Chapter 8 – Part 2

“It’s fine. Just lean on me and relax your shoulders.”

His low voice resonated right next to my ear.

With one hand guiding the reins, His Highness gently pulled me closer with the other, allowing me to lean against him.

Having a backrest certainly made me feel more stable and comfortable, but…

‘The problem is that the backrest is His Highness!’

Leaning back into his embrace, I could clearly feel the warmth of my body, which had heated up from all the drinks I’d given him earlier.

The thing supporting my shoulder… Is that His Highness’s chest?

And what I’m feeling against my lower back… Could that be His Highness’s abs? The ridges were incredibly distinct.

Even though it was His Highness who had downed several cocktails in a row, I felt as though I was the one getting tipsy.

On top of that, the natural movement of his waist, transmitted through the spring fabric with every rhythm of the horse’s steps, was torturous in a completely different way.

By the time we arrived at the Rose Palace, I couldn’t remember a single thing I had seen along the way.

As His Highness helped me down from the horse, he spoke.

“I’ll come by around two tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Highness…”

After that, I sat at the same table where I’d passed out the night before and organized the cocktail recipes that His Highness and I had decided on.

“The first one was a vodka-like spirit mixed with Earl Grey at a 1:4 ratio.”

If I didn’t focus on my work, the sensation of riding the horse in His Highness’s embrace would come back to me, making my head spin all over again.

“And then I added sugar… How much was it again? I must’ve written it down somewhere.”

Systematizing what I usually make in small quantities into a proper recipe was challenging, but once I got into it, it wasn’t so bad.

As I was deeply engrossed in organizing the recipes, Duke Oscar came to visit.

“How’s it going?”

“Quite well. I should be able to show you three blended drinks by this evening.”

“You’re working quickly. It’s okay to take your time, though. Today, you should head back to Count Marnel’s estate.”

“Pardon?”

Why would someone as busy and capable as me need to go home?

Duke Oscar kindly explained.

“I met your sister on my way here. She said you need to come home and pick out a dress for the upcoming spring ball.”

Why on earth was my sister using the emperor’s consort as a messenger?

“I-I’m truly grateful.”

“No need for that. I’ll have a carriage prepared for you, so you can head back.”

Duke Oscar was indeed as kind as the rumors suggested.

* * *

It was only the second time I’d seen my parents and sister since I started working at the palace.

As soon as I entered the estate, my sister began scolding me.

“I sent you letters, but you never replied, so I had to go all the way to the palace to find you. How are you going to repay me for all that trouble?”

“With my love?”

I jokingly made a heart shape with my hands and pretended to send it her way. My sister pretended to draw a sword from her waist and slash the heart in half.

Wasn’t that a bit too harsh, sis?

The “harsh” sister asked another question.

“So, why didn’t you respond to my letters?”

“I did! I replied to the one you sent with the book and allowance.”

“Not that one, the next one I sent.”

“Did you?”

Now that I think about it, I might have seen an envelope that looked like it was from home mixed in with the pile of gifts from His Highness.

I couldn’t come up with a response and just rolled my eyes.

Seeing this, my sister picked up a letter opener from the table and aimed it at me like a dagger.

I couldn’t back down.

I quickly rummaged through my skirts and pulled out the dagger strapped to my calf. It was the one His Highness had given me.

When my sister saw it, her eyes widened as she switched her grip on the letter opener to a reverse hold.

“What’s that? The blade’s really sharp!”

“No, sis, this isn’t what I meant to do…”

It was a mistake. I meant to pull it out still in its sheath, but the blade came out on its own.

The sharp blade gleamed, and my sister’s gaze turned dangerous.

This was a do-or-die situation.

“You’re going to win anyway, sis, so bring it on!”

“So you know your place, little sister. Come at me!”

We circled the room, glaring at each other, until our mother came downstairs and caught us, resulting in a stalemate.

‘So now it’s 122 battles: 1 win, 23 draws, 98 losses…’

“Fighting again, are we? Can’t you two get along for once, especially after not seeing each other for so long?”

We rubbed our sore backsides after getting smacked by our mother and followed her upstairs to check out the dress I was to wear to the spring ball.

While we were at it, I was told to try it on and get it tailored.

As I stood still, pinned in place by the dressmakers adjusting and pinning the dress, my sister unleashed a barrage of nagging.

“When you didn’t reply to my letter, I got worried and started looking into it. Turns out, I heard a rumor that someone working at the Crown Prince’s palace suddenly transferred to the Empress’ palace. You should’ve informed us right away if something like that happened! I couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation, so I went to the palace myself, first stopping by the Crown Prince’s place to ask anyone I could find, and they said you weren’t there. There’s a guy named Archie or something who seems kind of cute. Do you know him? Anyway, so I went to the Emperor’s palace, and after asking a maid there, she confirmed that you had indeed moved from the Crown Prince’s place to the Empress’ place but weren’t there at the moment and were instead at the Rose Palace. So, on my way to the Rose Palace, guess who I ran into…”

My ears were about to start bleeding.

Trapped and unable to move, I endured my sister’s scolding until suddenly, the sound of birds chirping filled the room.

“Chirp chirp! Chirp! Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”

When I turned my head toward the source of the noise pollution, it was our family’s pet bird.

The bird was happily pecking at cookie crumbs on the table next to my sister, watching me suffer through the dress fitting and my sister’s nagging.

“Peep! Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”

Listening to the bird squawk at me, it felt like it was nagging me too.

‘Now even the bird is nagging me.’

“Why is it out of the cage again?”

“It must’ve gotten bored being alone in there.”

My sister answered as she reached out to pick up the bird.

It was clear that it had once again escaped from its cage.

“I told you it would’ve been better to leave it in the estate with its friends. And don’t feed it cookies.”

“It’s fine; these were made just for the bird. Anyway, on my way out of the Imperial Palace yesterday, I ran into Duke Oscar. Wow, he really shines in person. He looks even better up close. He has this halo-like aura…”

“Peep peep! Chirp chirp chirp!”

My eardrums were twice as sore. Covering my ears was useless.

I wanted to return to the palace as soon as possible.

After enduring my dress fitting, my sister’s nagging, and the bird’s antics for what felt like an eternity, I was finally free.

At dinner, where my whole family was gathered for the first time in a while, my father asked me a question.

“So, my dear second daughter, how is your work at the palace going?”

“It’s manageable. I’m grateful that everyone has been very accommodating.”

“Hmm, I’ve heard rumors that the Crown Prince has taken quite a liking to you…”

“That’s right. That’s what’s happened.”

My mother choked on her lemonade upon hearing that. She coughed into her napkin for a while.

Once her coughing subsided, my father spoke again.

“Erica, are you sure you’re doing well there? I’ve heard that the Crown Prince has quite a… stern personality…”

“Indeed. His hobbies include pointing out mistakes, and his specialty is firing people.”

My mother set her napkin down.

“If things ever get too tough, do let us know. While we may not be able to pass on a title or estate to you, we can certainly support you.”

This was my mother’s way of reminding me that there was no title or estate to be inherited.

My sister, who would inherit our father’s title and estate, was unusually silent. I scratched my head.

‘I expected her to try and sell me off to the palace immediately.’

Contrary to her nagging nature, she remained quiet throughout dinner, which made me even more anxious.

After we finished dinner, I slept in my room at the count’s residence for the first time in a while.

The next morning, as I was getting ready and about to board the carriage, I heard rustling from my luggage.

Inside the bag, the parrot was vigorously pecking at my diary again.

“When did you sneak in there?”

“Peep peep chirp chirp!”

I apprehended the noisy bird and handed it over to my sister.

* * *