I somehow scraped together a smile and a curtsy, but Lady Aurelia’s sharp glare was telling me to hurry over. Urgh, I can disobey His Highness, but how could I possibly disobey Lady Aurelia? My heavy feet dragged along the floor as I forced them forward.
“This is Lieutenant Flaubert’s wife, Mrs. Marielle.” Lady Aurelia introduced me. “They were married last year. Didn’t you just celebrate your anniversary recently as well?”
“Y-Yes, we did. Though we’ve both been so busy that we only had time to celebrate privately.”
“Knowing Lord Simeon, he must have gifted you many grand things.”
“Er, well, my birthday was the month before our anniversary, so I told him I’d received enough and had him stand down. In exchange, he played the violin for me.”
“My, how wonderful. What did you give him in return?”
“I baked bread for him.”
Her breath hitched. “What?” Lady Aurelia was trying to get me to show off my relationship with Lord Simeon, but she made a strange face as the words escaped her.
I giggled shyly. “I’ve been practicing as of late. I’m now able to adjust the heat on the oven by myself, I’ll have you know. Though the end result always turns out charred once every two attempts.”
“I-Is that so?”
Ah, Lady Aurelia’s jewel irises are sending me a message! What does it say? “It’s fine for you to show off your strangeness, but why bread?!” Oh my! Heh heh. Are you surprised? Believe it or not, even someone like me can evolve with hard work. Not just with bread either!
“And for his birthday next month,” I declared triumphantly, “I will make another type of dish for him. Behold—the Flaubert kitchen staff have begun to let me use knives recently! Though I’m required to have someone watch over me.”
“What kind of havoc have you wrought that made it so a watch is required?!” Lady Aurelia caught herself mid-rebuttal and coughed to cover it up. Turning back to Princess Mira, she said, “Ho ho ho. Isn’t Mrs. Marielle just darling?”
“Yes, she really is.” The princess responded with a smile, staring directly at me with her deep blue eyes. There was no warmth in that lovely grin. Perhaps she was determining my worth with her cool gaze.
I steeled myself and curtsied again. “My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Marielle Flaubert. Welcome to Lagrange. From the bottom of our hearts, we hope you enjoy your stay, Your Highness.”
“Thank you very much.” The voice that answered me was sweet with a delightful ring to it, fitting of a lily. “You’re just as cute as Lady Aurelia told me you’d be. Your dress is very fashionable—it’s wondrous. I’m jealous that everything in Lagrange is so lavish.”
It didn’t feel like she was telling me only my outfit was wonderful. I couldn’t find any trace of animosity in the princess’s stare. I didn’t feel any affection either, so she must have only been giving me the appropriate societal platitudes.
“Thank you for the praise,” I said. “My mother-in-law has a weakness for fashion, so she chooses all of my outfits for me. It’s very helpful, as I don’t have to rack my brain to select them myself.”
“You’re quite loved as a daughter-in-law, then.”
Was the princess acting this way because I wasn’t worth holding animosity toward? I must not have made much of an impression on Princess Mira, especially since I had appeared after Lady Aurelia. It didn’t seem I would be accomplishing what Prince Severin had sent me to do.
Even all those peering curiously around us must have thought that I didn’t stand a chance. If I were to go home depressed after this, that would merely be the expected ending.
Princess Mira took the next step. “Lieutenant Flaubert has been taking care of me very well. He’s so dependable and kind. It makes me happy that he’s constantly worried for me. He even obeys my selfish whims! Thanks to him, my time here is being spent very enjoyably.”
“I’m honored to receive such words. I’m sure my husband is glad to assist you.”
Depending on how you interpreted her words, you could say that she was challenging me as Lord Simeon’s wife. A strong rival in love had appeared, and she was sure to beat her opponent by showing everyone her superior quality as a partner. Many such stories have been written throughout history.
But, you know what? Something feels...off. Or rather... It’s something...more...
“Thank you very much. Well then, I shall take my leave here.”
As I stood there stewing in my own confusion, the princess gently bowed her head and turned away. All I could do was watch the back of her ash-blonde hair stray farther into the distance.
That was when Lady Aurelia’s fan smacked my head again. “What in the world are you doing?! You were supposed to show off your usual head-over-heels demeanor!”
“That wouldn’t have been appropriate for a place like this... And I don’t believe there would’ve been a point to doing so.”
“Now she just thinks you’re some boring woman. You must prove to her that she can’t be compared to you in the same dimension—or even as the same species! Unless you tell her that Lord Simeon only falls for strange animals, we’ll never be rid of her!”
“Er, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but I’m actually a fellow human being. Also, you’re making it sound like Lord Simeon is some sort of pervert...”
Lady Aurelia wasn’t listening—she simply stood there, fuming by herself. Prince Severin signaled for me to return to one of the waiting rooms. Duke Silvestre wasn’t invited, but of course he tagged along as well. Lord Simeon was waiting there when we arrived, looking worried.