CH 20

Chapter 2.20: Misunderstanding

Sigrid got off the carriage with a nervous face. The her who dressed up well and also jumped off the carriage without an escort was full of incongruity, yet she did not even notice because of how nervous she was.

“Welcome.”

The servant greeted Sigrid politely and guided her to the greenhouse. As soon as she entered the greenhouse, she immediately felt a warm atmosphere.

‘It turned out I didn’t need to bring shawl.’

Inside the splendidly decorated greenhouse, there was also a splendidly decorated table.

“Sigrid.”

The hostess, Rowen Green, rose from her seat to greet her.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Sigrid greeted Rowen Green in her knightly manner, and despite how unmatched Sigrid’s appearance and what she just did, Rowen Green guided her to a seat with just the same smile.

“Welcome.” Marisuez had already arrived and was sitting down.

Sigrid bowed her head to greet her in the same manner.

“That kind of greeting, we don’t need it, don’t we? Between us.” Marisuez then fluttered her fan a little quicker.

That was a metaphor for ‘Our relationship is so bad that we don’t even need to say a greeting to each other, but Sigrid possibly couldn’t understand such a sarcastic remark.

“Ah.. as expected. Should we be more casual since we are in the same age?” Sigrid smiled shyly.

Hearing what Sigrid said, Marisuez opened her mouth shocked, looking a bit silly, and Rowen Green grinned.

“Yeah, you’re that kind of person. You.” Marisuez sighed lightly.

“Marie.”

Rowen Green gave Marisuez a stare ‘you’re not here to fight, aren’t you.’ which made Marisuez restrain herself.

‘She looks so energetic for someone who’s about to die.’  Marisuez sighed once again.

“Your dress, it’s pretty.” Marisuez snorted while blatantly looking up and down at Sigrid. A dark blue dress with little embellishment that accentuated Sigrid’s sleek body. It went well with her bright skin and silver hair.

“Really? That’s a relief. I didn’t know any style in clothes, so I just bought what the staff recommended.”

“Oh my, really? If it were me, I would not take those dresses that don’t have my hands on them. You know, because they do not have some individual charms.1”

“Oh, I see. That’s why the clothes that you wore is fit you well and they are very pretty.” Sigrid spoke frankly while awkwardly wiggling her fingers.

Marisuez, who threw sarcasm, was caught off guard and lost her words, then she closed her fan in a loud sound.

In the meantime, the maids set up cups and plates in front of Sigrid. Then Rowen Green asked Sigrid, “I prepared two types of tea. Which one do you like, arsan or black walker?”

Both names were unknown to Sigrid.

“Arisan is little light, and black walker is dark.” Rowen green kindly explained to Sigrid when she was unable to speak.

“Then, I’d like to have arisan tea, please.”

“Alright.”

After Rowan Green swung her fingers, the waiting-maid came to their table, and quietly filled Sigrid’s glass, and then went back to her place.

“Tell me if you have any refreshments you would like to eat.”

As Rowan Green pointed to her tiered tray and spoke, Sigrid was surprised to see so many sweets she had never seen before. Each of them was so beautiful as like a work of art and made Sigrid wonder if she could eat it.

When Sigrid did not seem going to reply anytime soon while still looking at the tray, Rowen Green then initiated to help her.

“Could I recommend something?”

“Ah, okay.”

Then Rowan Green chose a cake which then the waiting-maid took and put it on Sigrid plate.

For a moment, Sigrid suddenly remembered her tea party. Her cheeks seemed to heat up. With what guts did she think she could call it a tea party?

Sigrid then carefully took an expensive-looking teacup in front of her and glanced at it for a second before she drank the tea. It was so fragrant and delicious that even people who were not familiar with tea, like her, could know that it was a luxury tea.

“This is good.”

When Sigrid said it with her eyes wide open, Rowen Green’s eyes also opened widely, a bit shocked, and then she laughed.

“Thank you.”

Marisuez thought ‘so tacky’, but she didn’t say anything.

Sigrid fiddled with the teacup. the -red colored tea water flutters. What should she talk about here? What kind of apology should she make? She practiced and pondered, but it was strangely difficult for her to speak.

“I heard you bought a new house?”

When Rowen green asked a question, Sigrid then lifted her head.

“Yeah, I bought it in Zone 2. I’m still wondering if it’s good to live there since I live alone and the house is kind of big, but I like the garden.”

“It must have been quiet a price.”

“Oh, I saved up money. And I bought it cheap because it’s a house where something bad happened. The price is similar to the country house outside the capital.”

“Oh my.. That is really good.”

Rowen Green nodded. Sigren also nodded.

Rowen Green then asked a question.

“Where are you going to go now you’re on vacation?”

“vacation.. I’ve never thought about going somewhere…”

Sigrid was surprised by the question and answered slowly without realizing it.

Marisuez couldn’t stand it and said, “Usually, if you take a long vacation, you make a plan to travel somewhere far first.”

“Is that so? I see.”

Sigrid learned something new.

“Because you’ve never had vacation before, you don’t even know what to do.” Rowen Green said with a laugh.

“Really—” Marisuez’s navy blue eyes glared at Sigrid, “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Nothing really happens…”

“Then let’s go see an opera tomorrow with us.”

“You don’t know how to have your vacation, so I’ll teach you.”

“That.. okay.. Thank you.”

Watching Sigird wavering while saying thank you to her, Marisuez was in a really strange mood. She felt something indescribable when she saw her usually cheeky opponent suffering from a deadly disease and being so innocent.

“And…”

Sigrid took turns looking at Rowen green and Marisuez and breathed heavily. Now it seemed appropriate for her to apologize that she had been preparing.

“I apologize for making insulting remarks. I’m sorry.”

Seeing Sigrid bowing deeply, Rowen Green was so curious.

“Why?’

“Huh?”

[1] Here Marisuez implied that the dress that did not have her ideas on them did not have unique charms. Like she kinda mildly disdained Sigrid being not knowing about dress and ‘basic’. I don’t know how to phrase this.