In front of the entrance to the hallway, Flavia felt conflicted for a moment. But it was not for ethical reasons.
After spending several years worrying about what others thought, hesitation became part of her personality. She couldn't easily judge whether her thoughts were right or wrong, and she looked anxiously to see if there were eyes around watching her.
“Your Highness.”
Anne Mille said nervously. Flavia knew that she was anxious to keep an eye on the palace.
When she remembered that fact, she suddenly felt a rush of emotion. It was a feeling that was difficult to explain. She had never thought of herself and Judith as the same Princess, but she suddenly felt that it was incredibly unfair that she had to look at Judith's opinions when meeting Franz.
Flavia never knew that it was a wrong decision from the beginning. Maybe she just didn't want to admit it. She entered Astel Palace with Anne Mille in front. The hallway was quiet, with not many servants passing by, and it felt somewhat lonely.
“There are few people in Astel Palace.”
This atmosphere seemed unfamiliar even to Anne Mille. This is because Serene Palace and the Queen's Palace were always crowded with people. There were many servants, but there were also many people coming in and out of the palace itself. In doing so, they were eager to see if they could get the attention of the Queen or Krald and gain a lot of money or even a small government position.
Flavia's cheeks became pale as she remembered her father's face, who only came to her when he needed money and talked about his daughter like a serpent. She said. The tone was colder than usual.
“It’s better if it’s quiet. If only I could stay in a quiet place like this...”
“It’s not a good thing that the palace is quiet, Your Highness.”
“Is it because you don’t know what kind of people come to Serena Palace? More than a place where such people come and go... It’s much better here.”
Anne Mille tilted her head and closed her mouth. She seemed to have decided that since Flavia seemed uncomfortable today, it would be best not to mess with her too much.
The two people walking along the hallway noticed an attendant standing guard in front of a door. Judging by the clothes he was wearing, he was a servant of a fairly high rank, but his expression and gestures seemed awkward.
It was Nadine, of course. Even when Nadine saw Flavia, he couldn't recognize her at a glance. Seeing Nadine's vague and suspicious glance, Anne Mille opened her eyes and stepped forward.
“Your Highness the Second Princess is here. What are you doing without saying hello?”
It was only then that Nadine realized that this pale woman was Princess Flavia. Flavia's eyes fluttered as she looked at Nadine, who hungrily lowered his head. But when he looked up at her, she was forcing a smile.
“His Highness Franz... Is he inside?”
Nadine blinked, looked at the closed door, and then looked back up at Flavia.
“He is inside.”
“Will you confess?”
A troubled look appeared on Nadine's face for a moment. Her face was so unrecognizable at first glance, but the fact that the Crown Princess of Krald was visiting Franz was a bit strange, even to her own servant, who thought it was a bit strange. Besides, why would she come alone with just her maid?
“Hey, what brought you here....”
“If you ask me to tell you, I will tell you too much! Does Her Highness have to explain everything to you, a servant?”
Anne Mille was furious and raised her voice. However, Flavia was worried that the sound would be heard inside, so she stopped Anne Mille from doing so.
“Anne Mille, don’t shout.”
“But Your Highness...!”
Flavia looked at Nadine. He was acting polite and folding his hands together, but his eyes were not obedient. The look was like, “What will you do if you become the second Princess?”, but Flavia engraved Nadine’s attitude deeply in her heart.
“I have a hobby of baking cookies, and I want to share some with him. You see it here?”
The voice became soft as if trying to lure a child. Nadine's gaze then turned to the plate in Anne Mille's hand. Through the glass cloche, the deliciously baked cookies caught his eye.
But even so, he didn't have the heart to convey it to Franz right away. Even so, Flavia was displeased with the servant's unruly attitude towards her.
'She's the Princess of Krald, but no one knows what she put in those cookies, right?'
Nadine moved the corner of his lips slightly, then glanced at the still-closed door.
“Give it to me and I will give it to His Highness.”
“I want to tell him this myself.”
“He is receiving guests right now. These are important people, so if you disturb them, I will get scolded. I will tell him that it was given to me by the Princess, so please give it to me.”
There was a deep disappointment on Flavia's face. However, she was too shy to say that she would continue to stand waiting when she did not know who the guest was or when he would come out. If she happened to run into the Duke of Vergy or the people he associated with, it would not be good for the Queen or Krald to find out that she was snooping around Astel Palace.
"Then...”
Flavia was upset that she couldn't see his face, but she tried to pull herself together. Isn’t today the only day? She could bake cookies and such many more times.
“Be sure to tell him.”
“Don’t worry.”
Anne Mille looked reluctant, but she obediently handed the plate to Nadine. Once they were gone out of the palace, Nadine snorted and opened the cloche.
“Are you coming all this way because you have something to gain? Do you think you are such a leisurely person?”
The cookies had a nutty yet sweet smell. Nadine, looking around him, squatted down on the pillar next to the door and picked up a cookie to eat. It was delicious with plenty of dried fruit.
“Oh, what? It’s tastier than I thought.”
Any thoughts that he might have put something suspicious in the cookies have long since disappeared. As he was eating them one by one, the piled-up items quickly disappeared. Nadine, who was engrossed in eating without even thinking about shaking the cookie crumbs off his mouth, raised his head when he heard a small cough. Then he jumped up, so startled that he hiccuped.
“Your, Your Highness the Princess!”
The person who came was Judith. She looked blankly at Nadine, who was holding a plate and blinking his eyes, and then she smiled softly, covering her mouth slightly. Nadine's earlobes turned red at the sound of a small lark.
“What kind of cookie?”
Nadine's lips were soft. Should he say that Flavia gave it to him? However, he was caught eating it hungrily as if it was already hia. No matter how questionable she was, Flavia was a royal wife, and the cookies were to be handed to Franz. If he said he wouldn't eat it and gave it to him, he would definitely be scolded if she found out that he was intercepting it and eating it.
“This is...”
"Huh?"
Judith tilted her head. At that moment, Nadine held out the plate without realizing it.
“Well, I baked it.”
"You?"
Judith's eyes widened, perhaps because it was unexpected. Nadine felt sick to his stomach at the lie that came out naturally, but he couldn't stop himself from saying it. He said.
“Hey, I’m bored...Ha, I tried baking it once. One... Would you like to try it?”
“I didn’t know you had such talent. But wasn’t that your snack?”
Nadine shook his head coldly at Judith’s words.
“Because I ate a lot...”
The ends of the words become blurred at times. Judith had had tea and eaten sweets with Cherann, Bartholomew, and Rogero a little while ago, but when she refused, she became worried that Nadine would be embarrassed. Judith smiled and picked up a small piece. When she put it in her mouth and chewed it, it was surprisingly delicious.
“Very delicious.”
“Are you sure?”
"Yes. You are very skilled.”
Nadine's face turned bright red at the sincere compliment. Judith finished eating the piece of cookie and glanced toward the closed door.
“What about His Highness?”
“He is meeting the second son of the Marquis of Esil and the Duke of Milken inside.”
"So? I thought he would have passed away by now... ah."
Just then the door opened and Judith was a little surprised and took a couple of steps back. The two young men who had come to see Franz came out, saw Judith and bowed with bright expressions.
“See Your Highness the Princess.”
“Nice to meet you, Marquis. And Milken.”
“I was planning to stop by Argent Palace to see Your Highness, but unexpectedly I ended up saying hello here.”
The Marquis Esil was a young man two years older than Franz and Bartholomew. Judith had also met him a few times through the Duke of Vergy's introduction. Since his father, the Marquis of Esil, was a supporter of the Duke of Vergy, it was a natural friendship.
“I was in the palace a little while ago and came out for a moment.”
Judith said. The Marquis smiled politely, nodded, said hello goodbye, and left. Duke Milken's second son followed him out of the palace.
“Will you tell him I’m here, Nadine?”
Nadine went in immediately and came out not long after. When the door was opened, Judith smiled at Nadine as if she was grateful and went inside. Nadine, carefully closing the door to muffle his voice, fanned his flushed face before looking down at the plate of cookies. Then he grinned.
“What if I didn’t bake it?”
It was good not to be honest and say that it was Flavia who brought it. Nadine, who was thinking about Judith's face when she said it was delicious, smiled and hummed as he ate all the remaining cookies.
***
The drawing room of Astel Palace was decorated with fresh flowers and always had a fresh scent. Judith quietly stared at the back of Franz, who was standing facing the window, and then made a small gesture. It was clearly visible that Franz, who had been lost in thought, turned his head in a grave manner, but immediately looked surprised when he saw Judith.
“Judith.”
When Franz called her name, Judith felt her ears becoming warm. Suddenly, something from long ago came to mind. It was in Judith's memory, but Franz was not aware of it. It was a time when life had to be surpassed.
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