Chapter 70
9 — Founding Festival
A few days later, late in the morning.
Elisha woke up feeling that the space next to her was empty. As soon as she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Richard putting on some cufflinks with the sunlight rising in the background. Seeing the cool expression on his face with indifferent eyes, the opposite image of him from last night overlapped in Elisha’s mind. A solid body wet with sweat, hot moist lips, a low, drowsy voice ringing in her ears, and… longing red eyes that looked only at her.
As she recalled that memory, her heart started beating rapidly.
‘As expected, that face is the best for prenatal care.’
Elisha indulged herself in that pleasant face, enjoying the excited pounding in her chest. At that moment, her eyes met with Richard’s, who had felt her gaze and turned around. Surprised by the sudden turn, she looked at him, blinked, and sneakily avoided his eyes. The next morning after spending the night together, she always felt somewhat embarrassed and couldn’t look him in the eyes.
Richard, unable to understand Elisha’s heart, hurriedly approached her and sat next to her.
“Good morning, Elisha.”
A pleasant low-pitched voice rang softly in her ears. Elisha slowly lifted her eyes and looked at him as she answered in a low voice.
“Umm, good morning.”
“How’s your body?”
Dazed, she looked at him while he asked. After spending the night together, he always checked her physical condition. To the point, it was hard to believe that the person who gave her a hard time at night was the same as the one caring for her so diligently. To be honest, even though she hated him for harassing her that much, she didn’t really hate him at all.
“I’m fine.”
Elisha answered as she got up from bed. Then Richard helped her up. She glanced at him, who was wearing outing clothes. He seemed to be going out.
“Are you going to a meeting?”
“We have to prepare for the foundation festival soon.”
“Ah, the foundation…”
Come to think of it, there was a founding festival in early July. Along with the New Year’s Festival and the Harvest Festival, the founding festival was one of the great events of the Empire. In particular, the foundation festival was a more reverent and meaningful event as it was a day to commemorate the founding of the Empire. As the festival was less than a half-moon away, Richard, as the head of the noble council, must have been busier than ever.
[tl/n: Half-moon is half a month in the lunar calendar. A month in the lunar calendar is about 29,5 days roughly]
Richard whispered as he kissed Elisha’s belly.
“I’ll be back, love.”
Then, he placed his hand on top of the belly and waited quietly. But, as always, there was no response. It was the same even when he gently stroked Elisha’s stomach. Richard, who had been waiting for a while, raised his body with a disappointing look.
“Then I’ll be back.”
His hand brushed Elisha’s messy hair and tucked it behind her ear. A cautious hand touched Elisha’s cheek. She looked up at him silently. Since he started massaging her belly every night, the amount of skinship increased little by little, and after spending the night together, the physical contact became more natural.
‘But I don’t dislike this contact.’ No, it was rather good. His gentle eyes looking at her and his soft touch were nice.
‘A person’s body temperature is so warm.’ While touching him, she realized how warm another person’s temperature could be.
‘Since my parents in my previous life never touched me or hugged me so tenderly, I didn’t know.’
For the first time, Elisha realized how much that warmth calmed her heart. She nodded, smiling bashfully at his touch.
“Mng, Have a safe trip.”
After seeing Richard off at the bedroom door, she approached the window. After waiting for a while, she saw him coming out of the mansion and getting on the carriage. Elisha stroked her belly as she looked at the wagon leaving the giant iron gate of the duke’s mansion.
“I think daddy wants to talk to you soon, baby.”
But, as before, there was no response. ‘Well, a response will come when the time is right. The physician predicted that within a month or two we would be able to feel the baby’s movement, and it has not been a month yet, so there is no need to rush…’ As she thought that a knock was heard.
“Madam, I brought you a meal.”
“Come in.”
The maids entered the room and started preparing food on the table. Meanwhile, Anne approached Elisha and handed her a letter.
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“It’s an invitation from the Imperial Palace that came a while ago, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Elisha took the letter from Anne and unfolded it. The invitation consisted of a brief greeting, the information that a tea party had been scheduled ahead of the founding festival, and the party’s dress code. Elisha looked at the invitation with skeptical eyes, but there was nothing particularly special about it.
‘Rose and the Empress couldn’t have invited me so gently.’
Aside from the Empress, Rose had a confrontation with her not so long ago. Of course, it was a private matter, so she couldn’t openly avoid sending invitations, but Elisha expected for her to show at least some malice, such as sending ominous tarot cards with some dreadful meaning in between or something like that. It was rather unexpected.
“Hmm…”
Elisha’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the invitation.
“It is an honor to be invited by both of you, Your Majesty and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
“Thank you for coming here, Countess Heden.”
Rose greeted the guests with a soft smile. Still, her gaze was focused on the clock on the table. Ten minutes before the tea party begins at two o’clock. Even though most of the invited noblewomen and young ladies had arrived, Elisha had not yet arrived at the Imperial Palace.
‘That’s a given. Since I told you that the tea party time is three o’clock.’ Rose smiled contentedly as she watched the small arrow of the clock moving fast. She also added in the letter that the dress code was yellow instead of pink. Likewise, she informed Olivia of the dress code in blue and the time on time. Although she was born in the royal family and now was the Marchioness, it was the Empress’ scheme to keep her under her control.
‘I’m sure it will be worth seeing Elisha’s embarrassed expression.’
It was Rose’s ruse to inform Olivia of the right time and Elisha an hour later. If two people appear wearing dresses of different codes at the same time, attention would be divided.
‘And the main character must appear alone at the end.’ Rose smiled while imagining the face of Elisha, embarrassed without knowing what to do.
Five minutes left until the tea party starts. Except for one noble young lady who had been away for a while, only Olivia and Elisha’s seats were empty. Rose lowered her eyes slightly as she looked at Viscountess Merrill, who was close to her. It was a signal. The noblewoman, who understood the signal, opened her mouth.
“By the way, Duchess Rubellin won’t be able to attend?”
“Right… Come to think of it, I can’t see Marchioness Beltane either.”
“Maybe they’re expressing their animosity towards Her Majesty and Her Highness… Mmh.”
The noblewomen and young ladies who had been talking about Elisha and Olivia hastily shut their mouths. The Imperial Family, the Duke of Rubellin, and the Marquis of Beltane had an openly difficult relationship, so they were keeping an eye on the Empress and Rose. However, Rose, whose purpose was to make the story of Elisha’s absence come out of their own mouths, smiled and replied as waiting.
“That can’t be. Duchess Rubellin replied that she would definitely attend. I believe in the duchess.”
At Rose’s words, the ladies around put on a sad expression on their faces.
“Oh my, how? How can Her Highness be so soft-hearted?”
“I understand Your Highness, but don’t trust the Duchess too much.”
“That’s right. She’s Rubellin after all.”
The Empress, who had been quietly listening to them, also intervened as if the situation was pleasant.
“The Imperial Crown Princess is very soft-hearted, I like that about her although I’m worried sometimes.”
“I apologize for causing concern in many ways, Your Majesty. I will act properly so as not to worry you.”
In response to Rose’s words, the ladies around praised her once again and sneakily spoke ill of Elisha. The crown princess raised the corner of her mouth as she heard the young ladies and noblewomen gossiping about Duchess Rubellin.
‘Everything is going as I planned.’ It was a very satisfying tea party. Elisha will come late and become a wicked girl who openly disregards the crown princess’ goodwill. Then Rose will be the poor crown princess who had been hurt by her.
Smiling satisfactorily, Rose looked at the clock. One minute until two o’clock. As planned, the tea party was about to start.
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“Then now…”
As Rose was about to triumphantly announce the beginning of the party, all the ladies who were slandering Elisha shut their mouths. Following their gazes, she opened her eyes wide.
‘No, how come…’
At the end of her startled gaze, Elisha was leisurely approaching. Duchess Rubellin smiled softly as the Crown Princess blinked in surprise.
Tik– the clock on the table marked two o’clock sharp.