It seems that she must have peeled off enough dirt during her debut, but from early in the morning, the attendants rushed in and began to heat up her preparations for Odelia's first date.
The preparation for the date with the Marquis of Salem continued throughout the morning.
Saying that it was the first date, there was no need to overdo it, and the Grand Duchess chose a light blue dress and trimmed Odelia's appearance herself.
"Don't feel too burdened. As His Highness the Crown Prince said, you have a husband who is worthy of your affection. Don't try to please him. Just go as you please."
At that, Odelia lowered her head slightly and said.
"Thank you, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess."
When Odelia's decoration was finally finished, the Grand Duchess took a step back, looked at Odelia's appearance, and hit the attendants.
"If I had a daughter, you would probably be the only one. If we have this much time together, why don't we talk a little more easily? Don't call me the Grand Duchess, but call me Madam."
Odelia opened her eyes wide in surprise, then smiled softly and lowered her head.
"Then... I'll be back, ma'am."
The Grand Duchess smiled happily.
Just as they were about to go down to the first floor together, they heard a familiar voice.
"Odelia! Are you already going on a date?"
It was Cedric. He visited the Grand Duchess naturally from early in the morning, and first greeted the Grand Duchess and asked.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince... Hasn't he come yet?"
"He said he was busy today."
The Grand Duchess, who knew the Crown Prince's schedule, said this, and the corners of her mouth twitched subtly. Cedric, who didn't notice this, breathed a sigh of relief and turned his head to Odelia.
He was speechless for a moment. Her hair is neatly tied in a light sky blue dress. It was a somewhat monotonous outfit, but Odelia was eye-catching.
The glance in Cedric's eyes was more like a sense of crisis than a sense of amazement. It feels like someone is about to take her away from him.
"You... Don't make the date too long?"
"What are you talking about?"
"No. It's the start of the season, so there's no need to rush or overdo it."
Odelia smiled at Cedric's foolishness and looked around unknowingly.
As the Grand Duchess said earlier, Calix can't come today because he's busy. Suppressing the regret of raising her head for some reason, Odelia immediately lowered her head slightly.
"Then, I'll go, Cedric. I'll be back, ma'am."
As Odelia was seen off by the two of them and went out the door, the Marquis of Salem, who had been waiting, hurried forward and carefully escorted her.
***
Odelia was in the carriage, slightly nervous, her hands neatly folded. It was the first private outing since her debut, and it was also named a date.
When they reached the garden, the Marquis of Salem got off first, took her by the hand, and helped her get off. His polite smile and gentle gestures seemed to be the product of perfect culture, but Odelia couldn't erase a strange boundary somewhere deep in her heart.
"This garden is my particular favorite. There is also a small greenhouse, and there is a wooden bridge right over the hill. There is also a legend that lovers who cross that bridge will live happily ever after. It is also called the holy place of lovers."
The Marquis took the lead and walked slowly along the garden path. Odelia kept a certain distance as she walked beside him, and the Marquis, who was about to cross her arms, hesitantly lowered his hand.
"Lady, you walk fast."
"I'm not good at walking slowly. I'm not used to it."
It was a polite answer, but it contained an ironclad resoluteness. The Marquis smiled softly and scratched his head.
"After all, you were as neat as I saw in the debutante article. Lady, everything is restrained. That restraint is also beautiful."
Odelia nodded silently and just walked. Then her gaze naturally turned to the back. The attendant and the Marquis's aide who followed them were quietly following them about ten steps away.
"...Are they following us on dates like this in the first place?"
At Odelia's words, the Marquis burst into a pleasant laugh.
"The ladies are always there to avoid scandals. I also brought in an aide so that I wouldn't be misunderstood. Don't worry. They never overhear our conversation. He's very loyal."
Then he began to bring up his story as if he had been waiting.
"I rule over the Marquis of Arsbel. The coastline is long, and trade is active, so Income is stable every year. My family had been in the military for generations, and my father served as a direct advisor to His Majesty the Emperor. What is the crest of the family shield..."
Odelia listened to him quietly, nodding her head for a while, but gradually began to pay more attention to the flowers.
'He's a man who talks a lot.'
Today seemed like a very long day. Realizing that she had unknowingly sighed slightly. Odelia quickly corrected her expression. At that moment, the Marquis gestured to the other side.
"If you go over there, you will find a small pond. There are a few swans, and there is also a pavilion where you can sit and drink tea."
"Yes, let's sit down for a while."
When they reached the pavilion, the Marquis asked with a gentle smile.
"Aren't you a little thirsty, Lady Odelia?"
Just as Odelia was about to shake her head, the Marquis had already snapped his fingers twice. The servant who was standing in the distance rushed over and put down the picnic basket he had prepared on one side of the pavilion.
Soon after, he unfolded the mat and began to carefully place the refreshment table, small plates, and tea in glass bottles on it.
Odelia tried to sit down on the wooden floor of the pavilion without hesitation, but the Marquis quickly reached out and stopped her.
"Lady, you might get dirty, so you'd better sit on the mat."
When the Marquis had just reached out to her.
Shrug.
She stood up lightly, adjusted her skirt, and sat down on the mat.
The Marquis's hand, which was left behind, floated in the air and then fell hesitantly.
"You have a good sense of balance. You get up very lightly."
"Thank you."
Odelia replied simply, looking at the small sandwiches and cake pieces in front of her. The Marquis sat down beside her and opened his mouth again.
"This is a menu that I chose myself. This pound cake was made by the pastry chef of my territory, and it is very unique in terms of spices. And this tea is made with a mixture of fig leaves and cinnamon..."
As he continued his lengthy explanation, Odelia took a sip of tea with a calm expression. Of course, she didn't remember whether it smelled like figs or not.
The Marquis's voice continued without rest. Family traditions, ancestral sagas, income structures, recent political trends, and even acquaintance with the imperial family.
'He was literally an explanatory machine that never stops. '
Odelia nodded politely and occasionally let out a short exclamation, but her face gradually faded.
'If I were to be with this person all day... It's going to take my breath away.'
She thought so and raised her teacup again. It was a tea that had no aroma or taste, just quietly cooling down.
"How does tea taste, Lady?"
The Marquis asked. Just as Odelia was about to answer, he went straight to her.
"Actually, this tea is a mixed tea imported from the East this time. The basic tea is black tea, but it is a blend of fig leaves, cinnamon, and a very small amount of staanise. I heard that the scent was faint and unique, so I deliberately prepared it. People who enjoy this tea say that the value is revealed in the third sip rather than the first sip."
Odelia blinked before she could finish that long explanation. Her ears were hurting.
At this rate, it wouldn't be strange if there were blood scabs on her ears. She barely suppressed the feeling of being speechless, and she tried to raise the corners of her mouth but failed.
She stared at the cake on the refreshment table and looked away as if he were escaping reality, but the Marquis's voice was constantly heard like the cry of a cicada.
And finally, with a look of reaching her limit, Odelia put down her teacup.
"Black tea has no taste. I'm drinking it, thinking it's cognac."
The Marquis squinted his eyes, wondering if he had heard something wrong.
Comments
Post a Comment