Chapter 51
Even though the mask’s eye holes were blocked, it felt as though a murderous gaze was seeping through.
Theodore stared at him intently before slowly stepping back.
Claire spoke gently to the viscount, whose heart was still pounding from the shock.
“Are you alright? I think the table was just a bit too old.”
That wasn’t true—it had only been replaced last year—but the viscount was too bewildered to respond properly.
As if nothing were out of the ordinary, Claire continued speaking while discreetly sliding one of the marbles rolling under the table beneath her foot.
“Still, as our guard said, you really must be careful.”
“……”
“Not just with tables, but with work as well—if you handle things sloppily, it always ends up causing trouble for everyone.”
The viscount finally came to his senses, coughing awkwardly in embarrassment.
He’d been making sleazy advances toward one of the merchant staff when the accident happened, which only made it more humiliating.
“Ahem, well then, I should take a look at what other jeweled flowers you have.”
Leafing through the catalog again, he was soon dazzled by the beauty of the jeweled flowers and decided to purchase earrings and a brooch in addition.
The three of them, having sold him the necklace for cash on the spot, left the viscount’s residence with a bag heavy with gold.
“Two thousand gold in one sale… jeweled flowers really are incredible.”
“They’re not called a measure of wealth for nothing.”
Jeweled flowers, clear luxury items, were used in high society as symbols of display.
How many accessories one owned that were made of jeweled flowers determined the prestige and financial power of one’s family.
That was why Viscount Smith had such an obsession with them—the more he owned, the more recognition he received.
Once the carriage had gotten far enough from the viscount’s manor, Claire pulled the marble she had quietly pocketed earlier from her coat.
“Teddy.”
Holding it out, she asked,
“This is yours, isn’t it?”
“…How did you know?”
Teddy replied calmly as he accepted the marble.
Unable to stand the viscount’s behavior any longer, he had deliberately flicked the marble to snap the table leg.
Neither the viscount nor Ron had realized, but Claire had.
“A sturdy table leg doesn’t just snap on its own.”
She had been puzzled by the marble that struck her shoe—until Theodore stepped in as if on cue, and she understood the truth.
“Thank you. You did far better than I expected—it was a great help.”
If not for him, she might have ended up in a quarrel with the viscount.
If that had happened, their very first jeweled flower sale could have ended in failure.
Theodore gazed at Claire’s smiling face for a moment.
She seemed far more at ease than when she was with the crown prince, and before he could stop himself, he spoke impulsively.
“If you’re grateful, why don’t you just speak comfortably to me?”
“Would you like that?”
“…I think I would.”
Claire had always kept a polite distance from both Theodore and Teddy.
Even if it was only Teddy she spoke casually to, it felt as though that distance might shrink a little.
“Alright then, Teddy. But for the record, I won’t tell you to speak casually to me.”
“I don’t mind.”
After all, when he was crown prince, he was already in a position to speak freely to her—he had no attachment to the formality.
Ron, sitting beside Theodore and clutching the heavy bag of gold, suddenly tilted his head.
For some reason, the carriage seemed to have come to a standstill.
“Looks like there’s some traffic up ahead.”
Peering out the window, he soon said,
“It seems there’s a small festival in the central plaza. That must be what’s causing the jam.”
“Really? How long do you think it’ll take?”
“I’ll step out and take a closer look.”
Ron tucked the money bag under the seat and climbed down from the carriage.
Claire leaned against the window frame. She could see the street packed with people, each laughing joyfully.
“Everyone looks so happy.”
Her murmured words drew Theodore’s gaze to her.
Behind the large lenses of her glasses, her green eyes looked strangely wistful.
After a pause, he asked,
“Do you want to go?”
“Well, Teddy, have you ever played at a place like that?”
Theodore shrugged. As crown prince he’d joined in parades, but he had never mixed with the crowds directly.
“I’ve never even gone out to the market for fun.”
Claire let out a deflated laugh.
She had no memories of ever going out just to enjoy herself.
Not even for the national festival, where commoners and nobles alike celebrated together.
When she was young, her mother had been ill; later, her family resented even the thought of her going out.
The marquis and his wife had sought to isolate the Priscilla siblings as much as possible, denying them even a proper allowance.
And after marriage—needless to say, things were worse.
Not that I’m yearning to go play like a child now, but still…
“Then let’s go now.”
His deep voice cut straight across her thoughts.
Claire blinked wide-eyed.
“What…?”
“I’ve never done it either. So we can just experience it together now.”
“What—”
A large hand suddenly seized her arm and pulled her down from the carriage.
Before she could protest, she found herself outside, instinctively grabbing his arm to steady herself.
“What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, Theodore jerked his chin toward Ron, who was approaching.
“Tell the sub-leader to guard the carriage. Someone has to stay behind.”
“No, wait—”
While Claire was still struck speechless, Ron reached them.
“Where are you two going?”
“……”
From behind the mask, Theodore fixed his gaze firmly on Claire.
He was clumsy at reading emotions, but when he saw her quiet face, eyes lowered, he suddenly remembered Roon’s words:
‘If you saved her life, or granted something she truly wished for, you could win her heart quickly.’
In that instant, it felt certain to him that this—whether she said it aloud or not—was what she truly wanted.
Finally giving in to his persistence, Claire raised her hands in surrender.
“…Ron, sorry, but we’ll step out for a while. Could you wait here with the carriage?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
Ron nodded readily.
Claire then headed toward the plaza with Teddy.
Couples, families, friends—all sorts of groups bustled past them.
As she looked around the lively streets with an unfamiliar feeling, someone suddenly tugged at her sleeve.
“Big sister! Take this!”
“Hm?”
Looking down, she saw a little girl with a basket holding out a flower.
It was a pale pink peony in full bloom.
Claire accepted it with a smile and asked kindly,
“How much is it?”
“It’s free!”
The girl beamed, then hesitated before offering flowers to Theodore as well.
Two blooms this time, specially.
“Because mister looks kind of scary… I’ll give you more!”
“……”
Mister. Scary.
Hit twice in a row, Theodore fell silent. Claire, suppressing her laughter, thanked the girl in his stead.
“Thank you so much.”
“Bye-bye!”
The child waved cheerfully and skipped away. Looking around, Claire noticed that people were tucking flowers into their hair.
She slid the peony neatly into her braid and gestured at Teddy.
“Come here.”
Theodore, who had been standing stiffly, obediently bent down. His dark hair fell closer.
With delicate fingers, she tucked the lush peonies behind his ears.
“Looks like this is today’s festival dress code.”
“…Must we? I must look ridiculous.”
“No—you look good.”
Claire chuckled softly as he awkwardly touched the flowers.
So much so that she nearly bumped into a man hauling a cart behind her.
“Careful.”
Theodore, who had been stealing glances at her cheerful expression, quickly pulled her out of the way.
Her nose brushed against his solid shoulder, and a fresh, cool scent lingered in the air.
“There are many people here. Be cautious.”
“…Alright.”
It was her first time feeling a man’s strong build so close. Pretending calm, Claire hastily stepped back, fidgeting with her glasses and hair as she glanced around.
Then she pointed.
“Wanna try that?”
“Sure.”
She was pointing at a food stall selling skewers.
They each chose one—spicy for her, plain for him. Claire paid and was about to hand him the plain skewer when she paused.
“Oh, right. You’re wearing the mask.”
The mask covered his whole face, even his mouth.
“It’s fine.”
Theodore gripped the upper part of the mask and pulled.
The lower half detached, leaving only a half-mask that covered down to his nose.
Taking the skewer, he bit into it without hesitation. He was used to street food from his guild work, so he had no aversion.
Seeing this, Claire cautiously bit into her spicy skewer. The sharp heat spread across her tongue.
“It’s a bit spicy.”
“Can’t handle it? Then let’s switch.”
“You’re good with spicy food?”
Theodore silently held out his hand, confidently.
“But I already ate from it…”
A small flick of his gloved fingers told her to hand it over anyway.
Normally, he hated sharing food for hygiene reasons. Yet oddly, Claire’s didn’t feel unpleasant to him at all.
Taking her skewer, he ate the meat without hesitation.
And swallowed—
“Cough! Cough!”
Only to break into a choking fit. His neck flushed bright red beneath the mask.
Claire quickly patted his back in alarm.
“Are you okay? Hold on!”
She hurried to a nearby stall, bought water, and handed it to him.
Theodore drained it in an instant. Claire pulled out a handkerchief and kept patting his back.
“See? If you can’t handle spice, you should’ve just said so. I eat it better than you!”
“……”
Wiping his mouth with the handkerchief, Theodore looked around awkwardly.
Then he spotted a spot where a crowd was gathered and suggested,
“Why don’t we try that next?”
