Chapter 34
I only blinked, but morning had already arrived. A whole day had passed.
The parlor was silent, with not a hint of anyone around. I had nothing to do even if I got up, so I curled up on the cushion. I should just go back to sleep.
I wonder if Eloise slept well. First thing in the morning, and I’m already thinking about that wicked woman.
“Heartless Eloise.”
Even if we made a promise, still. How could she leave so easily…?
I thought she liked me quite a bit, but maybe that was just my delusion. Fine, two can play at that game.
Living a lazy life here is way better than rehabilitating a villainous noble house or curing some rare villainess disease.
Sniff.
I must’ve been cold overnight, my nose is running. I’m not crying—it’s just the cold.
It’s winter, so of course it’s cold. I’ll have to ask Marcel to light the fireplace later.
While I was sniffling, the parlor door burst open.
“Y-Young Lady! Please wait, we were going to open it for you—!”
“Lisette!”
Dark blue hair, sharp cat-like eyes, and clear teal irises.
No matter how I looked at that strikingly beautiful face—it was Eloise.
“Eloise!”
It had only been a single day, but it felt like we’d been apart for days.
I bounded toward her and leaped into her arms, and she scooped me up instantly. Her cool body temperature felt pleasantly refreshing.
“Honestly. Anyone watching would think we’re long-lost lovers reuniting.”
Marcel followed behind and let out a helpless chuckle, but his words went in one ear and out the other. I rubbed my face all over her cold hands.
“Really, when I said I’d be living in the Imperial Palace, you didn’t even respond…”
A pout crept into my voice before I knew it. Eloise quietly stroked my head without a word.
Marcel shrugged as if to say “Can’t be helped,” then guided her to sit on the sofa.
Even while the maids were setting up the tea table, Eloise held me tightly.
“To think you’d barge into the Prince’s Palace just because you didn’t see me for a day. Not very much like the Lady of Monclair.”
“It was cold.”
“Hm?”
“It’s winter, so it’s cold.”
She replied with something completely unrelated.
Well, I was cold too. I fully understood Eloise’s feelings.
“Eloise, Marcel wouldn’t give me any blueberries again.”
“Are blueberries a restricted item in the Prince’s Palace?”
“No, Lisette fell asleep without eating dinner. I had prepared them to give later.”
Marcel protested in frustration, pointing at me.
Hmph. Then he should’ve given them at lunch.
Seeing my glare, he let out a sighing smile.
“Lady Monclair. You’re not planning to come to the Prince’s Palace every day, are you?”
“I’ll be staying in the Empress’s Palace.”
An unexpected answer came from Eloise’s lips. Perhaps surprising people runs in her blood.
While it’s not unheard of for nobles to stay in the Imperial Palace, an unmarried noblewoman staying there alone was extremely rare.
Even in the original story, Eloise had never once entered the palace of her own accord.
“Her Majesty the Empress heard about the renovation of my bedroom and graciously invited me to stay with her.”
Both Marcel and I froze with blank expressions. Renovating her bedroom? That was news to everyone.
There was no such plan. It had nothing to do with the parlor renovations either.
“Aren’t there plenty of rooms in your ducal house?”
“I only have one bedroom.”
“What…”
Marcel trailed off with a dazed expression, as if wondering what kind of nonsense he was hearing.
“I thought receiving Crown Princess education and living in the Imperial Palace in advance wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Typical Lady Monclair thinking. As if it were an apartment advertisement: “Try living first before you decide.”
To think she’d test live the Imperial Palace.
“Eloise, then we’re staying together in the palace?”
“Yes. Her Majesty said you’re welcome to stay in the same room.”
That was wonderful news. But how did she arrange all this overnight?
She said earlier she wouldn’t send me back—but now this.
I was a little sulky, but being reunited with Eloise made me so happy that my tail swished back and forth.
A faint smile formed on Eloise’s lips too.
“Pff.”
Marcel chuckled softly at the sight of us.
As Eloise continued stroking my white fur, she asked him,
“Your Highness, what did you think of Lisette?”
“Well, there’s definitely mana flowing, so I plan to measure her mana capacity daily for a while. I’ll also consider the possibility that she’s a beastkin.”
“I see. She’s not ill, is she?”
“She’s very healthy. She’s even gotten f—”
“Meow!”
I cried sharply and glared at him, and he shut his mouth.
But Eloise had already heard the ‘she’s gotten fat’ part, and she lifted me slightly as if weighing me.
“The scale must be broken. She’s so light.”
“Eloise…”
“It seems I’ve sent a monster to the lady after all.”
Marcel muttered to himself as I stared at her with teary admiration.
Eloise adjusted her hold on me and looked back at him.
“I must have kept Your Highness too long.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Her Majesty the Empress is waiting.”
“I didn’t have any plans to see my mother today.”
“She didn’t summon you.”
“Oh… you meant the Lady.”
Eloise stood up with me in her arms.
Wait—she stopped by to see me first even though the Empress invited her? Is that allowed?!
Marcel also stood, glancing between us.
“Did Mother ask you to bring Lisette too?”
“Is His Highness so busy that he needs a cat’s assistance?”
“N-No, that’s not…”
“Then I’ll be taking her.”
She bent her knees slightly in a polite bow, then turned toward the door.
I stretched out my front paw toward Marcel and waved.
He chuckled and waved back.
“See you later, Lisette.”
I purred happily in Eloise’s warm embrace.
There must’ve been quite a distance between the Prince’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace, because a small carriage was waiting for us.
It had no roof, so the winter winds whipped my fluffy fur wildly.
Even so, Eloise remained perfectly composed, not a hair out of place.
“The wind’s quite harsh.”
She muttered absentmindedly and pulled her thick cloak tighter, tucking me securely inside.
I poked my head out of the cloak to observe the scenery. Before long, the carriage arrived at the Empress’s Palace.
“It’s smaller than the ducal estate.”
“Her Majesty lives alone, after all.”
Oh. In that case, it is big.
It seemed each member of the royal family had their own palace.
No wonder they rarely saw each other.
In the original story, the heroine only lingered around the Crown Prince’s Palace, and I had only ever seen the Prince’s Palace myself, so I couldn’t grasp the full scale of the imperial grounds.
How many palaces are there?!
As Eloise stepped down from the carriage, the knights guarding the Empress’s Palace spotted her and swung open the doors.
“Eloise! Come in, dear.”
“Peace upon Kalenia. I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”
Upon entering, the Empress was just descending the stairs and greeted us warmly.
Eloise dropped to her knees and bowed deeply.
The Empress reached out and helped her rise.
“No need for such formality between us. Oh my, Lisette came as well.”
“Peace upon Kale—nia. I greet Your Majesty, Your—uh?”
If I greeted her too perfectly again, she might misunderstand, so I ended my sentence awkwardly.
The Empress covered her lips with her fan and giggled like a young girl.
“Still as adorable as ever. Come in. I’ve prepared plenty of treats.”
When we entered the drawing room, I could see she wasn’t exaggerating.
Even though only the three of us would be eating, the long table was piled high with assorted snacks.
“I should’ve prepared blueberries as well.”
“My apologies for bringing Lisette without informing you in advance.”
“Not at all. I regretted not getting to speak with her properly during the tea party.”
Eloise and the Empress took their seats as maids filled gold-rimmed teacups with a pale reddish-brown tea.
The Empress inhaled its aroma deeply before taking a sip.
