23. Token of Promise
The carriage carrying the two stopped at a quiet riverside.
The coachman quietly left, leaving the two alone in the carriage, and a dense silence filled the room. The strange standoff continued, with Bjorn looking down at Erna, and Erna looking down at her hand, which rested on her lap. As the sunset reached its peak,
“I don’t think this is what you came here for.”
Bjorn's voice permeated the wind, carrying the gentle sound of the water. Only then did Erna raise her head, startled. Their eyes met in the crimson sunset.
“Speak.”
He calmly ordered, looking at Erna with bored eyes.
“So, the reason you waited for me like that was because you had something you absolutely had to say, right?”
Erna's shoulders hunched at the pointed question. She felt a sudden sense of gratitude for the sunset, which hid her face, which must have flushed red.
Even when she sneaked out of the Hardy mansion and boarded the stagecoach, Erna was able to remain brave. The same was true when she stood on the Grand Duke's Bridge, waiting for the Prince's carriage to pass.
Return the clothes, apologize for what happened that day, and make a firm promise to pay back the debt.
The more she reflected on the tasks she had to do, the more her mind became at peace. The feeling of bewilderment that came over her when she finally faced Bjorn was even more disconcerting.
“First, let me return this to you.”
Erna, trying to compose herself, held out a large box she'd left by her feet. It was the evening coat the Prince had given her that night. Bjorn smiled faintly at the sight of his well-maintained clothes.
“I doubt the Hardys don’t have a servant who can run errands like this.”
“But I wanted to return it myself.”
"Why."
Erna, who felt burdened by his staring gaze, slowly lowered her eyes and swallowed dryly.
“I wanted to say hello... to you.”
Erna twisted the hem of her dress, which was already wrinkled and tangled, again.
“Thank you so much for helping me, Prince. And I'm sorry.”
“What is it?”
"You've been falsely accused because of me. I was the one who injured Mr. Heinz, and there's a false rumor that the Prince started the fight..."
“Ah. That.”
Bjorn cut Erna off casually.
“It’s not a rumor.”
"Yes?"
Erna raised her head at the incomprehensible words. The colorful flowers decorating her hat swayed in sync with her movements.
Bjorn studied her with renewed interest. Dressed in a pale pink dress, white lace, and adorned with a multitude of flowers and ribbons, Erna looked like a walking wedding cake.
“I hit him.”
“Hit him? The Prince? That person? Why?”
“Just. It was meant to be.”
Erna's reaction of being shocked to the point of fainting was amusing, and Bjorn became a little mischievous.
"The wounds I caused were ten times more than the ones Miss Hardy caused. So, strictly speaking, it wasn't a false accusation."
“Are you alright, Prince? Are you hurt?”
Bjorn burst into laughter as he looked at the woman who was seriously worried about him.
"It's unexpected. The lady who assaulted me is so worried about me."
“Assault! What happened that day, that was the Prince’s...”
"It's okay."
Bjorn smiled again, this time with a much softer smile.
"As you can see, everything is fine, and the rumors are not false accusations, so there's no need for further greetings or apologies. I think we can settle this matter like this."
While Erna was dazed, he summarized the situation concisely.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Uh... yes! There, there is. There’s still some left.”
Erna hurriedly searched through her basket and pulled out something. A silver bell. Bjorn's eyes darkened as he recognized the identity of the object the woman had offered.
“Are you here to sell flowers?”
“No. I’m selling it, but... I’m not selling it to the Prince.”
Erna shook her head and stammered an explanation. Her tone was too serious to be considered a cute provocation.
"I'll sell this and pay for the Prince's trophy. I promise."
“Miss Hardy, will you sell the arrangements yourself?”
"Yes. I can do it well because I've been doing it for a long time. This is also an arrangement I created."
Erna held out the lily of the valley again. The artificial flower, adorned with a blue ribbon, was so delicate and exquisite that it almost looked like a real flower. When Bjorn accepted it, Erna finally looked relieved.
“You’re quite skilled, Miss Hardy.”
“Thank you. Actually, Mr. Pent said the same thing.”
Despite the sarcastic remark, Erna was innocently delighted. Bjorn burst out laughing in amazement.
“Mr. Pent?”
“He’s the owner of the hat shop in the Soldau department store. He’s buying the artificial flower I made.”
Confusion filled Bjorn's eyes as he watched the woman speak increasingly incomprehensibly. He didn't know whether she knew or not. Erna laid out a detailed plan for how she would earn money to repay the trophy.
“So, you’re going to sell this now and pay off the gold?”
Bjorn asked, gently shaking the silver bell flower he was holding.
“Is it possible for me to pay off all my debts before I lie in the coffin?”
“Well, of course it will take a long time, but my harmony is selling for more than you think, Prince.”
Erna bristled, perhaps because her pride had been hurt by the words. She seemed timid and fearful, but upon closer inspection, she was a strange woman who always said what she wanted to say.
"It's embarrassing to brag, but I'm really good at making harmonies, Prince. I love flowers."
“It certainly looks that way.”
Bjorn, counting six artificial flowers adorning her hat and dress, burst into laughter. In the unrealistic purple, the woman chattering away unrealistic tales was as beautiful as a clear summer evening.
“Well, whatever you want, Miss Hardy.”
Bjorn responded dryly.
Since this woman had no intention of repaying his trophy, it didn't matter what she did. Erna was simply a person who, driven by a sense of indebtedness, would board his ship, and after giving him victory and the stakes, she would disappear.
If she was willing to do something outrageous and offer him a small pleasure, there seemed no reason to refuse. He could simply consider it an interest in the debt she owed.
“Thank you. I truly appreciate your understanding, Your Highness.”
Erna was delighted and repeated the same greeting several times.
“I will give that flower to the Prince.”
When Bjorn tried to return the silver bell flower he was holding, Erna shook her head slightly.
“Please think of it as a token of our promise.”
Even when faced with a bewildered Bjorn, Erna smiled brightly. It was a smile like the flower bud she held out to him.
Fortunately, Erna was able to get home before dinnertime, thanks to her tireless drive from the stagecoach stop to the Hardy mansion.
“Miss! Where have you been!”
Lisa, who had been stamping her feet because of the missing girl, shouted in delight.
“I’m sorry, Lisa. I just wanted to take a walk for a bit...”
Erna stammered out a lie, sitting on a chair by the bedroom window, panting heavily. She couldn't bring herself to tell the truth to Lisa, who would have been averse to Prince Bjorn. Fortunately, Lisa didn't ask any further questions and was focused on her own work.
As she changed into her dress and brushed her hair, Erna reflected on the evening's events with a slightly excited feeling. The thought of successfully completing everything she had planned filled her heart. Although she was struggling to adapt to the unfamiliar city and feeling lost, she was also relieved to know that at least she hadn't become a worthless fool.
The Prince praised the harmony.
Erna was more than happy about that fact. That's why she gave him her most beautifully made and treasured lily of the valley. Artificial flowers were often used as boutonnieres for gentlemen. She felt it would be a great pleasure if the Prince put them to good use.
He is a bad person.
Erna's opinion of the Prince remained unchanged. If we were to draw conclusions based on reputation, it certainly was.
But at least to Erna Hardu, he is a kind person.
Erna decided to accept this as an obvious fact.
A bad but kind person.
A smile spread across Erna's lips as she reached an appropriate conclusion.
Her fingertips felt a little ticklish. Perhaps it was the rustling sound of the brush.
“Why are you so late?”
Leonid, seeing Bjorn arrive an hour late for their appointment, started with a blunt question. Even the way he put down the book he was reading was clearly revealing his displeasure.
Bjorn glanced at his watch, smiled nonchalantly, and sat down across from him at the reception table.
“Something unexpected happened.”
“What’s going on?”
“Private life.”
Bjorn grinned and gave a brazen reply. Leonid, who knew his stubborn twin brother well, let out a deep sigh, sparing him the unnecessary strain. Just then, the butler came into the drawing room to announce that dinner was ready.
“What is that?”
Leonid, who was about to stand up, frowned and asked. Bjorn was holding a flower. It looked like the kind of artificial flower you'd find in a woman's hat or dress.
"Ah."
Bjorn's face now looked like he realized what he was holding.
“Have you met Gladys?”
Leonid's expression hardened as he realized that the flower was a lily of the valley, the very flower that the Princess loved.
Bjorn stared blankly down at the flower in his hand, then nonchalantly tossed it into the ashtray. The tiny, pure white blossoms were quickly stained with cigarette ash.
“Bjorn.”
“Oh, Your Highness.”
Bjorn began to walk ahead with a light step. He looked no different than usual. It seemed as if he didn't even remember the discarded flowers.
“In exchange for being late, I’ll give you a break from the game.”
He offered a generous gesture to Leonid, who was looking at him with a dubious gaze. Leonid, remembering their agreement to play billiards after dinner, scoffed.
“I don’t think that’s something a low-level person should say to a high-level person.”
“That’s true. Billiards was Your Highness’s specialty.”
Bjorn smiled as if he was agreeing coolly.
Take a look at that kid.
Leonid studied him closely, recalling his mother's secret advice. He seemed somewhat suspicious, but she couldn't find anything particularly objectionable.
By the time Leonid reached the tentative conclusion that it was his mother's care, the two brothers had reached the terrace where the dinner table was set. It was a peaceful midsummer evening, and the evening breeze blowing through the garden was refreshing.
The carriage carrying the two stopped at a quiet riverside.
The coachman quietly left, leaving the two alone in the carriage, and a dense silence filled the room. The strange standoff continued, with Bjorn looking down at Erna, and Erna looking down at her hand, which rested on her lap. As the sunset reached its peak,
“I don’t think this is what you came here for.”
Bjorn's voice permeated the wind, carrying the gentle sound of the water. Only then did Erna raise her head, startled. Their eyes met in the crimson sunset.
“Speak.”
He calmly ordered, looking at Erna with bored eyes.
“So, the reason you waited for me like that was because you had something you absolutely had to say, right?”
Erna's shoulders hunched at the pointed question. She felt a sudden sense of gratitude for the sunset, which hid her face, which must have flushed red.
Even when she sneaked out of the Hardy mansion and boarded the stagecoach, Erna was able to remain brave. The same was true when she stood on the Grand Duke's Bridge, waiting for the Prince's carriage to pass.
Return the clothes, apologize for what happened that day, and make a firm promise to pay back the debt.
The more she reflected on the tasks she had to do, the more her mind became at peace. The feeling of bewilderment that came over her when she finally faced Bjorn was even more disconcerting.
“First, let me return this to you.”
Erna, trying to compose herself, held out a large box she'd left by her feet. It was the evening coat the Prince had given her that night. Bjorn smiled faintly at the sight of his well-maintained clothes.
“I doubt the Hardys don’t have a servant who can run errands like this.”
“But I wanted to return it myself.”
"Why."
Erna, who felt burdened by his staring gaze, slowly lowered her eyes and swallowed dryly.
“I wanted to say hello... to you.”
Erna twisted the hem of her dress, which was already wrinkled and tangled, again.
“Thank you so much for helping me, Prince. And I'm sorry.”
“What is it?”
"You've been falsely accused because of me. I was the one who injured Mr. Heinz, and there's a false rumor that the Prince started the fight..."
“Ah. That.”
Bjorn cut Erna off casually.
“It’s not a rumor.”
"Yes?"
Erna raised her head at the incomprehensible words. The colorful flowers decorating her hat swayed in sync with her movements.
Bjorn studied her with renewed interest. Dressed in a pale pink dress, white lace, and adorned with a multitude of flowers and ribbons, Erna looked like a walking wedding cake.
“I hit him.”
“Hit him? The Prince? That person? Why?”
“Just. It was meant to be.”
Erna's reaction of being shocked to the point of fainting was amusing, and Bjorn became a little mischievous.
"The wounds I caused were ten times more than the ones Miss Hardy caused. So, strictly speaking, it wasn't a false accusation."
“Are you alright, Prince? Are you hurt?”
Bjorn burst into laughter as he looked at the woman who was seriously worried about him.
"It's unexpected. The lady who assaulted me is so worried about me."
“Assault! What happened that day, that was the Prince’s...”
"It's okay."
Bjorn smiled again, this time with a much softer smile.
"As you can see, everything is fine, and the rumors are not false accusations, so there's no need for further greetings or apologies. I think we can settle this matter like this."
While Erna was dazed, he summarized the situation concisely.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Uh... yes! There, there is. There’s still some left.”
Erna hurriedly searched through her basket and pulled out something. A silver bell. Bjorn's eyes darkened as he recognized the identity of the object the woman had offered.
“Are you here to sell flowers?”
“No. I’m selling it, but... I’m not selling it to the Prince.”
Erna shook her head and stammered an explanation. Her tone was too serious to be considered a cute provocation.
"I'll sell this and pay for the Prince's trophy. I promise."
“Miss Hardy, will you sell the arrangements yourself?”
"Yes. I can do it well because I've been doing it for a long time. This is also an arrangement I created."
Erna held out the lily of the valley again. The artificial flower, adorned with a blue ribbon, was so delicate and exquisite that it almost looked like a real flower. When Bjorn accepted it, Erna finally looked relieved.
“You’re quite skilled, Miss Hardy.”
“Thank you. Actually, Mr. Pent said the same thing.”
Despite the sarcastic remark, Erna was innocently delighted. Bjorn burst out laughing in amazement.
“Mr. Pent?”
“He’s the owner of the hat shop in the Soldau department store. He’s buying the artificial flower I made.”
Confusion filled Bjorn's eyes as he watched the woman speak increasingly incomprehensibly. He didn't know whether she knew or not. Erna laid out a detailed plan for how she would earn money to repay the trophy.
“So, you’re going to sell this now and pay off the gold?”
Bjorn asked, gently shaking the silver bell flower he was holding.
“Is it possible for me to pay off all my debts before I lie in the coffin?”
“Well, of course it will take a long time, but my harmony is selling for more than you think, Prince.”
Erna bristled, perhaps because her pride had been hurt by the words. She seemed timid and fearful, but upon closer inspection, she was a strange woman who always said what she wanted to say.
"It's embarrassing to brag, but I'm really good at making harmonies, Prince. I love flowers."
“It certainly looks that way.”
Bjorn, counting six artificial flowers adorning her hat and dress, burst into laughter. In the unrealistic purple, the woman chattering away unrealistic tales was as beautiful as a clear summer evening.
“Well, whatever you want, Miss Hardy.”
Bjorn responded dryly.
Since this woman had no intention of repaying his trophy, it didn't matter what she did. Erna was simply a person who, driven by a sense of indebtedness, would board his ship, and after giving him victory and the stakes, she would disappear.
If she was willing to do something outrageous and offer him a small pleasure, there seemed no reason to refuse. He could simply consider it an interest in the debt she owed.
“Thank you. I truly appreciate your understanding, Your Highness.”
Erna was delighted and repeated the same greeting several times.
“I will give that flower to the Prince.”
When Bjorn tried to return the silver bell flower he was holding, Erna shook her head slightly.
“Please think of it as a token of our promise.”
Even when faced with a bewildered Bjorn, Erna smiled brightly. It was a smile like the flower bud she held out to him.
***
Fortunately, Erna was able to get home before dinnertime, thanks to her tireless drive from the stagecoach stop to the Hardy mansion.
“Miss! Where have you been!”
Lisa, who had been stamping her feet because of the missing girl, shouted in delight.
“I’m sorry, Lisa. I just wanted to take a walk for a bit...”
Erna stammered out a lie, sitting on a chair by the bedroom window, panting heavily. She couldn't bring herself to tell the truth to Lisa, who would have been averse to Prince Bjorn. Fortunately, Lisa didn't ask any further questions and was focused on her own work.
As she changed into her dress and brushed her hair, Erna reflected on the evening's events with a slightly excited feeling. The thought of successfully completing everything she had planned filled her heart. Although she was struggling to adapt to the unfamiliar city and feeling lost, she was also relieved to know that at least she hadn't become a worthless fool.
The Prince praised the harmony.
Erna was more than happy about that fact. That's why she gave him her most beautifully made and treasured lily of the valley. Artificial flowers were often used as boutonnieres for gentlemen. She felt it would be a great pleasure if the Prince put them to good use.
He is a bad person.
Erna's opinion of the Prince remained unchanged. If we were to draw conclusions based on reputation, it certainly was.
But at least to Erna Hardu, he is a kind person.
Erna decided to accept this as an obvious fact.
A bad but kind person.
A smile spread across Erna's lips as she reached an appropriate conclusion.
Her fingertips felt a little ticklish. Perhaps it was the rustling sound of the brush.
***
“Why are you so late?”
Leonid, seeing Bjorn arrive an hour late for their appointment, started with a blunt question. Even the way he put down the book he was reading was clearly revealing his displeasure.
Bjorn glanced at his watch, smiled nonchalantly, and sat down across from him at the reception table.
“Something unexpected happened.”
“What’s going on?”
“Private life.”
Bjorn grinned and gave a brazen reply. Leonid, who knew his stubborn twin brother well, let out a deep sigh, sparing him the unnecessary strain. Just then, the butler came into the drawing room to announce that dinner was ready.
“What is that?”
Leonid, who was about to stand up, frowned and asked. Bjorn was holding a flower. It looked like the kind of artificial flower you'd find in a woman's hat or dress.
"Ah."
Bjorn's face now looked like he realized what he was holding.
“Have you met Gladys?”
Leonid's expression hardened as he realized that the flower was a lily of the valley, the very flower that the Princess loved.
Bjorn stared blankly down at the flower in his hand, then nonchalantly tossed it into the ashtray. The tiny, pure white blossoms were quickly stained with cigarette ash.
“Bjorn.”
“Oh, Your Highness.”
Bjorn began to walk ahead with a light step. He looked no different than usual. It seemed as if he didn't even remember the discarded flowers.
“In exchange for being late, I’ll give you a break from the game.”
He offered a generous gesture to Leonid, who was looking at him with a dubious gaze. Leonid, remembering their agreement to play billiards after dinner, scoffed.
“I don’t think that’s something a low-level person should say to a high-level person.”
“That’s true. Billiards was Your Highness’s specialty.”
Bjorn smiled as if he was agreeing coolly.
Take a look at that kid.
Leonid studied him closely, recalling his mother's secret advice. He seemed somewhat suspicious, but she couldn't find anything particularly objectionable.
By the time Leonid reached the tentative conclusion that it was his mother's care, the two brothers had reached the terrace where the dinner table was set. It was a peaceful midsummer evening, and the evening breeze blowing through the garden was refreshing.
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