Chapter 80 [part 1] (1/2)
(2)
“Did you come alone? What of your husband?” (Katherine)
“His Majesty called for him so I came first. He said he’d come later.” (Lucia)
“He’s a busy person.”
“Yes.” (Lucia)
Katherine smiled and looked at Lucia who was answering amiably with a strange look in her eyes. Why’s she like this? Katherine was confused.
Katherine was used to people who outwardly bowed their head while they were uncomfortable inside. If a cultured noblewoman was someone who spoke softly and in a roundabout way, then Katherine was not cultured in that sense. The noblewomen were often hurt by Katherine’s blunt manner. However, there was no one that could say anything to Katherine. Even if she didn’t fix it, it was not troubling enough to cause her problems. So Katherine didn’t care whether others were uncomfortable or not. In any case, they were all the same in front of her, bowing their heads and smiling at everything.
‘Her personality is quite mild. Very different from elder brother and I.”
Katherine was very curious about the Duchess of Taran who was a Princess. She didn’t purposely avoid the Duchess but there hadn’t been a chance to meet her. The both of them had different range of activities. Katherine never went to tea parties.
‘The flower of parties is the ballroom.’ (TN: The highlight.)
A tea party where you sit quietly and drink tea in broad daylight did not suit Katherine at all. She thought that she would meet the Duchess yesterday and went with a prepared mind, only to hear that the ducal couple attended only the celebratory event and went back home. Today, she came with expectations that she would definitely meet the Duchess.
‘I’ll control the momentum.’
Katherine came with a determined mood. However, as soon as she saw the Duchess, her burning battle spirit faded away. It was not an opponent to fight. Her fighting spirit was gone.
“Let’s talk a little more. Shall we go somewhere quiet?” (Katherine)
“Yes? Yes.” (Lucia)
Katherine walked ahead and when she turned back slightly, she saw the Duchess quietly following her. Katherine turned her head forward again and smiled slightly. The two of them walked a little further away then they reached a hallway that was scarce with people.
‘My shoes feel a little tight.’
Lucia frowned slightly. It wasn’t obvious when she only took a few steps but now that she had walked a bit more, her foot felt uncomfortable.
“This is my break room. I’m the only one that uses it.”
It was a privilege that only Princess Katherine enjoyed. The break room was comfortably furnished on a smaller scale compared to the shared break room. In the middle, there was a large sofa where one could lay down and even the legs could fit on it. But the two of them could not sit comfortably because their dresses might get ruined so they perched slightly on the small sofa.
“Do you drink?”
“I can’t drink much.”
“Alright. Non-alcoholic champagne it is.”
Katherine ordered the handmaid that followed her inside. After a while, the handmaid brought glasses and champagne. Katherine sent the handmaid away with a hand gesture and the two of them were left alone.
“You stayed in the fief after getting married. Was there a lot to see in the north?” (Katherine)
“It can’t compare to the capital. It was a nice and quiet place.” (Lucia)
“How is the social circle in the north? Are balls held often?”
“I’m not sure, I’ve never gone to one before.”
“Why?”
“It’s not to my tastes. I’m not a very active person.”
Katherine was a little disappointed. It would have been nice to see the Duchess at balls more often. There were cases when a noblewoman’s preference in social activities was very obvious and defined. There were people who only enjoyed the ballroom like Katherine, and there were people who only liked small and quiet meetings like a tea party. Although upon close scrutiny, one could tell that balls were a big part of influencing the social circle.
“So you aren’t agreeable with this party then.” (Katherine)
“I can’t not show up at all.” (Lucia)
“True. You can’t do that. You are the Duchess after all.”