Chapter 19
19. Corsage and Lapel Pin
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After the engagement ceremony, while I was receiving consort training from Madame Laval, I also asked His Majesty Aleksanteri to let me learn how to make corsages from the palace tailors.
His Majesty Aleksanteri had intended to summon the tailors to my chambers, but since I was the one asking to be taught, I insisted that I should go to them.
“Since I am the one learning, it is only natural that I should go to them.”
“I worry about letting you leave the Imperial Palace, Reisie. You are already my fiancée and consort, so it is perfectly acceptable for me to summon the tailors to you, you know?”
“Before being a consort, I am also a craftsperson. I wish to be treated as an equal artisan!”
When he realized that, unusually for me, I would not yield on this point, His Majesty Aleksanteri allowed me to do as I wished.
Even so, I was not permitted to leave the palace grounds; instead, I went only as far as the workroom of the palace tailors.
On the day I went to learn how to remake a flower crown into a corsage, I wore clothes I had brought from the Viscount Dian household. The garments tailored for me in the Imperial Palace were wonderfully comfortable and beautiful, but not suitable for working in.
Since there was a chance they might get dirty, I wore my old clothes and tied my hair up. As a result, I looked plain—hardly distinguishable from the servants.
When I entered the tailors’ workroom, all eyes turned toward me.
“I am Reisie Dian. I would be grateful if you would treat me as one of your own, without regard to rank.”
“To teach Her Highness the Consort… it is far too great an honor.”
“It is impossible to treat you without regard to rank.”
“No, I am the one asking for instruction. I beg for your guidance.”
When I bowed deeply, the tailors all dropped to their knees. I urged them to stand and showed them the flower crown I had brought.
Looking at the flowers—white tinged with pink—the tailors conferred among themselves.
“You intend to make a corsage, but with this many flowers, some will be left over.”
“Indeed. Could the excess be put to some use?”
“What about making hair ornaments?”
“That is a good idea. Please teach me.”
I began by removing the artificial flowers from the crown’s base, then rearranging them anew. Several blooms were grouped together onto the base of the corsage, with a pin attached to the back.
Even after turning some into hair ornaments, flowers still remained.
“Could these be used for something else?”
“They are fine flowers. But being white, their use is somewhat limited.”
“How about making a small bouquet to decorate your room?”
“A bouquet…”
That was not a bad idea, but since I had the chance, I wished to make something useful.
While I pondered, one tailor hesitantly spoke up.
“What if we made a lapel pin for His Majesty the Emperor?”
His Majesty’s jackets all had a flower hole in the lapel. If one of these flowers were placed there, it would match mine perfectly.
“Would His Majesty accept such a thing from me?”
“It is said that His Majesty treasures you dearly, Your Highness. Surely he would be pleased.”
Though it might be presumptuous to have a matching ornament, I could not resist the idea. I combined a white flower with a pink one and fashioned a lapel pin. Normally His Majesty wore jeweled adornments, so giving him something like this made me hesitate, yet I realized how unexpectedly delighted I was at the thought of us having a pair.
After finishing the work, I changed clothes in the afternoon and attended Madame Laval’s consort lessons.
“Some ladies leave everything to the servants, but there are also consorts who plan the menu for their own birthday teas.”
“What should I do?”
“Do as you please, Princess Reisie. If you prefer not to plan it, the servants can. If you wish to plan it yourself, I will assist you.”
At her words, I began thinking about my birthday tea, which was about a month away. Now that I was formally engaged, my position as a candidate consort should be secure. Perhaps this was the time to show my capability as a consort.
“Madame Laval, would you teach me?”
“Gladly.”
With her help, I decided to plan the tea menu myself.
As I learned about seasonal ingredients and methods of preparation, I recalled my time at the Dian household. Since we were not wealthy, there had been few servants. I often made tea cakes with Sophia and Mother.
“Would it be improper if I were to do some of the baking myself?”
“Your Highness would personally prepare the tea cakes?”
“Yes. At the Dian house, I sometimes baked. I can manage simple muffins, pies, or tarts.”
Madame Laval considered this carefully.
“If it were only one item, it might be acceptable for you to make it.”
“Truly?”
“His Majesty has instructed that as far as possible, your wishes are to be granted.”
“Thank you.”
Since elaborate dishes would take too long, we settled on bite-sized muffins. They could be prepared a few days in advance and kept well, ensuring enough could be served.
“His Majesty Aleksanteri truly thinks of me, doesn’t he?”
“Of course. You are the only lady His Majesty has ever considered marrying.”
I still did not understand why, but it was said that His Majesty treasured me. He himself had repeatedly told me he would cherish me, would value me.
Perhaps we could not become a couple bound by love, but perhaps we could become a husband and wife who respected each other.
I could never be His Majesty’s equal, but just as he cherished me, I resolved to cherish him as best I could.
That evening, when I dined with His Majesty, I presented him with the lapel pin in a box.
“Thank you for allowing me to work with the tailors today. I made a lapel pin for you from the flowers. Even if you do not wear it, I would be glad if you accepted it.”
“You made a lapel pin for me from your crown’s flowers? May I see it?”
“Yes, please do.”
At my urging, His Majesty opened the box and gazed at the artificial flower lapel pin.
“Thank you. The thought of matching with you delights me. I shall certainly wear it at your birthday tea. And you must wear the corsage as well.”
“In front of everyone—is that acceptable?”
“It makes me very happy to be able to match with you.”
His eyes were tinged with rosy light; it was clear how genuinely pleased he was. I felt shy, yet also happy that we could share something alike.
My cheeks grew warm, my heartbeat quickened—why?
Perhaps because His Majesty’s face was far too beautiful.
There is a saying that even beauty becomes tiresome after three days, yet His Majesty’s beauty remained dazzling every time I looked upon it.
I was no beauty myself, but there is also the saying that one grows accustomed to a plain face in three days. I hoped that His Majesty might, in that way, have grown used to mine.
