Chapter 24: To the Royal Palace — Part 2
When I entered the finest guest room in the mansion, Brian-sama stood waiting.
The moment he saw me, he caught his breath.
I bowed slowly and avoided his gaze.
Meeting his eyes was still frightening.
Chuck had been curled up in the basket, but he immediately leapt out and ran toward me.
Bell swiftly scooped up his small body.
“Maria-jou, you are radiant today.
I was nearly dazzled.”
Brian-sama delivered the compliment as effortlessly as ever.
But today, even I felt that I looked rather lovely.
Pleased, I smiled gently and replied, “Thank you.”
His eyes were as blue and beautiful as ever.
If someone were gazed at steadily by those eyes, how would they feel?
I found myself envying that person.
Brian-sama fell silent.
I glanced around.
My eyes met my brother’s, and I asked plainly, “What do we do?”
“Vice-Captain, please have a seat.
Maria, you as well.”
Brother took charge of the situation.
“First, allow me to present this bouquet to Maria-jou.
Pink roses, which I heard you favor, paired with white peonies.
I chose them to match your image, though today you seem different once again.”
He extended the bouquet toward me.
When I raised my eyes to accept it, our gazes nearly met.
Those deep blue eyes threatened to draw me in.
All thoughts of secrets being uncovered vanished, and I simply gazed back, entranced.
“Ahem.
Now then, please sit.
There is some time before we depart for the palace.
Would you care for tea?”
Brother’s words overlapped with Chuck’s small whine.
He seemed to want to come to me.
“If he wrinkles my dress before we leave for the palace, that would be troublesome.
Brother, hold him and sit beside me.”
“Me?
He does not seem to like me very much.”
“You said you would do anything I ask.”
Reluctantly, Brother held Chuck and sat beside me.
When I reached out to stroke his head, Chuck let out a small, affectionate whimper.
“He is still so small.
He wants attention, does he not?
There, there.”
Chuck rested his head on my palm and closed his eyes.
“Is he going to fall asleep like this?
That would be inconvenient.”
Brian-sama looked at us in astonishment.
“He is quite the spoiled one.
I have grown fond of him as well.
It will be lonely to part.”
“This dog does not easily grow attached to people.
The maids struggle with him.
This time as well, he fled from being tended and somehow escaped beyond the palace grounds.
I never imagined seeing him like this.”
So it was true.
When I glanced at Brother, he replied with a sulky tone, “I told you.”
Brian-sama rose and approached.
“I shall hold him.
He is reasonably accustomed to me.
You may return to your seat.”
He took Chuck from Brother’s arms and carried him back to his place.
Chuck seemed at ease with him.
“It appears he is satisfied after being petted by Maria-jou.
He looks ready to sleep.”
Tea was brought, and once we had settled, Brian-sama said something unexpected.
“When I saw the two of you bickering over Chuck earlier, you looked like a newlywed couple.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
Then I blurted out, “How dreadful.”
“Vice-Captain, that joke goes too far.
And ‘dreadful’ is rather harsh, do you not think?” Brother said.
“When did the two of you become so close?”
I started.
Those blue eyes had distracted me, and I had let my guard down.
I would have to spend the entire day with Brian-sama.
How was I to manage it?
I must avoid meeting his gaze again.
And yet, I found myself recalling those blue eyes.
“We spoke at length during the recent incident.
There were many things I remembered.
So perhaps we came to understand one another a little better.”
Brother looked at me and said, “Right?”
I nodded without lifting my gaze.
“Maria-jou, thank you for the handkerchief.
I would like to present you with something in return.
If you have any wish, please tell me.”
Still looking down, I answered softly,
“If you could recover the stolen items, that would make me happiest.
Did you like the handkerchief?”
“Yes.
The embroidery was exquisite.
I was deeply moved.
I keep it carefully stored and take it out daily to admire it.”
Brother leaned close and whispered,
“Maria.
Raise your head.”
Reluctantly, I did.
Without looking directly at Brian-sama, I offered a polite smile.
“Maria?” Brother prompted.
At that moment, Lloyd knocked on the door.
“It is nearly time.”
Bell took Chuck and placed him in a basket lined with soft cloth, holding it carefully.
When we stepped into the entrance hall beside Brian-sama, Father was waiting.
Mother and Noel stood quietly behind him.
All three stared at me in surprise.
Father recovered first and offered his greeting.
“Thank you for escorting my daughter today.
She is inexperienced in social matters.
I entrust her to you.”
“Please leave it to me.
Though it may be I who must make the greater effort.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing at all.
I shall escort her home as well.”
Mother and Noel continued staring blankly.
When I smiled softly at them, Noel hurried over.
“Elder Sister, you look truly beautiful.
You will not be overshadowed even at the palace.
Tell me everything when you return.”
“I will.
Tomorrow.
By the way, may I see the accessory Grandmother gave you?
There is something I wish to confirm.”
“Grandmother’s accessory?
The bracelet, perhaps?”
“That is the only one, yes.
Does it have any sort of pattern?”
“I am not sure.
I have not examined it closely.
I will check later.”
Mother approached, saying, “What are you discussing?”
“A patterned accessory from Grandmother.
Surely there was nothing with a jewel engraved with a pattern?”
Mother thought for a moment.
“I believe engraving a pattern into a gemstone itself would be difficult.”
Then she added,
“Though there are gemstones with natural patterns.”
“What kind?”
“Agate, opal, those that show a cat’s eye effect—various kinds.”
“Cat’s eye.
An eye pattern.”
Mother placed a hand to her cheek.
“Come to think of it…”
From the other side, I heard Brother murmuring something quietly to Bell, who would accompany me to the palace.
“What should be done?
Why does she not realize it?”
“She cannot be told carelessly.
We must simply watch.”
Lloyd asked, “Is something amiss?”
Brother muttered something in response.
Lloyd adjusted his glasses with a small push and smiled.
“She truly resembles the late Grand Madam.
I very much look forward to what comes next.”