The Treacherous Minister Obsessed Over by the Tyrant Empress Chapter 17
We visited several shops within our budget to find the best gift.
Thanks to all the hard work, though, I was able to select gifts for Mother and Syriel.
For Mother, a ring with a small blue sapphire set in it.
For Syriel, I was planning to get her the dress everyone in Deleson is wearing right now, but the cheapest ones start at sixty gold. So I gave up on that.
Instead, I bought a necklace with tiny pearls strung together.
It was because, while wandering with Flora, I remembered how much Syriel always wanted jewelry with pearls in it.
Maybe it was because I wandered around looking at all kinds of different products.
Flora said her legs were tired, so we sat on a bench in the square and took a break.
That’s why I still hadn’t bought Emma’s gift yet.
Anyway, what time is it now?
I took out my pocket watch from my pocket to check. It was just around lunchtime.
“Marquis Simonian’s daughter.”
“You can call me by my name now that it’s comfortable.”
Even if you said it was okay to say it casually, it really wasn’t that easy.
Even if we had been facing each other in the office every day, it had only been about two months.
And on top of that, there was already a huge gap in our social status between Flora and me.
If we were like you and Emma, who had known each other for over ten years…
Even if she allowed it, I wouldn’t be the one to cross that line first.
“No. No matter how much I think about it, that doesn’t seem like proper etiquette.”
“Eh? I really don’t mind.”
“Rather, it seems like it’s almost time to eat lunch. Marquis daughter, aren’t you hungry?”
There’s nothing better for changing the subject than that.
A flash of regret crossed Flora’s face for a moment. But then she smiled brightly.
“Actually, I was just about to suggest eating lunch too.”
She agreed with my opinion.
“I know a restaurant I go to often. Shall we go together!”
“If Marquis daughter goes there, it must be an incredibly good place.”
“No, it’s not that great. It’s reasonably cheap, so it’s easy to eat with a relaxed heart.”
Flora stretched and stood up from the bench.
“Follow me.”
“I’ll be expecting an escort, Marquis daughter.”
The restaurant Flora recommended was not too far from the square. But the moment I saw the building, I unconsciously stopped in my tracks.
“Hey, Marquis daughter?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you just say it’s a reasonably cheap place…?”
“Isn’t this level cheap enough?”
Flora tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
Isn’t there already a luxurious vibe emanating from the sign and entrance…?
“It seems I was right after all.”
Our financial sense is completely different from that of a countryside baron’s second son like me.
But it would be a shame to turn down now that we’d come this far. The waiter standing at the door was waiting for us to enter.
So I chose to follow Flora inside the restaurant.
“My usual spot, please.”
As soon as I heard her request, the waiter responded politely. We followed the waiter to a seat by the window on the second floor.
“This place gets good sunlight. It’s said to heal the heart.”
Flora closed her eyes and savored the sunlight.
I don’t know if “savor” is the right word, but to me it felt that way.
Well, I understand.
Because I have to work the whole day in the Emperor’s office on weekdays.
“By the way, I should order first.”
“I was about to say that.”
I left the menu selection to Flora.
She showed me the menu and explained the dishes. Thanks to that, the waiter had nothing to do but stand quietly beside our table.
“Um… just order the same as what Marquis daughter orders.”
“Okay. Waiter.”
After Flora signaled the waiter, she ordered roasted venison, herring dish, and red wine.
“You must feel like having some alcohol?”
“Just a light drink. To feel like I went out.”
A moment later the waiter came with the wine bottle and poured us each a glass.
Thinking about it, I hadn’t taken a sip of alcohol since entering the palace.
It was partly because Cecilia had instructed them to abstain from alcohol, important officials, but also because I hadn’t even thought of alcohol while getting used to my duties.
That doesn’t mean Cecilia ordered abstinence even on weekends.
Even if she’s a tyrant, she doesn’t squeeze people that hard. It’s a relief, I guess.
“Shall we toast, Mr. Luke?”
“Is there a special toast phrase?”
“Um. Shall we do it as finding a perfect gift for a childhood friend?”
“Not bad.”
We lightly clinked our glasses.
The moment I took a sip of wine, a subtle bitter aroma spread in my mouth. When was the last time I tasted it?
“Mr. Luke. Actually, there’s something I’ve been worrying about.”
Flora set down her glass and slightly leaned her upper body toward me with her arms crossed. Her emerald eyes were unusually serious.
“Speak honestly. Do you hate Myulia?”
“Wow. You’re quite direct.”
Flora definitely showed a side different from ordinary noble daughters.
While most women loved roundabout speech, Flora had a habit of shooting straight.
Thanks to that, conversations were actually easier.
“That’s why I want an honest answer.”
“I don’t hate it.”
“……”
Flora stared straight into my face. I guess I needed more explanation.
“Um… more specifically, I feel a bit uncomfortable because Count Fordward’s daughter feels a bit uncomfortable with me, so I feel a bit uncomfortable too.”
“I see.”
She nodded, then let out a short sigh.
“Still, it’s fortunate. I was worried that if Mr. Luke answered that he hates Myulia, I’d be in trouble.”
“But this situation doesn’t seem like it will improve right away. I don’t even have the mind to start improving the relationship first.”
“Um… should I tell Myulia to properly apologize?”
I stared into her emerald eyes. At the same time, a thought occurred to me.
Is it really necessary to do it this much…?
“Probably Count Fordward’s daughter won’t like it.”
“As expected. She has a stubborn side that’s bigger than it looks.”
From her reaction, it seemed like just a passing remark.
“And besides that, there are a couple of things to worry about. Like my duties, or clashing with Imperial Faction nobles every time there’s a noble meeting…”
Just thinking about it makes my head ache.
Especially the Marquis Marlboro and Duke Montersen are truly… pure headaches.
When I rubbed my forehead, Flora nodded as if she understood.
“You must be working so hard, Mr. Luke, and even our Cecilia… Your Majesty. When I’m with Myulia, I sometimes curse about them… Ah.”
Flora covered her mouth with her hand.
“Please pretend what I just said didn’t happen. Okay?”
Flora clasped her hands together in a prayer pose and winked.
“I’ve actually seen Your Majesty do that. After finishing a meeting, she always pinches her forehead and says something like gossip.”
“Ah…”
Her expression said she hadn’t expected it even in front of me.
Then she gave me a pitiful look.
“The position of Chief Personal Secretary is really tough. Even Your Majesty.”
“I just have to endure it somehow…”
Because we talked about work, my mood suddenly sank.
Flora sighed softly too. Then she picked up her wine glass again.
“Mr. Luke. Toast one more time. Eating lunch while depressed is bad for your stomach.”
“Right. Is there a toast phrase this time too?”
“Um……”
While Flora was thinking, I also raised the half-empty wine glass.
“How about this. Until the day we all escape overwork, let’s work hard.”
“Is that a possible future?”
“Haha. Not right now, but someday it will happen.”
“True. That makes sense.”
We lightly toasted and drank the remaining wine.
Probably Cecilia and her two maids won’t suffer from overwork.
But it’s a dream I can definitely achieve.
That might be why.
This time, the wine tasted sweet.
Life is indeed supposed to have both sweet and bitter tastes mixed together.
***
After lunch, we wandered the market again. After a long deliberation, I could finally choose a gift for Emma.
Right away, a hair pin.
Not just any hair pin, but one with cubic stones inlaid, the kind popular in the Empire.
Setting jewels in it might make Emma feel burdened, so I compromised at an appropriate level.
Inside the carriage back to the palace, I thanked Flora.
“Thanks to Marquis daughter today, I could choose a good gift. Thank you.”
“What are you talking about. I only helped as much as you needed.”
“I’ll definitely return the favor someday.”
“You mustn’t say that. Understand?”
Flora smiled with the corners of her mouth lifted, but the smile somehow felt mischievous.
…Did I just bring up the gift reply by mistake?
But it’s not proper etiquette to wash my mouth after just receiving help. The restaurant bill today was even calculated by Flora.
Whatever the case, I have to return the favor.
“What do you think of me? Say whatever you want.”
With a confident voice, Flora laughed as if it was fun.
By the time the carriage arrived at the palace, the sky was painted in a red sunset.
“Today was fun. Go inside and rest well, Mr. Luke.”
“Yes. You too, Marquis Simonian daughter.”
She waved at me and went into her room. Only after confirming that could I walk to my own room.
Two letters were neatly arranged under the door of my room.
On the outside cover, Emma’s name and my father’s name were written respectively.
Finally, the reply has come.
After entering my room, I decided to open Emma’s letter first.
In Emma’s letter, she wrote that my life in the palace was very interesting and amazing, and that Nedville territory was still peaceful, etc.
“Everyone is worried that young master Luke is doing well in the palace.
I’m not really worried because I believe you’ll do well, but I was curious how you were doing, so thank you for writing the letter.
I want to keep exchanging letters often from now on too.”
“Ah… it’s all fluffy……”
It felt like I had entered my heart’s safe haven.
I brought the letter to my nose and took a deep breath.
“……”
It wasn’t perverted at all. I just wondered if the Nedville scent might be on the paper. Of course, there was no scent on the paper.
“If I leave the Empire later, it might be good to take the people I’m close with from the territory…”
My thoughts deepened again.
For today, since I’m tired, I should think about it tomorrow.
I folded Emma’s letter again and put it in the drawer. Then I read my father’s letter this time.
His handwriting was powerful and slashing at once.
“So you’re asking this. It seems you were mentioned by Your Majesty?
But this father can’t answer that question!
How can I say something that Your Majesty didn’t say?
It’s nothing special, but you have to keep what you need to keep.”
“Hmph……”
Well, as expected.
I folded my father’s letter and put it in the drawer. Then I collapsed onto the bed.
“What on earth happened between the two of them…”
Although Father said it wasn’t anything, I couldn’t stop worrying.