Episode 13-The dog won't stop pooping
A letter arrived in the morning. The coat of arms of the Marquis de Drua was stamped on the envelope. Martha opened the letter.
"To Princess Valois. We are planning to hold a small tea party this Thursday afternoon. Will you attend?
- Bianca Drua.
P.S.. Bringing a handsome person would be even more welcome."
Martha read the postscript twice. Then she put the letter down. Lucy craned her neck beside her to look.
"What did she write?"
"An invitation to a tea party."
"Again? Last time it was a teahouse."
"This time it's a tea party."
Lucy looked at the letter. She spotted the postscript and her eyes widened.
"Bring a handsome person?"
"That's what she wrote."
Lucy looked at Martha.
"There are handsome people around you, Princess..."
"Brother Edward."
Lucy stopped.
"You mean the Young Master?"
"He is handsome, isn't he?"
Lucy briefly looked as if she was thinking of Edward.
"...He is right, though."
Martha said as she folded the letter.
"I guess I'll have to try to win him over."
The breakfast table. Edward was talking about the Imperial Palace while tearing apart his bread. Martha listened for a moment and then spoke up.
"Brother."
"What?"
"Are you free on Thursday?"
Edward looked at Martha.
"I am free in the afternoon. Why?"
"Can you go to the tea party with me?"
Edward put the bread down.
"Tea party?"
"Lady Bianca is inviting me."
"The Marquis Drua to Valois?"
"Yes."
Edward looked at Martha.
"Serena, since when have you been hanging out with the Marquis's daughter? She has been vying for you the longest."
"It's different now."
Edward looked at Martha for a moment and said,
"Why should I go there with you?"
Martha said naturally while eating her soup,
"She said it would be better if you brought a handsome person."
Edward froze.
"What?"
"Bianca said so."
Edward looked at Martha.
"Is she telling you to bring a handsome person?"
"Yes."
"To the heir of the Valois family."
"Because you are handsome."
Edward was speechless for a moment, then closed and opened his eyes.
"This is ridiculous."
"Are you going?"
Edward said, picking up the bread again.
"I'll think about it."
Martha said while eating her soup.
"Thank you."
"I said I'm still thinking about it."
"I know."
Edward looked at Martha while chewing his bread.
"Bianca Drua said to bring a handsome man."
"Yeah."
Edward glanced out the window for a moment.
"... Thursday afternoon is a good time."
Martha pretended not to notice and picked up some fruit.
Thursday afternoon.
The garden of the Marquis Drua estate was spacious. A tea party was being held in the garden. Several tables were set up. Noble ladies and young men were gathered in small groups. Martha scanned the area as she entered the garden. There were about twenty attendees. There were familiar faces. There were unfamiliar ones. Edward spoke from the side.
"There are more people than I expected."
"I thought it was small-scale."
"Is this small-scale?"
Bianca spotted Martha and walked over. She looked at Martha, then looked at Edward. The moment she saw Edward, Bianca's eyes changed slightly. Martha noticed it. Bianca scanned Edward over and said to Martha,
"You keep your promises, Princess."
"You told me to bring a handsome man."
Bianca said, looking at Edward.
"You are the heir to the House of Valois, aren't you? This is the first time I have introduced myself in person. I am Bianca Drua."
Edward bowed his head.
"I am Edward Valois."
Bianca whispered to Martha.
"He's handsome."
"Because I take after him. Thanks for the compliment."
Bianca chuckled softly and turned around, saying,
"Come on in. There is plenty of food."
Martha's ears pricked up at those words. Food. The table was overflowing with food.
Tarts, macarons, finger sandwiches, cheese, fruit, small cakes. Martha picked up a plate and began picking them up one by one. Edward watched her from the side.
"Eating again?"
"If it's delicious, I have to eat it."
"Even here."
"This place is better set up. The tart tastes better than at the teahouse last time."
Edward looked at Martha with a bewildered expression, then placed a tart on his own plate. Martha picked up a macaron and put it in her mouth. It was sweet. Too sweet. But she wondered where that sweetness was coming from.
Had they used a lot of sugar, or were there other ingredients? Martha thought as she chewed the macaron thoroughly. There is cream in it. Is it raspberry cream?
"Princess."
A voice was heard. Martha turned around while chewing the macaron. Leon Ashford was standing there. That damn guy runs into her for every little thing. She didn't expect Leon to be here.
Martha glanced at Leon for a moment, then finished chewing her macaron and swallowed. Edward spotted Leon, and his expression hardened. Leon looked at Edward, then at Martha.
"The Prince of Valois has come along."
His voice was dry. It wasn't a greeting. It was just a confirmation. Edward spoke.
"Young Master Leon Ashford."
Leon looked at Edward. Edward's gaze was grim. Martha sensed it. From Edward's perspective, Leon was the man who had informed his sister of the broken engagement. He was someone who had brought disgrace to the family. Edward certainly couldn't view him favorably. Leon said to Martha.
"So you even show up at a gathering like this?"
"I was invited to the tea party."
"I heard rumors were widespread that you were impressive at the last banquet. Isn't that thanks to me?"
"Was it delicious?"
"What?"
"I'm asking if the food I prepared for you at the Imperial Palace back then was tasty."
Why ask such a question? Leon looked at Martha. There was something in her gaze. It was the look of that woman waiting for a strange reaction again. Feeling he needed to answer carefully, Leon pondered deeply for a moment.
At that moment, Edward spoke to Leon.
"Young Master, do you have something to say to the Princess of Valois right now?"
Leon looked at Edward.
"The heir has come out as his sister's attendant?"
Edward's eyes turned cold. He could see Edward about to speak. Just as Martha was about to mention Edward, she picked up a sandwich next to her and shoved it into his mouth. Edward let out a groan. Martha looked at Leon, picked up another sandwich, and handed it to Edward. Edward looked at Martha while chewing in chunks. Martha whispered to Edward.
"Stop complaining and eat."
Edward glared at Leon while chewing. Martha placed another tart on Edward's plate. Then she looked at Leon. Calmly. Leon looked at Martha.
Martha found Leon simply adorable, with that mischievous look on his face as if he were thinking about something to pick a fight with again. It was like the feeling of looking at a grandchild. Leon opened his mouth.
"Isn't it embarrassing for a woman who broke off her engagement to walk around so confidently in a place like this?"
"I knew it would be like this again. Ugh, a dog can stop eating poop."
Silence fell. Leon looked at Martha.
"...Dog?"
Martha picked up the tart.
"Poop?"
Martha took a bite of the tart.
"Are you comparing me to a dog and poop right now?"
Martha chewed on her tart without saying a word. Leon's eyes narrowed.
"Princess of Valois."
"This tart is delicious."
"Are you listening to me?"
"I can hear you."
"You can hear me, so why aren't you responding?"
"Does breaking off an engagement happen by one person alone? You need two hands to make a sound."
Leon looked at Martha. He seemed to be searching for something to say. It was like this every time he spoke to this woman. The reaction he expected didn't come. Edward swallowed his sandwich and said.
"Young Master, if you have nothing to say to my sister."
Martha shoved a macaron into Edward's mouth. Edward let out another 'Ugh-'. Leon watched the scene. Then he looked at Martha. Martha took another bite of her tart while looking at Leon. Leon said.
"Why are you always eating, Princess?"
"Because I'm hungry."
"I've never seen anyone eat like that at a tea party."
"Really?"
"A lady's dignity..."
"Young Master."
Martha interrupted. Leon looked at Martha. Holding up a plate of tarts, Martha said.
"Would you like some?"
Leon froze.
"What?"
"A tart. It's delicious."
Leon looked at the plate, then at Martha. Martha held the plate slightly toward Leon. Leon was speechless. Edward swallowed a macaron while looking back and forth between Martha and Leon. Leon turned around and walked away. Martha watched his retreating figure while eating her tart. Edward looked at Martha.
"Did you just offer a tart to Prince Leon?"
"He said no, so it can't be helped."
"No, before that, you said the dog was going to stop pooping."
"Did you hear that?"
"Everyone around heard it."
Martha looked around. The nobles nearby were all looking elsewhere, yet their ears were pricked up in this direction. Oh no, I'm doomed. Martha thought as she ate her tart.
In one corner of the garden, Bianca had been watching the scene from beginning to end. Leon Ashford spoke to Martha in a sarcastic tone. However, Martha let him off the hook while eating her tart. She remarked that dogs stop pooping. Leon was taken aback, and she offered him a tart. Watching the scene, Bianca thought.
'That woman is really strange. But so funny.'
Just then, there was a presence nearby. Bianca turned around. A mysterious young man was standing there. Twenty-three. A gentle smile. His attire was splendid. That splendidness felt natural. He exuded the aura of the highest nobility. It was Crown Prince Pierre Moncler. Bianca bowed her head.
"Your Highness."
"Lady Drua. Is that Princess always like that?"
Bianca looked in the direction Pierre was looking. Martha was stuffing something into Edward's mouth again. Bianca said,
"No. Not at all originally."
"Then why did she become like that?"
"I don't know either."
Pierre looked at Martha for a moment. Interest flickered in his eyes.
"This is interesting."
Pierre walked toward Martha. Bianca watched his retreating figure and wondered, 'Why is he going that way?'
Martha and Edward took a seat at a table in one corner of the garden. Edward spoke while eating a sandwich.
"What you said to Prince Leon earlier."
"What?"
"That the dog stops pooping."
"Yeah."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just like a train keeps moving even if a dog barks, it means you can stop even if a dog keeps giving you poop."
It seemed to take Edward some time to accept those words.
"You're comparing Prince Leon to a dog."
"I see."
"He is the strongest young master in the Empire, after all."
"Even if he is a young master, if he acts like a dog, he is a dog."
Edward looked at Martha and let out a smirk. Then, picking up a tart, he said,
"Who taught you that?"
"You learn as you live."
Edward looked out the window while eating the tart.
"Serena."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for inviting me today."
Martha looked at Edward. Edward looked at the garden while chewing his tart.
"I haven't come to places like this for a long time. It's a hassle, and it's also uncomfortable seeing people over here because of your work."
"And now?"
"It's still uncomfortable, though."
"It's less intense now that you're here."
Martha picked up some fruit as she listened to those words. This older brother is kind, too. She thought to herself. Just then.
"Princess of Valois"
Martha looked up. Crown Prince Pierre was standing there. With a gentle smile. She could feel the garden falling silent. The noble ladies looked at Pierre. The young men looked at him, too. Bianca saw him from a distance. The Crown Prince had walked over to the Valois's table. Edward froze. Pierre bowed slightly to Martha.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Pierre Moncler."
Martha looked at Pierre. A gentle smile. An upright posture. His voice was soft. There was something behind that smile. Martha sensed it. It is more frightening that this person knows how to wear that smile so naturally.
Martha rose from her seat and greeted him politely.
"I am Serena Valois."
"I know you."
"Rumors have been going around lately."
"I hope they are good rumors."
"Of course."
Pierre looked at Edward.
"The Heir to Valois has come with you as well."
Edward bowed his head.
"I am Edward Valois."
Pierre looked at Martha again.
"May I speak with you for a moment?"
Martha looked at Pierre. The Crown Prince walked over first and spoke. The surroundings began to murmur. Martha heard the sound. Pierre offered Martha a seat and sat down. Martha also took a seat. Edward sat right beside Martha. Pierre looked at Martha and said.
"I saw you talking with Prince Leon earlier."
"You saw it."
"It was interesting."
"It's the first time I've seen Prince Leon so flustered."
Martha said as she picked up some fruit.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Very much so."
Pierre said with a smile.
"The Princess of Valois doesn't seem to fear Prince Leon."
"There is no reason to be afraid."
Pierre looked at Martha. His gaze was gentle yet sharp. Martha looked at Pierre while eating her fruit. 'His eyes aren't smiling.' Martha thought to herself. His smile was gentle, but his eyes were calculating. She didn't know yet what he was calculating. But she knew he was calculating. Her eighty years of experience as a lady-in-waiting told her so. Pierre said,
"I heard the Valois family has changed a lot lately."
"A little."
"I heard you even handled the creditor negotiations yourself."
"It was necessary."
"It is impressive that you are doing such things personally at your age."
Martha looked at Pierre.
"How does Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince know such things?"
Pierre paused for a moment, then smiled and said,
"Talking about noble families naturally, I just happened to hear it."
"I see."
"Next time, I will personally invite you to the Imperial Palace."
Pierre walked away after saying only what he needed to say. Martha picked up some fruit and thought. Why did this man suddenly come over to greet me? Does it mean he's interested? Why?
As Pierre walked away, Edward looked at Martha and spoke.
"Why did the Crown Prince come to our table?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Yeah."
Edward looked toward the garden. Pierre was talking with other nobles.
"You have to be careful of him."
"I know."
"If you knew, why did you just talk to him?"
"Because avoiding him would make things even stranger."
Edward looked at Martha and nodded.
"That's true."
The Crown Prince walked over to the Princess of Valois himself. I could see the speed at which rumors were spreading. I just wanted to live quietly. Martha thought to herself. Oh dear, I tried to live quietly, but it looks like I'm doomed.
Bianca was watching the scene from a distance. The verbal sparring with Leon Ashford. The Crown Prince's visit. At the center of it all was Princess Serena of Valois. Serena was eating a tart. She was eating a tart while standing at the center of all those eyes and rumors. Watching her, Bianca thought, 'She's a really strange woman.' And she chuckled.
Oh dear, Martha sighed inwardly as she looked out the window of the carriage on the way back. Is it my fate not to live quietly?
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 13]
I went to Lady Bianca Drua's tea party today.
Shock No. 1: The Princess took Young Master Edward away as a 'handsome person.' The Young Master looked bewildered but eventually followed. The Princess's method of seducing was fascinating.
Shock No. 2: Young Master Leon Ashford arrived. When the Young Master made a sarcastic remark, the Princess shoved a sandwich into Young Master Edward's mouth. The Young Master glared at Young Master Leon while chewing.
Shock No. 3: The Princess said to Young Master Leon, "A dog can't stop eating poop." The surroundings fell silent. Young Master Leon asked, "A dog? Poop? Are you comparing me to a dog and poop?!" The Princess ate a tart.
Shock No. 4: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came personally to the Princess's table. The entire garden fell silent.
Shock No. 5: The Princess ate fruit even in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. On the carriage back, the Princess looked out the window and muttered very softly, "I intended to live quietly, but I'm doomed". For some reason, those words were both funny and pitiful.
And... The rumors are circulating in the Imperial Palace right now: Princess Valois's next target is the Crown Prince. She probably doesn't know. I haven't told her yet because I think she would sigh even more if she found out.
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