“Butler Eva is waiting for you Little Madam.”
“Oh really?”
The fact that Eva came to the private residence from morning and waited for Luciel meant that it was something special.
“Bessie, I’m not going to do much today. Eva is waiting…….”
Luciel was concerned about Eva and rushed Bessie who calmly replied.
“Wait. You can’t go out in your pajamas, though.”
After putting on a hairband in a blue dress, that had a purple hue like blueberries, Luciel rushed out before Bessie even opened the door.
“Eva! What happen?”
Eva, who was talking to Rose on the sofa in the parlor, got up, came over, and made eye contact with Luciel.
“Little Madam, you may come out slowly. It’s not urgent.”
“Ah…….Then I’m glad.”
“Would you like a drink?”
“Yes.”
As Luciel sat on her private sofa, Rose poured honey grapefruit tea into a teacup with pretty flowers.
“I came to deliver a letter from Princess Claudia of the Imperial Castle.”
“Princess Claudia!”
Upon seeing the golden seal of the imperial family, Luciel’s face brightened in an instant. The Imperial postal wagons were faster than regular mailing wagons because they used gates that could travel longer distances.
Luciel wondered if Princess Claudia had arrived at the Imperial Palace and if she was doing well, so I wanted to open her letter quickly. Perhaps it was because of reading Luciel’s expression like that, Eva hurriedly talked about other matters as well.
“You received your budget from the Elder Madam, what would you like to do with your monthly income?”
“I don’t plan on using it right now, I’ll just keep it.”
“Then I think it would be a good idea to open an account. We will send a mage later when we are ready.”
“Very well.”
“Yes, then have a nice day.”
“Yes! Thank you, Eva.”
Soon after, Luciel sent Eva off she opened Claudia’s letter with a pounding heart.
It was a letter that started with a pleasant greeting, but as the content of her worries continued, Luciel’s expression also clouded.
After reading all the contents of the letter, Luciel was troubled.
It was a big deal that Princess Claudia could already get married by arrangement. Besides, Prince Reynold was friends with Prince Alfredo of Maynard?
If so, it was highly likely that Reynolds intervened in the arranged marriage of Princess Claudia.
‘He did it on purpose to become the Crown Prince without any interference.’
Princess Claudia is the child of the Empress, and Her Majesty the Empress is still alive, so she had a strong background with a reliable mother.
Moreover, the Marquisate Hills was a powerful family that had produced empresses for several generations. However, they were under strong restraints of other ministers.
‘That’s why he couldn’t speak loudly at the political meeting.’
On the other hand, Reynold’s maternal family, Viscounty Haman, was an ordinary family with nothing to show. Even the right of succession to the throne was a qualification that he obtained just because he was a man.
It was a very poor, conservative, and outdated reason. Luciel shook her head.
‘No matter what happens, we must stop Princess Claudia’s arranged marriage. That way, she could be an ally that would help Bellstein as well.’
Maple estate and Mukas trading rights.
Mukas tea leaves were good for depression, but it was discovered a decade later that they were toxic.
Since it is a very small amount of poison, the person does not die immediately, but it could cause death if taken for a long time. This was not a necessary condition, but it would be nice if there was another alternative method to convince the ministers.
Also about Maple estate….
Luciel shook her head as she pondered hard. She was worried with a serious face while rolling her brain.
She thought that something sweet would help to give her new ideas.
‘I should go to the kitchen and ask Chef Seth for a special snack.’
Sometimes it was a pleasant experience to go and see the cooking process in person. It was fun to look around the fragrant kitchen, while the people in the kitchen handed her food one by one.
Suddenly feeling excited again, Luciel headed to the restaurant of the Castle.
But she soon ran into someone. Ellington poked out his face as he folded his eyes in a gentle manner.
“Oh.”
“My Little Madam. Do you have a moment?”
“Ellington, what’s going on?”
“Since I got my salary, I want to buy you something delicious. And there are good things to see.”
Ellington held his hands behind his back and let out a brief cough. Luciel remembered that last time he promised to buy her something delicious.
“Are you fulfilling that promise today?”
Ellington nodded his head with a smile, making Luciel ask again.
“But what is the good thing to see you are talking about…? Is it work-related? Oh, maybe Count Gallius?”
Then Ellington let down his shoulder and mumbled as if he had lost steam.
“Aren’t you too quick-witted? Anyway, I will kidnap you today.”
Ellington laughed softly and joked around, but a dark aura came behind him. Passers-by were also glancing at them.
‘How dare you, to our Little Madam!’
There were such glances, but Luciel did not notice them and followed him while nodding her head.
“…Let’s go! I’m curious too.”
She knew that Gallius was now being sponsored by Bellstein, but it was a pity that she had no idea how it was going after that. It was nice to hear the news first.
Luciel followed Ellington with half worry and half excitement.
Eventually, she got on the carriage and arrived at the private studio of Count Gallius, which was set up near Bellstein Castle.
Surrounded by white curtains, there was a bust of a goddess, two picture frames, and a hardwood flowerpot on the wall, besides that there were only long tables and chairs.
It is a monotonous and flat space, strange to be called a studio.
It was so quiet for a moment that Luciel hid behind Ellington without even making a sound.
She taped Ellington.
“Here, is the right place?”
“Yes. Little Madam.”
“But why is it so quiet? I don’t think anyone is here.”
“That’s what I want to know too.”
Ellington went first through the windy hallway that seemed to lead to another room, followed by Luciel.
Then, a familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared.
Max Hamel, a young man with his brown hair and shabby clothes, was asleep in a folding bed.
Dozens of stained glass designs were drawn behind him, and there were a lot of other sketches that he had drawn on the site, whether he had personally visited a building or not.
‘I guess he has been studying hard.’
On one side, a stained-glass window under construction was visible. Although it was a bit clumsy, the stained glass of the tulip painting made by Max was beautiful.
There were some fish-shaped trays and round plates. The solder connecting the glasses were uneven and crooked, but his sincerity was there.
‘Wow, that’s pretty. After all, stained glass was not limited to architecture. How long ago did he learn this? To be honest, it exceeded my expectations.’
Perhaps Max was learning diligently while staying here.
Count Gallius came in around that time, with a nagging that started from outside.
“Hey, why is someone who wants to learn properly taking a nap like that? Get up!”
“……W-What? Y-Yes! Are you here, Count?”
Max, who had woken up as if a battle flag had been raised, jumped up to his feet.
“This lazy guy. When are you going to finish those windows? I mean, I’m also busy. I have a lot of work to do other than teach you skills. The rest of the construction contract…Huh?”
Gallius, who belatedly saw Ellington hidden by the curtains, stopped talking.
“Ah, Ellington, you are here. But why are you hiding there like a thieving cat?”
He had heard that Ellington would stop by for a while, so he had left his studio open.
“Haha, hello, Count Gallius. It was just too quiet.”
“Hello. I’m here too. I came to watch.”
Luciel also poked her face by the side of the curtain.
“Hello, Luciel.”
“Oh, it’s been a while. Little Madam.”
Both Gallius and Max greeted Luciel warmly.
“Mr. Max, you seem to be learning well the stained glass technique from Count Gallius. How long have you been here?”
“……It seems like a fortnight.”
“Really? Did you make all the windows, plates, and trays in fifteen days?”
Max scratched his head.
“Yes, I’m still clumsy, but Count Gallius helps a lot.”
“I see. I came to take a look today, I will give you my best wishes before going back.”
Luciel thought to herself, without trying to show her joy.
In fact, she thought she might have to wait a few years. Seeing Max’s enthusiasm and achievements, that timing might be advanced.
‘If we go on like this, we will be able to finish glass crafts faster than what I thought.’
If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be possible to show off even a tiny glass craft at the salon this summer?
As Luciel was smiling to herself, with crimson shining eyes, Ellington asked.
“Little Madam, why are you smiling alone? I’m on the same side, please share.”
“Well, Ellington. First of all, shall we move to a more suitable place?”
The two of them left the studio as soon as they saw Max, who was concentrating on his work while receiving advice from Count Gallius.
It was not long before they reached the front of a cake shop downtown. Luciel opened her eyes wide and excitedly run to the front of the display window and stopped to admire.
The cakes placed on the glass display stand were all delicious and colorfully beautiful. Some had seven colors like a rainbow, and some had an enchanting cake with whipped cream on each layer.
Ellington watched as Luciel, possessed by the cake, stuck to the window and did not fall off, it was so funny that he touched his forehead.
“People might think we’re starving the little Duchess in the Castle.”
“Ellington….”
It was a pretty expensive store, but when Luciel looked at him with eyes that already wanted to eat, he couldn’t help but buy them for the little girl. Ellington said.
“My salary now belongs to the Little Madam, so eat whatever you want. Oh, I still can’t buy the store. Ask your Excellency to buy it. All right?”
“Ellington is the best!”
As Luciel smiled she clung to the door, struggling to open it, he lightly pushed it open for her. With a little sound, the door opened.
“Ah, if his Grace and the Young Master hear that…I’ll get a death sentence, right? But I’m going to enjoy this moment nonetheless. Feel free to choose anything you want.”
“Really?”
Ellington, like a king, bought a bunch of cakes of Luciel’s choice. She was distracted and enjoyed the feast of sweet cakes, rainbow cakes, crepe cakes, and strawberry whipped cream cakes.
After eating the cake and drinking grapefruit juice, Luciel suddenly remembered the issue of Princess Claudia’s arranged marriage.
The sweet things went in and her head was rolling quickly.
‘Yes! There was a map of the empire drawn on the ceiling in the room where I was imprisoned…!’
It was a fading memory, but even after the princess married, the Maple estate did not belong to the territory of the Tyra Empire.
“Ellington. When you get politically married, can the partner break the conditions set for them?”
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“…It’s common. In fact, we don’t know until the wedding is over. That’s why we usually sign the terms and conditions in advance.”
“Then promises made by words alone have no actual effect, right?”
“Strictly speaking, yes.”
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