-17-
Standing calmly just outside the suddenly opened door was Edwin. When our eyes met, he glanced at the design sketches in my hand and spoke.
“Alfred, would you bring us some tea?”
“Your Grace…”
“I’ll speak with her. Could you give us the room?”
“…Yes, of course.”
Nodding at his words, Alfred ushered Inabel out and left to fetch the tea. A heavy silence filled the drawing room, now occupied only by Edwin and me.
“…Come, sit. Let’s talk.”
“…Yes.”
He sat down first at the table piled with lists, and I followed, nodding and taking the seat across from him. His eyes scanned the neatly arranged lists on one side and the towering stacks on the other before he slowly spoke.
“…You’ve organized this well. Was it difficult to go through everything?”
“I only picked out the good designs. It wasn’t too much, so it wasn’t hard.”
“I see. As for the design… is that the one you’ve chosen?”
“…That was my intention. But…”
“It’s a beautiful design. Go ahead and choose that one. I look forward to seeing you in that dress.”
“…Is that really okay? This one is…”
Not just anyone’s—it was designed by the imperial princess. From a design perspective alone, I absolutely wanted it.
But considering the relationship between the princess and myself, accepting her design would undoubtedly draw public attention.
No matter how close I was to Lucius, Princess Alexandra was not his biological sister. She and Rael were children of the late Empress who had passed away.
So for her to send a design to Lucius, not Rael, could be misinterpreted as taking Lucius’s side.
I didn’t know her true intentions, but the other nobles would surely think that way. Was it really okay to accept it so easily?
Truthfully, I wanted to choose it regardless of my past with Tiana or the princess. It was the best design. I didn’t want to waste time and energy on choosing a dress…
Edwin, whose thoughts I couldn’t read, didn’t seem inclined to tell me what I wanted to know. I glanced at him, sipping the tea Alfred had brought, and cautiously began.
“You know why Princess Alexandra and I haven’t contacted each other for the past two years, don’t you? Can’t you tell me what happened back then?”
“…”
“Father.”
Despite my earnest request, his lips remained frustratingly sealed. As I pondered how to open that heavy mouth, he finally set his teacup down and spoke in a low voice.
“Right now… it’s still a painful story for you, I think.”
“…”
“When some more time passes, and you’ve found your footing again, I’ll tell you everything. So for now, please be patient.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“I don’t want to burden you with something so shocking just as you’ve begun to recover. And also…”
He trailed off and clasped his hands tightly in his lap. His eyes dropped and turned slightly away as he spoke in a trembling voice.
“I’m involved too… and I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed in me. I still don’t have the courage…”
“Father…”
He couldn’t even meet my eyes, his face clouded with worry. His faintly trembling fingertips showed just how much he was struggling inside.
Whatever had happened, I grew even more curious. But seeing his reaction, I couldn’t press him any further.
‘It can’t be helped. I’ll have more chances to find out.’
The fact that Edwin reacted this way meant there was a reason for him to keep something hidden. It was frustrating not to get answers right away, but I was sure there would be other opportunities.
It wasn’t something urgent, so I could wait as he asked. If it came to it, I could always coax something out of Inabel later.
I sighed deeply and smiled at Edwin, who looked like he was trying to gauge my mood.
“Alright. I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me. Then, I’ll go with this design. Do you really like it too, Father?”
“…Yes. It will look beautiful. Truly, Her Highness the Princess is amazing. She knows exactly what suits you.”
“…You said ‘as expected’?”
“Ahem… I just meant her skills are remarkable.”
“Oh, so you weren’t referring to how well she knows me, just her talent?”
“Y-Yes. She might not know you well, but her talent is… exceptional. Even without knowing you, she designed something so fitting…”
“…Pfft…”
Oh no, my father really isn’t good at lying. He clearly meant to hide his connection to the princess but fumbled, his words getting tangled. It was obvious.
His awkwardness made me laugh without meaning to, and only then did a smile finally break on his face.
I really am weak to this man. Maybe it’s because he’s my first father. His gentle smile somehow put my heart at ease.
***
“I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re busy.”
“Not at all, Tiana.”
Lucius, just finished with work, had come to the drawing room. I had asked him to come to discuss the wedding attire, and he had quickly wrapped up his duties to be here.
“Alexandra designed our wedding outfits herself?”
“Yes. She personally created them and sent them to us.”
When I handed the designs to Lucius, he looked at them closely and spoke.
“Impressive. It’s a good design.”
“Right? I really like it. If you’re okay with it too, can we use this design for the ceremony?”
“Yes, let’s do that. Alexandra will be pleased as well.”
“You think so? I’ve never met Her Highness before, so I’m nervous about what kind of person she is.”
Lucius pondered a moment, then smiled gently.
“Why don’t you write her a letter?”
“A letter? To the princess?”
“Yes. It can serve as a formal request, and if you write to her yourself, she’ll definitely appreciate it.”
“…So you know about the history between me and Her Highness.”
Since he frequently visited the imperial palace, it made sense. And given how close he seemed to be with her, he probably knew everything about the previous Tiana and her.
“I don’t know anything, and that makes me uneasy.”
When my expression darkened slightly, Lucius gently took my hand.
“You haven’t heard anything about what happened with Alexandra…?”
“No. I only heard that something happened two years ago that strained our relationship, but not the reason. My father won’t tell me.”
“…I see.”
“Do you know? What happened two years ago?”
I wasn’t sure how long they had known each other, but if they were close, he might know. When I asked carefully, he looked at me with a troubled expression.
“If the Duke hasn’t told you, I don’t think it’s my place to say.”
“I figured…”
“I’m sorry, Tiana.”
“It’s alright. I understand.”
Though disappointed, I had no intention of pressuring Lucius. I had already decided to wait, so now wasn’t the time. For now, wedding preparations came first.
We agreed to use Princess Alexandra’s design and send a formal request. Following Lucius’s advice, I decided to write the letter myself to the princess.
“Here it is, my lady.”
“…Thank you.”
At my request, Alfred brought out a bundle of stationery he said I had used two years ago. It seemed I had always used the same type when corresponding with the princess. I carefully took one sheet from the bundle.
It was a simple sheet with small light green birds and white flowers on a white background. The princess had green eyes, didn’t she? It matched her image well—likely something I had picked out deliberately.
I dipped the pen into ink and brought it to the top line to begin writing.
Though I held the pen tightly, I couldn’t get a single word down. Come to think of it, this would be my first time writing anything since I woke up in this world.
Fortunately, I remembered the language, so I could write, but I had no idea how to start.
Jumping straight to the point without a greeting in a letter sent after two years felt wrong. She must’ve heard about my accident, so she probably knew I had lost my memory.
So maybe I should start with, “It’s a pleasure to meet you”?
“…Ugh…”
I never expected writing a letter to be this hard. Maybe it was harder because of who the recipient was. As I agonized over the blank page, Lucius gently offered,
“Is it difficult?”
“Yes… I’m not sure how to begin.”
“Don’t overthink it. Just write what you honestly feel.”
“Hmm… Do you think that’s okay? I don’t remember anything… What if she’s disappointed that I’ve forgotten everything?”
“She’s already aware of your condition. I think she’d appreciate your honesty more. I’m sure no one is waiting to hear from you more than she is.”
“Alright.”
Rather than using stiff formalities, maybe it was better to just write naturally from the heart. I wasn’t going to find a better answer anyway. Oh well—let’s just do it.
I loosened my grip and held the pen more comfortably, just as Lucius suggested. Moving my fingers slightly higher on the shaft and angling the pen brought out a beautiful flow of writing.
The words came smoothly, and I enjoyed it so much that I was able to finish the letter in one sitting without pause.
Not long after the letter was sent and I’d begun to wonder if the reply would ever come, a message finally arrived from the princess.
Carefully breaking the seal of Alexandra’s deep green envelope, I pulled out the folded letter inside. My heart pounded with anticipation.
[“I’ll come.”]
“…?”
Just one sentence on a whole sheet of paper. Three large, decorative words. I thought maybe I’d misread it.
So she’s coming… right?
“…What?”
I scanned the letter again, but there was nothing else written.
How was I supposed to interpret this? Did she mean we should talk in person? Was she agreeing to help? If she’s coming, then when?
The bold handwriting gave me a strange feeling—I could somehow picture what kind of person she was even without meeting her. …Someone with incredible initiative, clearly.
Either way, I needed to inform everyone that the princess was visiting. I picked up the bell on the table to call for Alfred.
Bang!
“My lady!”
Just then, the door flew open, and Alfred rushed into the drawing room. I looked at him in surprise, but he cried out in alarm.
“Her Highness the Princess has arrived!”
“What? Right now?”
She really came?!
