Chapter 32
“Me?”
“Yes. You’ve changed, Young Lady. You seem like someone who draws people’s attention now.”
‘You sparkle differently than before.’
Canaria swallowed the words she was about to say next.
Could it be that the person the late nanny used to habitually talk about when she was young was referring to Young Lady Velia?
“Hmm, since you’ve seen my flaws, can you tell me what kind of change you’re feeling? I’m curious why you’ve changed.”
Canaria unintentionally placed her hand gently over her chest.
The nanny’s last words—to live happily—came to mind, and her chest tightened.
“Um…”
Velia scratched her cheek as she looked at Canaria waiting for an answer.
At first, she wanted to deny and say she was always like this, but Canaria’s purple eyes were so serious that Velia carefully chose her words.
If asked why she changed, she couldn’t honestly say it was complicated.
Reincarnation, a fake, and death.
Wouldn’t it just sound like nonsense?
Still, Canaria’s face looked so earnest it was hard to give a vague answer.
“I just wanted to live more enjoyably.”
“Enjoyably?”
“Well… before, I lived rather lethargically. Just drifting along with things. But now that I’m sixteen, I thought, ‘Let’s try living properly.’”
‘Only two years left anyway.’
Velia swallowed her true feelings and smiled awkwardly.
“Life… is short.”
She meant it sincerely.
“Enjoyably…”
Canaria pondered over Velia’s words.
Velia was a rather enigmatic young lady.
Even now, just the way she worried overflowed with grace and dignity.
Though she showed no weaknesses, somehow she seemed as straightforward and easygoing as Allen.
‘Maybe she’s not as bad as I thought?’
She certainly looked more comfortable alone than when surrounded by those three young ladies.
“So, what do you find fun these days?”
“Huh?”
“You said you want to live enjoyably. What do you enjoy lately?”
“What do I enjoy? Just…”
“Do you enjoy your business?”
“Business?”
“I heard you’re in charge of the textile business.”
“Oh, yes. Haha… not just that. I guess I just find it fun when I do what I want.”
“Was the business something you wanted to do?”
“Hmm… yes!”
She didn’t start with any big ambitions, but the more she did it, the more passionate she became, and she found it enjoyable.
“To be honest, before, I didn’t even try to do anything and just drifted along. But now, thinking about what I want and starting it on my own makes it fun.”
Velia smiled shyly, embarrassed somehow.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Um, princess…”
“Could you call me Canaria?”
Velia was momentarily surprised by the sudden request and paused.
“Um, okay. Don’t you have anything fun, Canaria?”
“That’s not quite what I meant by asking you to call me so casually…”
“Ah! Sorry. Young Lady Canaria is…”
“Just kidding.”
“Huh?”
Canaria let out a small laugh, and Velia looked at her with a momentary blank expression.
“You’re fun.”
Canaria spoke honestly, more so than she had in a long time.
It had been a long time since she’d felt this comfortable being with someone by chance.
Seeing Velia blink innocently, Canaria smiled softly.
Under her clothes, she fiddled with the bracelet the nanny had given her like a talisman.
Though her flaw had been revealed, she felt at ease.
When the other young ladies besides Deliver found out she wasn’t a princess receiving special treatment, their looks toward her had been distinctly different.
She didn’t want to relive the moments when their envy turned to ridicule.
Velia, noticing the somewhat lonely look on Canaria’s face, unexpectedly spoke up.
“Please call me Velia.”
“Huh?”
Canaria raised her head, and Velia smiled back.
“Since things have come this far, let’s just call each other comfortably.”
Velia shrugged.
This was the first time she had talked like this besides with Songbu, so she laughed awkwardly.
Canaria smiled too, feeling a warm sensation at Velia’s curved eyes.
“Velia is fun.”
“Canaria is fun too.”
“Me?”
“Yes, so let me ask again. Do you have anything fun these days?”
“Fun? Hmm, yes.”
The answer came quickly, and Velia’s eyes widened.
“What is it?”
Canaria hesitated a moment.
It was a hobby she had never told anyone about before, but once she decided, she smiled brightly.
“Um, it’s hard to explain in words, but do you have time this week?”
“This week?”
“I have a meal with His Highness this week. Can we meet again then?”
“Would His Highness be okay with that?”
“Probably, he wouldn’t mind. What do you think? If you’re free, let’s meet here.”
Velia thought about it for a moment.
She was busy preparing to unveil a new bag design soon.
Moreover, because she was visiting the palace every day to hear news about Carlton, she was swamped with work.
“Can’t I?”
“Yes! That’d be great! The palace food is delicious too, if you’re okay with it…”
If it were another young lady, Velia would have arranged to meet outside, but she roughly guessed why Canaria suggested the palace, so she didn’t ask further.
Velia and Canaria smiled warmly at each other.
Unlike usual, the Arpedi Marquis family’s sponsorship was bustling.
Tables and chairs on both sides around the fountain were all lavishly decorated with flowers.
Guests marveled as they entered the sponsored event.
“Young Lady! You’re here?”
“Oh my, Young Lady Russel! It’s been a while!”
Most of the young ladies gathered were those who had built friendships around Velia, so their faces were familiar.
They quickly grouped in threes or fives and chatted animatedly.
“I’m really looking forward to Velia’s Tiffany today!”
“Me too!”
“Have you heard the rumors going around the salon?”
“Oh yes! I heard the Peltorum Salon was also sharpening their teeth preparing for this!”
“For what?”
“For the textile business being unveiled today! I heard they’ve already delivered finished products to the royal family?”
“Really?”
“More importantly, is this a jewel?”
One young lady opened a souvenir box she received at the entrance and admired it.
Inside was a luxurious teacup.
“That’s fitting for the Arpedi family. They started the empire’s jewelry business.”
Though the teacup might look ordinary, the petals engraved inside were all made of jewels.
Admiring the beautiful design, the young ladies chattered excitedly.
“But those three wouldn’t have been invited, right?”
“Who?”
“You know who. That group of three! Or should I say four?”
“Oh, those young ladies? The Doltan princesses’ group?”
“Of course not. They’ve been overshadowed by Young Lady Velia in society lately.”
“That’s right. At the last Raven Young Lady’s party, they spoke less than usual. They looked so pathetic.”
The more Velia continued her social activities, the less influence the Doltan princess group had.
“But did the Doltan princesses really fall out with His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?”
“Who knows? Young Lady Saroni! Say something!”
One young lady asked Saroni, a relative of the Empress.
“Me?”
Saroni blinked, lost in thought when called suddenly.
“Yes!”
“I don’t know!”
Saroni smiled brightly in response.
Several young ladies showed disappointed expressions.
Then—
“Oh?”
A young lady looked surprised as if she saw something she shouldn’t.
“What’s wrong… oh!”
The unexpected arrival made the young ladies blink.
“Why is the Doltan princess here…?”
The Doltan princess, with her purple hair neatly pinned up, entered the tea party alone.
After finishing her makeup, Velia quickly reviewed documents while receiving final touches on her hair.
“The gifts delivered to the royal family must have arrived properly, right?”
“Yes. After receiving the first batch, especially Her Majesty seemed very pleased.”
“Is that so?”
Velia smiled brightly.
“Then we should prepare the second batch immediately. Make sure it’s ready for the second princess’s birthday. Contact Henri and have him research the royal family’s dresses as much as possible. We’ll prepare custom bags.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Miss, don’t move!”
Suga warned Velia, who was turning her head left and right while talking with her secretary.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Miss, I’ll be going now.”
The secretary bowed and left the room.
Suga carefully and swiftly continued styling Velia’s hair.
“I have to look over all these after the tea party.”
Velia, looking tired, put down the documents and gently closed her eyes.
