The Grand Duke and Duchess on Papetin Street
The sheer volume of purchases made by the newlywed Grand Ducal couple of Berk upon their appearance on Papetin Street was staggering. Dozens of boxes were loaded onto the carriage waiting outside Basilure. The display was made all the more dramatic because it occurred right after Agathe Montpis had fled the boutique in tears. They had bought so much that Lady Basilure and her jeweler brother personally escorted them out, bowing deeply in farewell.
Reporters gleefully recorded every detail, pelting the couple with a barrage of questions. Of course, no one actually expected the notoriously cold Grand Duke Berk to offer any decent answers. Yet, to everyone's astonishment, the Grand Duke smiled and spoke to the press in a remarkably gentle tone.
"The Grand Duchess is still adjusting to all of this, so we will conclude for today. I will arrange a proper press conference in the near future instead."
It was a shocking turn of events. Without exception, every reporter scribbled down variations of the same sentiment:
"Well, that is finally over," Curtis, Grand Duke Berk, sighed.
The two were currently seated in Boulette, a café recommended by the Marquise of Flandre. It was supposedly the first establishment in the capital to introduce a refrigeration device powered by mana stones. The café staff had been in an absolute frenzy, utterly at a loss as to where they should seat such esteemed guests.
Ultimately, Curtis had claimed the prime spot: a table on the second floor, right beside a beautiful glass bay window. Ezra had tried to protest, warning of a "potential sniper threat," but Curtis had merely scoffed.
Do you honestly believe that when I came to meet the Grand Duchess, I brought Warrant Officer Dubois as my sole escort?
Ezra had shut his mouth instantly, though his expression remained thoroughly disgruntled.
Curtis, however, had no intention of letting Ezra linger.
“I shall assign a new mission to Warrant Officer Dubois. My wife's beloved siblings seem to be in dire need of a change of pace. You will escort Lady Leah and Lady Iris for the rest of the day. Lady Leah.”
“Yes?”
“I am assigning Warrant Officer Dubois to you, so please go and purchase whatever you wish today.”
“Pardon? Oh, no, I am quite alright...” Leah, who was holding Iris, had gasped in surprise.
Curtis had offered a gentle smile. “Because of my family matters and my failure to manage my surroundings properly, what should have been an enjoyable outing turned into a suffocating ordeal.”
It was a rather cheeky way of putting it, but it was also the absolute truth. Although they had briefly browsed the jewelry after entering Basilure, Chloe knew all too well that Leah had barely been able to breathe. First, Lady Montpis had barged in, followed in quick succession by the Marquise of Flandre and the Grand Duke himself.
“Really, we are fine...”
“I will also lend you my personal automobile.”
“What? Truly?!”
To ride in a magic-stone automobile, a luxury that only a handful of people in the entire capital could afford! Overjoyed, Leah had grabbed Iris's hand and practically bolted out the door. Julia had accompanied them as well, tasked with helping the Grand Duchess's sisters select their items.
For some reason, Ezra had hesitated to leave. In response, Curtis had coldly dismissed him.
“Warrant Officer Dubois, what are you waiting for?”
“...My apologies, Your Grace.”
That was the sequence of events leading up to this very moment.
Chloe swallowed a spoonful of her goldenberry ice cream and immediately cut to the chase. "What was that talk about the Eleonora Society? Isn't that a veterans' association for military women?"
"My, at least give me a moment to catch my breath," Curtis replied, his eyes crinkling as he smiled, setting down his teacup.
What Curtis had actually requested of the Marquise of Flandre was for her to become Chloe's etiquette teacher. Of course, a simple etiquette teacher could be found anywhere. The reason he had specifically asked the Marquise of Flandre was to have her act as a sort of chaperone.
“You saw Lady Montpis, did you not? The Grand Duchess will undoubtedly face many more such trials in the future. If you feel any sisterly remorse, sister, I ask that you assist my wife.”
However, the Marquise had flatly refused.
“You know exactly why I only sent a proxy to your wedding, Curtis.”
She meant that she was already exhausted from walking on eggshells around the King, and she had no desire to do anything that would further incur his displeasure.
Even so, she had added a caveat.
“However, I take your point. Let me tell you one thing: the Eleonora Society will likely convene soon for the first time in a long while.”
“The Eleonora Society. Indeed, if you were to host it, sister, the dynamics would be quite different.”
“No. It will not be my doing.”
At those words, Curtis's eyes had twitched slightly.
“And...” The Marquise of Flandre had sighed, gesturing for Curtis to lean closer. “Since things have turned out this way, you had best prepare your wife for her initiation.”
“An initiation.”
“Yes. I cannot tell you anything more. Even this is only because I found myself indebted to you today; otherwise, I would not have uttered a single word.”
Chloe had no way of knowing what any of this meant. However, it was glaringly obvious that all of it concerned her, so she pressed further.
"It doesn't sound like they're just planning to hold a simple veterans' meeting."
"Tell me what you know about the Eleonora Society."
"Did I get married, or did I enroll in the Military Academy?" Chloe grumbled, though she answered anyway. "It's a veterans' association established in honor of Eleonora, the first female naval officer... and it had a significant influence on the imperial dueling law."
"Excellent. The future of Ivannes is bright indeed."
Hearing the very man who had made Chloe worry about the future of Ivannes say such a thing made him seem rather shameless.
Regardless of her thoughts, Curtis swept his gaze up and down Chloe's figure, offering a swift critique. "Your posture is truly something else."
"Ah. Force of habit..."
Chloe, who had been sitting with her legs spread wide despite wearing a dress, awkwardly brought her knees together. Having spent her entire life wearing military trousers, she found the sensation of heavy skirts clinging to her legs highly uncomfortable.
"Well, it would have been stranger if you had behaved like a flawless Grand Duchess from day one."
"I am deeply grateful for your generous understanding. To be honest, the size isn't even right."
This was an outing dress that Julia had managed to have the seamstresses hastily alter. While the absence of a pannier meant she wasn't weighed down by a massive frame, the way the fabric wrapped around her legs was still incredibly annoying.
Watching her, Curtis asked, "Have you never attended an Eleonora Society meeting before?"
"How could I have? It is essentially an exclusive club for those of high social standing."
As she said this, Chloe suddenly gasped as the underlying meaning of the Eleonora Society and the "initiation" clicked in her mind.
Curtis let out a soft chuckle upon seeing her realization. "Good. As long as you understand."
Tsk. A bitter taste lingered in her mouth. But even so, it wasn't as if Chloe had some grand solution. The only thing she could do right now was finish the ice cream sitting in front of her.
"Oh, dear."
Before she knew it, the ice cream had begun to melt slightly, its sharp peaks softening into gentle curves. Since it was an expensive treat, she had to eat it before it completely liquefied. As she hastily shoveled spoonfuls into her mouth, she suddenly felt a gaze on her.
Looking up once more, she found Curtis still staring at her with that same smile.
"...This isn't my first time eating ice cream, you know."
"...I didn't say a word."
"Your eyes were mocking me, asking if I was some kind of starved glutton."
"Was I smiling... No, more importantly, do you view me as some sort of lunatic obsessed with criticizing you?"
Are you not? Chloe swallowed the retort.
Curtis rubbed his cheeks with his right thumb and middle finger, shaking his head. It seemed that mocking others had become such a habit for him that he didn't even realize he was smiling.
I must make sure I never live like that.
With that thought, Chloe gestured to a nearby server.
"Yes, Your Highness," the server replied instantly.
"This is delicious. Is it possible to have some packaged to be sent elsewhere?"
"Ah. It usually melts during transit, so... we would have to pack it with ice. However, the cost of ice is rather... Ah, forgive me, Your Highness, I do not mean to be presumptuous, but the expense is quite significant for our shop as well."
"Is that so?"
Chloe turned to look at Curtis. Curtis blinked, then gave a slight nod.
After a moment of deliberation, Chloe leaned in close to Curtis. Curtis flinched slightly as the sweet scent of goldenberries suddenly washed over him. Unaware—or perhaps unbothered—by his reaction, Chloe lightly cupped her hand around his ear and whispered.
"Apologies, but I am not very familiar with high society customs. Do nobles send things like this to each other's estates?"
"...What?" Curtis stammered, momentarily dazed.
Chloe furrowed her brow and asked again. "Is it not allowed? Is it considered bad manners?"
"No, it's not that..."
Thinking that Curtis simply hadn't heard her properly, Chloe leaned even further across the table to whisper. She was completely oblivious to the fact that her low-cut dress was gaping open as she did so.
"I wanted to ask if it would be alright to send some of this to the Marquise of Flandre."
"...To my sister, and not for yourself?"
"She seemed to suffer quite a bit from the heat. And we did receive her help, after all."
Chloe had remembered how the Marquise of Flandre had been constantly fanning herself earlier. Although the capital, Ivanneres, generally enjoyed a cool climate, it was still a miserable season for those sensitive to the heat.
Curtis quickly averted his gaze and muttered, "It doesn't matter."
Chloe immediately turned back to the server, resting her hands on the table. "Send it to the Flandre Marquise Residence. A very large amount. And send as much ice as you possibly can."
"As much as we can..."
"Would it be enough for all the household staff there to eat as well?"
"Ah, but ice cream cannot be stored for long... Will that be alright?"
"My sister has a small ice storage in her residence. It will be fine," Curtis interjected.
The server bowed deeply and quickly withdrew.
"Sit properly, will you?"
"Ah. Does it look bad to stand while speaking?"
"That is not what I meant... Never mind. And..." Curtis let out a heavy sigh. "Do not lean in so close to me so suddenly."