98
「Umm…… Imperial Princess-sama,
what would you like to do for dinner?」
「Dinner……?」
Thinking they were asking about her food preferences, it was
when Candice was about to say, "Something good for beautiful
skin!"
「How about spending it with His
Majesty the Emperor?」
「──!?」
Tea time might be one thing, but eating dinner together,
what did that mean? The maids of the Violet Palace were floating beaming
smiles.
（These maids…… are they trying to
kill me!?）
Usually, it was just sweet things like cakes and cookies,
but she had been looking forward to the meals made by the Violet Palace's
chefs. It is the Violet Palace that entertains dignitaries from various
countries. The chefs here are always at the center of important parties and the
like. Recently, she had finally gotten used to it enough to have tea with him,
but if they had a meal together, it would surely taste like sand. As Candice
was on her guard, the maids muttered softly as if whispering in her ear.
「Besides, since you will be staying
here for a whole week, we think there will be many opportunities for you to be
together.」
「……!?」
「Because His Majesty the Emperor
will be pleased.」
「I-Is that so……?」
「「「That is absolutely the case!」」」
Completely unaware that she was being smoothly played by the
maids of the Violet Palace, Candice nodded deeply.
「I understand. I will steel my
resolve……!」
Unaware that the maids were high-fiving in their hearts and
doing full-power fist pumps, Candice was running simulations in her head
to ensure she didn't make a blunder.
A week and a half later──.
Candice
headed back to the White Palace while holding hands with a happy-looking
Arthur.
（I-I'm exhausted…… what is this sense
of fatigue.）
She had given it her all and pulled through…… it was that
kind of feeling. At the Violet Palace, almost every day, Valentin's
figure was right by Candice and Arthur's side. The fact that Luca
also joined them once every two days allowed her to take a breather, but
whether Arthur was resting in his room or Candice was having a
lesson with an instructor, for some reason, he was by her side.
Also having every meal together daily, at first, she
couldn't taste anything. On the final day, she thoroughly enjoyed the Violet
Palace's meals, but she had made absolutely sure not to let her guard down
until the very end.
It wasn't like they talked a lot in particular, but they
were in the same space a lot. If it were half a year ago, she definitely would
have fainted or ruined her health without a doubt. What was surprising was that
even if Arthur made a blunder, he showed no signs of rebuking him or
getting irritated. The Valentin that Candice knew was
cold-hearted and expressionless. He was supposed to have absolutely no interest
in the children and act with an attitude that he couldn't care less. That might
have just been him being cold only to Candice, but there was no way to
verify that now.
At night, just when she thought he was squishing the cheeks
of Arthur, who had fallen asleep while reading a book, he would try
poking Candice's cheeks; there were many mysterious actions that only
left her bewildered.
The gaze she felt staring at her had no sharpness; he was
simply looking. She didn't know at all whether he had interest or not. Hugo
was moving around looking busy, saying, 「It's peaceful, but work is being delayed and my workload is
increasing, you know.」 Even the maids told her, 「If only you could stay here forever……」, leaving Candice unable to grasp the situation.
She didn't know the reason, but her relationship with Valentin
might be improving. Recently, watching his attitude, the times she thought so
had increased.
（After all, I wasn't killed even
after getting drool and snot on him……!）
If things go on like this, there might possibly be a future
where Candice is loved…… that thought crossed her mind, but she
immediately shook her head side to side.
（I am already giving up on being
loved by Otou-sama! Because I am going to live strongly on my own.）
Candice
was forward-looking. That was also because Arthur and the others were by
her side like this. She recalled the maids of the Violet Palace telling Candice
while crying, 「Please
do not go, Candice, Imperial Princess-sama.」 The days spent with them were less "fun" and more
so comfortable it was almost scary. It was to the point where she missed Eva
and Rose's level of clumsiness.
Upon returning to the White Palace, the ones who
welcomed Candice were the chefs, along with Eva and Rose.
「Eva, Rose……!」
「「……Candice, Imperial
Princess-sama!」」
Candice
hugged Eva and Rose with all her might. The week apart from them
had felt very long. She felt happy to be able to reunite with the two of them.
Eva and Rose told her that they had been very happy to be able to see their mother. Even though they were no longer nobles, it seemed they were living while supporting each other. Right now, their mother had also found a place to work, and they were leading a stable life. Since they used to be nobles, it seemed there were things that still proved useful even now. When they talked about Candice, it seemed their younger sisters also said with sparkling eyes that they wanted to serve Candice. Eva and Rose were grateful to Candice for granting them the vacation.
-----