Chapter 60 - Volume 2 (1/2)

Then, several weeks later, I was finally discharged from the White Lily Court, and was taken up by Uncle Lancent.

I did not return to the mansion Edi and I lived in, but returned to my home parents’ home, the Adina Estate. My family insisted that, seeing that Edi was gone during the day, I, who was not yet fully recovered, should not be left alone in that large mansion.

Whenever Edi came to the Adina Estate to see me, he was obstructed by my dear family, and couldn’t even get to my bedroom. I only knew because of the sympathy gifts that managed to reach my bedside.

Thanks to my spending these several weeks with my family, I hadn’t been able to see Edi’s face even once. The apologetic gifts of flowers and tea leaves managed to provide me with a small amount of comfort during my days restricted to bedrest in my family’s home.

「By the way, madam, I have heard some good news.」

「Good news?」 I echoed.

I sat up in the bed. I had been devoting myself to embroidery in an effort to kill time when the wet nurse, as if suddenly remembering it, said that. What kind of good news, I wondered. She nodded affirmatively in response.

「Apparently, the princess is going to be holding an evening party soon.」

「An evening party? The princess?」

That was the first I had heard of it. Since that incident, the princess had come to visit me in the White Lily Court just once. So she had been planning such a thing. Up until now I had been to a few evening parties, but this would be the first that the princess had hosted.

「Yes. I’ve heard that the date isn’t yet decided, but they seem to be planning quite a grand affair. I think madam will receive an invitation though.」

「Yes, I think I probably will. But…」

Even without looking in a mirror, I knew I was making an awkward smile. An evening party thrown by the princess herself was something that anyone would want to attend. But right now, I couldn’t bring myself into the mood. My injuries that were supposed to be healed already still stabbed with pain, and brought me to a standstill.

「Would skipping it on account of illness not be acceptable? Even if I were to go, I would only kill the mood.」

「But, madam–」

「I’m sorry Suzette. Let me sleep for a bit. We’ll talk about this again next time.」

「…Understood. Sleep well.」

「Thank you.」

Cleaning up my embroidery implements, I pulled the sheet over myself. For a little while, I could sense the presence of the wet nurse, seeming like she had something more she wanted to say, but after a while she left quietly. At the sound of the door closing, I closed my eyes once more.

–I wonder what exactly Edi is doing at this time.

I opened my eyes once again, and looking up at the ceiling, for some reason became very troubled by that.

I gently stroked the bracelet around my wrist, with its magic gemstone the same color as Edi’s eyes. It should have been cold to the touch, but for some reason it seemed to be filled with warmth. Perhaps, if I were to use this bracelet, I could easily contact Edi. But I didn’t know how, and he warned me about using it, so I shouldn’t.

「…How insensitive of him.」

It would be nice if he could at least hear my voice. I Whispered to him, even though he shouldn’t be able to hear me, and then closed my eyes one final time and drifted off to sleep.

***

Then, several days later. I had finally been allowed to roam around the house when the invitation arrived.

Without hesitation I cut the seal off of the red envelope, and the faint scent of the princess’s reminiscent perfume filled the air. 「As expected of the princess」　my mind muttered, as I took the stationary out of the envelope. Reading the contents, I sighed. The majority was a form letter, but at the end, the princess herself had added 「I am looking forward to seeing you there.」　For some reason my mind froze. I gently traced that one sentence with my finger, and as expected, it did not go anywhere.

「The princess must have been quite worried about me. I probably ought to show up to show her that I’m feeling better.」I murmured quietly, and the wet nurse, who had been standing at my side, brightened considerably, and nodded vigorously.

「Certainly, that’s a good idea! And madam, it will cheer you up!」

「I wonder.」

「Definitely!」

「Fufu, maybe. It would be nice if that happens though.」

There was little time until the party. It would be nice if I grew to look forward to it more, as if it were another person’s affair.

***

Before long, the day finally arrived. The day of the princess’s evening party. The signs of rain that had been gathering up until yesterday vanished, and a refreshing atmosphere filled the royal capital.

I was sitting next to the window, looking idly outside. The sun had already started its descent, and the sky was beginning to turn orange. If I didn’t start getting ready soon, I wouldn’t make it to the party by the designated time. But the wet nurse hadn’t shown up yet. The thought of starting to get ready on my own briefly crossed my mind, but I had left the planning of the dress I’d be wearing today to the wet nurse, so I wasn’t able to do anything.

「I wonder if everything is alright.」

Wondering if I should go to the wet nurse’s room, I stood from my chair, but at that moment,

「Madam, I’m quite sorry, but would you mind opening the door?」

「Hm? Oh, okay, I’m on my way.」