Chapter 25: At the Royal Palace — Part 1
The carriage was quiet.
From the corner of my lowered gaze, I saw Brian-sama take a handkerchief from his breast pocket and spread it across his palm.
“Oh my.”
It was the handkerchief I had given him.
The color of the flowers matched his eyes perfectly.
What fine work.
Seeing it objectively like this, I could not help admiring it.
Brian-sama lifted the handkerchief to his nose and inhaled deeply.
“A lovely fragrance.
Is this your original blend, Maria-jou?
It is a scent I have never encountered before.”
“Yes.
I dislike strong perfumes, so I had it blended for personal use.
Chamomile and lily of the valley are the main notes.”
“I see.
It is a wonderful scent.”
The lid of the basket beside Brian-sama shifted, and Chuck poked his head out.
He seized the edge of my handkerchief in his mouth and dragged it into the basket.
Brian-sama hurried to retrieve it, but Chuck laid on top of it and promptly fell asleep again.
“Oh my.”
I hid my smile behind my fan.
The tension I had been carrying seemed to dissolve.
Chuck made soft snuffling noises in his sleep.
Brian-sama gently tapped his nose with a finger.
“This fellow steals my treasure and sleeps contentedly.”
Your treasure?
I glanced at Bell beside me.
She maintained a composed expression and gave a slight nod.
My handkerchief is his treasure!?
Heat rushed to my face.
Surely I must be crimson.
“Maria-jou.
The precious handkerchief you gifted me has been taken by this scoundrel.
My apologies.
I shall reclaim it later.”
He leaned closer, peering at my face.
“You are not displeased, I hope?”
“Of course not.
Chuck seems to enjoy gathering fabric and burrowing into it when he sleeps.
It must have seemed perfect to him.”
I remembered how he had gathered my skirt around himself and felt laughter rising again.
“The first time we met, he collected the fabric of my skirt and burrowed into it.”
“Your skirt?”
“Yes.
He was in my lap and must have grown sleepy.
He crawled beneath the fabric and slept quite peacefully.”
A faint blush touched Brian-sama’s cheeks.
“I shall add compensation for the dress to the Second Prince’s account as well.
You have sheltered him and gone to much trouble.
My apologies.”
“It was hardly any trouble.
He is so small that the dress suffered little damage.”
When I glanced at Bell, she appeared to be calculating something.
“No, we shall invoice for both the dress and the handkerchief.
We will make him pay dearly.”
Brian-sama seemed different from usual.
And his familiarity with the Second Prince felt quite close.
“Are you well acquainted with His Highness the Second Prince?”
He blinked slightly, then smiled.
“Yes.
We are cousins and have known each other since childhood.
He is one year younger than I, so he is like a younger brother.”
I was reminded of how little attention I had paid to high society.
Having no interest, I had never properly memorized the royal family tree or power structures.
At this rate, I might blunder again today.
Perhaps he sensed my unease.
“It will be fine.
I am with you, so please relax.
This is not a particularly formal occasion.”
His consideration warmed me, and when I said, “Thank you,” his expression turned serious as he adjusted his posture slightly.
“Maria-jou.
You have endured much recently.
For now, matters have settled.
Have you regained your composure?”
Not at all, I thought.
But I answered, “Yes, some semblance of normal life has returned.
Thanks to everyone.”
He leaned forward a little more.
“I heard you were not particularly eager about Jason.
Have you put that matter behind you?”
“Eh?
Yes.
I cannot understand now why I agreed to that marriage.
It is so insignificant to me now.”
Brian-sama leaned even closer.
I sensed Bell subtly shifting beside me.
“Maria-jou, I—”
Pfft.
A tiny sound broke the moment.
Brian-sama furrowed his brow and tapped his forehead lightly with his finger.
I could not help it.
At the absurdly adorable little noise, I covered my face with my fan and began to laugh.
Beside me, Bell muttered lowly, “Impudent creature.”
“Ah—my apologies.
Forgive the interruption.
What were you saying?”
I accepted a handkerchief from Bell and inhaled its fragrance to steady myself, though laughter still bubbled up.
There truly is no creature more charming, I thought.
It made parting all the more difficult.
“I shall tell you another time.
Perhaps when I come bearing a gift in thanks for the handkerchief.”
“I look forward to it.”
In good spirits, the carriage passed through the palace gates and proceeded inward.
It was entirely different from the direction of the Royal Guard headquarters I had visited before.
The surroundings grew quieter.
The carriage halted before a certain building.
Escorted by Brian-sama, I entered.
“This is the Second Prince’s palace.
I have often come here since childhood.
It is like a second home to me.
That garden over there blooms splendidly in spring.
I hope you will see it someday.”
As he explained, a gentleman who appeared to be a chamberlain approached.
He first addressed Brian-sama warmly.
“It has been some time, Brian-sama.
Welcome.
Maria Cruz-sama, I shall escort you to His Highness the Second Prince.”
When I met His Highness the Second Prince, Alf-sama, for the first time at close range, I was overwhelmed.
He was dazzling.
Standing beside the composed Brian-sama, the contrast was striking.
Are royalty always so beautiful?
After greetings, we were led to a table arranged on the terrace.
As we took our seats, Brian-sama accepted the basket from Bell and lifted Chuck, still fast asleep.
Chuck did not stir.
Still clutching the handkerchief between his paws, he was placed upon the chair beside Alf-sama.
Brian-sama attempted to extract the handkerchief, but Chuck would not release it.
“My Chuck has caused you trouble.
I am glad to see him safe.”
Alf-sama stroked Chuck’s head affectionately.
At the sound of his voice, Chuck awoke.
He looked about, spotted the prince, and sprang up happily.
As Alf-sama lifted him, Brian-sama deftly pulled free the handkerchief and folded it swiftly into his breast pocket.
“Would you tell me how you found Chuck?”
Alf-sama asked me.
“Yes.
On our way back from the Royal Guard headquarters, we detoured through the Reine district for a change of pace.
Chuck ran toward the fountain in the central square.”
Because it concerned a puppy, I was able to speak without stiffness.
Even so, I marveled at myself.
And Brian-sama’s encouraging smile gave me strength.
“He must have searched for water.
How he made it that far, I wonder.
It is quite distant from here.”
“He seemed very lively.
But he had barely begun drinking when my brother scooped him up, and he appeared quite displeased.”
Alf-sama laughed.
“That Eric of the Carp.
I shall complain to him next time.”
He ruffled Chuck’s head.
Chuck suddenly noticed the absence of the handkerchief and began looking around.
“What is it, Chuck?
What are you searching for?”
Perhaps he was seeking the handkerchief.
When I glanced at Brian-sama, he quietly turned his face away.