Chapter 9
After leaving the Magnolia Trade, the strong sunshine of noon greeted me . The sun felt even hotter after coming out of the dark room . I squinted my eyes for a moment, waited until my eyes became accustomed to the light, and then resumed my steps .
I didn’t take off the hood because I didn’t bring my parasol . I don’t want my face to burn . I wanted to protect my porcelain-like skin, which I couldn’t even dream about in my past life .
I have sent the letter and met the boss, so I’m done with my business, but I felt a little sad to go back to the mansion . If I go back, I’ll have to see the damn mother and daughter to get in anyway . I don’t have much money, but can I do some window shopping… . ?
The Magnolia Trade was in downtown area so there were crowds of people and a lot of shops . The high-end shopping district used mostly by the aristocrats was a little further away from here, and in the place where I was, only the shops that the commoner usually used were visible .
I walked around the shops and stopped looking at one of the clothing stores . I do need a pair of ordinary clothes . I was sorry to borrow Leah’s robes every time, and when the weather gets hotter than it is now, it will be hard to come out in this outfit .
There was also a shoe store next to it . Shoes were a bigger problem than clothes .
The shoes on my feet right now were slightly painful . It doesn’t matter what I wear when I ride a carriage, but my shoes were too uncomfortable to walked around . I need to buy one with a low heel and soft form .
“Hello . I’d like to see some comfortable shoes to wear . ”
“Yes, it’s all in this line . ”
There were many different types, ranging from plain and simple to colorful ones . Considering that I don’t have much money in my hand right now, I should choose something cheap, but honestly I want to wear something pretty .
After agonizing over it, I compromised with shoes embroidered with roses on the front .
“How about these leather shoes? It would look good on you, miss . ”
“It’s so pretty . But I’ll take just this . ”
Leather shoes are luxury in my situation … when I took off my shoes, and changed to the deep shoes, I felt like I was going to buy some later . With much lighter steps, I left the shoe store and went to the next clothing store .
“This is a silver … It’s a silver 20 coppers … ugh… . ”
After paying for the shoes, the remaining money was 60 coppers . There were few clothes available for 60 coppers, but even those were so ugly that I didn’t want to live with . I want to look like a commoner, not a beggar .
“…I’ll have money in three days . Let’s buy then… . ”
I left the clothing store and walked again . There was a delicious smell coming from the restaurant on the street . There were many people in every restaurants because it was lunchtime .
Everything looked delicious, but there was a particularly eye-catching spot . It was a restaurant that sold a single menu of bread and stew .
When the order comes in, it seems like a large hand is laden with boiled stew and is served with baked bread . Since the food comes out less than a minute after ordering, it is perfect for those who want to fill their stomach as soon as possible .
I stood there for a moment and was lost in memories .
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It was very similar to a special meal I used to buy sometimes when I went to the market of a big village with my mother in my previous life . There was a tent set up outdoors to sit on a simple table and eat .
I carefully entered the restaurant and looked at the menu .
The price of the food is 30 coppers . Add 10 coppers and you can eat it double, add 5 coppers and you can change the black into white bread .
After paying 35 coppers, I took a bowl of stew and white bread then sat on the empty seat . I also took off my hood for a comfortable meal .
When I picked up a spoon and put the stew in my mouth, the familiar taste that I felt for the first time in a long time lingered on the tip of my tongue . Spicy broth with low amount of meat and low-price spice! The aroma in my previous life was a little different, but it still tasted quite similar .
Somehow, I emptied the bowl feeling full .
On my way back home after a little bit of regret, I met a royal emissary on his way to the Crescente mansion .
An emissary from the Imperial Palace could be recognized by its attire . The emissary looked at me, and said .
“Do you work at the Crescente mansion?”
“What? … Oh, yes . ”
The person seems to have mistaken me as a maid of the Crescente mansion because I was wearing a robe and pressed the hood . I was embarrassed to say that I’m the esteemed-daughter of Crescente, so I decided to pretend to be just a maid .
“Deliver this to Lady Adriana Crescente . ”
The emissary gave me a gorgeous and luxurious envelope with golden leaf .
Is it for me? I opened my eyes wide while looking at the envelope, and the emissary scolded me .
“How dare you look at your master’s personal belongings? Hurry in and deliver this to her . Keep in mind that it was sent from the Imperial Family, so if you take it away, you’ll be punished harshly . ”
“I’m sorry! I’ll deliver this properly . ”
It’s already been properly delivered . After completing his task, the emissary returned .
I took off the robe before entering the mansion .
I went up to my room and looked at the envelope again . On the front page, the names of the sender and receipent were written in pretty handwriting .
The recipient was, of course, Adriana Crescente and the sender’s name was Cynthia Luminous de Khalin .
“It’s from Her Highness . ”
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I opened the envelope and read the letter . Whether what she said at the party was empty words, Princess Cynthia really invited me to a tea time in the Imperial Palace .
The date was two days later . There was nothing else important, but I still read the letter carefully then asked Leah .
“Is my mother at home?”
“She’s getting massages in her room . ”
“Well, then I’ll have to go get my mother out … no . I need to get some rest for now . ”
I wanted to let her know and brag about the tea party invitation, but I thought it would be better to talk to her later at mealtime . Because there’s Sharon .
I gave Leah the robes back, went back to my room, and spent my time in a good way until mealtime .
Marianne and her daughter had planned to eat outside, but luckily they seemed to be eating at home today .
Actually, it didn’t matter if it was not today because I can just wait until tomorrow morning, it’s just that I can’t wait to tell them .
At last, it was dinner time that I had been waiting for . I opened my mouth casually, sprinkling the dressing on the fresh salad .
“Mother, do you mind if I go out the day after tomorrow?”
“Don’t ask me every single question . You’re 16 years old . ”
Marianne answered with a look of annoyance .
“I’m sorry … Leah, please prepare my stationery after dinner, I will write back to the Princess . ”
Marianne and Sharon stopped moving at the word Princess and stared at me .
“… . Her Highness the Princess?”
“Yes . ”
The steak in a warm dish was placed in front of us . Is the menu going to be a steak for a few days? I turned a blind eye to two pairs of eyes blooming at me . Sharon must have been nervous since I cut my steak and seemed to be unable to talk in details .
“Tell me more about it . What do you mean by the Princess?”
“It’s nothing special . She invited me for a tea time . ”
“Tea time? Her Highness drinks a tea with you?”
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It’s hard for her to listen . For you, I’m just a dirty little girl, but I’m a daughter of the Duke Crescente .
I recounted the proverb of Zarku Kingdom, ‘The true winner is the last winner’ I hated it in my previous life, but I needed it now .
Whoa … Yeah, I understand . Sharon often felt inferior to the fact that she wasn’t from the bloodline of Crescente, so she wanted to get rid of me and restore her self-esteem .
“What do you mean . Why did the Royal Highness do such a thing—”
“Adriana . ”
Marianne opened her mouth with a fierce face, as she pretended not to know the real reason for Sharon’s anger .
When she called my name in a cold voice, I felt a little off . The fear of Marianne was immeasurably imprinted on my mind, whether I like it or not . Remembering the memories of my past life did not mean the memories or the past six years have disappeared .
“I’m not sure why the Princess is looking for you, but if there’s anything wrong with her assumption, make sure you correct it . ”
“Yes…?”
“If that’s because she thinks you’re going to be a Princess, speak clearly . ”
Give her this word . Sharon Crescente, my sister and not me, is the one who’s going to marry the Prince .
“Oh, my God . Her Royal Highness, the Princess, would not have made such a ridiculous misunderstanding . Don’t worry too much, Mother . ”
And I don’t want to be with Leonhart . I don’t want to get engaged to a guy who’s going to fall in love with another girl later on .
However, Marianne’s words need to be taken seriously . All I did was give her a hairpin gift, and she liked the hairpin so much to the point she wants to get a table and have a cup of tea with me?
Oh, I should think about this from the perspective of maniacs . Perhaps she really liked collecting jewelry, so my gift was very special for her .
But it seems that this is an overly positive assumption, it was gradually carried on the side that I judged that I had a high chance of becoming Leonhart’s fiancée .
The future of Leonhart being held captive by love is not known by Her Royal Highness … even Leonhart himself doesn’t know this yet .
It’s no use trying to figure out the Princess’s intention until I meet her, so let’s not worry about it already .
“Welcome, Lady Adriana Crescente . My name is Stella Saintelauge, the maid of honour at the Imperial Palace, who came to pick up the lady under the Princess’s command . ”
The day I was invited to a tea time by the Princess .
Upon arriving at the palace, a group of maids waited and greeted me as I stepped out of the carriage . The person who stood at the front was the royal maid of honour .
I can’t believe the maids would come to greet me … I don’t know how to put myself on the royal ship .
Stella walked half a step behind me for guidance, and the rest of the maids, in line, followed behind with some distance . She stopped walking in front of the reception room of the Imperial Princess Palace . When Stella politely announced my visit, the lady-in-waiting opened the door .
I wondered if there was any other lady who was invited, but there was only one Princess .
The shining silver hair, white skin, and white dress created a mysterious atmosphere as the sunlight entered through the window . Brother and sister beauty is amazing in pairs .
“Welcome, Lady Adriana . ”
“I’m here to meet Your Royal Highness . It’s an honor to be invited by you today . ”
“Oh, my . I just wanted to talk to you alone today, so I only invited you . ”
I see you did . Oh, by the way . Marianne and Sharon made me do something .
I glanced at the Duchess’ maids to deliver the package of gifts . When Cynthia saw her maids accept them, she asked .
“What are they?”
“I was invited by the Princess, so it was a gift from my mother and sister . It’s the finest honey and jewelry, I hope it suits your liking . ”
“Really? Stella, bring the gifts from the Duchess to my room . ”
“Yes, Your Highness . ”
Her Royal Highness seemed not very interested in the gifts . Stella and several other maids went out of the drawing room with the gifts, and the Princess asked me to sit down .
“We have a special tea ball . You will be surprised to see it . What kind of tea do you like, Lady Adriana?”
“I don’t have any special taste, but I’ve been enjoying hydrangeas lately . ”
The maid brought a tray of cakes and tea . The Princess said that the tea ball is unique, but I don’t know what’s unusual… .
The maid, who had put a tray down on the table, began pouring the hot water into the teapot .
We’re not bringing tea out of concern, are we?
I was embarrassed because it was my first time . But soon I knew why .