Chapter 60 - Cheong (1/2)

Chapter 60 – Cheong

I shrugged and agreed enthusiastically with her words. “It’s a special feeling for certain.”

“…Right,” Odeletta said with a nod and a strange smile, and after a moment she continued. “Have you prepared a gift for the Duke?”

“Oh?” I was slightly taken aback. Give Claude a…gift?

‘Ah, come to think of it…’

It wasn’t just a party we were going to in a few days; it was a birthday celebration. I had been too focused on the fact that the party would be held at the Escliffe mansion in a few days, and I felt embarrassed at my sudden forgetfulness.

“Look at my mind, goodness,” I softly scolded myself. I hadn’t prepared a gift at all.

Odeletta looked at me with startled surprise. “You didn’t prepare anything?”

“I was too focused on the fact that the party would be in a few days. I completely forgot that it was about celebrating his birthday,” I said.

“My goodness, Marie,” Odeletta said with a shake of her head. “I understand what you’re saying, but that’s too much. Aren’t you two close friends?”

“…”

She was right, but I couldn’t find anything to say and kept my mouth closed. Just as Odeletta said, Claude and I were friends, so it would be appropriate for me to give him a gift. I brought my hand to my forehead in shame.

‘Why did I only realize something this important right now?’

I wish I had come to my senses a little earlier. This was my terrible mistake. This was as severe as fire on the ground.

I scrambled my thoughts in an attempt to think of a good gift. A handkerchief was my first idea, but that was overdone. I had already given a handkerchief to Odeletta once, and then to Xavier before that. There was nothing wrong with giving the same thing to Claude, but I wanted to present something more special.

‘I’m tired of embroidering handkerchiefs anyway.’

But what on earth could I give him? I had no other talent than making handkerchiefs. Since everyone was from a well-to-family, a heartfelt gift was preferable to an expensive one, like a thousand folded paper cranes. Something like that was best in terms of expressing sincerity, though something more practical might be better.

“It’s alright. You still have some time,” Odeletta said in an attempt to soothe me. “Do you have anything in mind?”

“I thought about a handkerchief, but I’m tired of that. I’ve already made it for two people.”

“Two…people?” Odeletta asked slowly. “Have you ever given a handkerchief to anyone else besides me?”

“Why, are you jealous?” I teased, but the expression on her face remained serious. I quickly explained. “I gave one to the Crown Prince. I made it so I wouldn’t go empty-handed when I went to Thurman Palace.”

“Ah…” Odeletta nodded with an unreadable look on her face.

I remained focused on my dilemma. When I thought ‘Should I just give a handkerchief then?’ another idea suddenly struck my mind.

‘Cheong is a very heartfelt gift.’

There didn’t seem to be a culture of making cheong here, a Korean food of sweetened fruit syrups, marmalades and preserves. Of course, I didn’t know everything about this place yet, so I could be wrong.

“I’ll make it once.” I made it in Korea before. It was a fairly elaborate process, but it wasn’t too difficult to do.

“Hm? What is that?” Odeletta asked.

“Cheong. Do you know about it?”

“I’ve heard about it,” she replied with a nod. “But it’s not a common sweet in Yonas.”

I guessed as much. I came to a decision. “Then I should make cheong and give it to you as a gift.”

I wondered if it would suit her taste, but I’ve never met anyone who disliked cheong. Of course, making broad generalizations was a pitfall, but I can’t imagine anyone disliking cheong unless it was made to be completely tasteless.