Episode 24
‘Why here instead of Jewel Stone…….’
I hadn’t stopped by Esther Shop in the past. I had visited the jeweler Jewel Stone to buy earrings and a necklace to match my tailored dress.
I remember stopping by Esther Shop about two or three months after attending the first banquet.
Of course, even then, I had stayed inside the carriage.
That was why the first time I actually saw Madame Bovari was a few days ago, when I went to buy a fake Guardian Stone.
I had thought I would never meet her again, but had I grown too complacent, trusting only in my memories of the past?
‘Why did things change? No, more importantly, what if Madame Bovari recognizes me?’
Cold sweat suddenly trickled down my spine. Since Madame Bovari had easily seen through my male disguise, I felt she could recognize me all too well.
If that happened, my half-sister would try to find out why I had come to Esther Shop. She would also learn that I had bought a fake Guardian Stone.
‘What do I do? If that woman finds out, revenge or whatever is over.’
Fear rushed in, and the blood drained coldly from my fingertips. My pounding heartbeat filled my head completely, leaving room for no other thought.
At this bewildering, unexpected moment, just as my vision was about to fade to pitch black, it was—ironically—my half-sister’s voice that caught me.
“What is it, Heureuna?”
Along with that gentle voice, her gaze turned toward me.
The moment I met her dark green eyes, filled with puzzlement, my mind snapped into clarity.
‘What am I doing right now?’
My current appearance was no different from standing before an enemy having completely lowered my guard. Trembling in fear over something that hadn’t even happened yet.
“Ah, it’s nothing, Sister. I suppose it’s from riding in the carriage so long; I felt a bit dizzy for a moment…….”
Hiding my bewilderment as best I could, I spouted the first excuse that came to mind. Since she knew it was my first time in a carriage, I thought it would work.
“Really?”
I could feel Biateu surveying me carefully after hearing my hastily made excuse.
Though her gaze was undoubtedly soft, why did I feel such a chilling sensation?
Even as I tried not to tense up, cold sweat seeped out between my clasped palms of its own accord.
“Hmm. You certainly do seem so. Your complexion is pale as well.”
Only when Biateu clicked her tongue softly with a pitying expression could I finally relax. Fortunately, she seemed to believe me.
Just as I was hoping she would take me back to the mansion like this, her voice came again.
“If it is from the carriage, it would be best to rest a while.”
“……Yes?”
“To return to the mansion, you must ride the carriage again, but wouldn’t it be too much in your current condition?”
“Ah…….”
“I believe there was a place to rest at Esther Shop. Follow me, Heureuna.”
What an idiot…….
I should have just said I was ill. Then I could have gone back. Why did I have to bring up the carriage?
The excuse that had seemed plausible just moments ago was instantly downgraded to idiotic.
But what could be done? The water was already spilled.
I nodded weakly.
“Yes, Sister. Thank you.”
“You say such discouraging words. It is only to be expected.”
Giving me a kind smile, Biateu turned toward Esther Shop. As she approached the store, the knight waiting in front quickly opened the door for her.
Watching my half-sister enter Esther Shop, I steeled my heart.
If I could not avoid it, I had no choice but to break through head-on.
If Madame Bovari somehow recognized me, I would have no choice but to somehow stubbornly deny it.
After taking several deep breaths invisibly, I followed my half-sister inside.
Upon entering, Madame Bovari, who had been sitting at the counter, raised her head and looked at us.
“Oh my, Lady Biateu. It has been a while since you last came.”
Madame Bovari immediately rose, straightened her back, and approached Biateu gracefully.
I, who had been extremely tense, was inwardly surprised by Madame Bovari’s demeanor. It was quite different from what I had seen when I came to buy the fake Guardian Stone a few days ago.
How should I put it? Even then, she had been elegant, but I had still felt like I was looking at a merchant; now, I truly felt like I was looking at a noblewoman. Her every gesture, every word, exuded dignity.
Watching Madame Bovari behave that way, it suddenly occurred to me that she might be trying not to let my half-sister catch her at a disadvantage.
Though she didn’t show it outwardly, perhaps Madame Bovari also knew that my half-sister and the Countess looked down on her.
“It has been a while, Madame Bovari.”
At Biateu’s reply, Madame Bovari curved her eyes gently. Was it because of the thought I’d had just now that a very brief chill seemed to flash across those smiling eyes?
While I was blinking, wondering if I had seen wrong, Madame Bovari and Biateu were already conversing.
“You’ve come at the perfect time. Accessories trending in the capital just arrived yesterday. They are items that will satisfy even Lady Biateu’s discerning eye. Would you like to see them?”
“Very well. Since Madame Bovari speaks so highly of them, I look forward to it.”
“Oh my, to hear you say you look forward to it suddenly makes me feel pressured. Then, would you come this way?”
Madame Bovari turned to show us the accessories. It was Biateu who called out to stop her.
“Madame Bovari, a moment.”
Madame Bovari’s head, which had been heading toward the display case, turned back toward us.
“Is something the matter, Lady Biateu? Or is there something that displeases you?”
To Madame Bovari’s gentle question, Biateu turned to me and answered in a worried voice.
“My sister is not feeling well. I would like her to sit while we look at the accessories.”
“By sister, do you mean this pretty young lady?”
Gulp.
Finally, Madame Bovari’s gaze turned toward me.
My shoulders tensed automatically from nervousness, and I involuntarily swallowed dryly.
Please don’t recognize me.
I managed my expression to look calm and nonchalant, but I couldn’t help that my fingertips had gone cold and trembled slightly.
While waiting for Madame Bovari’s reaction, I felt the blood in my whole body drying up.
“Hmm-.”
A very small exclamation of interest seemed to escape Madame Bovari’s lips.
Holding my anxious heart as if waiting for a verdict, with my eyes cast down, I heard Madame Bovari’s voice again.
“I see. Your complexion is so pale; you look quite unwell.”
In that instant, believing I hadn’t been found out, the breath I had been holding burst out, and the tension drained from my rigid shoulders.
Perhaps because I had been too tense, I suddenly hiccuped.
Surprised, I raised my hand to cover my mouth, but that didn’t stop the hiccups.
I wasn’t even a child, so why the hiccups? My face quickly flushed with embarrassment.
“Oh dear, it seems you’ve gotten carriage-sick.”
Clicking her tongue softly at the sight of me hiccupping violently enough to shake my shoulders, Madame Bovari turned to Biateu and spoke.
“Lady Biateu, would you look around first? I will show the young lady to a place where she can rest.”
“Then I leave her to you, Madame Bovari.”
Biateu gave a slight nod to Madame Bovari and headed toward the display stands. In the meantime, Madame Bovari led me, hiccupping, to a sofa placed in a corner of the shop.
The small sofa that could seat about two people was cozy, clean, and looked soft.
“Please sit comfortably here, Lady Keuroijen.”
I sat obediently on the sofa as she instructed. One hand still covered my mouth, trying to stop the hiccups.
Even as I sat on the sofa continuing to hiccup, Madame Bovari handed me a teacup. It had been on a small table beside the sofa.
It was a teacup that came as a set with a ceramic teapot, and the floral pattern engraved on the teacup was very gorgeous and beautiful.
“You’re in luck, miss. I had just brewed some tea for myself. Your cup, if you please.”
When I held out my cup hesitantly, she lifted the teapot and poured tea into it.
With a gentle pouring sound, faintly steaming tea filled the cup to the brim.
“Hold this tea in your mouth. Then swallow it the moment you feel a hiccup coming. If it does not stop after one time, simply repeat it several times.”
“……Thank, hic, you.”
Desperate to stop the hiccups somehow, I didn’t hesitate and brought the cup to my lips as Madame Bovari suggested.
Filling my mouth with the fragrant, warm tea, I waited and quickly swallowed the moment a hiccup rose.
“Huh……?”
I had wondered if it would work, but the hiccups really stopped in one go.
Huh! Did they really stop?
Staring at the teacup with round eyes as if looking at something wondrous, I heard Madame Bovari’s low laugh.
“You must be very surprised. Well, you must have been tense since entering this place.”
“……!”
Wait. What did Madame Bovari just say to me?
While I was doubting my ears, wondering if I had heard wrong, Madame Bovari’s voice continued. It was a low voice only I could hear.
“I did tell you to come in your original appearance, but I didn’t know you would come like this. And to think you were a young lady of Keuroijen.”
Had I really been found out?
I froze like a stone. My mind turned white as a blank, and no thoughts came to me.
Sitting stiffly in confusion, rolling my eyes around, I heard Madame Bovari’s amused voice again. This time, it came with words I couldn’t just overlook.
“It seems you didn’t expect to come here either; should I call this fate?”
Fate, what in the world……?
Unable to understand, I involuntarily raised my head. Then Madame Bovari’s face, looking down at me, filled my entire vision.
In Madame Bovari’s gently curved eyes, laughter was brimming.