Masquerade - Chapter 10
Even when Elia politely refused or spoke firmly, what always came back was Rhienze’s smile and goodwill. Although Elia couldn’t say that Rhienze, who forcibly gave her all unnecessary things, was bad, she had always thought that their personalities really didn’t match.
It seemed that Rhienze’s gift this time was Elia’s first partner, her pairing. It wasn’t even written in the letter who it was. From what she had heard, the Young Grand Duke of Castile was scheduled to make an unusual visit to Shilom in a few days. Since he was about the same age as Elia, it was likely the Young Grand Duke.
She had been unable to sleep much these days thinking about the letter. Since childhood, she had symptoms of becoming sensitive and having nightmares when feeling inexplicable anxiety. She thought she was fine now, but it seemed not. Perhaps she had used up a lot of energy dealing with new situations day by day.
It’s soon time for her lesson with Gaian.
Elia sighed and grabbed her embroidery frame. Simple and repetitive work was perfect for forgetting distracting thoughts. Although she now enjoyed roaming outside the castle, she had been bedridden for a much longer period, so she had taken up embroidery as a hobby since then. Even now that she could move around normally, the embroidery frame was still the most familiar thing in her hands.
While she was concentrating, she heard footsteps approaching.
When she looked up, Gaian was sitting across from her with a groan.
When the weather was good, they sometimes had lessons in the garden. Seeing Elia sitting outside, he must have thought it was an outdoor lesson.
Well, not a bad idea.
The old professor straightened his clothes and bowed his head.
“I am honored, Your Highness. I received the quill pen and paper you sent to my research room through Marie.”
Elia put down her embroidery frame, rubbing her stiff eyes.
“Good, I hope you used them well.”
“What happened with your visit to the Academia the other day?”
“Ah! I asked Bobbin. I realized that I’ve been studying under you all for years, but I’ve never actually been to the Academia.”
“Is that really all?”
“What else could there be?”
Gaian seemed to have something on his mind, but he didn’t voice it. Elia thought that perhaps even Gaian could be connected to Duke Nisendel. Or maybe the Chancellor had asked Gaian something that day.
“How is the Yurteina Protocol going?”
“That, I’ve prepared perfectly.”
“Good.”
“But Gaian.”
“Please ask.”
“Why did you make me write the draft of the Yurteina Protocol?”
Gaian was flustered when she suddenly questioned the usual assignment.
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. The drafts I’ve written for practice like this are piled up like a mountain. Of course, I’ve accomplished all tasks brilliantly. But apart from that dazzling ability, given that my role might ultimately be just to form a marriage alliance with a foreign country, why did I have to accomplish things like this?”
Her eyes, which had been like buttonholes, opened wide. Elia observed the flustered face of her counterpart.
“That is…”
Elia shook her head slightly and continued speaking.
“It’s too much. It’s really been too much all along. Why on earth should I receive even the practical work you’re in charge of within the court?”
“That was what Your Highness wanted.”
“That’s right. I asked precisely. And you taught precisely. Strangely precisely. This is impossible unless the goals of the person making the request and the person carrying it out are the same.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Your Highness.”
You’re going to deny it to the end? At this point, it was suspicious enough to wonder if there was some strict directive.
Crensen’s reign had lasted over 10 years, so it was in a stable state, and although there were big and small mistakes, the royal authority was not in danger. His grown heir, Rhienze, was similar. She had been participating in official duties for years, maintaining her position as successor. The royal family was firm. Yet they had continued to provide Elia with such intensive education that she could participate in running the royal family.
“Gaian. Do you think I don’t know what I’ve been learning?”
Although it wasn’t formal king’s studies, Elia had clearly learned a similar process. She had cultivated the qualities and mindset that a royal should have, covering various fields. The fields of more than ten professors were all different, but they were all heading towards one purpose.
“I’m no longer the heir, but I want to stay in Naewin as a princess, fulfilling my duties as a royal and performing official duties. Not being sold off. Isn’t that why you’ve been teaching me all this time?”
“Was there perhaps… a marriage proposal?”
“Yes. It’s Castile, they say.”
Gaian opened his mouth, but no answer came out. Only his white beard fluttered.
“I’m not going to Castile.”
Elia was careful not to get too excited.
“Will you help me?”
Her heart was pounding. What if they say their role ends here and they can’t help anymore? What if they say they just taught because Elia wanted it, but they have no intention of continuing together?
She felt an anxiety she didn’t know existed. Elia tried to hide her impatience.
“You’ve been watching me for over 10 years.”
As she looked at Gaian, the old man’s expression was strange.
“…What’s wrong?”
As if he was about to burst into tears.
Gaian took off his silver-rimmed glasses and pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his face. Of course, it was the handkerchief Elia had given him as a gift.
She was flustered by her teacher suddenly showing tears and muttered,
“Gaian… Are you crying?”
Gaian shook his head, but moisture had gathered in the corners of his eyes.
“This old fool didn’t even know marriage talks were going on…”
His white beard, grown down to his solar plexus, fluttered every time he exhaled with a sob.
“How could you have been worrying about this big matter alone?”
“What…”
After a moment, the calmed old man spoke with a trembling voice.
“Of course, I will help you with all my heart.”
Elia’s face, which had been stiff, brightened.
“Really?”
“Spread your desired will freely in Naewin. Isn’t that why you’ve been devoted to your studies for so long?”
Gaian tightly grasped Elia’s hand. Elia looked at the grimy handkerchief in his hand and felt strange. While some claim that as a token of affection, others use it to wipe sweat and blow their nose.
“Thank you.”
“I just gave you the obvious answer.”
Elia smiled at Gaian, who was still sniffling, and said.
“I’ll give you another handkerchief later. Take it with you.”
Elia waved her hand to Gaian and then flopped down on the grass.
The moist and soft sensation enveloped her back. As she took in the scent of grass and flowers, her body, which had been tense until she got a definite answer from Gaian, relaxed.
She was very puzzled that neither Gaian nor any other professor knew about the national marriage news that the Royal Household Department must have been promoting.
Elia had naturally made guesses.
Did someone intentionally block the information? To prevent her and her close associates from making any preparations? Are there really forces that would check her to that extent?
It was hard to know.
Elia closed her eyes languidly, listening to the sound of attendants clearing the table. Since it was routine, they didn’t disturb the princess lying openly on the bare ground.
She exhaled comfortably and reviewed her conversation with Gaian. Since she had asked for help, the Academia would surely come up with countermeasures. She had no intention of staying idle either. It would be enough to make Castile reject the national marriage that Naewin wanted.
If Castile wants a national marriage with Naewin, what would they most want to gain…
After being lost in thought for a while, the moisture from the ground rose and her back became cold. Despite this, she found it bothersome to raise her body once she had laid down, so she rolled over to lie on her side. Somehow her body felt heavy, perhaps because she hadn’t been sleeping properly lately, worrying about various things until late at night.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps as if someone was approaching.
Elia slightly raised her head, intending to instruct for a blanket to be brought and a meal to be prepared. Her platinum blonde hair, flowing over her shoulders, shone brightly under the dazzling sun. A few white flower petals were mixed in with her pale hair, the symbol of the royal family.
Elia roughly smoothed her disheveled hair as she turned her eyes towards the presence she sensed.
“I’ll have lunch here….”
But the black shoes that caught her eye were not those of a maid.
The cast shadow was much longer and wider. Elia slowly looked up at the figure. Black trouser legs, a dark gray coat. And a wide cravat in a slightly lighter shade.
Her heart sank.
Even before confirming the face, she felt she knew who it was.
Elia, startled, quickly sat up and opened her mouth to call for a maid, but her lips only moved silently, unable to produce any words.
Why was this man here?
