Chapter 26
At Some Point, I…
Summer was approaching. The texture of the air grew a little stickier each day. By now, during the hours when the sun was directly overhead, it was impossible to have a picnic in the garden.
As someone from the northern Kingdom of Lundra, I wasn’t used to the heat.
Thanks to the Dragon’s Tear, Lundra technically had four seasons, but that only meant having enough temperature variation to grow crops. It was nothing like this naturally intense heat of Owen. In Lundra, the weather was cool almost year-round.
Adjusting to a season I had never experienced before wasn’t easy. Because of the heat, I found myself waking up earlier and earlier each morning. I would spend most of the day sprawled on the shaded terrace.
“Princess, how about going shopping to lift your spirits? You don’t have any summer dresses for evening balls, and you’ll need one for the Grace family’s ball.”
A maid, pitying me as I sat on the terrace bench with a damp handkerchief pressed to my forehead, made the suggestion.
Not long ago, the Grace Earldom had sent a ball invitation to the Duke of Deerton’s household. Because of that, the maids had been frequently asking how I wanted to dress for the event.
“Wouldn’t it be even hotter if I go out shopping?”
“The Grace family is very interested in magical engineering. I heard they recently installed a magical engineering device in Shop Mémettir that keeps the temperature constant regardless of the season.”
This was news to me, so I lifted the handkerchief from my forehead.
“It’s possible with magical engineering, not magic?”
“I’m not too sure. Magical engineering runs on magic anyway, so maybe anything magic can do is possible?”
It was fascinating.
Although Lundra was more advanced in magic than any other nation and had far more mages, that also meant it had little interest in magical engineering.
Why bother with the complications of magical engineering when mages were abundant?
But Loneis, where mages were fewer, had recently become passionate about magical engineering.
Daimond once said that in Loneis, mages and engineers were joining forces to rapidly advance their magical engineering. The purpose of his upcoming diplomatic dispatch to Loneis and the Duchy of Ron was precisely to observe this progress firsthand.
Since Owen bordered Loneis and also lacked mages, magical engineering was slowly influencing Owen as well. Even the magic freezer in Cedric’s lounge was the result of magical engineering.
“Then I should go. Help me get ready.”
More than anything, I wanted to spend at least one cool day.
The maid braided my hair into two plaits, coiled them up, and tied them with small ribbons—light enough not to interfere with my hat later.
I had planned to go shopping alone, but I changed my mind. Cedric came to mind.
If possible, it would be nice to go with Cedric and Rachel. At some point, I realized I had stopped thinking deeply about their relationship.
No… I’d never made an opportunity for them, had I? Why?
I needed to consciously create a moment for the two of them to meet.
I was just a foreign princess passing through. Eventually, I would leave, and during that time Lundra would make sure Owen would never miscalculate again. If so, then Cedric and Rachel would no longer be part of my life.
Yes. That’s how it would be.
Cedric treated me extremely well. Not only did he stop his old reclusive habits and accompany me outside, he cared for me in countless ways. I wasn’t too dull to notice that.
So I wanted to be good to him too.
Creating chances for Cedric and Rachel to deepen their feelings was a good deed unrelated to international politics.
I sent Rachel a card through the maid, inviting her to join the outing. She was far busier than I was, so I was prepared for her to decline on such short notice.
For a brief moment, I wondered—would it end up being just Cedric and me?
But almost immediately, a positive reply arrived. Considering the travel time from the palace to the duchy, Rachel must have responded the instant she received my card.
Then I headed to Cedric’s study. Only the steward, Baron Hudson, was there, and he said the duke was likely in his lounge.
I changed direction and went to Cedric’s lounge—what everyone else called the ducal reception room.
Knock knock.
“Your Grace, it’s me.”
“Princess.”
Cedric opened the door. He was wearing glasses, with a chain attached—something I hadn’t seen before. The chain caught sunlight and glimmered faintly.
“Good morning! I went to your study, but Baron Hudson said you’d be here.”
“Yes. Good morning. Please come in.”
When Cedric moved to prepare tea, I quickly waved him off.
“I won’t stay long. Is now a good time?”
“I’ve finished all important tasks.”
A quick glance confirmed it—the documents on the table were neatly organized.
“Perfect! I’m going to Shop Mémettir with the princess. Would you like to come too? They installed a magical engineering device that keeps it cool inside. And I need to buy a summer dress for the Grace ball.”
I listed all the reasons the maid had given me. Because they were good reasons.
Cedric looked at me. Although Owen’s people insisted summer hadn’t really begun yet, my forehead already had tiny beads of sweat. Embarrassed by where his gaze fell, I dabbed it with a handkerchief.
“I’ll prepare. Please wait a moment.”
While sitting on the sofa in the first-floor hallway, a maid fitted me with a wide-brimmed lightweight hat. The hat was secured with a chiffon ribbon tied under my chin in a large bow.
“Princess.”
Cedric approached and offered his hand.
The garden, even before noon, was already hot. Even in the short walk to the waiting carriage, I had to repeatedly press my handkerchief to my forehead.
But when we entered Shop Mémettir, it felt like another world. The air inside was cool and refreshing. I felt alive again.
As Cedric opened the door, a staff member greeted us politely. Rachel had arrived slightly earlier and was speaking with Mia. Mia’s hair was pinned up with several pens stuck into the bun, and papers poked out of her apron pockets.
“Daisy! Come on in! I’m so happy you were the one to invite me out first.”
Rachel greeted me with her signature mischievous smile.
“How have you been, Princess Rachel?”
I responded politely, mindful of the shop staff.
“Cedric, you’re here too? Do you need formal wear for the ball? Of course you do. You must.”
Rachel poked Cedric’s arms repeatedly with her finger, grinning widely. Then she suddenly burst into laughter. Seeing Cedric seemed to put her in an exceptionally good mood. Cedric said nothing—only stared at her.
Mia led us up to the fourth floor. Thanks to the cool indoor air, I had shaken off the lethargy I’d gotten from the heat. The climb was no trouble at all.
The room this time was slightly larger, with a beautiful carpet and matching curtains decorating the walls.
Rachel sat first in the best seat—an armchair—while Cedric and I sat on a three-seater sofa.
“I heard you were looking for summer evening wear. Shall I show the princess dresses ready for immediate purchase, like last time?”
“This time, I want to choose a design from the catalog and discuss it with you. I’ll order a dress for the Grace ball.”
“Of course.”
Mia brought me a women’s catalog and Cedric a men’s catalog. In front of Rachel were not catalogs, but a few detailed sketches—she must have already planned her dress in advance.
I flipped through the women’s catalog one page at a time. Mia’s talent and effort filled every illustration.
I felt a gaze on my hand, so I looked up.
Cedric hadn’t even touched the men’s catalog. He was quietly watching me browse mine.
“Your Grace doesn’t need summer formal wear?”
“No, I don’t.”
“That’s not true, Daisy!”
“He doesn’t have any! He absolutely needs one! I thought he knew that when he followed us here, but apparently he just came along!”
Rachel, who had been discussing design details with Mia, cut in. She sounded a bit worked up.
