Chapter 54
“W-what?”
“Don’t you understand? I can’t believe Miss Britney dared to ask His Highness for a dance first. Even if it wasn’t His Highness, it’s embarrassing for a lady to ask for a dance first. But, it was His Highness…”
“T-that’s…”
Reuben’s face flushed red.
“Apparently there was a rumor that Miss Britney had asked Count Green for a dance in the past too. When I heard that, I thought she was a bold woman, but I don’t think it was appropriate to do that to His Highness…”
Curian, with a scornful look on his face, covered his mouth with one hand.
Reuben was so mad at Britney that he wanted to slap her if she was here right now.
He had precisely told her not to act rashly.
Feeling like he had to come up with an excuse, he blurted out.
“There is no agreement between them. His Highness naturally had to ask Britney for a dance, but he didn’t, so maybe Britney was impatient?”
“That’s the problem, Duke. I believed Miss Britney because I had heard rumors that she was mature and calm. I wonder if she can stand the difficult and precious position of the Crown Princess by showing such child-like behaviors…”
Reuben thought it was a disaster. The direction of the conversation was getting worse.
“D-didn’t you take money from me?! You have to pay for it.”
“Oh. Duke, you can’t say that. I’ve told you several times. All the money I’ve received from Duke will be used to prepare Miss Britney for the position of Crown Princess. I didn’t spend any of that money personally.”
Reuben knew that wasn’t true, but he didn’t point it out.
Curian was his only associate that could make Britney the Crown Princess. If things become sour with him, all his efforts so far will be in vain.
“Curian, I’m just frustrated.”
“I know, Duke. I know. But this time, Miss Britney made such a big mistake…It’s going to be difficult. If she had stayed still, I’m sure His Highness would have chosen her as soon as he went back.”
“Isn’t there any way?”
“Well. What happened yesterday, not only the ladies, but also the other nobles are talking about it. You know that, right? It will be difficult for a woman who is mentioned too much in high society to become the Crown Princess…”
“I’ll write you a bill. Tell me the amount you need.”
Curian shook his head.
“As you know, I don’t accept bills, Duke. I need to be able to use it immediately so that we can start funding and use it for Miss Britney.”
“Right…”
Reuben felt a headache.
The amount of money given to Curian alone has exceeded 10,000 gold so far. And at least 3,000 gold will be spent on Iris’ wedding.
No matter how much gold from the mines there is, if any, it was the equivalent of digging nonstop for two or three years. The 1,000 gold that the Duke receives from the royal family annually has long since been spent.
“10% of my gold mine’s rights…”
“I told you, Duke. I need money I can use right now.”
Curian flatly refused.
“Okay. Then I’ll go to the bank right now and borrow the money. With the money I’ve given you so far, about 500 gold should be enough, right?”
“No, Duke. I need 2,000 gold. Isn’t it the Empress’ seat you’re aiming for? If you want to be the Crown Princess of the richest Empire on this continent, you must have great magnanimity.”
* * *
Britney was severely scolded by Reuben who had gone somewhere and came back.
“Don’t do anything from now on, Britney! Please don’t do anything!”
Reuben almost cried out.
“Do you know how much money I’ve spent? Over five thousand, five thousand!”
“Five thousand…No way, 5,000 silver?”
“Silver? Silver?”
“Don’t tell me…Gold? 5,000 gold? That much for Iris’ wedding?”
“It’s not just the cost of Iris’ wedding! It’s also the money to make you Crown Princess. But you, you did something you shouldn’t have!”
Britney’s face brightened.
“You mean I can still be Crown Princess?”
At the sight of Britney’s immature smile, Reuben collapsed.
“If you don’t do anything! As long as you don’t ask His Highness for a dance first, or say something useless about Iris!”
“What, dear. Why do you keep yelling at her?”
Duchess Denise Whittle mumbled out loud.
Reuben felt like his head was about to explode.
“Do you think I want to yell at her right now? Even if she becomes the Crown Princess, it doesn’t mean she’ll make money right away. She just needs to take care of her image until she becomes Empress…I’m in a lot of debt now and we have to tighten our belts from now on!”
“Do we have to tighten our belts now? Isn’t our Britney’s going to become the Crown Princess?”
“Huff, huff.”
Reuben plopped down on the sofa, tapping his chest.
With a smile on her face, Britney had no idea what her father was thinking.
“Britney, once again, don’t do anything. If you’re thinking of ruining the wedding tomorrow, stop. If you do anything, you’ll just get away from the path of Crown Princess.”
Britney had dozens of plans to ruin Iris’ wedding tomorrow. This is because she never wanted to see Iris safely finish the wedding with a happy face.
‘It can’t be helped if that’s what I need to do to become Crown Princess.’
It’s a little upsetting, but she will have to congratulate Iris with a smile tomorrow.
* * *
After the party, Iris returned to her room and immediately removed her makeup and dipped herself in a bathtub filled with warm water.
Because her feet aren’t used to high heels in this life, she had blisters on her feet and her calves were swollen. She hasn’t eaten properly these days because she had to wear the dresses, so she felt like she was going to faint.
Christina poured a bag with a mixture of honey, herbs and fruits over Iris.
“It must be hard, but hang in there, Miss Iris. It’ll be over soon.”
“Two days to go. Ha, it’s really painful. Weddings.”
“You’re supposed to be the happiest bride in the world, so what do you mean painful? Miss Iris will be very beautiful tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Iris didn’t mince her words. Christina liked that part about her.
“You must be very hungry, so I’ve prepared a salad. Eat it when you come out.”
“I want to eat it here.”
“Wait a minute.”
On the plate that Christina had brought, there was only half a salad in it.
“Oh, grass again.”
When Iris pouted, Christina chuckled and set up a bathtub cover. Then, she put the plate of salad on it.
“Enjoy your meal, Miss Iris. I’ll be nearby, so call me if you need anything.”
Iris picked up a fork. Even the salad without dressing looked delicious because she was so hungry.
As she munched on the bitter salad, the bathroom door opened carefully and Elly came in.
“Elle. What…?”
Iris quickly closed her mouth when Elly put her index finger on her lips.
Elly, who approached while looking outside, sat on one knee next to the bathtub.
“Tina is taking a quick nap.”
Was she here to tell her that Christina had taken a nap? Iris didn’t care even if she slept for a long time.
“Tina is sometimes…very stern. She’s used to starving herself because she has a lot of occasions to wear dresses.”
Oh, she was here to talk behind Christina’s back.
Come to think of it, Elly was always on the receiving end when she was with Christina.
“However, Miss Iris shouldn’t do that.”
Elly whispered and took something out of her arms and stuck it out. It was wrapped in a napkin, so she couldn’t see what it was, but the smell alone was enough to tell her.
Iris reached out her trembling hands and accepted it.
Removing the packaging, the existence inside glowed brilliantly…
“Meat sandwich…And two pieces of meat.”
“Go ahead, Miss Iris. You’re not going to become ugly if you eat it the day before the wedding…”
“Elle… I-I didn’t know how much I loved Elle.”
Elly blushed.
“It’s a great honor for me, but I’ll think you really mean it if you say that while naked, so I’m wondering if I should at least kiss you…”
While Elly rambled, Iris had already taken a bite of the sandwich.
The rich aroma of meat and the taste of sweet and salty flavor spreads across her tongue as soon as she puts it in her mouth.
Iris’ love for Elly grew beyond words.
“Uhm. Uhm…”
“Yes, yes. I understand, so focus on eating. Before Christina comes and takes it away.”
Iris, who had a big mouthful of the sandwich and munching on it like she was confessing her love, focused on eating with determined eyes when she heard that Christina might come back.
Elly sat on one knee next to the bathtub and watched Iris eat the sandwich.
When she was first asked to be the personal maid of Countess Green, she was frankly a little offended.
Naturally, since it was the personal maid of the Green family, it was clear that it was a position that everyone wanted, but Elly thought it was beneath her.
Nevertheless, the reason she accepted it was because of Christina.
[Aren’t you curious? What kind of woman Count Green chose.]
At first, she liked Iris because she was pretty. Even the nickname ‘the flower of Duke Whittle’ wasn’t enough to describe Iris’ beauty.
Next, other points came into sight.
Her attitude toward the rude Juliette, her skill at handling Count Green, and her smile and dignity that she never loses even in unfavorable situations.
Iris, who has a small frame, sometimes felt bigger than anyone else.
So not only as much as Iris wanted, but Elly wanted to protect this fragile Countess who is small, clever, and strong, with her full strength.
‘Oh, sometimes she’s cute.’
Iris was sucking the sauce off her fingers after she had finished eating the sandwich.
It looked dirty when someone else did it, but it was cute because she looked like a pure girl.
Elly knew there weren’t many people who could see this side of Iris.
Iris, who was doing such a casual thing openly.
‘She’s showing that she trusts me.’
Elly felt flattered.
“It was great. Elle. The one just now was amazing.”
“Right?”
“Ha, really…Elle, I’ll pay you back for this. Please tell me whenever something difficult happens. This, um. Ten times.”
Iris spread out ten fingers.
“I can help Elle ten times or so.”
Elly giggled.
“You look happy.”
At the voice coming from behind, Elly leapt up and took her hand reflexively to her side.
Keivrand, who was leaning his back against the door, raised his hands slightly.
“Whoa. It’s me, Elly.”
Elly pulled her hand away from her waist and stared at Keivrand.
“You have to knock, Count.”
“I sneaked in to surprise Irie, but I didn’t know you were here.”
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Elly couldn’t believe that she didn’t notice any signs of Keivrand coming in.
Come to think of it, it was always like that. Keivrand has always made a sudden appearance.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your good time with Irie, but go and take a break. I’ll take care of the rest.”
== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .