Chapter 8 – Part 4

Duke Oscar glanced over the recipes, then passed them to the maid to have small batches prepared.

The maid was my friend Camilla.

Since it wasn’t appropriate to greet each other openly in front of Duke Oscar, we simply exchanged glances and silently acknowledged each other.

Camilla left with the papers containing the recipes.

“Let’s have a light snack while we wait for Camilla to return.”

Duke Oscar suggested, and a servant promptly set the table with drinks and snacks.

Feeling a bit peckish, I happily sat down opposite Duke Oscar, and we chatted about the ball preparations while enjoying the refreshments.

The finger sandwiches, packed with ham and meat, were delicious, as were the tart-like desserts topped with seasonal fruits.

Duke Oscar asked,

“Are you attending the spring ball this year?”

“Yes, I’ll have to attend, if only to taste the mixed drinks.”

“When the maids and servants working in the Imperial Palace attend the spring ball, they are given leave starting the day before. This allows them to prepare comfortably at their respective family residences in the capital.”

“Wow, I see.”

Actually, Natalie had told me this a while ago.

A short while later, Camilla returned, pushing a trolley with the five cocktails. The servant cleared away the snack dishes, and the cocktails and several glasses were lined up on the table.

The first cocktail was made with Earl Grey tea, a mild spirit, sugar water, and a touch of lemon juice. Since the tea proportion was higher than that of the spirit, even I could drink this one.

I poured the cocktail into Duke Oscar’s glass first, then into mine.

Duke Oscar lifted his glass, savored the aroma, took a sip, and smiled.

“Excellent.”

“Thank you.”

I took a sip myself. It was indeed a superb taste. The Crown Prince had excellent taste in drinks.

The second cocktail had a base of spirit and white wine, with Earl Grey tea infused with bergamot, orange, and lemon zest, and generously added honey and lemon juice.

This one was even lower in alcohol content than the first, so it should be fine for me to drink.

Duke Oscar commented,

“It’s similar to the first one but sweeter and milder. The honey and lemon blend wonderfully.”

Tasting it myself, I found it to be exactly that. This one was really tasty.

Since it was low in alcohol, it went down smoothly and easily without any harshness.

The third cocktail was made with a gin-like spirit, hibiscus syrup, lime juice, and plenty of soda water.

It was sweet, tangy, and aromatic—simply delightful.

The fourth one was a mix of brandy and tea, with added sugar to create a smooth blend of tea and alcohol flavors. This one was a bit stronger.

As someone with a low tolerance for alcohol, I only tasted a small amount.

As the strong, sweet liquor went down my throat, I felt a slight warmth in my esophagus—simply wonderful.

And the fifth one…

* * *

Oscar looked down at Erica, who had suddenly collapsed and fallen asleep.

“She has such a low alcohol tolerance, yet she loves to drink. How curious.”

Camilla, standing nearby, replied,

“Indeed…”

She gently covered her friend, who had fallen asleep in the middle of tasting the cocktails, with a blanket.

Oscar instructed,

“Please stay with her until she wakes up.”

“Yes, I will.”

Oscar was about to leave but then paused, his gaze fixed on Erica, the second daughter of Count Marnel, who was now asleep on the sofa opposite him.

He thought to himself,

‘Status Window.’

As always, a translucent blue window appeared before Oscar’s eyes, displaying Erica’s information.

Erica’s status hadn’t changed much since he last checked.

[Status Window]

Name: Erica
Title: Mostly Harmless
Species: Human
Occupation: Senior Maid of the Imperial Palace

Stats:
– Stamina: 4
– Strength: 4
– Agility: 6
– Intelligence: 7
– Luck: 5 (+6)
– Magic: 0 (+90)
– Special Note: Origin Earth-1218 □□□□□□ 2□□ □□
– Skills: [SR+] □□□ □□□. □□□□…….

<Abnormal access has been blocked.>

When Oscar’s world faced its second destruction, most abilities vanished, but somehow, the status window and inventory remained, albeit slightly.

Was it the system’s caprice?

Compatibility was incomplete, causing text to occasionally appear garbled, but its usefulness was undeniable.

* * *

I fell asleep again!

When I opened my eyes, a blanket I had never seen before covered me, and Camilla was sitting on the sofa across from me, sipping the cocktail she made earlier while reading a book.

The outside was already dim, as the sun was almost set. The light from the chandelier and candles bathed our surroundings in warm hues.

I scrambled up, flustered, and made eye contact with Camilla.

“Erica, you’re very weak with alcohol.”

“Well, I thought I could handle at least this much…”

I stretched and rubbed my eyes.

Camilla poured water into a glass and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

After finishing the glass of water, my head felt a bit clearer.

Camilla looked at me with a worried expression.

“How did you make that mixed drink if you’re so weak with alcohol?”

“Someone else tasted it for me. Still, I thought I could drink at least this much.”

“This won’t do. I’m worried you’ll fall asleep anywhere during the ball. Stay with me.”

“Really? Shall we?”

It would be fun to hang out with Camilla!

“Yes. Charlotte and Madeline will be there too. Charlotte is attending with her fiancé. And Madeline is entering with her family, like me.”

“I’ll be going with my parents and sister too.”

Camilla hesitated for a moment.

“I thought you would be attending with His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Because of the rumors?”

“Yes. His Highness is very handsome. I thought anyone would agree to be his partner.”

Camilla’s eyes, reflected in the candlelight, shone with pure admiration and a hint of concern.

Feeling a bit ticklish, I scratched my cheek with my finger.

“Ha ha, His Highness hasn’t asked me to be his partner.”

“There’s still time before the ball, so maybe he will.”

Camilla’s tone was more cautious than usual, as if she worried I might be disappointed that His Highness hadn’t asked me yet.

I shared my thoughts with Camilla.

“Even so, I want to enter with my family. Honestly, if I walked in with His Highness this spring, people would make an even bigger fuss.”

They’d start asking if we were dating, why we weren’t, when we would, and when the engagement would be… The things they whispered behind my back would now be said to my face.

“That’s true. It would be overwhelming. But His Highness is handsome and beautiful…”

Hesitating whether to ask or not, I finally opened my mouth.

“Camilla, do you perhaps like His Highness?”

Camilla’s eyes widened, and then she laughed clearly.

“Ha ha ha, that’s not it. I’m the eldest daughter, so I need to carry on the family line. Someone like him is impossible for me.”

Camilla’s usually quiet voice continued.

“Actually, I’ve liked someone for a long time.”

“Wow, I had no idea. Who is it?”

“It’s a secret.”

“…”

“That person feels the same, but both of us need to prioritize our families, so it’s hard.”

“Oh…”

“If we could just be with someone purely for love, without all the surrounding circumstances and conditions, how great would that be.”

Camilla smiled wistfully.

She stayed with me, talking until the sleepiness completely left my face.

Once I was fully awake, I rode the carriage from the Rose Palace back to the servants’ quarters at the Imperial Palace.

Natalie wasn’t in the room yet. She must have been working late again, preparing for the ball.

I pushed the gifts piled up in front of the door into the room with my foot. Then I took out my diary from the drawer and opened it.

Usually, around this time, there would be a new message from my diary friend, but today, it seemed my friend hadn’t written yet.

I thought for a moment and then wrote a line first.

[I made a new drink this time.]

Just as I was about to read a book while waiting for my friend’s reply, I heard a soft, irregular tapping from the balcony.

Peeking out, I saw a large bouquet of flowers piled high on the balcony ledge.

Another large bouquet flew up, hitting the window and falling.

It must be His Highness.

I opened the window and called out below.

“Your Highness.”

“My apologies for this late hour.”

His knights and attendants were out of sight, probably kept at a distance.

In the silent, midnight garden of the Imperial Palace, it seemed it was just His Highness and me.

The Crown Prince, holding the remaining bouquets he had been throwing onto my balcony, made a request.

“As you might have guessed, would you be my partner at the Spring Ball?”

It had finally come.

“I refuse.”

Sadness filled the Crown Prince’s eyes as he looked up at me.

If I hadn’t seen it, I might have missed it, but why did his expression have to be so clear even at night?

I hastily added, “No, please hear me out, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince waited below the balcony, looking as forlorn as a puppy abandoned in the rain.

I stammered, continuing my explanation, “If I become your partner and enter with you, that means I’ll be entering with Her Majesty the Empress and Duke Oscar as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s extremely overwhelming.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened.

“I see… I hadn’t considered that.”

The Crown Prince, still holding several large bouquets, pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“In that case, would you grant me the honor of the first dance?”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

That seemed manageable.

At my response, the Crown Prince smiled like a moonflower.

* * *