Chapter 37: Etienne’s Day

“There’s a festival coming up soon.”

“Which… Ah. Is it Etienne’s Day?”

Bliss nodded as she belatedly remembered. This was what Jackie had been mentioning frequently lately.

Etienne’s Day began from a true story.

There was a woman named Etienne who loved her husband. Though they didn’t live a wealthy life, they spent happy days loving each other until one day when the man fell ill and became bedridden.

Etienne gave her husband, who had few days left to live, the gift of an ordinary day. Starting with their usual morning greetings, they ate together and spent time together. And when her husband closed his eyes, Etienne also fell asleep, but the next day, miraculously, her husband opened his eyes. His illness had disappeared.

After that, because spending a day with a loved one was said to bring miracles, Etienne’s Day became an annual celebration.

‘It’s a special day for Latte and Caelan too.’

After his wife died, Caelan had no intention of having anyone by his side. This day was what allowed his relationship with Latte to progress.

Though it was just one day, it helped soften what had been an awkward relationship between the two.

“On that day, people also give gifts to their loved ones. Use that day.”

It became a day when people gave gifts hoping to make their loved ones happy.

“Thank you.”

Thanks to Imperial Princess Jasmin who had unexpectedly helped solve her worries, Bliss felt much lighter.

“Shall we move on to the next thing?”

When Imperial Princess Jasmin gestured, Bliss turned around following her gaze. Soon the door opened and a knight entered carrying a box. Seeing the considerably long box, Bliss looked it over with curious eyes. Since it wasn’t in the usual square shape, she could guess what was inside.

“Is it a sword?”

“That’s right. As I mentioned before, I tried making a sword. I mixed iron with the high-hardness metal, and it took a while to find the right ratio.”

Hearing the Imperial Princess’s explanation made her want to see it even more. As she looked at the Imperial Princess hoping to open it, for some reason she didn’t touch the box.

The Imperial Princess tilted her head and muttered.

“What remains is testing it…”

The Imperial Princess pushed the box towards Bliss.

“Usually I would bestow something like this to a knight for testing, but I’ll specially give it to you. Take it.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“Because someone more skilled can test it.”

She could guess who that meant. Caelan would be the best test subject. But there was a problem.

‘That means I have to ask him if this is okay.’

She didn’t want to do that.

“No, it’s fine…”

Bliss, who had pushed the box away saying she didn’t need it, suddenly changed her mind and pulled the box towards herself.

“Thank you. So this is mine?”

“That’s right.”

“Since this is one of a kind, can I set the price as I want?”

“Y-yes?”

When Imperial Princess Jasmin nodded with a bewildered expression, Bliss stroked the box with a brighter face than before. Her thoughts had changed. There was an urgent matter that made her willing to overcome her discomfort with Caelan.

***

“When will the Marquis return?”

“I’ll find out.”

“Thank you.”

Bliss looked around, full of anticipation. Usually, she hoped Caelan wouldn’t return early. Since he was such an uncomfortable person to deal with, she wanted to avoid running into him as much as possible, but today was different. Since she needed to deliver the sword to him, she hoped Caelan would appear soon.

Bliss looked down at the box she was carrying. She had refused when the knight offered to carry it and brought it herself.

“If he likes this, I’ll tell him to buy it.”

More precisely, she would ask him to deduct it from the money she owed him. Though she had other plans for making money, it wouldn’t hurt to reduce her debt even a little.

Though she hadn’t made it herself, it was given by the Imperial Princess. Bliss, who kept smiling with excitement, suddenly stiffened.

“But… what if he throws it away saying it’s no good?”

All her efforts in bringing this and approaching him could be wasted.

“No, this isn’t just an ordinary sword…”

“Not an ordinary sword? Then what kind of sword is it?”

Someone responded to Bliss’s muttering. At the familiar voice, Bliss raised her head to find a familiar face smiling at her.

“Viscount Jimilta?”

“It’s been a while, Marchioness.”

Bliss met Leonard’s eyes and then quickly looked around. Confirming they were at the entrance to the main castle, Bliss smiled.

“I was blocking your way. Please go ahead.”

Bliss stepped aside to make way for Leonard to pass. However, Leonard seemed not to understand her intention and remained standing there.

“If I really had business at the castle, I would have passed regardless. The path isn’t so narrow that I couldn’t pass just because you were standing there.”

Leonard was right. She had only stepped aside thinking he might want to pass by.

“I came because I have something to say to you.”

“To me?”

“Yes, if you have a moment, there’s a garden nearby where we could talk.”

While she was wondering what he had to say, Leonard said it would only take a moment, so she couldn’t coldly refuse.

Bliss handed the sword she was holding to the knight.

“Wait here.”

“Understood.”

As the knight received the box and stepped back, Leonard took his place.

“Shall we go then?”

Bliss accepted Leonard’s proposal with a small nod.

“It’s always nice to meet you, but it feels even better since we’re not at the Marquis’s residence.”

When Leonard spoke with a bright smile, Bliss smiled back but suddenly stopped as if she had noticed something.

‘Caelan?’

For a moment, she thought she had seen Caelan’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I must have seen wrong.”

Bliss looked over Leonard’s shoulder again, but Caelan whom she thought she had seen wasn’t there.

***

Seated at a table in the garden, Bliss looked at the people scattered around. Though they were somewhat distant, it wasn’t so far that they couldn’t recognize each other’s faces. They seemed to recognize Bliss too, as they kept sending glances her way. Leonard also seemed to notice these gazes, and after looking around with a bothered expression, he cleared his throat and spoke.

“If this spot is uncomfortable, shall we move somewhere else?”

“No, it’s fine. They won’t be able to hear our conversation anyway, so let’s talk here. What is it?”

When Bliss asked with curious eyes, Leonard hesitated for a moment.

“Actually, I came because I have something I want to give you.”

“To me?”

Bliss looked up at Leonard with completely surprised eyes. At that, Leonard fiddled with his clothes before smoothly taking out a small box from his inner pocket.

“Please accept this.”

Bliss looked at the box held out to her and then back up at Leonard. Even when he winked as if urging her to take it, Bliss couldn’t readily reach out her hand. She hesitated whether she should accept this. But thinking he would keep holding it out until she took it, she awkwardly accepted the box.

Though she hadn’t opened the box yet, its elegant velvet form was clearly a jewelry box to anyone who saw it. After examining the box from various angles, Bliss opened the lid. It was exactly as expected. A necklace lay on the soft cushion inside.

“Isn’t this craftsman quite skilled?”

Despite his explanation, Bliss still looked down at it without understanding.

“Don’t you remember? I used to give you pieces made whenever I brought in craftsmen.”

Bliss flinched and gripped the box tightly.

“I had forgotten.”

“Perhaps because it’s been a while. I haven’t given you anything since you got married.”

Bliss nodded while thinking it was fortunate. Just as she thought she couldn’t remember immediately, it seemed receiving such accessories from Leonard was indeed from long ago.

“Then I definitely can’t accept this.”

“It seems you don’t like it.”

Leonard, misunderstanding why Bliss was refusing, reached into his chest and pulled out another box.

“How about this one?”

Leonard smiled brightly, saying she could look at as many as she wanted. So much that Bliss, who wanted to refuse saying she couldn’t accept such things, couldn’t speak right away.

“If you’re feeling burdened, couldn’t you give me a gift in return? For example, that sword you were carrying earlier would be nice…”

***

Among those watching the two was Caelan. He had been watching since Leonard and Bliss walked towards the garden earlier.

“Was she supposed to meet with Viscount Jimilta?”

“They met by chance.”

The knight who had earlier put the sword box in the carriage at Bliss’s instruction reported the detailed situation. How they had met and what conversation they had.