Chapter 8 Part 3

The shape of the fingers touching my body was vivid in my mind. Not only were the fingers long and straight, but the calluses dotted here and there were also clear. There weren’t many times I could see his hands. Precisely, I had seen them only in bed. Yet the reason they were so vivid was…

“Milady.”

“…Yes?”

Canerva Grey, who had been deeply engrossed in the documents as if he was about to bury his face in them, suddenly lifted his head. Unlike me, who flinched in surprise, the fingers touching my nape naturally fell away.

“I will sign the contract.”

“Ah… already? There are many parts I haven’t explained yet…”

“The documents are sufficient. They contained all the necessary information.”

I had noticed it yesterday, but his speed of reading documents was no joke. How could he have read a 12-page document in just a few minutes?

“Between yesterday’s and today’s proposals, which did you prefer?”

“Given that the objectives of both are different, it’s difficult to say which one is better. It was a good strategy. Bringing up a completely different topic to make it hard to compare with yesterday’s, it seems simple but it’s not an easy task.”

His genuinely appreciative manner made me feel proud. Although I regretted the time spent brainstorming it, it was rewarding to see someone recognize my effort. Confidently, I extended the envelope containing the contract.

“It’s a tough choice. If we’re talking efficiency, I’d definitely go for yesterday’s contract, but today’s… will certainly bring in more profit.”

Canerva Grey, seemingly regretful that he couldn’t choose both, pulled out the contract. Between the two prepared contracts, a lilac envelope fell out.

“What’s this… an envelope?”

“Ah, right.”

I had forgotten again. I laughed and quickly handled the situation.

“I’ll take this back. It’s unrelated to the contract.”

“I see. Understood. May I keep the contract then?”

“We haven’t stamped our company’s seal on it yet, so please stamp it after finalizing and send it over.”

“Yes, that sounds good!”

As the conversation seemed to be wrapping up, Harten, who had been silently standing by, stepped forward.

“I’ll see you out.”

“Good, I had something to discuss anyway.”

We both received Canerva Grey’s farewells and left the Dorothea Palace. Although I had led him out because I had something to discuss, walking near the busy Sylvania Palace seemed risky, so we stepped into the garden between Dorothea and Sylvania Palaces.

“Lady.”

Surprisingly, it was Harten who spoke first. I stopped pulling out the letter I had gotten back from Canerva Grey and looked up at Harten.

“Do you have any plans coming up?”

“Plans? Are you referring to today?”

“That included… I’m curious about your schedule in the next week.”

I quickly went over my schedule. Starting tomorrow, there are social events lined up for the diplomatic corps, prepared for them to unwind after the royal banquet. Tomorrow is the Count of Terraen’s gathering, the day after is the Duke of Kerlann’s… Every day is a continuous series of banquets. I recalled the two houses to which I had sent confirmation letters yesterday.

“I plan to attend the Duke of Kerlan’s gathering the day after tomorrow, and in six days, the Count of Merian’s banquet. That’s all for now.”

Although I detest banquets, I agreed to attend because it was an invitation from Roxana and Rowina. When the three of us get together, as at the royal banquet, it’s considerably more comfortable because the attention isn’t as focused on us.

“That works out well.”

“…?”

“I was also planning to attend those two houses’ banquets.”

These events are meant to welcome the diplomatic corps, but it’s not mandatory for them to attend every one. Most members of the mission only bother with such gatherings if they’re hosted by a duke or higher.

So, I had expected to encounter Harten at the Duke of Kerlan’s banquet. But he’s attending the Count of Merian’s party too? That’s unusual.

“Really? I see.”

A nagging feeling of missing something flickered through my mind, but I skillfully suppressed it. Hadn’t I just realized how sensitive I was today? Surely, it must be an extension of that.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“Could you do me just one favor?”

A request? It was the first time Harten had spoken of such a thing himself, so I readily nodded.

“Would you be my partner at the Duke of Kerlan’s banquet?”

“…What?”

I was so startled that I stopped in my tracks. Harten, who had also stopped, looked at me earnestly. I swallowed the question that was on the tip of my tongue. Just by looking into his firm eyes, I could feel his sincerity.

Rather than try to persuade him, I decided to think practically. The banquet was just two days away. It wouldn’t have been strange if I had already found a partner. Naturally, I hadn’t arranged one because I planned to just show my face at the banquet while meeting with Lady Roxana and Lady Rowina. Anyone else in this situation would probably have already claimed to have a partner.

So, I could say the same. I could just grab one of my brothers to go with me. That way, I could easily refuse his request.

Even after concluding my thoughts, I found myself unable to easily speak. It was obviously the right answer. Yet, hesitating like this might seem even stranger, but still, I found it hard to utter a word of refusal. Was this due to my sensitivity earlier in the day, or was it truly a considerate decision for him? I couldn’t be sure myself.

Harten was staring at me intently, as if trying to etch every single one of my reactions into his memory. His gaze never wavered, clearly illuminating my face, and the sunlight pouring down from above highlighted his golden hair and cast shadows over his eyelids.

As his eyelashes, which had not fluttered even once, began to lower, seemingly starting to convey disappointment, I impulsively responded.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them, but when his eyes curved with joy, illuminated once again in the light, even that regret seemed trivial. I had missed my only chance to retract my words.

But truly, faced with such a happily smiling face, I had no will to snatch away his joy, so it became an unalterable fact that we would appear at the ball as partners.

As soon as morning broke, I had to force myself up. Or rather, considering it was now noon, it seemed I had actually woken up around dawn. From the moment I opened my eyes, since I hadn’t moved of my own will, it’s accurate to say I knew nothing.

Garnet has always been eager to dress me up, but since hearing we would be attending together with a partner, her enthusiasm reached indescribable levels. When I attend parties with Lady Roxana and Lady Rowina, I insist on comfortable dresses, so ‘Garnet’s masterpieces’ are usually filtered out in the first round.

Of course, Garnet wouldn’t give in easily, but she admitted that finding a compromise was often exhausting compared to days like today when I cooperated smoothly.

“…When will it end?”

“Almost done!”

Normally, I would have whined every ten minutes asking when it would end, but today was the first and last time I urged Garnet on. With a joyful face, Garnet tidied up my tousled hair while doing my makeup.

“Why do you enjoy dressing me up so much, Garnet?”

“Um… maybe it’s pride? Or perhaps it’s pride! Wanting to boast that our lady is so beautiful is something all personal maids share, I suppose.”

“Even so, it takes extraordinary patience to soothe me as I complain every ten minutes while doing makeup and hair. Perhaps it’s just that other ladies don’t fuss as much as I do, making Garnet particularly remarkable.

“All done, my lady! I’ll get the carriage ready, so we can leave on time.”

“Thanks, Garnet. You’ve worked hard today.”

Garnet smiled proudly and giggled. 

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

I gladly nodded. Garnet, concerned that I had been getting ready on an empty stomach since morning, had also brought some snacks. I was delighted at the sight of macarons, a treat I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Hmm, what color would suit the fan? My lady, have you coordinated a dress code with your partner?”

“Um, no, not specifically.”

“I see. Then please choose a color that relates most closely to your partner. We should match the fan to that color.”

I chewed on a macaron and pondered. Considering Harten’s sunlight-like blonde hair, gold seemed appropriate; yet thinking of his shimmering silver eyes, silver also felt right. Neither color was too far off from the dress I was currently wearing, making the decision difficult.

“Um… let’s go with gold.”

“Yes, I understand.”

With my decision made, I finished preparing for the ball. As I happily devoured the snacks, Garnet, who was packing a small handbag with the fan, suddenly asked, 

“But my lady, who is your partner? Someone suited to gold… who might that be?”

“I realized I hadn’t mentioned who my partner would be at the party. Considering it was a ball hosted by the Count of Kerlan, it was tricky to bring up Harten’s name without making it seem awkward.

However, merely mentioning Harten’s title was also difficult. How could I explain to Garnet, my only personal maid, that I had developed a friendship with a foreign prince without her knowing… It was a setup that was bound to provoke endless questions.

But upon further thought, I realized that once I entered the ballroom, news of it would inevitably reach Garnet in some form. Even my parents ask Garnet about matters concerning me, so keeping secrets from her seemed impossible. Maybe it would be better to just tell her now?