleep even looked like.

“Then, is His Highness the Grand Duke here too?”

“Ah, yes. He’s here but he’s tired and has gone to sleep. He said it would be better to meet tomorrow.”

Yuelina nodded, hiding her disappointment at Ulysse’s stiff voice.

Just looking at Ulysse’s condition, she could imagine how arduous the journey from the southern region must have been.

Moreover, since they had arrived late at night, it would be selfish of her to go see Theo right away just because she missed him.

Yuelina didn’t want to disturb Theo when he must be exhausted.

Above all, Yuelina had a strong desire to show her best self to Theo.

Yes. Tomorrow will be fine.

That’s better for me too.

Yuelina resolved to apply Maelyn’s cream one more time after Ulysse left.

She also planned to wear the dress she had worn when she first visited Emily’s mansion tomorrow morning. This lightened her heart considerably.

“Yes! Then Secretary, you must be tired too, so please go get some rest!”

“Ah, Your Highness. I still have something to tell you.”

Yuelina was puzzled.

She thought Ulysse had come to announce Theo’s arrival.

But he had something else to tell?

“A guest will be coming tomorrow evening. I wanted to let you know in advance as they might stay for quite a while.”

“A guest is coming?”

Yuelina’s eyes widened at Ulysse’s sudden announcement.

Since coming to the principality, Yuelina had never received guests.

The only people who had visited the Black Mansion so far were Yuelina’s friend Asarim and her Tea-Pie gathering friends.

So the ‘guest’ Ulysse mentioned must surely be Theo’s first guest.

Yuelina ran her hand through her hair with a tense expression.

Meanwhile, Ulysse’s eyes reddened as he tried to swallow his overwhelming yawns.

“Yes, yes. They said they’ll have dinner together tomorrow. Somehow that seemed better…”

“How long will the guest be staying?”

“Uhh… Probably about two weeks. It could be longer. They’re quite an important guest who needs attention.”

Ulysse barely answered while fighting to keep his bloodshot eyes open.

He was in the midst of battling with nothing other than sleepiness itself.

If Theo hadn’t been adamant about telling her tonight due to the possibility of her having plans tomorrow, he would have already gone to his room.

Even now, that feeling hadn’t changed.