Chapter 61: Lakeside Date (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Lakeside Date (2)
“As I’ve told you, he’s a rude and prickly fellow. Meeting him will only leave you feeling unpleasant.”
But I’ve never seen a mage in my life!
“I heard he’s incredibly talented. I’m just curious.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to call him talented.”
The Grand Duke pouted slightly, but under my questioning gaze, he finally confessed.
“……Though his Material Transformation Magic isn’t bad.”
“Material Transformation Magic?”
“I’m referring to the ability to create magic tools.”
“Ah! I heard about that from Sir Perel.”
In fact, I had previously asked Perel about the mage’s role in the Grand Duke’s Castle.
— “In terms of mana, no one in the Empire surpasses His Highness the Grand Duke. However, only a mage can create swords capable of withstanding His Highness’s mana or the defense stones planted along the boundaries. His recovery magic is also of a very high level.”
At the time, Perel had informed me that while the mage was difficult in many ways, his skills were among the best in the Empire.
That was also why the Grand Duke had no choice but to sign a contract with him for a staggering sum.
— “……His daily routine? He probably spends most of his spare time making magic tools. He creates many fascinating things.”
He had also mentioned that almost all the lights in Blenheim were made by the mage.
I looked at the lights beautifully decorating the forest path.
“He seems to have truly wonderful skill.”
“Outsiders are often surprised. I’m told that to produce this much light normally, one would need to use five times the amount of magic stones.”
I nodded in agreement.
“He seems to have a great artistic sense as well. Was this also made by the mage?”
The lamp illuminating the table was a delicately crafted glass light with ornate decorative rings, looking very much like a designer’s masterpiece.
“How could he make something so beauti—!”
As I reflexively reached toward the lamp, I accidentally knocked over my teacup.
The cup toppled, and the tea splashed over the back of my hand before soaking the table.
Fortunately, the tea had cooled down enough that it wasn't scalding.
The Grand Duke hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from inside his coat. He gently took my hand and began to slowly wipe away the moisture.
“Are you burned anywhere?”
“I-I’m fine. The tea was almost cold.”
The Grand Duke leaned toward me, still holding my hand.
My face heated up involuntarily at his delicate movements as he meticulously inspected and wiped each finger to see if the skin was flushed.
If I lifted my head, our faces were close enough to touch.
‘Too close!’
I couldn't tell if it was my hand or my face that was burning.
Having finished wiping my hand, the Grand Duke looked up.
I could feel his hot breath against me.
His damp gaze met my eyes before slowly dropping toward my lips.
He slowly licked his dry lips.
It felt as if, at any moment, our lips might……
I felt as if the sound of my thumping heart could be heard by the Grand Duke himself.
Coming to my senses, I flinched and pulled back.
The Grand Duke blinked slowly, looking a bit disappointed.
Between the way he acted when getting off the carriage and now, why was he being so forward today?
Feeling embarrassed, I gently slipped my hand out of his grasp and spoke.
“U-Um, Your Highness, why aren’t you using the handkerchief I gave you?”
The Grand Duke’s shoulders flinched as if he had been caught off guard.
The handkerchief in his hand was a plain one with no pattern.
“Did you not like my gift?”
“N-No, that’s not it.”
The Grand Duke’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.
“It’s not that……”
If not that, then what?
When I gave him a slight, narrow-eyed pout out of embarrassment, the Grand Duke hurriedly pulled another handkerchief from inside his coat.
It was a neatly folded cloth embroidered with a seal in gold thread.
It was the handkerchief I had gifted him.
“Do you carry two handkerchiefs with you?”
When our eyes met in the air, the Grand Duke’s lips parted slightly.
“Because it’s too precious.”
“The handkerchief you gave me…… it’s too precious to actually use.”
I involuntarily held my breath at those words.
“I can’t risk getting it dirty.”
The Grand Duke spoke in a barely audible voice, fingering the handkerchief.
“But I always keep it on my person.”
The low murmur was far too hazardous to my ears.
What a seductive Grand Duke he was.
My heart beat rapidly, as if it were broken.
‘It’s cheating to say lines like that with such a tempting face!’
Furthermore, he was acting as if I were someone incredibly special to him.
“Please, just use it comfortably,” I managed to squeeze out a response. “I’ll make you another one.”
At those words, the Grand Duke turned his face toward the lake, looking bashful.
Following his gaze, I saw the ripples on the water’s surface sparkling as they slid gently under the night breeze.
I tried my best to sit there composed, but my heart was racing so fast that my ears were ringing.
Was this really something to be this fluttery about?
From his polite escort and pulling out my chair to wiping my wet hand and that cautious attitude—before I possessed this body, I would have thought of the Grand Duke’s actions as mere old-fashioned etiquette. I didn't know why they were making my heart tremble like this now.
‘It’s just the atmosphere.’
I hurriedly gulped down the tea the Grand Duke had refilled for me.
The lake was just too beautiful.
It was a landscape that could revive even non-existent romantic feelings!
‘If this were my old world, the lakeside would probably be packed with all sorts of cafes and restaurants. It would be crowded with couples on dates, and there would be long lines at the street stalls everywhere.’
If it weren't the private property of Blenheim, wouldn't this have become a much more bustling tourist destination than Gold Lane?
I briefly imagined colorful neon signs overlaid on the lights reflecting on the lake.
It was a rather impressive picture.
Though I felt a bit pathetic for worrying about what would sell even in a place like this.
‘Still, I’ll remember this moment for a long time.’
The Grand Duke and I sat by the lake for a while longer, sharing the mood of the night breeze.
*
“……It’s a ring.”
A ring made of small wildflowers was slipped onto my pinky finger.
I smiled brightly as I looked into the clear brown eyes.
“It’s so pretty. Thank you.”
The young girl, who had been hesitating with a nervous face, nodded and ran back to the other children.
Not only were all ten of my fingers adorned, but two or three small flower-woven bracelets were also hanging from my wrists.
“I’m sorry. The children insisted on putting them on Her Highness the Consort……”
Jerome, who had been watching the children the whole time to make sure they didn't commit any rudeness, looked embarrassed.
“It’s alright, I like them very much.”
At those words, the bright young man’s face lit up.
“You should go and eat something too. The sandwiches are quite delicious.”
After offering a bright greeting, Jerome headed toward the lakeside where the children were playing.
The children were already having a blast, running around the lawn playing tag and ball.
The Grand Duke had readily agreed to invite the orphanage children to the lakeside.
— “You don’t need to ask permission for every little thing like that. On the contrary, I am simply grateful that you care for the children.”
When I worried about how to bring the children to the lake, the Grand Duke had even offered all the carriages of the Grand Duke’s Castle.
Thanks to that, the children were able to enjoy the luxury of an outing in carriages bearing the Grand Ducal seal.
On top of that, because Berni had packed plenty of snacks, the children were constantly putting something in their mouths even while playing.
‘I should thank Berni when I get back.’
“Your Highness, is something bothering you?” Cecilia asked, watching my expression. “Is it because of what Sir Leon said earlier?”
“Yes, I’m a bit concerned about the inn.”
I took a sip of the tea Reta had brewed.
Marie’s Inn was currently the hottest spot in Gold Lane.
The restaurant, which used to be run by the couple, now had four additional employees.
Because of the influx of customers during both lunch and dinner, the area was often congested with people waiting.
Fortunately, after I introduced the concept of waiting numbers, the neighboring merchants were also seeing a boom as customers visited nearby shops while waiting.
‘The problem is the Merchant Association.’
All shops in Gold Lane are members of the Merchant Association.
On the surface, it was an organization created to protect merchants' rights, but recently, they had been sending all sorts of ridiculous warnings to Marie’s Inn, telling them to refrain from excessive solicitation.
“Why are they so desperate to pick on people who are working hard?” Cecilia pouted. “Saying a restaurant shouldn't do too well because it's an inn—where is the logic in that?”
Cecilia had her own reason for being upset.
It was because the Merchant Association had also sent a warning to Alcent, the president of the Northern News.
Their reasoning was that it was unfair to other restaurants for the inn to receive so much promotion through the Northern News.
For now, they used the excuse that they had already signed a contract for several months, but eventually, Cecilia would have to find another recipe provider.
“Their demands are unreasonable, but you can’t keep getting recipes from Lady Marie forever, either.”
“Then should I look for another restaurant?”
Cecilia, looking even more dejected, crunched on a cookie.
“I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to start taking applications now.”
“Applications?”
“‘Cecil’s Recipe’ is fairly well-known now. There must be plenty of people or restaurants who want to make their recipes known.”
Having seen the inn’s popularity, some restaurants would send recipes for promotion, and ladies who take pride in their cooking would be interested in publishing a recipe under their own name.
“That’s true. I should start working on the advertisement copy right away.”
A brightened Cecilia went off to find a pen and paper.
‘I’m not too worried about the recipes, but……’
How should I resolve the issue with the restaurant being targeted?
‘If the problem is that only the restaurant is doing well, wouldn't it be fine if the inn did well too?’
If the number of overnight guests at the inn increased as much as the restaurant customers, the Merchant Association would no longer be able to find fault.
A way to increase inn guests……
‘Would something like a staycation package work?’
It was while I was lost in thought.
“Doesn't this feel just like a Couples' Night?”
“Right? With a scale like this, the whole village would be buzzing.”
Two maids preparing drinks nearby giggled quietly as they watched the children.