45: Edenbach Estate
Silence reigned over the carriage once again.
Roberto-sama did not talk to Lancel-sama, probably because he didn’t want to pa.s.s information to me.
They didn’t glance at me, probably so that they wouldn’t interfere with my embroidery.
I wonder if we’ll stop somewhere soon.
I’m hungry.
I didn’t want my stomach to growl as a woman of independent age.
I concentrated on my embroidery and tried to forget about my hunger.
But, I couldn’t stop my stomach from growling.
――― Guuurrrrrururu
I froze. I could tell that my face turned red and then blue. This is embarra.s.sing. Embarra.s.sing.
“… Pardon me…”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. You haven’t had lunch, have you?”
“We’ll take a long break soon, so you should eat something then.”
The two didn’t laugh, probably because they didn’t want to embarra.s.s me further. They’re gentlemen, aren’t they?
Lancel-sama said, “It’s my snack, have some,” and pa.s.sed me some chocolate. I haven’t had chocolate in a long time and it was sweet and delicious.
I might have gotten a better impression of them, but only just a little. I won’t be tempted by chocolate.
At the next resting place, I had a light meal of eggs and vegetable sandwiches with tea. It was so big that the egg would come out from the sides when I took a bite. I was extremely grateful. The sandwiches that the proprietress made gets a perfect score.
It might have been a nuisance since we’d stopped at the village so suddenly, but I was extremely thankful.
The carriage was escorted by 4 knights riding on horses… To go this far just to pick me up. No, this number should be reasonable since they were escorting 2 high-ranking n.o.bles in this carriage.
Then, the carriage entered the Royal Capital with its escorts. Lancel-sama got off the carriage at a corner in the Royal Palace and 2 of the escorts went with him. I was taken to Roberto-sama’s estate.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
Roberto-sama’s mansion, the Edenbach estate, was near the Royal Palace. It was built in the innermost corner of the block where the high-ranking n.o.ble mansions were.
Yes, it was 2 times? No, 3 times bigger than the Thousand Estate.
It was already night time, so I couldn’t see very well because it was dim, but I could tell that it was big.
My mind wandered and I felt like my mouth would gap open. I looked around me.
We got off the carriage and the butlers and maids lined up at the sides to greet us. I lowered my heads and took an att.i.tude that was natural while being surprised inside.
“Behave like a n.o.ble,” Roberto-sama had said to me before.
This was probably good enough, but I’m not sure.
I could tell that the furniture had good aesthetics and was of high quality, even if I didn’t have a good eye for things like that. The servants acted in a refined way. They weren’t a Marquis House who’d produced a lot of Prime Ministers for show.
They didn’t look down on me for wearing simple clothes as a n.o.ble. They didn’t say anything when Roberto-sama said, “It’s a visitor, she’s going to have an audience with the imperial prince tomorrow,” and treated me with courtesy.
I pa.s.sed a wonderful guest room that looked as if it had never been used and no one had entered it before. After refusing attendants for my bath, I entered it alone and when I got out, a new dress had been prepared for me.
It was a light pink dress with little design.
(I wonder if I can wear such a cute dress.)
The maids sprayed perfume on me. My hair was dried and set and my makeup was done. A cute girl was standing in front of the mirror.
Roberto-sama was already sitting down on a chair in the room that I was guided to.
Oh, do we have dinner here?
I was glad that his family wasn’t here. Cause, you know, I don’t know how I should introduce myself to them.
Dinner was great.
It wasn’t like the food that Bobles-san made was unappetising, it was probably fine to say that the expertise was different.
The chefs of the Edenbach House paid delicate attention to food. Cutting the vegetables with a thin knife made them s.h.i.+ne like gems. The meat and fish melted inside my mouth. The sauce was too complex and I couldn’t tell what it was made from.
I’m sure the chefs put all their skills to use for Roberto-sama.
But dinner with Roberto-sama and me, just the two of us… We spent most the time in silence.
Dinner was a little livelier even when I was having uncomfortable meals at the Thousand estate. I wanted to share how delicious the meal was.
Does conversation decrease once one becomes a high-ranking n.o.ble?
I, who was used to the noisy and lively guard dining hall, thought this dining room was desolated.
You can talk a little. I won’t be having meals with Roberto-sama soon after this anyway. I kept my manners in place.
“This is really delicious. I’m extremely happy to eat such a delicate meal.”
I smiled at the man who had served the meal.
After being a little surprised, he changed his expression back to normal and replied, “Thank you. The chefs would be happy to hear this.”
“I hired the chefs at a decent salary, so of course they would make delicious meals.”
(I thought Roberto-sama would say something like this.)
Let’s properly convey how delicious the food is after a several more meals here.
Because i know just how much the 5 senses are stimulated and how great the impression can be when someone tells you that they’ve devoted themself to work for the sake of another.
◊♦◊♦◊♦◊
I wrapped myself in blankets and was so sound asleep, I didn’t even dream.
I was extremely nervous in the carriage.
My body must have remembered this experience because I was up by sunrise. I have to go back to sleep, don’t I?
If I don’t refill my energy then I wouldn’t be able to oppose the 3rd Imperial Prince.
When I awoke the second time, a black wig and long green dress had been put in my room.
(Woah, I’ve never worn a dress like this before.)
Today, I face the 3rd Imperial Prince.
I smirked. Let’s praise myself for being able to laugh before facing a strong enemy.
I got dressed and looked in the mirror, which reflected a talented woman of unknown age.
There was a knock on the door.
Now, shall I proceed onto the battlefield?