Chapter 43 - Do You Have Anything To Tell Me? (2/2)

Xavier looked up at me, and with a smile I snuck out the box that I had brought.

“I didn’t think it was polite to come empty-handed…but I didn’t think you’d like an expensive gift either.”

I passed the box to Xavier, and he accepted it with an unreadable expression. When he opened the gift box, his eyes widened.

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked worriedly. His reaction was worse than I expected.

“Pardon?” he said, as if startled. “Not at all, Lady Maristella. I really like it.”

“Really?” I said doubtfully. “I thought you didn’t like it.”

“Not at all,” Xavier denied with a shake of his head. I was strangely relieved by his emphatic response. “It’s a very thoughtful gift. Did you embroider it yourself?”

“Yes,” I answered with a shy smile. “But I’m not very good at it.”

“No, Lady Maristella. This is amazing. Thank you very much. The crest of the Imperial House is not a simple design. You must have worked hard on that.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

My chest swelled proudly at the acknowledgment of my hard work. I took a bite of sorbet, feeling much better than before.

Then, the least pleasant topic popped into my head.

‘Ah, tea leaves.’

That was the main reason for my visit to Thurman Palace. The thought of Dorothea made me frown.

Why was I doing this? I felt regret over it. If I could, I wanted to turn this situation upside down and let it go, but it was even more annoying because I knew better than anyone else that I couldn’t not do it.

‘It was all my fault.’

I didn’t deserve to be angry about anything else. It was my fault anyway.

“Y-Your Highness,” I said, carefully bringing up the topic.

“Yes, Lady Maristella.” Xavier looked at me with the sincerest expression. “Do you have anything to tell me?”

“It’s about the Nilgiri tea that you sent me when I was in the sickbed.” I hesitated. “Can I buy some extra?”

“Pardon?”

“I…I mean, I made a mistake, and I’m in a situation where I promised to give someone the tea leaves you gave me.” My face burned with shame, but I forced myself to say everything I wanted to say. “However, it is rude for me to give away the tea leaves that you gifted me, and I don’t want to do that.”

“…”

“So if you don’t mind, I want to purchase it separately. Is that possible?”

“Hmm…” Xavier remained in quiet thought for some time. As his silence stretched on, so did my anxiety. When I got too tired of waiting, I almost apologized for asking too big of a favor from him. Then, Xavier spoke.

“Is it Lady Cornohen?” he asked.

“Pardon?” I blurted, panicking at the sudden mention of the name.

“Was it the daughter of Cornohen who wanted the tea leaves?”

How did he know that?

I stuttered, stunned by his words, and Xavier guessed the answer from my face.

“I see,” he murmured.

“H-how did you know?”

“Because she is the only one who would request something like that from you.”

It may have been the trick of the light, but somehow Xavier looked upset.

“Please don’t think too much about what I just said, Your Highness. I’m sorry I asked you for too much,” I said humbly.

“No, Lady Maristella. It wasn’t too much at all.” Then, Xavier added casually, “I will just give it to you.”

Oh no.

“I would feel bad about that,” I protested.

“I would be more sorry if you paid for the tea leaves I gave to you as a gift. Please accept my sincerity. I will take care of it for you.”

Xavier spoke in a firm tone. I hesitated, then gave a nod.