Volu 2, Chapter 20: I find out His Highness’s true feelings.
While Zeke was helping out in the kitchen, Risa managed to reach the area in the palace where royalty resided without too much wandering.
She showed the letter from His Highness the crown prince to the register clerk. He looked at her suspiciously at first but completely changed upon seeing the letter and treated her nicely. A maid ca and led her to a room guarded by two knights after they walked for a while.
The maid knocked and inford the person inside of the situation before letting Risa in.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Risa.”
“Long ti no see, Your Highness.”
Prince Edgar was working at a large office desk as she entered. He put down the pen in his hand and smiled at Risa, then waved her into a sofa while he sat across from her.
He had ssy blond hair and sky blue eyes. His skin and his face shone like diamonds in the afternoon sun.
A maid ca in and poured the two of them tea before leaving the room.
Prince Edgar asked, “How are you feeling?” and they made small talk.
After a while, Prince Edgar said, “Regarding the marriage talks between you and I, Lady Risa…”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry, but please forget about it.” He lowered his head apologetically.
“I heard that Lucius, the Grand Chamberlain, visited the Claude mansion. I am perfectly aware that it is incredibly uncouth of to ask you to forget the event as my side was the one who proposed. However, I had no knowledge of it as it was all done by my mother and the Grand Chamberlain.”
“What?! Really?!”
“Unfortunately, I was unaware until I caught wind of the rumors. Even so, it is quite despicable of , the next in line to the throne, for not keeping tabs on my own mother. There was a commotion at your shop due to the talks as well, yes? I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
“Gi- ah, my stepfather ca to my rescue, so…”
“I did hear the specifics from Gilford. The troublemaker was apparently a viscount. More importantly, are you all right, Lady Risa?”
“Yes. I was very surprised back then, but I am fine now. Actually, I ca here today to turn down the proposal.”
“I see. If it is not too much, may I ask the reason why?”
“At first I was overthinking everything, what with the honor of the Claude family and so troubles at work, so I thought I would be free from all of that if I married you at one point. Now I know that I still want to keep the café open. I want more and more people to eat delicious food, and I want them to spread it internationally.”
“Hmm, the café, I see…I an no offense, but wouldn’t it be easier to spread cuisine if you quit the café and beco royalty?”
“On the contrary, my dream is only possible through the café. It is where I belong.”
“I see. Your determination is very comndable.”
Prince Edgar smiled after returning Risa’s determined stare.
“I had thought you had soone else in mind.”
A certain man’s face popped up in Risa’s mind upon hearing Prince Edgar’s words. Silver hair, icy blue eyes, a blank face. Zeke’s face… Risa flushed red.
“Oh? So you do have soone in mind.”
“No, he really isn’t that kind of…”
“You thought of him, yes?”
“…”
“All’s well that ends well, then. I also have soone I like already.”
“Oh, what wonderful news, Your Highness!”
“Thank you. Unfortunately, there are many hurdles to overco before I can marry her.”
“Is Your Highness going to give up?”
“Hahaha, not a chance. I’m working hard to overco them all.”
“I hope Your Highness’s efforts are rewarded.”
“I hope so, too.”
The woman in question must be a wonderful person for Prince Edgar to go so far for her…
Risa thought as she watched Prince Edgar calmly talk about the woman.
They reached an agreent, and Prince Edgar said, “I should return to work.”
Risa got up to leave, when he asked her if she was free to chat with his mother for a bit.
And so he brought Risa to his mother, Queen Adelisia.
“My, Risa! Welco!”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The queen was having tea on a wooden deck in the garden. Her hair was of a darker blonde than her son Prince Edgar’s, and it swayed in the wind. Her purple eyes smiled along with her bright smile and she welcod Risa.
“Co, co! Have a seat next to !”
A maid set a chair down next to the queen, and Risa sat down on it. In front of her was a beautiful garden bursting with vibrant flowers.
“What a beautiful garden.”
“Right? This is my favorite place to sit in the garden. The view is the best, especially now during early sumr when the flowers and I are both bathing in the warm sunlight.”
Queen Adele laughed and took a sip from her teacup in one graceful movent. She put it back on the table and sadly began to speak.
“I’m really sorry about the talks with Edgar. I’m sure he has told you this too, but sothing I said as a joke was taken seriously by the servants… Before I knew it, they blew up the whole thing, and my son got so terribly mad at . You must have been so, so troubled by it all.”
Queen Adele drooped her shoulders sadly, still crushed that Prince Edgar got mad at her.
“I’ve reflected on so things with this incident as well, so please, don’t think too much of it.”
“I feel a bit better now that you say so. I shall write a letter to Anastasia after this.”
“I’m sure she will be happy about it.”
They smiled at each other and enjoyed the tea. Queen Adele recounted mories of Anastasia, so of them which included Gilford as well. Risa listened with great interest and happily passed the ti with Queen Adele.
They talked so much that Risa stayed for lunch with Queen Adele. They moved to the dining hall reserved for royalty and enjoyed the al while they chatted. The royal chefs had improved on their cooking since last Risa had tried it.
The entree was pasta with fish, garnished with colorful green and yellow vegetables. Despite being an oil pasta, it was slightly sour and a refreshing al. If she had to nitpick, the pasta was slightly overcooked. Everything else was perfect, so the pasta was a bit of a pity.
Next was salad and cold soup akin to gazpacho. Then ca a fruit plate, and just when Risa finished that, Queen Adele smiled happily.
“I asked for a special dessert today!”
Under her invitation, Risa proceeded to the drawing room, with no clue who she would bump into there…
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