Chapter 82 (2/2)

I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I just thought if I was happy, I didn’t have to dwell on it.

I kept pace with him and walked away.

< Dear Lady Monique,

Thank you very much for your kindness last time. I had a really good time. As an appreciation, I am sending you the specialty tea made in our kingdom. It is a small gift, but I hope you can accept it. See you again next time. Princia Frincia de Lua>

A few days later, Princess Frincia sent me a small box with a letter. I was a bit puzzled why she was so kind to me, but I sent her a reply, along with tea leaves from my estate.

When I sorted out all the letters, including the princess’s letter, LIia, who exclaimed with joy while looking at the prototype hairpin I received from Entea, asked as if she recalled something,

“My lady, how about not ordering a new dress this time? I hear the banquet will last for five days in a row. ”

“Well…”

“Didn’t you receive a letter from the Imperial Palace around this time?”

“… You bet.”

I smiled awkwardly because I had nothing to say. Come to think of it, around this time of the years, the imperial palace asked me what color and style of clothes I would wear, but strangely enough, I was not notified this time. Does this mean that I no longer need to create a friendly atmosphere? In fact, there are rumors circulating about the crown prince breaking his engagement to me, and the princess candidates are also attending the party.

At the moment, I was delighted to think that I was finally getting free of him, but at the same time, I felt some mysterious regret in one corner of my heart, but I shook my head to shake off such idle thought.

“Just pick an appropriate one.”

“Don’t you want to order a new one? How about ordering a colorful dress this time?”

“No, I’m fine. I already have a lot…”

Lina, trying to say something, quietly shut her eyes after checking my expression.

While I was at it, I stopped by clothing stores and chose some to put on at the upcoming festival banquet. Strangely enough, there were not many that I liked, so it was hard to pick. But as there were a lot, I chose some dresses that I liked. Lina insisted the dresses I chose were not good enough, but I didn’t care much because I might get out of the imperial family soon.

Seven days before the festival date to celebrate the national founding I received a letter stamped with the imperial seal. It was sent by the crown prince asking me to have tea time with him.

The place that the chief attendant escorted me was his personal study, where I visited last time. His study, which might be better called a library, boasted of an enormous collection of books.

I saw a young man with blue hair sitting in front of a table and reading a book seriously in the middle of his spacious study. I went across the fluffy carpet embroidered with the royal family’s crest and bowed to him.

“I’m honored to see you, the Little Sun of the Empire.”

“Oh, come on in.”

As if he seemed very tired, he put down the document he was reading and pressed around his eyes with his thumbs. In fact, his workload has increased since five princesses arrived, and three of them kept going in and out of his palace. Besides, there were rumors that the emperor started to hand over his work to him these days.

“So, how have you been?”

“I’m doing well. All thanks to you. How are you doing, Your Majesty?”

“How do I look?”

I didn’t respond because he must have been exhausted from accumulated fatigue, given that he usually didn’t tell anybody about his health condition. When I just smiled awkwardly, he looked at me silently and said, “The tea you served me the other day was very effective.”

“I’m honored to hear that, Your Majesty.”

“Can you brew tea for me today?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

I pulled the string and told the maid to bring tea leaves and boiled water. For a moment silence fell, but he soon broke the silence and asked me, “Okay, which dress color do you want this time?”

“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

“Why are you surprised? Don’t you order custom clothes when you attend the official banquet? ”

“Ah…”

As I was not notified this time, I didn’t order this time. Was it because he was so busy that he didn’t have time to send me a message? With mixed feelings of disappointment and relief, I traced back in memory. What dress color did I pick? I think I just chose it without any much thought.

“Light green… ”

“Um…”

“And maybe it was navy blue, blue purple, dark red, or black.”

“… You seem to like dark colors quite a bit. ”

Did I? Lina said the same thing a few days ago. Come to think of it, I preferred a calm and dark color at some point.