Chapter 40 - I Will Do It (2/2)
“Pardon?”
“Ah, I mean it’s also the first time for A. I misspoke,” he clarified.
I looked at him skeptically. “Was the story you told just now about you?”
“No, no way,” Claude denied. “I don’t approach people for such impure purposes.” An odd smile widened on his lips. “It was about someone I knew. I asked you because I didn’t understand him at all.”
“I see,” I said with a light nod, then picked up the teacup I set down on the table earlier. The tea had been too hot to drink earlier, but now it had reached a comfortable temperature. I sipped the tea and was about to move onto another conversation topic when—
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
“It’s Florinda, My Lady,” a voice said.
A frown creased my brow. That was rude of her when I already had a visitor here.
I turned towards the door, feeling somewhat upset. “What is it?”
“There is a reply from the Imperial Palace. Shall I leave it in your bedroom?”
Oh my God, there was already a reply? I was shocked, as the response came faster than I expected. After I ordered Florinda to leave the letter in my bedroom, I turned my attention to Claude again.
“You received a reply from the Imperial Palace?” he said in a low voice.
“Ah.”
Claude didn’t know. I wondered if I should talk to him about this. Last time I saw the two young men together, they didn’t seem to get along that well…
After some consideration, I decided to explain the situation as concisely as possible.
“I wished to visit His Highness to thank him, since he came to visit me personally and gave me tea leaves back then.”
“…”
“Duke?” I said, feeling uneasy about the silence.
“…Ah.” Claude looked glassy-eyed for a moment, then he smiled brightly and spoke as if nothing had happened. “I’m sorry, Lady Maristella. I didn’t sleep well last night, and I’m a little tired.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But…do you need to go to the Palace for that?”
“Hmm…” I already expected his negative response, and I spoke as delicately as I could. “I think it’s a matter of courtesy. And, actually, I have a favor to ask him—”
“I will do it,” he cut in.
I blinked in confusion. “…Pardon?”
“Whatever it is, I will do it, Lady Maristella,” he asserted.
“No. It’s not a favor that you can do—”
“’Impossible’ does not exist in my dictionary. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
In the end, I decided to be direct. “Do you really not want me to go to the Imperial Palace?”
Claude faltered at my question, but after a moment he gave a firm nod. “I really don’t like the idea.”
“Why?”
“As you know, I dislike the Crown Prince. He’s very cold. I don’t know why he would approach you, but it’s not good to get close to him. I’m afraid he will only hurt you.”
That was some heavy criticism. How many people in the world could condemn someone as high-ranking as the Crown Prince?
When I thought about it like that, the two had to be quite close.
“If it weren’t for his rank as the Crown Prince, he’d have to be imprisoned,” Claude continued.
…Or was I just mistaken?
“Don’t go,” he said warningly. “I don’t know what it is, but whatever you need, I will do it.”
I shook my head. “But even if you’re right, I don’t think that’s proper. Besides, I need to send a reply…” Worry creased my forehead, but soon I had an idea. “Here’s what I will do. If the reply is a refusal, then I won’t message the Crown Prince again. However, if it isn’t, then I cannot say no.”
“…”
“You understand my situation, don’t you, Your Grace?” I asked.
“…Yes, Lady Maristella,” he said, but the bitter expression remained on his face. “I was only thinking of myself. I ignored your point of view and ended up only forcing my opinion. I apologize for my lack of respect, Lady Maristella.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I don’t think you did it with bad intentions.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand Claude at all. I’d feel bad too if my friend met someone I didn’t like.