Chapter 9

After leaving the Magnolia Trade, the strong sunshine of noon greeted me. The sun felt even hotter after coming out of the dark room. I squinted my eyes for a moment, waited until my eyes became accustomed to the light, and then resumed my steps.

I didn’t take off the hood because I didn’t bring my parasol. I don’t want my face to burn. I wanted to protect my porcelain-like skin, which I couldn’t even dream about in my past life.

I have sent the letter and met the boss, so I’m done with my business, but I felt a little sad to go back to the mansion. If I go back, I’ll have to see the damn mother and daughter to get in anyway. I don’t have much money, but can I do some window shopping….?

The Magnolia Trade was in downtown area so there were crowds of people and a lot of shops. The high-end shopping district used mostly by the aristocrats was a little further away from here, and in the place where I was, only the shops that the commoner usually used were visible.

I walked around the shops and stopped looking at one of the clothing stores. I do need a pair of ordinary clothes. I was sorry to borrow Leah’s robes every time, and when the weather gets hotter than it is now, it will be hard to come out in this outfit.

There was also a shoe store next to it. Shoes were a bigger problem than clothes.

The shoes on my feet right now were slightly painful. It doesn’t matter what I wear when I ride a carriage, but my shoes were too uncomfortable to walked around. I need to buy one with a low heel and soft form.

“Hello. I’d like to see some comfortable shoes to wear.”

“Yes, it’s all in this line.”

There were many different types, ranging from plain and simple to colorful ones. Considering that I don’t have much money in my hand right now, I should choose something cheap, but honestly I want to wear something pretty.

After agonizing over it, I compromised with shoes embroidered with roses on the front.

“How about these leather shoes? It would look good on you, miss.”

“It’s so pretty. But I’ll take just this.”

Leather shoes are luxury in my situation … when I took off my shoes, and changed to the deep shoes, I felt like I was going to buy some later. With much lighter steps, I left the shoe store and went to the next clothing store.

“This is a silver … It’s a silver 20 coppers … ugh….”

After paying for the shoes, the remaining money was 60 coppers. There were few clothes available for 60 coppers, but even those were so ugly that I didn’t want to live with. I want to look like a commoner, not a beggar.

“…I’ll have money in three days. Let’s buy then….”

I left the clothing store and walked again. There was a delicious smell coming from the restaurant on the street. There were many people in every restaurants because it was lunchtime.

Everything looked delicious, but there was a particularly eye-catching spot. It was a restaurant that sold a single menu of bread and stew.

When the order comes in, it seems like a large hand is laden with boiled stew and is served with baked bread. Since the food comes out less than a minute after ordering, it is perfect for those who want to fill their stomach as soon as possible.

I stood there for a moment and was lost in memories.

It was very similar to a special meal I used to buy sometimes when I went to the market of a big village with my mother in my previous life. There was a tent set up outdoors to sit on a simple table and eat.

I carefully entered the restaurant and looked at the menu.

The price of the food is 30 coppers. Add 10 coppers and you can eat it double, add 5 coppers and you can change the black into white bread.

After paying 35 coppers, I took a bowl of stew and white bread then sat on the empty seat. I also took off my hood for a comfortable meal.

When I picked up a spoon and put the stew in my mouth, the familiar taste that I felt for the first time in a long time lingered on the tip of my tongue. Spicy broth with low amount of meat and low-price spice! The aroma in my previous life was a little different, but it still tasted quite similar.

Somehow, I emptied the bowl feeling full.

On my way back home after a little bit of regret, I met a royal emissary on his way to the Crescente mansion.

An emissary from the Imperial Palace could be recognized by its attire. The emissary looked at me, and said.

“Do you work at the Crescente mansion?”

“What? … Oh, yes.”

The person seems to have mistaken me as a maid of the Crescente mansion because I was wearing a robe and pressed the hood. I was embarrassed to say that I’m the esteemed-daughter of Crescente, so I decided to pretend to be just a maid.

“Deliver this to Lady Adriana Crescente.”

The emissary gave me a gorgeous and luxurious envelope with golden leaf.

Is it for me? I opened my eyes wide while looking at the envelope, and the emissary scolded me.

“How dare you look at your master’s personal belongings? Hurry in and deliver this to her. Keep in mind that it was sent from the Imperial Family, so if you take it away, you’ll be punished harshly.”

“I’m sorry! I’ll deliver this properly.”

It’s already been properly delivered. After completing his task, the emissary returned.

I took off the robe before entering the mansion.

I went up to my room and looked at the envelope again. On the front page, the names of the sender and receipent were written in pretty handwriting.

The recipient was, of course, Adriana Crescente and the sender’s name was Cynthia Luminous de Khalin.

“It’s from Her Highness.”

I opened the envelope and read the letter. Whether what she said at the party was empty words, Princess Cynthia really invited me to a tea time in the Imperial Palace.

The date was two days later. There was nothing else important, but I still read the letter carefully then asked Leah.

“Is my mother at home?”

“She’s getting massages in her room.”

“Well, then I’ll have to go get my mother out … no. I need to get some rest for now.”

I wanted to let her know and brag about the tea party invitation, but I thought it would be better to talk to her later at mealtime. Because there’s Sharon.

I gave Leah the robes back, went back to my room, and spent my time in a good way until mealtime.

Marianne and her daughter had planned to eat outside, but luckily they seemed to be eating at home today.

Actually, it didn’t matter if it was not today because I can just wait until tomorrow morning, it’s just that I can’t wait to tell them.

At last, it was dinner time that I had been waiting for. I opened my mouth casually, sprinkling the dressing on the fresh salad.

“Mother, do you mind if I go out the day after tomorrow?”

“Don’t ask me every single question. You’re 16 years old.”

Marianne answered with a look of annoyance.

“I’m sorry … Leah, please prepare my stationery after dinner, I will write back to the Princess.”

Marianne and Sharon stopped moving at the word

Princess

and stared at me.

“….Her Highness the Princess?”

“Yes.”

The steak in a warm dish was placed in front of us. Is the menu going to be a steak for a few days? I turned a blind eye to two pairs of eyes blooming at me. Sharon must have been nervous since I cut my steak and seemed to be unable to talk in details.

“Tell me more about it. What do you mean by the Princess?”

“It’s nothing special. She invited me for a tea time.”

“Tea time? Her Highness drinks a tea with you?”

It’s hard for her to listen. For you, I’m just a dirty little girl, but I’m a daughter of the Duke Crescente.

I recounted the proverb of Zarku Kingdom, ‘

The true winner is the last winner’

I hated it in my previous life, but I needed it now.

Whoa … Yeah, I understand. Sharon often felt inferior to the fact that she wasn’t from the bloodline of Crescente, so she wanted to get rid of me and restore her self-esteem.

“What do you mean. Why did the Royal Highness do such a thing—”

“Adriana.”

Marianne opened her mouth with a fierce face, as she pretended not to know the real reason for Sharon’s anger.

When she called my name in a cold voice, I felt a little off. The fear of Marianne was immeasurably imprinted on my mind, whether I like it or not. Remembering the memories of my past life did not mean the memories or the past six years have disappeared.

“I’m not sure why the Princess is looking for you, but if there’s anything wrong with her assumption, make sure you correct it.”

“Yes…?”

“If that’s because she thinks you’re going to be a Princess, speak clearly.”

Give her this word. Sharon Crescente, my sister and not me, is the one who’s going to marry the Prince.

“Oh, my God. Her Royal Highness, the Princess, would not have made such a ridiculous misunderstanding. Don’t worry too much, Mother.”

And I don’t want to be with Leonhart. I don’t want to get engaged to a guy who’s going to fall in love with another girl later on.

However, Marianne’s words need to be taken seriously. All I did was give her a hairpin gift, and she liked the hairpin so much to the point she wants to get a table and have a cup of tea with me?

Oh, I should think about this from the perspective of maniacs. Perhaps she really liked collecting jewelry, so my gift was very special for her.

But it seems that this is an overly positive assumption, it was gradually carried on the side that I judged that I had a high chance of becoming Leonhart’s fiancée.

The future of Leonhart being held captive by love is not known by Her Royal Highness … even Leonhart himself doesn’t know this yet.

It’s no use trying to figure out the Princess’s intention until I meet her, so let’s not worry about it already.

***

“Welcome, Lady Adriana Crescente. My name is Stella Saintelauge, the maid of honour at the Imperial Palace, who came to pick up the lady under the Princess’s command.”

The day I was invited to a tea time by the Princess.

Upon arriving at the palace, a group of maids waited and greeted me as I stepped out of the carriage. The person who stood at the front was the royal maid of honour.

I can’t believe the maids would come to greet me … I don’t know how to put myself on the royal ship.

Stella walked half a step behind me for guidance, and the rest of the maids, in line, followed behind with some distance. She stopped walking in front of the reception room of the Imperial Princess Palace. When Stella politely announced my visit, the lady-in-waiting opened the door.

I wondered if there was any other lady who was invited, but there was only one Princess.

The shining silver hair, white skin, and white dress created a mysterious atmosphere as the sunlight entered through the window. Brother and sister beauty is amazing in pairs.

“Welcome, Lady Adriana.”

“I’m here to meet Your Royal Highness. It’s an honor to be invited by you today.”

“Oh, my. I just wanted to talk to you alone today, so I only invited you.”

I see you did. Oh, by the way. Marianne and Sharon made me do something.

I glanced at the Duchess’ maids to deliver the package of gifts. When Cynthia saw her maids accept them, she asked.

“What are they?”

“I was invited by the Princess, so it was a gift from my mother and sister. It’s the finest honey and jewelry, I hope it suits your liking.”

“Really? Stella, bring the gifts from the Duchess to my room.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Her Royal Highness seemed not very interested in the gifts. Stella and several other maids went out of the drawing room with the gifts, and the Princess asked me to sit down.

“We have a special teapot. You will be surprised to see it. What kind of tea do you like, Lady Adriana?”

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“I don’t have any special taste, but I’ve been enjoying hydrangeas lately.”

The maid brought a tray of cakes and tea. The Princess said that the teapot is unique, but I don’t know what’s unusual….

The maid, who had put a tray down on the table, began pouring the hot water into the teapot.

We’re not bringing tea out of concern, are we?

I was embarrassed because it was my first time. But soon I knew why.