Chapter 34
“Oh my, it would be nice to put a handkerchief in here. Then, if you see a gentleman you like, you take it out.”
At Lady Saroni’s remark, the other ladies burst into laughter.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Or you could drop the handkerchief!”
Though not exactly etiquette manuals, many of the ladies had secretly read market stall romance novels at least once, so they laughed even harder.
“And when he picks it up, you could ask him to put it inside this.”
“Do you think this design will please you? We actually have various other styles we’ll be unveiling starting next week.”
“Various styles?”
“Would you happen to have the same design that Her Highness the Princess received?”
“Of course!”
Seeing the young ladies’ eyes drawn to the sky-blue bag adorned with jewels, Velia smiled with satisfaction.
“Then what do you call this one, Lady Velia?”
“This one?”
“Yes.”
“I named it ‘Bea.’”
“Bea?”
“Oh, I see! You took it from your own name, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.”
Velia nodded.
They had held meetings for days with the heads of the bag business over this matter—what to call the new product.
Though the idea was inspired by the traveling bags used by commoners, they concluded it would be better to give it a new name rather than simply calling it a “bag,” which might draw negative sentiment.
Thus the name “Bea” was born.
“Soon there will be a shop on the street named ‘Bea.’ It’ll be right next to our family’s jewelry store. Please do come and see it.”
“Of course!”
“Oh, and since I’m showing you all these bags today, I have a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
When Velia gestured to the servants behind her, they stepped forward and placed a box in front of each young lady.
“What is this?”
“Thank you for making time to come today. Please, open them.”
The young ladies opened the boxes with eager eyes.
“Oh my, you’re giving us these?”
Inside was the very bag they had been admiring moments before.
Some instinctively swallowed when they saw the delicate small jewels perfectly set into the design, guessing at its price.
“Yes, it’s a modest gift I’ve prepared. Even if you don’t like it, please accept it for the sake of the sentiment.”
“What do you mean ‘don’t like it’? I absolutely love it! And you even engraved my family’s symbol—a hydrangea—on the clasp. Such detail!”
“Oh, mine’s a lily!”
“And mine’s a tulip!”
“Do you like it? I wanted to prepare something special for you.”
“Of course, my lady, it’s so beautiful!”
Lady Saroni beamed.
“My, I must go straight to Her Highness and show this off! She was bragging to me about the Bea she received from you, you know.”
Velia’s eyes lit up at Saroni’s cheerful smile.
It wasn’t meant with any hidden agenda, but if she kept casually mentioning the royal family like this, it was a boon.
The other young ladies’ eyes grew even more covetous at hearing the Princess had liked it.
If they went home after this tea party, showed the Bea to their parents, and stirred up anticipation, then at the family banquet in a few days she could expect a positive reception.
“What about you, Lady?”
Velia looked up.
One of the young ladies—who had been deliberately ignoring Canaria all day—was now speaking to her.
“It’s beautiful,” Canaria replied, stroking the gift.
“Is that so?”
Perhaps thinking the response dull, the young lady quickly lost interest and turned away.
See you later, Velia conveyed with a glance.
Canaria nodded.
“Take care on your way home.”
“My lady, I had such a wonderful time today. Thank you so much for the gift. I’ll see you at the banquet in a few days.”
As the hostess, Velia personally saw off each guest one by one. When no more carriages stood waiting, she turned around.
“Is that everyone gone?”
“It seems so, my lady—no more carriages are coming,” the knight replied.
Velia nodded and headed back toward the rear garden.
“Canaria!”
“Velia!”
Canaria smiled brightly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t look after you more…”
Canaria shook her head.
“If you had, it would’ve seemed strange. Besides, it was actually more comfortable this way—no one paying attention to me, so I could enjoy my tea and pastries at ease.”
Even with Canaria’s reassurance, Velia wrinkled her nose with guilt.
“Still, I didn’t think you’d be able to come—was it all right?”
“Yes, surprisingly. Mother seemed to think you invited me to keep me in check. And with an official invitation, as the daughter of a duke I had to accept the challenge—at least, that’s her view.”
“Really? Well, if that’s the case, it worked out. Then why not stay a bit longer?”
Canaria shook her head.
“That might be difficult. I have no excuse to linger.”
“Ah, because the other young ladies have left?”
“Yes. If I’m late, it’ll seem odd. In any case, I’ll see you again soon when we dine with His Highness.”
“That’s true.”
Velia chuckled, and Canaria joined her.
Ever since that first meeting, Allen’s luncheons had become their regular meeting spot.
“But you know, something’s been strange lately.”
“Hm? What?”
“I mean with Allen.”
Canaria flinched.
“His Highness?”
“Just call him Allen. He said you could.”
“Still… that feels a bit…”
Scratching her cheek awkwardly, Canaria made Velia shrug.
“You know, Allen’s not that fussy, but you still seem uncomfortable around him.”
“Well, he is higher-ranked than I am.”
“So am I. Anyway, just be casual once you’re comfortable.”
“Right… so what’s strange?”
“Oh, just that…”
Velia trailed off.
As Canaria tilted her head curiously, Velia thought back to Allen lately.
‘These days, Allen’s been unusually…’
On the days they had lunch, Velia would slip quietly into the palace thanks to Allen’s arrangements and spend time with Canaria.
Sometimes she’d arrive early and talk with Allen, but recently he’d often asked her what she and Canaria talked about, or how things went.
“What is it?”
“Hmm? Nothing. Just… he seems busier than usual.”
Velia decided not to say “he seems interested in you” since he wasn’t exactly making obvious moves.
“He is the Crown Prince, after all.”
Canaria smiled faintly at the trivial answer.
“Anyway, did you open the gift?”
“Yes! The bag’s gorgeous. I liked the one you showed in the palace before, but I think today’s is even prettier.”
Canaria smiled and stroked the box.
Unlike the other young ladies, who passed their gifts to servants, she had kept hers hidden under the tablecloth until the tea party ended.
As her first gift from her first friend, just looking at the bag made her happy.
“Did you check inside the bag?”
“Inside?”
She opened the box and lifted the bag.
“There’s something in there?”
“Go on, look.”
Smiling, Velia gestured for her to open it.
“Oh?”
“A gift—for showing me your painting last time.”
The deep orange hue was as beautiful as a sunset.
“A brush?”
“It’s made from the fur of the Telloby beasts from the Telloby territory.”
Canaria’s eyes widened.
“Since you gave me that painting as a gift…”
The small painting Canaria had so carefully hidden in her dress that day was now framed and hanging in Velia’s room.
“Velia…”
Seeing Canaria’s touched expression, Velia shook her head.
“I wanted to give it to you, so don’t be too grateful—just hide it well, all right?”
“Oh, okay.”
“You should go before your mother starts wondering.”
“Right.”
Canaria nodded, seeing the sunset deepen.
“I’ll introduce you to Songb next time—she’s a good person. She couldn’t come today, but you can meet her at the next banquet.”
“Okay!”
Canaria nodded to Velia’s words.
“This concludes the meeting. Since the marquis was unable to attend, I will convey today’s discussion to him separately,” said the secretary.
The people gathered in the conference room began to rise and file out.
Barun slipped away among them.
“Next on the schedule is a visit to the merchants’ association regarding jewelry distribution…”
Barun raised his right hand to halt the aide listing his agenda.
“Yes?”
“Wait.”
He pressed himself against the wall.
The aide, puzzled, followed his lead and peeked around the corner.
“Why—”
“Shh.”
Barun was staring intently at someone, and the aide glanced beyond the wall to see what had caught his attention.
