Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Blizzard on Festival Eve
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On a perfectly ordinary weekday, Elizabeth and Emily both happened to step out at the exact same time. Most suspiciously so.
Elizabeth excused herself with some business at the Imperial Palace.
Emily claimed she had to prepare for an important outing, but when I woke up and thought about it, their paths seemed way too convenient.
It was blatantly obvious they were slipping away to meet each other.
A few days ago, I would've dismissed the idea as ridiculous and shoved it to the back of my mind, but given how suspiciously close they'd gotten lately, it felt like a perfectly reasonable suspicion.
They were acting so shady, but I didn't call them out on it or pretend to know.
I knew they wouldn't do anything too troublesome, even if it was annoying.
No matter how bothersome it got, it was still less of a headache than Hayes dragging me around to get fitted for underwear or slathering my face with cosmetics to "test" them.
No, Hayes went beyond bothersome—she was a nightmare.
Like the time she decided to learn makeup and slathered on foundation and colors so thick she turned me into a clown.
She went so bold with it that my face was ghostly white, my lips blood red, and my eyes blackened like a panda's.
It was so horrific that even after I screamed my head off and punched her square in the solar plexus, Mother just looked at me pitifully and said, "William, the solar plexus was too much, dear."
Compared to that, whatever shady thing Elizabeth or Emily got up to couldn't be that bad.
It was surely adorable next to what our monstrous little sister pulled.
"Sigh..."
Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up.
The girl who'd been a tomboy brute around me was now playing cute and coy next to some guy...
I was human garlic and human chives.
I'd turned a beast into a human.
And not just any human—one capable of the lofty thought process called love.
Thinking about it that way, maybe I really was a romance expert.
I'd awakened a talent I never knew I had.
I wasn't grateful at all.
"Lord Howard."
Just as I was nursing a faint spark of hatred and revenge toward Hayes,
Prince Herbert cautiously approached me, assuming I'd paused because I was taking a break amid my distracted state.
"What's up?"
"The Holy Festival is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"Yeah, just four days left."
"Any chance you're not planning to take the day before off? It is a weekday, but... it's not just any ordinary day."
"Hm?"
I tilted my head and widened my eyes at Prince Herbert's question.
"Didn't I say I'd take it off? Of course I am."
I'd assumed it was obvious.
In my past life, Christmas was a given day off—even religious folks just attended evening mass on Christmas Eve or the day itself. But this world was steeped in religion.
In a place where "heretic" was like a death sentence, the Holy Festival wasn't something you brushed off lightly. On the day itself, you'd be stuck in church all day long for worship.
They said you only needed to attend part of it, but try leaving early and you'd get the dirtiest looks.
"Haha, do you have something more urgent than giving thanks to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, brother?"
No one could boldly say "yes" and walk out, so everyone sat quietly. The problem? Worship lasted all day, which was no joke.
Like military indoctrination without a single break.
Dozing off? You'd get hit with a divine zap (it stung).
That's why you needed to rest or party hard the day before to survive the hellish ten-hour service on Holy Festival day.
"You seemed like you might, but since you hadn't confirmed it, I thought I'd ask—just in case. Schedules can change anytime."
"Nah, no changes. I'm off the day before Holy Festival and January 1st, weekdays or not. Let everyone know."
"Yes, thank you."
His face visibly brightened at my firm assurance.
Probably had plans with family or Princess Fanny.
I was planning to wander the Imperial Capital with Elizabeth and Emily that day too.
Even as a shut-in NEET, I didn't hate the festive vibe everyone enjoyed on holidays.
It just took a huge mental effort to step outside.
Still, Hayes had dragged me out and made sure I celebrated properly, in her own way.
This time, I'd just stroll around moderately...
...
"Huh?"
A chill ran up my spine and spread through my body.
The classic mistake guys without straight female friends make.
Heading to the meetup spot with a calm heart, only to disappoint your girlfriend.
I hadn't planned a single thing for what to do on Holy Festival eve.
Since I'd never made plans before, I'd forgotten—but usually, wasn't it the guy's job to lead?
And this time, I'd brought it up first.
Then meet up and go, "Well, what now?"
I could die.
Even if Elizabeth and Emily were up to something shady, that was separate—I still needed to show I'd prepared something.
"Ha..."
I hurriedly checked the calendar.
"Screwed..."
Three days.
Two, excluding today.
I was done for.
Completely screwed.
Not enough time to prepare anything.
Energy drained from my body, my vision spun.
"Uh... Lord Howard, is something wrong? Your face suddenly..."
Sitting there pale-faced with trembling eyes, Prince Herbert looked at me worriedly and placed a hand on my shoulder.
That snapped my panicked mind back just a bit, and my gaze turned to him.
Unlike me, Prince Herbert frequented high society and had traveled before working at the atelier.
He definitely knew more than I did.
With that thought,
I grabbed his hand on my shoulder.
"Lord Howard?"
"Hey, Herbert."
"Yes?"
"Help me out. It's urgent."
"...?"
I pleaded with a voice full of desperation.
"Uh, uh... yes, I'll help however I can."
"Thanks...!"
He looked flustered but nodded readily, thank goodness.
Prince Herbert, you're Employee of the Year...
_
"Hm..."
After nearly blowing an important date by wasting time on useless thoughts, I reviewed the hasty plan I'd pieced together with Prince Herbert's advice and help.
==
Morning: Meet up first, then head to a jewelry shop.
Pick out and custom-order simple accessories that suit them both, buying some to kill time.
When lunch rolls around, naturally, eat.
Ideally, take them to one of the four fancy restaurants in the Imperial Capital, but that's too late now.
So instead, go with "It'd be better to hide your princess identity!" and grab something simple from the market street.
If market food's no good, there are some famous bakeries in the capital—head there.
After lunch, stroll the capital streets in the afternoon, gifting perfumes or books that fit.
Swap morning and afternoon as needed for flexibility.
And for evening...
=
"Hm..."
Post-dinner plans... on hold for now.
There was the international, timeless classic dinner date rule that'd hold forever, but I lacked the guts for it yet.
And who knew what might happen that day.
I might decide to go and chicken out from exhaustion, or swear it off but suddenly feel like it.
So, I'd mull it over a bit more.
"Not bad...?"
Minus dinner, it wasn't terrible.
Not a great plan by any means, but under the "first time" condition, it showed effort—sloppy, sure, but passable.
"As long as I'm not sick that day, this should work."
_
It was a bit sloppy, but a safe plan.
Barring a meteor strike, it'd be a solid hit at worst.
Might not succeed, but wouldn't fail.
There was a time I believed that.
"Emily."
"Yes..."
On Holy Festival eve, as promised.
"What the hell are those white poop flakes falling from the sky?"
"Snow... maybe?"
Right up until we arrived at the meeting spot in front of Imperial Palace Square for Elizabeth—and got hit with massive snowflakes pouring like rain.
"It was just lightly cloudy when we left, nothing bad. How does it turn into this mess in thirty minutes?"
"But this is reality."
"Argh...!"
A sigh escaped at the cruel reality.
The capital's skies were clear 80% of the time, hazy 10%, and rainy/snowy 10%. Why'd I have to hit that 10% today?
"It'll stop soon. Unlike our territory, the capital doesn't get blizzards or downpours, right?"
Denying reality, I mentally won despite the obvious blizzard brewing.
"Umm... young master, those clouds up there are beyond white—they're pitch black...?"
"No way."
I denied Emily's words, assuming she'd seen wrong, and looked up.
"They shouldn't be, but..."
Just as Emily said, the sky was thick with low, heavy storm clouds, black beyond white.
From experience, clouds like that dumped snow for half a day before calming.
Meaning the snow that started in the morning wouldn't ease until sunset.
"Charles, can the carriage move in this weather?"
"For now, yes... but in an hour, probably not. Even if it moves, the horses might panic."
"Ugh..."
I groaned softly, pressing a trembling hand to my forehead.
"This can't be real..."
Now even the heavens were screwing me over...