Chapter 29 - An Unexpected Visit (1/2)

Chapter 29 – An Unexpected Visit

‘What was that just now…’

As I recalled what happened earlier with a vexed expression, I heard another knock outside.

“Who is it?”

“Florinda here, My Lady. It looks like the Duke is going somewhere…”

“Very well.”

Soon the door opened and Florinda came in. She had a white plate piled with rusks, as if she were here to refill the refreshments.

I can just eat them myself!

“Since the Duke left early, I’ll be full,” I said in gleeful expectation.

“Should I bring more? The chef baked a lot of them.”

“Let me eat this first.”

The plate of rusks was set on my lap, and I picked one up and bit it with a satisfied, loud crunch.

Meanwhile, Florinda blinked as if she just remembered something. “Oh, My Lady, My Lady.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I couldn’t tell you before.”

“What is it?”

“The Crown Prince will come here tomorrow.”

Drop.

The rusk slipped from my hand and fell into my lap.

What…what did she just say?

“…Did I hear you wrong?” I uttered, dumbstruck.

“No. You heard correctly, My Lady. That’s exactly what Sir Dilton said.”

“No way… Do Mother and Father know about this?”

“The Madam knows about it. I don’t know if the Master knows… Perhaps the Madam has told him,” Florinda reasoned.

My eyebrows pinched. “But it will be a disturbance if the Crown Prince comes here. The guards…”

“Sir Dilton reassured you not to worry about things like that.”

“Hmm… But why is The Crown Prince coming here?” I wondered.

“Actually, His Highness already has plans to go out tomorrow, and he’d stop by on his way downtown.”

“Ah, I see,” I said, nodding. But then again, it didn’t make any sense for a Crown Prince to visit some young woman without any particular reason. “If the Crown Prince arrives tomorrow, bring out the tea we received today, Florinda.”

“Yes, My Lady. Oh, but…” Florinda trailed off carefully, and I urged her to speak.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Duke Escliffe visits this place every day. What if they visit at the same time?”

“No way.” I shook my head as if that was impossible. What were the odds of those two people running into each other in 24 hours tomorrow?

I smiled and reassured Florinda there was no need for worries like that.

“The chance of me being struck dead by lightning is probably higher.”

***

The next day, all I had was one concern—who would come to my house first, Claude or Xavier?

Claude visited at fairly irregular times and sometimes came unannounced, which was surprising to me, but I expected that Claude would come later than Xavier since Xavier reserved a two o’clock visit.

At exactly two o’clock, Florinda came into my room with a bright voice and announced his arrival. “Lady Marie, the Crown Prince is here!”

I nodded. “I don’t look weird, right?” I asked her.

Since this was a meeting with the Crown Prince, it was best to be as civil as possible. Florinda answered with a nod as if questioning why I was asking such a question.

“Of course, My Lady! How beautiful you are right now.”

“Haha…” I laughed shyly. I didn’t trust her remark. How pretty could a patient be, really?

“First, bring him here… then prepare the refreshments that the Crown Prince sent yesterday, Florinda.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Not long after Florinda left, I heard a knock and I cleared my voice before answering.

“Yes.”

“Lady Maristella, may I come in?” a familiar voice said from outside the room. I took a short deep breath, relaxed and answered him.

“Yes, Your Highness. Come in.”