~CHAPTER 39~
“Since Saint Lusannaās feast day is coming soon, it would be nice if the two of them could sit together in the Grand Basilica.”
“ā¦ā¦.”
“A handsome young man and a lovely young woman like that aren’t common. Society will be buzzing for sure.”
Ellaris looked excited.
Her hand moved lightly as she cut the chicken.
It had been a while since the family enjoyed breakfast together at the Imperial Palace.
Ellaris brought up the third son of Count Valih as soon as she sat down.
Elpenlira, seated to Risionās right, quietly watched him.
Pretending not to notice his sisterās sharp gaze, Rision set down his empty glass.
A servant approached without sound and refilled it.
His throat felt unusually dry this morning.
“Your Highness will stand on the Grand Basilica stage for Saint Lusannaās feast again this year, yes?”
At her auntās gentle question, Elpenlira nodded.
The colder weather in the capital meant the feast day was approaching.
In Catalos society, the feast of Saint Lusanna, patron saint of young girls, was a chance for ladies to showcase virtues like charity and refinement.
Every church in the Empire held charity performances, and paintings and embroidery made by young ladies were auctioned in salons and galleries.
The proceeds funded monasteries and orphanages for the year.
Among all these events, performing on the Grand Basilica stage was reserved for the most refined young women in the capitalās social world.
Many noble girls spent their lives honing their skills to sing or play a single piece on that day.
Of course, Elpenlira had stood on that stage every year since she was fourteen.
Not because she was a princess but because she truly had the skill.
“My teacher accompanies me every time I practice.”
“Miss Dianuās pianoforte skills are excellent too. I agree. She really is an outstanding bride candidate. It makes no sense that such a girl claims she wonāt marry.”
Before she even finished speaking, Elpenliraās fork stabbed deeply into the chicken.
The victim was the chicken, yet the one who flinched was Rision.
“…Right. At this rate, she might receive a proposal from Lord Valih before the year ends.”
Ellaris didnāt seem to notice her nieceās dark mood at all.
She spoke in a warm, affectionate tone.
“Miss Dianu is careful, but who knows. A fine groom like Lord Valih doesnāt appear often.”
“ā¦ā¦.”
“Since Lady Ortensa isnāt here, I plan to choose the wedding dress myself. Someone has to act as the brideās mother.”
At this point, she seemed simply thrilled to plan the wedding of a young woman she loved like a daughter.
Since she had her only son later in life, she often said it was a shame sheād have to wait so long for a daughter-in-law.
It was hard to blame her.
Rision had long lost his appetite.
As he set down his fork wordlessly, Elpenlira twisted her lips while staring at him.
It was the expression she made only when her mood was thoroughly ruined.
“Of course the ceremony would be after the princess finishes her lessons. A long engagement feels romantic anyway.”
In Ellarisās mind, Dianuās marriage to the third son of the Valih family was already certain.
Judging by her confidence, Dianu must have reacted favorably to her suggestion.
‘Itās not a bad choice anyway.’
No, thinking about Dianu Ortensaās situation, it was an excellent choice.
Rision wasnāt personally familiar with Lord Valih, but he had never heard anything bad about him.
As far as Rision knew, Lord Valih was competent, loyal and a gentleman without fault.
The only drawback was that he was the third son.
But since Dianu disliked standing out, this might suit her temperament better than becoming a head lady.
Above all, he had apparently fallen in love with Dianu at first sight, so he would treat her with care.
‘ā¦Though falling for Miss Ortensa at first sight isnāt exactly hard.’
If anything, it was a problem that it was too easy.
His throat burned.
Elpenliraās sharp stare could have sliced brick as she watched Rision gulp down water.
* * *
Ah, Solenin.
May thorns spring up beneath every step you take.
May everything your tongue tastes turn to ash.
May every woman who takes your hand turn into a statue of salt.
May only sorrow and storm clouds fill your future without me.
Abandoned by the playboy Solenin, the village girl Enita wept as she cursed him.
Ironically, the aria wishing for a man never to walk, eat or love again was beautiful.
If one didnāt know the lyrics, it could pass for an ordinary art song.
After finishing the accompaniment with a flourish, Dianu leaned out from beside the pianoforte.
Elpenlira, who had just finished singing, was looking her way.
Dianu beamed at her talented student.
“You were wonderful, Lady Elpenlira!”
The maids who had gathered to listen clapped at once.
Elpenlira lifted her skirt and dipped gracefully like an opera singer acknowledging her cheering audience.
The maids approached the small stage set up in the center of the music room.
Their happy chatter sounded like a flock of birds.
“Personally, I like this more than hymns.”
“Right. Hymns get repetitive since itās the same songs every year.”
“Enitaās sorrow was so vivid it broke my heart.”
While organizing sheet music, Dianu happened to meet Bertonaās eyes.
Bertona flinched and looked away.
‘What did I even doā¦’
It seemed Bertona Aldebaron still hadnāt recovered from missing the Founding Day banquet.
Ever since her restriction ended and she returned to the Oak Palace, she treated Dianu like a plague victim.
She only exchanged greetings when others were present and ran off whenever they were alone.
Dianu could only take comfort in the fact that at least Bertona wasnāt picking fights.
“Your accompaniment was wonderful too, Miss Ortensa.”
Lady Louisila of House Maier spoke kindly.
She and Bertona had gossiped about Dianu in the garden and then been punished.
When her restriction ended, she surprised Dianu by seeking her out to apologize.
‘Honestly, I didnāt mean what I said. But Bertonaās loud among us. If she dislikes you, life gets difficult.’
Adding that part didnāt make her seem entirely reformed, but still.
Since then, Louisila often took care of Dianu.
She invited her to tea with the maids or brought small gifts.
Dianu sensed she was trying to attach herself because Elpenlira seemed close to her, but she let it be.
She didnāt dislike her enough to push her away.
And she didnāt have the energy anyway.
Since her last visit to the Imperial Palace, Dianu often felt that way.
Everything was tiring.
She handled what she had to, but didnāt bother with anything unnecessary.
“Thank you, Lady Maier.”
“Will you also accompany on the feast day itself?”
“Wellā¦”
Before Dianu could answer, Elpenlira stepped in.
“Is your ensemble practice shaping up? If you embarrass me in front of His Majesty, I wonāt forgive you.”
The maidsā faces paled.
The four of them bowed and ran off.
It seemed the Oak Palace would be filled with instruments all day.
“Teacher.”
Elpenlira approached and linked arms with Dianu.
Her eyes resembled Risionās so much it hurt.
“Want to go riding with me?”
* * *
Anyone who wasnāt a royal was forbidden from riding horses or carriages inside the palace unless accompanied by a royal.
Since Dianu didnāt own riding clothes, she had to borrow Elpenliraās.
“Hmmā¦”
After Dianu changed with a maidās help, Elpenlira let out a thoughtful sound while looking her up and down.
“It looksā¦ strange, right?”
Their heights were similar, so the length was fine, but the fit was tight across her chest and hips.
Elpenlira admired her sincerely.
“ā¦Iāll take that as a compliment.”
“It looks nice, but it might be uncomfortable when you move.”
Elpenlira mimed pulling a bowstring and getting caught on her chest.
Dianu laughed awkwardly.
“I donāt enjoy physical activities the way you do, Lady Elpenlira.”
As a Catalos lady, Dianu was closer to average.
She was active compared to most, but noble girls rarely lifted anything heavier than parasols.
“I read that Arasas women join athletic competitions.”
Elpenlira bringing up Arasas was rare.
Thanks to the translated side story of Princess Oliana and Sir Giles, her Arasas-language skills had improved, but the topic still made her frown first.
“I knew they valued physical activity, but I didnāt know women competed too.”
“I read they even race in swimming.”
“What? Swimming? Women? How?”
“I donāt know. Anyway, weād die if we fell into water, but Arasas women could swim out.”
Even while complaining, Elpenlira unbuttoned one of Dianuās blouse buttons.
Her touch was casual.
“Thereās no one around anyway. Letās go like this.”
Dianu felt a little uneasy at the untidy look, but there really was no one watching.
“ā¦Please treat me like a man at least a little.”
Of course, Sir Loisen was accompanying them.
Seeing Dianuās loosened neckline, he squeezed his eyes shut and muttered that.
Dianu waved him off with a laugh.
“You arenāt a man to me, Sir. Youāre family.”
Kissing the horse that nudged her, Elpenlira added:
“Family? As if. Youāre justā”
