Chapter 2 (Part 10)

The place where Theodore and Meia were to have dinner had a dress code.

Returning to her cabin, Meia took out several dresses and a jewelry box from her magic bag.

Anna was excited at the thought of dressing Meia in the beautiful dresses and jewels.

“You look so beautiful, Milady.”

“Anna, what should I wear?”

Anna examined the dresses Meia had laid out.

She couldn’t shake the thought that anything would suit her.

“Everything looks good on you…”

“I’ll wear what you recommend, Anna.”

Anna thought about the person Meia would be dining with. In her hometown, there was a superstition that if women wore dresses matching the eye color of their date, love would blossom.

“A black dress would be good. And for your hair, a slight wave… with pearls…”

Unable to keep up with Anna’s incessant talking, Meia interrupted her and decided to leave the preparations to Anna.

“Anna, you have a good eye. I’ll leave everything to you, so please take care of it.”

Anna smiled happily at the compliment.

“Just leave it to me. I’ll make you look the most beautiful.”

“I trust you.”

Meia sat in front of the dressing table and closed her eyes.

As she closed her eyes, she recalled the conversation she had with Theodore before they parted.

<Then, can I ask you to escort me later?>

<Escort?!>

<If you don’t want to.>

<I will. Please let me!>

His urgent eyes and expression were so cute.

Thinking of him again, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Anna, noticing Meia’s sudden laughter, asked,

“Milady, did you think of something amusing?”

“Yes… I thought of a cute black retriever.”

“The big dog that wags its tail like crazy?”

“Yes. A cute, big dog.”

‘He really is like a dog. A very big dog.’

“Retriever puppies are all cute. But you said a black retriever, not a golden retriever?”

“I think black retrievers are cuter than golden retrievers.”

The way he secretly looked at her with his big, black eyes was so cute that she couldn’t help but want to take care of him.

“I keep thinking of him.”

Her heart kept feeling ticklish.

After her hair and makeup were done, with Anna’s help, she put on her dress.

As soon as she finished dressing, there was a knock at the door.

It was the knock indicating that Theodore had arrived to escort Meia.

“He’s here. Have a good time!”

When she opened the door and stepped out, Theodore was standing there in a splendid blue uniform.

“Hello, Grand Duke Theodore.”

Theodore was so stiff upon seeing Meia that he forgot to breathe.

“Grand Duke Theodore?”

His gaze was fixed solely on Meia.

“…”

Unable to bear it, Aethon, standing behind Theodore, pressed on his back.

“Ah.”

“Are you feeling unwell? Shall we have dinner later?”

Meia’s words snapped Theodore back to reality.

“No, I’m fine.”

Theodore slightly bowed and extended his hand to Meia. Meia smiled at him and said,

“You look great today, Grand Duke Theodore. The uniform suits you well.”

“Thank you.”

Meia placed her hand on his.

His hand started to sweat.

“Thank you for escorting me, Grand Duke Theodore.”

“No, it’s my pleasure!”

Meia smiled brightly and made eye contact with Theodore, who was trying to avoid her gaze.

As soon as their eyes met, Theodore’s face turned as red as a ripe apple.

“Your face turns red every time I see you.”

“I tend to get hot easily.”

“I see.”

Aethon, following behind them, sighed and pounded his chest in frustration.

They entered the cruise ship’s restaurant. Many people were already inside, enjoying their meals.

Guided to their table, Meia and Theodore sat down, enjoying the beautiful piano music played by a performer in the center of the restaurant.

Meia ordered the recommended menu from the person who brought the menu.

Theodore ordered the same.

“The pianist is very skilled.”

“Anyone can play the piano here freely. That pianist is also a restaurant guest.”

“Oh.”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t played the piano in a long time.

Since her parents passed away, she hadn’t touched the piano she loved.

“How long will it take for the food to be ready?”

“It will take about 20 minutes since we need to catch the fish.”

Clap clap.

The person who had been playing the piano stood up.

People applauded his excellent performance.

Meia asked Theodore,

“Grand Duke Theodore, do you like the piano?”

“Yes, I can’t play, but I enjoy listening.”

“Then, may I play the piano before the food arrives?”

“Of course.”

Meia stood up and went to the piano.

It was a rare, fine grand piano.

She lightly pressed the keys, finding it well-maintained.

People stopped eating and watched the beautiful silver-haired lady at the piano with curiosity.

‘Sonata in A Major by Sorndorf, Mischief of the Moon Fairy.’

This piece was avoided by many performers due to its incredibly fast tempo.

Because of its fast pace, it was easy to make mistakes, and few could play it perfectly.

However, this was a piece Meia had loved and played often since she was young.

Meia’s fingers moved swiftly over the wide keys of the piano.

Her silver hair swayed with each note, capturing everyone’s attention.

Most of all, everyone was mesmerized by her flawless performance of a piece even professional musicians avoided.

Ding ding!

As the short performance ended, the restaurant fell silent.

Then, an enormous applause and cheers erupted for Meia.

“Bravo!”

“Encore!”

Meia stood up, lightly holding the hem of her dress and covering her chest with her left hand, bowing to the audience before returning to her seat.

Theodore welcomed Meia enthusiastically as she sat down.

“That was a wonderful performance!”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

As soon as she sat down, the food began to arrive.

Today, the fishermen had caught fresh fish, so Meia was quite excited.

“Do you like meunière, Grand Duke Theodore?”

At Meia’s question, Theodore visibly stiffened.

“Grand Duke?”

‘Did I ask something difficult?’

‘Why does he look so serious?’

‘Or did I ask something inappropriate?’

Seeing Theodore’s stiff posture, Meia felt a bit tense.

“I, I.”

Despite his serious expression, Theodore stammered nervously, clenching his fists and speaking to Meia.

“I… like it.”

Theodore’s face turned red again as he answered Meia’s question about liking meunière.

Watching the extremely shy Theodore, Meia smiled brightly.

“Yes, I like it too.”

At Meia’s words, Theodore’s eyes wavered.

Then, with a serious expression, he spoke to Meia again.

“I like it too.”

Meia elegantly smiled at Theodore, who repeated his answer about liking meunière.

“Yes, I understand you like it. I’m looking forward to the menu today too.”

Theodore stared blankly at Meia.

Aethon, standing behind Theodore, could only watch and pound his chest in frustration.

*   *   *

Dinner with Theodore was enjoyable.

Though he was very shy, he was polite and pure.

Then, it happened.

Crash.

A child carrying the food accidentally tripped, spilling food on Meia’s dress and the dress of a woman at the next table, dirtying their clothes.

“You wretched thing! Do you know how much this dress costs?”

The lady at the table next to Meia stood up and began yelling at the child who was serving.

“How do they train their staff here?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The fallen child could only tremble and repeatedly apologize.

Meia also noticed food stains on the hem of her dress.

Seeing the stains on Meia’s dress, Theodore asked,

“Are you alright, Lady Meia?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Your dress.”

“What about the dress?”

“Your dress is dirty.”

“The dress being dirty isn’t important. Dresses can be bought again…”

Meia put down her utensils and looked sympathetically at the trembling child on the floor.

“What is your name?”

The child, noticing Meia’s stained dress, trembled even more and answered.

“Ellie. I’m sorry. I’ve committed a grave sin.”

“A grave sin? Who committed a grave sin here?”

“I fell and dirtied the dresses. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not a grave sin. It was just a mistake.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, you won’t make such mistakes again, right? If it happens more than three times, it’s intentional.”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I’ll forgive your mistake. So, don’t cry too much and get up.”

The lady at the opposite table also looked at Meia’s dress.

It was clear that Meia’s dress was much more expensive than hers.

So, it was awkward for her to demand compensation.

If Meia, wearing a more expensive dress, didn’t complain, how could she?

But the elegant silver-haired lady showed no signs of anger.

It felt embarrassing to be the only one upset.

Meia also looked at the lady’s dress.

“Madam, isn’t the dress you’re wearing a creation of Madam Luanna?”

“Oh my, how did you know?”

“Of course.”

It was natural for Meia. She had been the flower of the social world since she was young.

She knew the characteristics and patterns of designers’ dresses.

She had been highly trained to recognize what people wore, what bags and jewelry they bought from which designers, at a glance.

So, no matter where she went, even the most discerning noblewomen couldn’t help but like Meia.

“It’s the summer dress Madam Luanna made for her twenty-first season.”

“My goodness, how did you know?”

“I love Madam Luanna’s works too. I buy her series every time they come out.”

“Just like me.”

“It’s unfortunate that the dress got dirty, but it wasn’t intentional. Madam, please be generous and forgive the servant.”

Since Madam Luanna’s dresses were not something commoners could afford, Meia easily deduced that the lady was a noble.

“Yes, of course.”

Ellie, still trembling on the floor, cautiously raised her head.

“Yes, I can ask Madam Luanna to make the same one again. My dress was made by Madam Claira, so I’ll ask her to make it again.”

Hearing that Meia’s dress was by the famous and expensive designer Clairira, the noblewoman’s voice softened.

“Yes, of course. I also frequently purchase dresses from Designer Clairira, haha.”

Meia spoke easily, but commissioning a sold-out dress again would cost much more.

However, if she talked about compensation or responded to Meia’s words, she would seem like a person who couldn’t afford it. She didn’t want to appear that way.

“Ellie, get up. The kind madam here will forgive you.”

Ellie stood up, unable to believe it.

“Thank you, madam. Thank you.”

“Haha, be careful next time. Haha, it’s just a dress.”

The noblewoman couldn’t say anything in response to Meia’s words.

Nor could she remain angry.

Her cherished expensive dress was just dirtied.

She felt like crying inside. She came to eat wearing her most expensive dress…….

But she couldn’t show it. She didn’t want to appear poor in the eyes of those watching her.

“Ellie, you can go now.”

“Thank you. Thank you.”

Ellie stood up and cleared the messy plates. And peaceful dining resumed.

Having watched from the beginning, Aethon was deeply moved by Meia’s actions.

Ellie was about to be severely scolded, but Meia stopped it.

There was no big commotion.

She resolved everything calmly and peacefully.

Aethon was filled with admiration for Meia’s conduct.

‘She should become the Grand Duchess of Florence!’

Aethon covered his mouth and looked at Meia with sparkling eyes. Seeing Aethon’s expression, Theodore glared at him uncomfortably.