Chapter 48
I concluded my thoughts and gently brushed over the painting. At least, I could be friends with her, as long as I didn’t get too greedy. As I was thinking this, I noticed a seal in the corner of the painting. I wondered how my father could remember the seals of so many famous artists… Sometimes, that part of him is almost frightening. I couldn’t stop him.
I stood alone in the reception room for a moment, enjoying the lingering atmosphere, and then smiled. As I was about to head to my room, I suddenly stopped. I looked back at the seal again. My father’s excited, sparkling eyes as he viewed the painting popped into my mind. A strange unease filled my heart.
Of course, I didn’t think my father would sell my gift without permission… but his excited voice when he mentioned realizing a profit…
I paused and began counting the paintings again. It might seem a bit childish, but I pushed that thought aside. As the one who received the gift, it was polite to know how many paintings there were. There was no hidden meaning or distrust in my father.
The day I was supposed to meet Max wasn’t too far off. I’d made the appointment early, considering my trip to the Pain Estate. But strangely, time seemed to crawl. The few days passed so slowly that it became unbearable. I wished time would hurry, but sadly, it didn’t, and I found myself blaming the slow-moving sun.
I’d seen the paintings so many times that I could now almost memorize their order. So, to pass the time, I wandered slowly in the garden, then decided.
I would go visit Diane. Once I went down to the Estate, I wouldn’t see her for a while, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see her once more. Above all, I couldn’t stand being alone anymore. Maybe talking with her would make the time go by faster.
However, when I arrived at Diane’s place, I unexpectedly ran into someone.
“Carmilla, what’s this? Are you meeting Diane separately?”
With half-raised pink hair flowing down in gentle waves and sharp green eyes that reflected a fierce personality, it was Hyde.
I’d heard there was a guest, but I hadn’t expected it to be Hyde. Before I answered, I glanced at Diane behind her. Diane quickly shook her head.
She probably didn’t want Hyde to know about this. So, I casually replied.
“I was comforted by Diane after my engagement ended. She took me out and cheered me up. We’ve become quite close.”
It seemed like a good enough cover-up. Diane’s face relaxed in relief.
If Hyde had interrupted, things might have escalated to the palace. Even if she was trying to help Diane, it might not have been truly helpful. Her actions were sometimes so thoughtless that they could be terrifying even for those close to her.
Hyde had already lost interest in the topic of Diane and me and changed the subject.
“Well, it’s fine. Come in. We were just enjoying some dessert and chatting.”
Hyde turned around, leading the way into the room, acting as if she owned the place.
Inside, the room smelled of sweet and soft foods. On the table, a knife with cream cheese was left on white bread, and there was honey shaped like a honeycomb. Blackberries and figs were carefully mixed with half-cut fruits. Soft cookies lined the table, a lavish afternoon tea setup.
“Well, it seems like you’re having quite a feast for the morning.”
Hyde shrugged.
“What’s wrong with that? I want to eat what I like, no matter the time.”
There was also a plate with thinly sliced ham and a transparent liquid in a glass.
I picked up the glass and asked, “And despite the time, you’re drinking honey wine? From the morning, Hyde, Diane?”
When I gave them a disapproving look, Diane quickly turned red and avoided my eyes.
“This is… Hyde’s idea. I tried to stop her.”
But Hyde, shameless as ever, sat down and poured herself another drink. The honey wine swirled inside the glass in a beautiful golden color.
“It’s morning, and you’re already starting a drinking session?”
I couldn’t believe it, and Hyde teased me by offering me a glass.
“Don’t be silly, have a drink, Carmilla.”
Her green eyes narrowed cynically.
“You can’t expect rewards by living by rules like ‘Don’t drink in the morning,’ or ‘Go to the temple on holidays,’ or ‘Don’t say bad words,’ right?”
She took a sip, and her voice was sweetened by the honey wine’s aroma.
“Life’s too short to live by rules. Enjoy while you’re alive. People, like knives, don’t care whether you’re good or bad.”
Despite the cynical words, her breath smelled of the sweet wine.
‘What’s going on with her today?’
I stared at Hyde for a moment, then took the glass and sat down. I drank a little and asked, “Why the gloomy talk this morning, Hyde? Did something happen?”
She responded mockingly, “Of course not. Same old boring nonsense. People running around worrying about everything, like bugs crawling on the ground. But recently, things have been more annoying. Everyone’s bugging me because they heard the Crown Prince is looking for a fiancée.”
I frowned.
“Your language… it’s too harsh.”
“Oh, I’m just being honest,” Hyde said, turning her face away.
“If they keep bothering me, I’ll start bringing a whip with me. I’ll show them what happens when they don’t know their place.”
Diane turned pale.
“Ha-ha-ha… You’re joking, right?”
Hyde gave her a sharp look and asked, “Does this look like a joke to you?”
She wasn’t joking. Hyde was serious about using a whip.
“Oh my god.”
I put my hand to my forehead.
“I don’t want to hear about this first thing in the morning. You understand, right? A lady with a whip… If I hear this again, I might just leave for the countryside for a year. I won’t even write letters.”
Hyde pouted.
“It was a joke. Can’t I even joke around in this kind of atmosphere?”
Diane looked at her in disbelief. The look on her face said, ‘That wasn’t a joke.’
To save Diane’s peace of mind, I sat down and filled my glass with honey wine.
“Alright. Let’s move on from this. By the way, Diane.”
Diane looked relieved that the subject changed.
“Hmm? Yes?”
“Is there anyone in high society with green eyes and black hair who attends Rust’s gatherings?”
Diane tilted her head as if it was a difficult question.
“Well, that’s a rather common combination, isn’t it? If you count illegitimate children, there are too many possibilities. Our gatherings tend to invite a wide range of people, no one is excluded.”
I thought so. I couldn’t guess either. There were too many people involved, especially when you consider the gatherings at Count Lydia’s poetry club.
I hesitated to mention Max’s name. I still wanted to keep it to myself for now.
Diane continued, “Even the Crown Prince has black hair and green eyes. Why…?”
Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat.
It hit me that the Crown Prince’s name was also Max. It could just be a coincidence, but the combination of his name, hair, and eye color stirred unease in me.
The possibility seemed too low, but still, it made me nervous.
‘No, that’s impossible.’
There’s no way I’d develop feelings for someone like him, someone everyone admires, surrounded by chaos.
I laughed at myself and brushed off the thought.
‘Besides, I heard the Crown Prince spent his youth on the battlefield. They say he’s cold-hearted and ruthless. The kind man I met couldn’t possibly be him. I’ll ask when trust develops between us. There’s no need to dig into his identity behind his back.’
Just then, Diane’s eyes widened, and she asked, “Did you meet someone you like?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to repay a man I offended at the banquet, that’s all.”
Diane waved her hands, looking horrified.
“Oh, Carmilla, you’re too naïve. If you do that, he might misunderstand and start following you around.”
Hyde joined in while munching on a slice of ham.
“Diane’s right. If you do something unnecessary, you’ll just attract all sorts of pests. Do you know how much gossip there was about you at the banquet?”
She pointed at herself.
“If you’re wasting your energy, why not focus on treating me better? Why don’t you come to my tea party? You know it’s good for you to get close to me.”
Diane’s eyes widened in surprise.
Hyde’s sweet tone when speaking to others seemed so unusual.
But I wasn’t surprised. I knew Hyde’s childhood, and I wasn’t shocked by her behavior now.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her, considering how hard she’d worked in the palace. She’d been through a lot.
I couldn’t tell her I had to go to the mines soon, so I slowly nodded.
“Sure, I’ll visit sometime. I didn’t avoid your tea parties on purpose, it’s just that there are too many picky ladies there, so I didn’t want to cause trouble.”
Hyde smiled happily. She looked almost like the young girl I used to know when she first started frequenting the palace.
I couldn’t beat her, no matter how hard I tried.
She opened her heart to me, just like I did for her.
In the end, I smiled faintly.
‘I’ll have to go to the palace to visit the Empress someday… I don’t want to, though, with all the terrifying people around.’
