118. New Idol
Lorenz Dix's face was ablaze with unmistakable anticipation as he headed toward the Grand Duke's guest parlor.
For him, who was renowned as the kingdom's finest interior decorator and frequently visited the royal palace, visiting the Grand Duke's residence was nothing new, but it was a different story when the noblewoman he was meeting today was none other than Erna Dneister.
The undisputed greatest celebrity in Letzen. These days, her name is heard everywhere. Of course, the Grand Duchess has always been a topic of conversation, but the difference between then and now is as vast as heaven and earth. It wouldn't be entirely wrong to say that a new idol was erected in the place of the Princess who was burned after being revealed as a witch.
“Your Highness, this is Mrs. Fitz. Mr. Dix is here.”
An old woman knocked politely and spoke politely.
Lorenz Dix swallowed dryly and looked at the ornate door emblazoned with the wolf emblem. "Yes, please come in." The voice that followed was calm and clear.
Taking a deep breath, he strode through the open door. He'd assumed it was a mistake to meet the Grand Duchess, as she hadn't been seen once during the entire bedroom renovation. But luckily, fortune smiled on the final day. The Queen, Princess Louise, and even Princess Gladys, the former Crown Princess, who had become a witch. It was the moment a new name was added to that illustrious list entrusted to Lorenz Dix for the mansion's decoration.
“Hello, Your Highness.”
He approached the center of the reception room, where the Grand Duchess was waiting, and bowed his head with perfect courtesy.
“Hello, Mr. Dix.”
A gentle greeting, laced with a smile, tickled his ears. The voice had a soft, pleasant resonance.
Lorenz Dix, seated in the seat he was directed to, raised his head with utmost decorum. The moment his eyes met the Grand Duchess's beaming smile, he knew. The reputation of someone who had secured the position of Grand Duchess with just a single face wasn't just a sarcastic remark.
The Grand Duches,s before him, was far more beautiful than the photographs and portraits that appeared in the newspapers every day. Small and slender, she gave off a girlish air, but her refined posture and expression exuded the dignity of a royal lady. Above all, her gaze. Her clear, calm gaze, gazing at others, made her a truly striking beauty.
“I heard you’ve renovated my bedroom really nicely.”
While he hesitated, the Grand Duchess continued speaking.
“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”
Her face, with her brighter smile, shone softly in the autumn sunlight.
Who is more beautiful, the Grand Duchess or Princess Gladys?
Having already met Princess Gladys, when he finally met the Grand Duchess, everyone around him was curious. They wanted him to see clearly and make an accurate assessment. It seemed he had already found the answer to that request.
Grand Duchess.
As expected, even among beauties, the beauty of Letzen reigns supreme. Of course, the Grand Duchess and Princess Gladys are beauties of different lineages, each beautiful in their own way, but Lorenz Dix chose the Grand Duchess. He didn't want to lose to those Lars bastards in any way.
“Excuse me, Mr. Dix?”
It was only when he heard the Grand Duchess' voice calling his name again that he realized how pathetic he was.
The Grand Duchess, looking at him with embarrassment, offered another faint smile. Lorenz Dix firmly concluded that the men of Letzen, who had been criticizing Prince Bjorn for his absurd marriage, deserved deep reflection. It was clear that the noble Prince of Letzen possessed a taste that mirrored his personality.
By the way, why has the evaluation of this great beauty been so harsh?
He pondered the question that suddenly came to him, and soon found the right answer. They must have all been under the witch's curse.
“I think that explanation is sufficient, Mr. Dix.”
Mrs. Fitz's cold voice cut off the decorator's tirade, which seemed destined to continue on.
“Let’s leave it at that.”
Before the fainthearted Erna could engage in his ramblings again, Madame Fitz clarified the situation. With the startled Lorenz Dix silent, peace finally returned to the Grand Duchess's newly furnished bedroom.
Anyway, men.
The interior decorator couldn't take his eyes off the Grand Duchess as he raved on and on. Whether he was describing the ceiling or the floor, his gaze remained fixed solely on Erna. He seemed even more thrilled by her attentiveness.
“Do you like it, Your Highness?”
Mrs. Fitz, who was giving Lorenz Dix a sharp glare with a quivering expression, asked him the most important and essential question.
"Yes."
Erna looked around the bedroom and nodded with a quiet smile.
“It’s really pretty. Thank you.”
It felt like a somewhat obligatory answer, but Mrs. Fitz decided not to press any further.
Despite his somewhat frivolous demeanor, the interior decorator's skills were undeniably exceptional. The bedroom, originally grand and opulent, befitting the palace's overall atmosphere, was refurbished to suit Erna's tastes, a result worthy of high praise.
"Please take a good look around. If there's anything you'd like to change, please feel free to let me know, Your Highness."
"No."
Erna answered without much thought this time, either.
“I like it very much. Everything about it.”
Erna's gaze, taking in the vibrantly colored wallpaper and paneling, the elegant, feminine furniture, and the delicate decorations, finally stopped on the bed. The bed, crafted from precious wood, was beautiful. The bedding, lavishly adorned with delicate lace, was equally beautiful.
“Your Highness...”
Mrs. Fitz looked embarrassed as she met Erna's eyes, who was standing with her back to the bed.
“The picture has changed too.”
Feeling compelled to say something, Erna mentioned the first painting that caught her eye. It was a landscape painting of a field in full bloom. Come to think of it, most of the paintings hanging in her bedroom were of flowers.
The flower room was decorated entirely with flowers.
Erna had no complaints.
“Starting next week, we will be renovating the suite’s living room.”
Lorenz Dix, who had come close, quietly spoke again.
“If Your Highness tells me the direction you want, I will show you a result that perfectly matches that.”
Mrs. Fitz gave him a hint, but he didn't back down.
In fact, the first thing that needed to be renovated was the reception room. The first time he saw that space, teeming with monstrous things like a giant elephant statue, a typewriter, and ribbon-adorned antlers, he was so shocked. At the time, he assumed the Grand Duchess had a rather eccentric temperament.
“Next time.”
Lorenz Dix's expression turned gloomy at Erna's disheartening answer after a moment of hesitation.
“Let’s discuss the living room later.”
Even though he sent her an earnest look, the Grand Duchess did not change her mind.
“Mr. Dix.”
Just as Lorenz Dix was about to open his mouth again, a chilling voice rang out. He clenched his jaw, fearing that if he continued another word, his throat would be slit by those razor-sharp eyes.
“We will be stepping aside, so please take your time and look around, Your Highness.”
Mrs. Fitz, with a soft nod, led the decorator away. The door closed quietly, leaving Erna alone in the unfamiliar bedroom.
This week.
Erna's eyes wavered slightly as she remembered the grace period Bjorn had given her. Tomorrow was the last day of the week. That meant she had to move back to this room by tomorrow at the latest.
Erna, who was pacing anxiously in the bedroom, looked up at her new bed with blank eyes.
She couldn't breathe well.
Upon receiving the telegram from the palace, Bjorn sighed deeply and chuckled. He'd thought he'd finally cut those tiresome Hartfords out of his life, but lo and behold, Gladys's brother, Alexander Hartford, had appeared in Letzen.
He heard the news weeks ago. As expected, the Lars royal family was going to protest, but seeing as they were sending their second son, Prince Alexander, instead of the Crown Prince, it seemed they didn't have high hopes. So he figured he could just save face and go. He had no idea that that damned Alexander Hartford would be desperately looking for him.
“Please wait for the carriage.”
Bjorn stood up, setting down his half-empty cup of tea. The Prince's breakfast table, set for lunchtime, was left empty, its owner gone.
“As soon as possible.”
After adding a short order, Bjorn strode briskly to the bathroom.
Alexander Hartford was insistently requesting a meeting with Prince Bjorn. Leonid, who would have handled the situation on his own, sent an urgent telegram, suggesting he was being quite stubborn. While Lars was at a significant disadvantage, diplomacy proved far more complex than that.
Although the secret pact had been broken and relations between the two countries had become strained, Lars remained Letzen's closest ally. The fact that no particular mention of him had been made so far clearly indicated that he had no intention of breaking the alliance over this incident. Therefore, even this side should have shown a modicum of courtesy to its allies. That's why Alexander Hartford could act like that.
Just as he was taking a quick shower and getting ready to go out, a message arrived saying the carriage was ready. He hurried down to the first floor and saw Erna there to see him off.
“Bjorn.”
His heart softened as he heard a soft voice calling his name.
“I heard you’re going to the palace.”
"Yes."
Bjorn smiled as if to say it was nothing and kissed his wife's cheek.
“I need to meet the crybaby Prince.”
Je knew he'd cry and beg for mercy, begging for his sister's well-being. The thought of seeing that made Bjorn irritated.
“I’ll be back, Erna.”
As if to calm his nerves, he gave her another kiss, this time lightly on the lips.
"Ah."
As he was about to get into the carriage, Bjorn suddenly turned his head.
“Have you moved all your luggage?”
As he remembered that it was the day Erna was supposed to return to his bedroom, he felt like he could really tear Alexander Hartford apart.
“Ah... yes.”
After a moment's hesitation, Erna quickly smiled. It felt artificial, but it was clear she had improved significantly from before.
“I will finish it by tonight, Your Highness.”
When Erna couldn't speak, Madame Fitz answered in her stead. Bjorn nodded readily and climbed into the carriage with a light gesture.
“Erna.”
Before the carriage door closed, Bjorn impulsively called out to his wife. Erna, who had been looking down at her fingertips, looked up in surprise.
“I’ll be back.”
Bjorn smiled blandly and repeated the same greeting from earlier. Erna, who had been staring blankly at him, only offered an awkward smile in return.
Although her attitude was strangely irritating, Bjorn silently gave the order to depart. Erna would be back where she belonged when he returned. That was enough.
Before the carriage left the driveway, Bjorn impulsively turned around. Erna, now a tiny dot, was still standing at the front door, watching him leave.
Lorenz Dix's face was ablaze with unmistakable anticipation as he headed toward the Grand Duke's guest parlor.
For him, who was renowned as the kingdom's finest interior decorator and frequently visited the royal palace, visiting the Grand Duke's residence was nothing new, but it was a different story when the noblewoman he was meeting today was none other than Erna Dneister.
The undisputed greatest celebrity in Letzen. These days, her name is heard everywhere. Of course, the Grand Duchess has always been a topic of conversation, but the difference between then and now is as vast as heaven and earth. It wouldn't be entirely wrong to say that a new idol was erected in the place of the Princess who was burned after being revealed as a witch.
“Your Highness, this is Mrs. Fitz. Mr. Dix is here.”
An old woman knocked politely and spoke politely.
Lorenz Dix swallowed dryly and looked at the ornate door emblazoned with the wolf emblem. "Yes, please come in." The voice that followed was calm and clear.
Taking a deep breath, he strode through the open door. He'd assumed it was a mistake to meet the Grand Duchess, as she hadn't been seen once during the entire bedroom renovation. But luckily, fortune smiled on the final day. The Queen, Princess Louise, and even Princess Gladys, the former Crown Princess, who had become a witch. It was the moment a new name was added to that illustrious list entrusted to Lorenz Dix for the mansion's decoration.
“Hello, Your Highness.”
He approached the center of the reception room, where the Grand Duchess was waiting, and bowed his head with perfect courtesy.
“Hello, Mr. Dix.”
A gentle greeting, laced with a smile, tickled his ears. The voice had a soft, pleasant resonance.
Lorenz Dix, seated in the seat he was directed to, raised his head with utmost decorum. The moment his eyes met the Grand Duchess's beaming smile, he knew. The reputation of someone who had secured the position of Grand Duchess with just a single face wasn't just a sarcastic remark.
The Grand Duches,s before him, was far more beautiful than the photographs and portraits that appeared in the newspapers every day. Small and slender, she gave off a girlish air, but her refined posture and expression exuded the dignity of a royal lady. Above all, her gaze. Her clear, calm gaze, gazing at others, made her a truly striking beauty.
“I heard you’ve renovated my bedroom really nicely.”
While he hesitated, the Grand Duchess continued speaking.
“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”
Her face, with her brighter smile, shone softly in the autumn sunlight.
Who is more beautiful, the Grand Duchess or Princess Gladys?
Having already met Princess Gladys, when he finally met the Grand Duchess, everyone around him was curious. They wanted him to see clearly and make an accurate assessment. It seemed he had already found the answer to that request.
Grand Duchess.
As expected, even among beauties, the beauty of Letzen reigns supreme. Of course, the Grand Duchess and Princess Gladys are beauties of different lineages, each beautiful in their own way, but Lorenz Dix chose the Grand Duchess. He didn't want to lose to those Lars bastards in any way.
“Excuse me, Mr. Dix?”
It was only when he heard the Grand Duchess' voice calling his name again that he realized how pathetic he was.
The Grand Duchess, looking at him with embarrassment, offered another faint smile. Lorenz Dix firmly concluded that the men of Letzen, who had been criticizing Prince Bjorn for his absurd marriage, deserved deep reflection. It was clear that the noble Prince of Letzen possessed a taste that mirrored his personality.
By the way, why has the evaluation of this great beauty been so harsh?
He pondered the question that suddenly came to him, and soon found the right answer. They must have all been under the witch's curse.
***
“I think that explanation is sufficient, Mr. Dix.”
Mrs. Fitz's cold voice cut off the decorator's tirade, which seemed destined to continue on.
“Let’s leave it at that.”
Before the fainthearted Erna could engage in his ramblings again, Madame Fitz clarified the situation. With the startled Lorenz Dix silent, peace finally returned to the Grand Duchess's newly furnished bedroom.
Anyway, men.
The interior decorator couldn't take his eyes off the Grand Duchess as he raved on and on. Whether he was describing the ceiling or the floor, his gaze remained fixed solely on Erna. He seemed even more thrilled by her attentiveness.
“Do you like it, Your Highness?”
Mrs. Fitz, who was giving Lorenz Dix a sharp glare with a quivering expression, asked him the most important and essential question.
"Yes."
Erna looked around the bedroom and nodded with a quiet smile.
“It’s really pretty. Thank you.”
It felt like a somewhat obligatory answer, but Mrs. Fitz decided not to press any further.
Despite his somewhat frivolous demeanor, the interior decorator's skills were undeniably exceptional. The bedroom, originally grand and opulent, befitting the palace's overall atmosphere, was refurbished to suit Erna's tastes, a result worthy of high praise.
"Please take a good look around. If there's anything you'd like to change, please feel free to let me know, Your Highness."
"No."
Erna answered without much thought this time, either.
“I like it very much. Everything about it.”
Erna's gaze, taking in the vibrantly colored wallpaper and paneling, the elegant, feminine furniture, and the delicate decorations, finally stopped on the bed. The bed, crafted from precious wood, was beautiful. The bedding, lavishly adorned with delicate lace, was equally beautiful.
“Your Highness...”
Mrs. Fitz looked embarrassed as she met Erna's eyes, who was standing with her back to the bed.
“The picture has changed too.”
Feeling compelled to say something, Erna mentioned the first painting that caught her eye. It was a landscape painting of a field in full bloom. Come to think of it, most of the paintings hanging in her bedroom were of flowers.
The flower room was decorated entirely with flowers.
Erna had no complaints.
“Starting next week, we will be renovating the suite’s living room.”
Lorenz Dix, who had come close, quietly spoke again.
“If Your Highness tells me the direction you want, I will show you a result that perfectly matches that.”
Mrs. Fitz gave him a hint, but he didn't back down.
In fact, the first thing that needed to be renovated was the reception room. The first time he saw that space, teeming with monstrous things like a giant elephant statue, a typewriter, and ribbon-adorned antlers, he was so shocked. At the time, he assumed the Grand Duchess had a rather eccentric temperament.
“Next time.”
Lorenz Dix's expression turned gloomy at Erna's disheartening answer after a moment of hesitation.
“Let’s discuss the living room later.”
Even though he sent her an earnest look, the Grand Duchess did not change her mind.
“Mr. Dix.”
Just as Lorenz Dix was about to open his mouth again, a chilling voice rang out. He clenched his jaw, fearing that if he continued another word, his throat would be slit by those razor-sharp eyes.
“We will be stepping aside, so please take your time and look around, Your Highness.”
Mrs. Fitz, with a soft nod, led the decorator away. The door closed quietly, leaving Erna alone in the unfamiliar bedroom.
This week.
Erna's eyes wavered slightly as she remembered the grace period Bjorn had given her. Tomorrow was the last day of the week. That meant she had to move back to this room by tomorrow at the latest.
Erna, who was pacing anxiously in the bedroom, looked up at her new bed with blank eyes.
She couldn't breathe well.
***
Upon receiving the telegram from the palace, Bjorn sighed deeply and chuckled. He'd thought he'd finally cut those tiresome Hartfords out of his life, but lo and behold, Gladys's brother, Alexander Hartford, had appeared in Letzen.
He heard the news weeks ago. As expected, the Lars royal family was going to protest, but seeing as they were sending their second son, Prince Alexander, instead of the Crown Prince, it seemed they didn't have high hopes. So he figured he could just save face and go. He had no idea that that damned Alexander Hartford would be desperately looking for him.
“Please wait for the carriage.”
Bjorn stood up, setting down his half-empty cup of tea. The Prince's breakfast table, set for lunchtime, was left empty, its owner gone.
“As soon as possible.”
After adding a short order, Bjorn strode briskly to the bathroom.
Alexander Hartford was insistently requesting a meeting with Prince Bjorn. Leonid, who would have handled the situation on his own, sent an urgent telegram, suggesting he was being quite stubborn. While Lars was at a significant disadvantage, diplomacy proved far more complex than that.
Although the secret pact had been broken and relations between the two countries had become strained, Lars remained Letzen's closest ally. The fact that no particular mention of him had been made so far clearly indicated that he had no intention of breaking the alliance over this incident. Therefore, even this side should have shown a modicum of courtesy to its allies. That's why Alexander Hartford could act like that.
Just as he was taking a quick shower and getting ready to go out, a message arrived saying the carriage was ready. He hurried down to the first floor and saw Erna there to see him off.
“Bjorn.”
His heart softened as he heard a soft voice calling his name.
“I heard you’re going to the palace.”
"Yes."
Bjorn smiled as if to say it was nothing and kissed his wife's cheek.
“I need to meet the crybaby Prince.”
Je knew he'd cry and beg for mercy, begging for his sister's well-being. The thought of seeing that made Bjorn irritated.
“I’ll be back, Erna.”
As if to calm his nerves, he gave her another kiss, this time lightly on the lips.
"Ah."
As he was about to get into the carriage, Bjorn suddenly turned his head.
“Have you moved all your luggage?”
As he remembered that it was the day Erna was supposed to return to his bedroom, he felt like he could really tear Alexander Hartford apart.
“Ah... yes.”
After a moment's hesitation, Erna quickly smiled. It felt artificial, but it was clear she had improved significantly from before.
“I will finish it by tonight, Your Highness.”
When Erna couldn't speak, Madame Fitz answered in her stead. Bjorn nodded readily and climbed into the carriage with a light gesture.
“Erna.”
Before the carriage door closed, Bjorn impulsively called out to his wife. Erna, who had been looking down at her fingertips, looked up in surprise.
“I’ll be back.”
Bjorn smiled blandly and repeated the same greeting from earlier. Erna, who had been staring blankly at him, only offered an awkward smile in return.
Although her attitude was strangely irritating, Bjorn silently gave the order to depart. Erna would be back where she belonged when he returned. That was enough.
Before the carriage left the driveway, Bjorn impulsively turned around. Erna, now a tiny dot, was still standing at the front door, watching him leave.
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