Side Story 9. The Lady with Pretty Ankles
Her Highness has fallen.
Lisa reached a conclusion after much deliberation. No other words seemed to be able to explain the situation.
Even on the day that the kind and innocent Grand Duchess had fled with her husband after being set ablaze, Lisa hadn't been as shocked as she was today. It was clearly the poisonous mushroom in question, Prince Bjorn, who had orchestrated the act. However, this decision, purely on the Grand Duchess's own initiative, carried a devastating impact.
“Your Highness, are you really able to handle this?”
Lisa pointed to the box on the table, still in disbelief. Erna, who had always maintained a composed demeanor, couldn't hide her wavering gaze as she gazed at it.
"It's a gift from the Queen herself. I can't ignore her sincerity, Lisa."
“There is sincerity in sincerity.”
Lisa sighed deeply and opened the luxurious golden box. The excessive care the Queen of Lorca had shown her was still quite embarrassing.
The invitation from the Queen arrived yesterday morning.
It was a deeply personal and intimate proposal: a cup of tea with the ladies of the royal family. Of all the ladies in the delegation from various countries, only the Grand Duchess of Letzen accepted the invitation. Everyone in Letzen's delegation agreed that it was quite unusual for the Queen, who rarely engaged in social interactions outside of official diplomatic settings, to extend her hand herself. But for Lisa, something else was more important than all that grandeur.
Grand Duchess defeated the Princess of Lars!
Lisa was so happy about that fact that she felt like dancing.
Lars, who had friendly relations with Lorca, also sent a delegation. Their leader was Crown Prince Lars, the eldest brother of Princess Gladys, whose very name made her shiver.
Dniester and Hartford.
The uneasy relationship between the two royal families was a well-known fact on the continent, and Lorca took great care to minimize any conflict between them. Letzen and Lars also respected each other as allies, putting aside personal feelings. At least on the surface.
The invisible war between the two countries' servants often broke out over very trivial and childish matters.
As the Prince and Princess of Letzen dominated the competition, taking first place in beauty, the servants of the Lars delegation resorted to the trick of personal connections. While Letzen had won in terms of Princes alone, they were utterly at a disadvantage in the Princess category. It was impossible for the Grand Duchess of Letzen, who came from a small village, to compete with the Princess of Lars, who was a descendant of the Pelia royal family and had close ties to royal families across the continent.
He was so relentlessly exploiting that weakness. He wanted to find the Princess with no proper family or connections, the Princess of Letzen with nothing but a face, and those mouths that were known to sing here and there, and sew them all up tightly.
But to be invited exclusively by Lorca's Queen!
All the maids of the Letzen delegation were thrilled by this golden opportunity to truly crush the pride of the Lars, who had been boasting about the deep friendship between their Crown Princess and Crown Princess Lorca. That was until they saw the Queen's gift that had arrived this morning.
"But even so, how can you wear clothes that reveal your waist so much? Just your waist? What about your ankles?"
Lisa again voiced her opposition. For the Archduchess, whose tastes in fashion remained stuck in the last century, Lorca's traditional attire would have been little more than underwear.
"I don't think the Queen gave it to me with the intention of forcing me to wear it. Simply accepting the sentiment gratefully is enough."
“Of course you don’t have to, but wouldn’t you be happier if you wore it?”
Erna looked at the foreign dress while giving a calm reply.
Giving clothes as gifts to distinguished guests was a long-standing tradition in Lorca. Given the differences in culture and customs between the two countries, the Queen expressed her wish in a letter accompanying the gift, wishing that even if the garments were difficult to wear, they would be treasured as a gift symbolizing the friendship shared in the garden of the morning. The words, translated by an interpreter, touched Erna's heart.
Erna Dneister, Princess of Letzen, was a stranger in this world.
Things were much better than when she was treated like a thief who usurped Princess Gladys's throne, but it was still difficult to blend in with those who had lived in their own world for so long. The Queen's heart, calling the young Princess of a foreign land, whom she had only met by chance on a morning walk, a friend, was all the more precious to Erna.
I will make my own place.
Erna took a deep breath, steeling her resolve once more. She decided not to ask Bjorn's opinion. It would have been ridiculous to send someone to her husband, who was away playing tennis with the Princes of the diplomatic delegation, for such a matter. Above all, she wanted to carry out the tasks assigned to her as an Archduchess herself.
As Erna's fingertips touched the ornate ornaments while she was fiddling with the unfamiliar garment, a knock rang out at the door. It was the head maid who had gone to inquire whether it was appropriate to wear this garment according to royal etiquette in Letzen.
"The wearing of traditional attire to a visiting nation has often been used to confirm friendship between two countries, and therefore, it cannot be seen as a violation of royal etiquette or diplomatic protocol," said Lord Bayer, the delegation's advisor. He added, of course, that no royal lady had yet worn pagan attire."
Karen, nodding her head, said calmly.
“I see. Thank you, Karen.”
Erna, who greeted her with a smile, faced the gift from the Queen who had tested her.
It was so embarrassing that it made her dizzy, but it was the formal attire worn here. Pagan. She knew the gazes that subtly looked down on Lorca, but that made her want to respect the queen's devotion even more.
“Please prepare.”
Erna conveyed her stubborn intentions with a gentle smile.
Her Highness has fallen.
Lisa sighed again at the despairing truth.
It was clear that the poison from the mushroom she swallowed had inevitably corrupted the young lady.
The Grand Duchess of Letzen, who appeared in Lorca's traditional attire, caused a stir. The ladies of Lorca's royal family, gathered in the Queen's palace, awaiting her guests, simply gazed at Erna in profound silence.
Erna straightened her shoulders, which had unconsciously been hunched, and straightened her neck. The thin, soft fabric rustled with the slightest movement. The delicate, ornately crafted jewelry was no exception. The more she tried to remain calm, the more the sound irritated her nerves.
I wonder if I made a mistake.
Erna, growing uneasy by the prolonged silence, lowered her gaze to examine her attire. She was a little confused, as the clothes were unfamiliar to Letzen's maids, but Lisa, with her keen eye, could not have made a fatal mistake.
So what is it?
Just as she was beginning to regret her actions, the Queen approached. Her eyes, once wide with surprise, were now filled with the light of perfect joy.
“I ask if I may greet you in the Lorca way.”
A middle-aged maid standing beside the Queen spoke. It was the same face that accompanied her on her morning walk.
“Yes, of course.”
Only then did Erna nod with a smile of relief. The Queen, perhaps understanding the meaning of the words without the need for an interpreter, approached without waiting for the maid's message.
She greeted the Grand Duchess of Letzen with a kiss on her cheek, placing her wrinkled hands on her chest.
The meaning of the hand placed on her left breast was only revealed after she had finished greeting all the royal ladies of Lorca who had come to her one after another.
This is her sincere, heartfelt message.
It had a much more profound meaning than Erna had imagined.
After finishing his shower, Bjorn went straight out onto the balcony.
On the table next to the bed, which was adorned with colorful cushions and pillows, were neatly arranged documents that the attendant had brought in advance. They were from Letzen's bank.
Bjorn leaned back against a pile of cushions and opened the topmost folder. The sound of maids moving cautiously drifted through the quiet shuffling of papers.
Perhaps because she started the day early, it was a particularly languid afternoon.
Bjorn put down the documents he'd roughly scanned and habitually picked up a cigar. As he turned to look for the cutter, the young maid standing there flinched and stepped back.
“Her Highness is in the palace of Her Majesty Queen Lorca.”
The maid, whose eyes met his, spoke in an unexpected and urgent tone.
A soft chuckle escaped Bjorn's lips as he belatedly realized the intention. Erna, who had boasted of the invitation from Queen Lorca several times the previous night, suddenly came to mind over the leisurely scenery.
Isn't it time to come back now?
After assessing the time, Bjorn put down his unlit cigar and took hold of the brandy bottle the maid had left behind. The ice glass on the end of the silver tray soon filled with the clear, amber-colored liquor.
Taking a step back, Bjorn nodded slightly to the maids waiting, then slowly took hold of the glass. Her still-damp hair and the loose hem of her gown swayed in the gentle breeze.
As the maids left with their polite greetings, the bedroom became as quiet as an underwater world.
Bjorn's gaze shifted from the sunlight-drenched garden to the papers in his hand.
It was a boring afternoon.
The carriage, having left the Queen's palace, soon turned onto a road leading to an annex. Only then did Erna breathe a sigh of relief.
You did a great job.
She felt like she could have that kind of pride today.
Lorca's royal family, with its strict gender segregation, prohibited men outside of the family from entering the women's quarters. It was said that even the royal men were not permitted to attend when inviting unmarried or unaccompanied female guests.
Thanks to this, the Queen's palace was a world exclusively for women today, and Erna was able to enjoy tea time with a much more relaxed mind. The only men allowed in were children, carried by their nannies. These were strangers whom Erna could easily embrace. Even the Grand Duchess of Schwerin, with her somewhat rustic charm, would tolerate these little gentlemen.
As the carriage began to slow down, Erna hurriedly threw on her cloak. It was too hot to be bundled up, but she couldn't afford to appear dishonest to the coachman and attendants.
Is Bjorn back?
As the anklet on her ankle jangled, Erna suddenly became curious about it.
'What a pretty ankle you have, lady.'
The Queen, who had been quietly watching Erna, who was constantly shrinking, embarrassed by her unfamiliar attire, spoke with a smile. Only then did Erna realize everyone's eyes were fixed on her ankles. It was the sound of her anklets swaying with every movement.
When Erna, her face flushed brightly, apologized, the Queen smiled even brighter and shook her head. The countless daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters of the Lorca royal family shared the same smile. They all praised her ankles so much that she learned the Lorcan word for ankle by heart.
While she was recalling the embarrassing memory, the scenery flowing through the car window stopped.
Erna, clutching her cloak tightly, quickly stepped out of the carriage. Her heartbeat quickened slightly when she heard the news of Bjorn's return.
Erna walked briskly through the hall and up the stairs. The closer she got to him, the more anxious she became. By the time she finally stood before the bedroom door, her cheeks flushed brightly.
Bjorn.
Erna, determined to call out the name that lingered on her tongue, quietly opened the bedroom door. With each cautious step, tiptoeing forward, a clear, tickling sound echoed.
Her Highness has fallen.
Lisa reached a conclusion after much deliberation. No other words seemed to be able to explain the situation.
Even on the day that the kind and innocent Grand Duchess had fled with her husband after being set ablaze, Lisa hadn't been as shocked as she was today. It was clearly the poisonous mushroom in question, Prince Bjorn, who had orchestrated the act. However, this decision, purely on the Grand Duchess's own initiative, carried a devastating impact.
“Your Highness, are you really able to handle this?”
Lisa pointed to the box on the table, still in disbelief. Erna, who had always maintained a composed demeanor, couldn't hide her wavering gaze as she gazed at it.
"It's a gift from the Queen herself. I can't ignore her sincerity, Lisa."
“There is sincerity in sincerity.”
Lisa sighed deeply and opened the luxurious golden box. The excessive care the Queen of Lorca had shown her was still quite embarrassing.
The invitation from the Queen arrived yesterday morning.
It was a deeply personal and intimate proposal: a cup of tea with the ladies of the royal family. Of all the ladies in the delegation from various countries, only the Grand Duchess of Letzen accepted the invitation. Everyone in Letzen's delegation agreed that it was quite unusual for the Queen, who rarely engaged in social interactions outside of official diplomatic settings, to extend her hand herself. But for Lisa, something else was more important than all that grandeur.
Grand Duchess defeated the Princess of Lars!
Lisa was so happy about that fact that she felt like dancing.
Lars, who had friendly relations with Lorca, also sent a delegation. Their leader was Crown Prince Lars, the eldest brother of Princess Gladys, whose very name made her shiver.
Dniester and Hartford.
The uneasy relationship between the two royal families was a well-known fact on the continent, and Lorca took great care to minimize any conflict between them. Letzen and Lars also respected each other as allies, putting aside personal feelings. At least on the surface.
The invisible war between the two countries' servants often broke out over very trivial and childish matters.
As the Prince and Princess of Letzen dominated the competition, taking first place in beauty, the servants of the Lars delegation resorted to the trick of personal connections. While Letzen had won in terms of Princes alone, they were utterly at a disadvantage in the Princess category. It was impossible for the Grand Duchess of Letzen, who came from a small village, to compete with the Princess of Lars, who was a descendant of the Pelia royal family and had close ties to royal families across the continent.
He was so relentlessly exploiting that weakness. He wanted to find the Princess with no proper family or connections, the Princess of Letzen with nothing but a face, and those mouths that were known to sing here and there, and sew them all up tightly.
But to be invited exclusively by Lorca's Queen!
All the maids of the Letzen delegation were thrilled by this golden opportunity to truly crush the pride of the Lars, who had been boasting about the deep friendship between their Crown Princess and Crown Princess Lorca. That was until they saw the Queen's gift that had arrived this morning.
"But even so, how can you wear clothes that reveal your waist so much? Just your waist? What about your ankles?"
Lisa again voiced her opposition. For the Archduchess, whose tastes in fashion remained stuck in the last century, Lorca's traditional attire would have been little more than underwear.
"I don't think the Queen gave it to me with the intention of forcing me to wear it. Simply accepting the sentiment gratefully is enough."
“Of course you don’t have to, but wouldn’t you be happier if you wore it?”
Erna looked at the foreign dress while giving a calm reply.
Giving clothes as gifts to distinguished guests was a long-standing tradition in Lorca. Given the differences in culture and customs between the two countries, the Queen expressed her wish in a letter accompanying the gift, wishing that even if the garments were difficult to wear, they would be treasured as a gift symbolizing the friendship shared in the garden of the morning. The words, translated by an interpreter, touched Erna's heart.
Erna Dneister, Princess of Letzen, was a stranger in this world.
Things were much better than when she was treated like a thief who usurped Princess Gladys's throne, but it was still difficult to blend in with those who had lived in their own world for so long. The Queen's heart, calling the young Princess of a foreign land, whom she had only met by chance on a morning walk, a friend, was all the more precious to Erna.
I will make my own place.
Erna took a deep breath, steeling her resolve once more. She decided not to ask Bjorn's opinion. It would have been ridiculous to send someone to her husband, who was away playing tennis with the Princes of the diplomatic delegation, for such a matter. Above all, she wanted to carry out the tasks assigned to her as an Archduchess herself.
As Erna's fingertips touched the ornate ornaments while she was fiddling with the unfamiliar garment, a knock rang out at the door. It was the head maid who had gone to inquire whether it was appropriate to wear this garment according to royal etiquette in Letzen.
"The wearing of traditional attire to a visiting nation has often been used to confirm friendship between two countries, and therefore, it cannot be seen as a violation of royal etiquette or diplomatic protocol," said Lord Bayer, the delegation's advisor. He added, of course, that no royal lady had yet worn pagan attire."
Karen, nodding her head, said calmly.
“I see. Thank you, Karen.”
Erna, who greeted her with a smile, faced the gift from the Queen who had tested her.
It was so embarrassing that it made her dizzy, but it was the formal attire worn here. Pagan. She knew the gazes that subtly looked down on Lorca, but that made her want to respect the queen's devotion even more.
“Please prepare.”
Erna conveyed her stubborn intentions with a gentle smile.
Her Highness has fallen.
Lisa sighed again at the despairing truth.
It was clear that the poison from the mushroom she swallowed had inevitably corrupted the young lady.
***
The Grand Duchess of Letzen, who appeared in Lorca's traditional attire, caused a stir. The ladies of Lorca's royal family, gathered in the Queen's palace, awaiting her guests, simply gazed at Erna in profound silence.
Erna straightened her shoulders, which had unconsciously been hunched, and straightened her neck. The thin, soft fabric rustled with the slightest movement. The delicate, ornately crafted jewelry was no exception. The more she tried to remain calm, the more the sound irritated her nerves.
I wonder if I made a mistake.
Erna, growing uneasy by the prolonged silence, lowered her gaze to examine her attire. She was a little confused, as the clothes were unfamiliar to Letzen's maids, but Lisa, with her keen eye, could not have made a fatal mistake.
So what is it?
Just as she was beginning to regret her actions, the Queen approached. Her eyes, once wide with surprise, were now filled with the light of perfect joy.
“I ask if I may greet you in the Lorca way.”
A middle-aged maid standing beside the Queen spoke. It was the same face that accompanied her on her morning walk.
“Yes, of course.”
Only then did Erna nod with a smile of relief. The Queen, perhaps understanding the meaning of the words without the need for an interpreter, approached without waiting for the maid's message.
She greeted the Grand Duchess of Letzen with a kiss on her cheek, placing her wrinkled hands on her chest.
The meaning of the hand placed on her left breast was only revealed after she had finished greeting all the royal ladies of Lorca who had come to her one after another.
This is her sincere, heartfelt message.
It had a much more profound meaning than Erna had imagined.
***
After finishing his shower, Bjorn went straight out onto the balcony.
On the table next to the bed, which was adorned with colorful cushions and pillows, were neatly arranged documents that the attendant had brought in advance. They were from Letzen's bank.
Bjorn leaned back against a pile of cushions and opened the topmost folder. The sound of maids moving cautiously drifted through the quiet shuffling of papers.
Perhaps because she started the day early, it was a particularly languid afternoon.
Bjorn put down the documents he'd roughly scanned and habitually picked up a cigar. As he turned to look for the cutter, the young maid standing there flinched and stepped back.
“Her Highness is in the palace of Her Majesty Queen Lorca.”
The maid, whose eyes met his, spoke in an unexpected and urgent tone.
A soft chuckle escaped Bjorn's lips as he belatedly realized the intention. Erna, who had boasted of the invitation from Queen Lorca several times the previous night, suddenly came to mind over the leisurely scenery.
Isn't it time to come back now?
After assessing the time, Bjorn put down his unlit cigar and took hold of the brandy bottle the maid had left behind. The ice glass on the end of the silver tray soon filled with the clear, amber-colored liquor.
Taking a step back, Bjorn nodded slightly to the maids waiting, then slowly took hold of the glass. Her still-damp hair and the loose hem of her gown swayed in the gentle breeze.
As the maids left with their polite greetings, the bedroom became as quiet as an underwater world.
Bjorn's gaze shifted from the sunlight-drenched garden to the papers in his hand.
It was a boring afternoon.
***
The carriage, having left the Queen's palace, soon turned onto a road leading to an annex. Only then did Erna breathe a sigh of relief.
You did a great job.
She felt like she could have that kind of pride today.
Lorca's royal family, with its strict gender segregation, prohibited men outside of the family from entering the women's quarters. It was said that even the royal men were not permitted to attend when inviting unmarried or unaccompanied female guests.
Thanks to this, the Queen's palace was a world exclusively for women today, and Erna was able to enjoy tea time with a much more relaxed mind. The only men allowed in were children, carried by their nannies. These were strangers whom Erna could easily embrace. Even the Grand Duchess of Schwerin, with her somewhat rustic charm, would tolerate these little gentlemen.
As the carriage began to slow down, Erna hurriedly threw on her cloak. It was too hot to be bundled up, but she couldn't afford to appear dishonest to the coachman and attendants.
Is Bjorn back?
As the anklet on her ankle jangled, Erna suddenly became curious about it.
'What a pretty ankle you have, lady.'
The Queen, who had been quietly watching Erna, who was constantly shrinking, embarrassed by her unfamiliar attire, spoke with a smile. Only then did Erna realize everyone's eyes were fixed on her ankles. It was the sound of her anklets swaying with every movement.
When Erna, her face flushed brightly, apologized, the Queen smiled even brighter and shook her head. The countless daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters of the Lorca royal family shared the same smile. They all praised her ankles so much that she learned the Lorcan word for ankle by heart.
While she was recalling the embarrassing memory, the scenery flowing through the car window stopped.
Erna, clutching her cloak tightly, quickly stepped out of the carriage. Her heartbeat quickened slightly when she heard the news of Bjorn's return.
Erna walked briskly through the hall and up the stairs. The closer she got to him, the more anxious she became. By the time she finally stood before the bedroom door, her cheeks flushed brightly.
Bjorn.
Erna, determined to call out the name that lingered on her tongue, quietly opened the bedroom door. With each cautious step, tiptoeing forward, a clear, tickling sound echoed.
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