Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

28. Mistakes

In those days, four people in the Royal Palace were intrigued by card games while drinking in Keith’s private room.

The four of them always look for a breakthrough while breathing like this when they’re stuck at work, but today’s topic naturally was about Claire.

“… whoa. Ascension ! … So, what do you do, Queen of Veeks?”

Donnie throws the cards, scratches them, and falls to bed.

“Permission is out of His Majesty the King. I would like to give Claire an invitation as well…”

Claire seemed very fond of her by His Majesty the King during his recent visit to the King.

Originally, a night club was planned to be held for the purpose of finding Vik’s Queen. However, drawing on the intention of the House of Lords, made up of noble nobles, it was supposed to be only the Noble Lady who could be invited.

But leaving the candidacy to Vik on that occasion is nothing short of His Majesty the King’s will that Claire can be invited.

(His Majesty the King foresees everything…)

When I remembered that, Vik wasn’t funny. But I also regretted not being able to give in just this time, as in defiance.

“Nevertheless, I had no idea His Majesty would admit Claire without any back shield! As a sidekick, one less concern.”

Keith has soured his mouth about choosing a lady who thinks about her position, but it’s the same thing that we all want to put Claire on Veek’s side without a wall of identity.

“But Vik hasn’t told Claire how he feels yet, has he?”

“Buh.”

Veek erupts alcohol. And I glanced at Lui with a face that said no extra things.

“Uh, seriously? I mean, what about calling the fate of even the person you were called to a night club all of a sudden without even making a confession? Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh!

Donnie, who was lying in a bed full of cards, flutters her body and screams.

“Claire might say no to the invitation herself.”

“It can be. In the first place, it looks like my playmate ladies are eagerly awaiting an invitation. Claire is a decent young lady.

He gave Keith and Donnie a complicated look in the conversation trying to make fun of Veek.

“You know… in the first place, Keith’s been holding you back, hasn’t he?… But Claire said her fiancée before she was chased from the Noston Nation was His Royal Highness Prince Asberto. I guess I’ve seen a lot of ugly aspects of those who want power in their hands…. If it’s because of your stigmatization of the throne or your reluctance to work in the royal palace, you’ll say no to my offer.”

With that said, I pour a lot stronger alcohol into my throat than usual.

Vik also well understood that Claire was relaxing as she fell off the rail laid on the noble lady.

Is it someone you want to let go of in the hope of happiness or someone you want to keep on your side until you take up happiness?

Vik couldn’t figure it out yet.

From the unleashed windows there is the scent of beaks planted in the gardens of the royal palace.

Its sweet fragrance, reminiscent of early summer, was just marking the end of the fun spring.

―――――

Next holiday.

Claire was out of town at Lewis’ invitation.

(It’s rare for Lewis to invite me on a day off)

Boyish leather shoes to suit Lewis.

As Claire waited as she groaned, it was Veek who showed up at the rendezvous point.

“… Veek? I don’t know why I’m here… What’s wrong with that hair color”

Claire is surprised. That should be it, too. The blonde hair that permeated the light of Veek’s day was dyed in the same pitch black as Lewis.

Claire knew immediately by the colour and atmosphere of her characteristic eyes, but it was a disguise that the general public could not spot.

“You know that at a good glance. I had Lewis magically craft it.”

“That’s Lewis. I wish I did, even when I was out of the country.”

“They need a lot of preparation. … special today,”

Veek says after taking a moment.

“You’ll be driven right back on your evening visit. I asked Lewis to give it to me today…. dissatisfied?

“That’s not true. Pleasure.”

(… ah)

I was heartily happy Claire for a moment, but I recall that a month later Vike had a fiancée.

The fact tightened Claire’s heart deeper than she could have imagined.

“No. I, too, wanted to have a chat without worrying about time”

(… once you’ve decided on a candidate for the Queen, you’ll never see her again.)

Claire hid her sinking heart and smiled nicely.

That day, the two enjoyed their date over the course of a day.

The first one I went to was a toy store where Vik went through with patience and prosperity as a child.

I look at the toys lined up on the shelves and I think I miss them, Veek.

Claire, too, remembers seeing it and playing with her brothers, talks.

When Veek was doing sword arches with Keith and the Lewis in the royal palace yard, Claire also had him mixed up with sword arches of his older brother Oscar and younger brother Leo in the mansion yard, and found out that he suffered abrasions.

Neither of us had much opportunity to meet our busy father, and it was the same perfect time we had worked hard on our studies and manipulations with the desire to get praise when we haven’t seen each other in a long time.

It was a beautiful day so I bought a sandwich at the bakery for lunch and ate it outside.

Claire has salmon & cheese, Vique has pastrami sandwiches.

A simple cheddar cheese sandwich made by a nanny is my favorite, Vique says.

Claire mentioned hot cakes with plenty of seafood menus and maple syrup, but eventually settled for the answer that she had too much food to choose from.

The two spoke really well and laughed really well.

The end of a fun day.

It was on the high ground where the city of Ultz and the royal castle could be seen that Vik brought Claire by saying he had a place to keep it.

“Wow… wow. How beautiful.”

In the city at dusk, the pounding and lights are already starting to light.

Fantastic and beautiful are the deep colors reminiscent of the night’s visit and the orange colour of the sky creases that have just set the sun.

From all over the shops and houses lined up across the cobblestone, the smoke of the supper moderation was rising.

“I kind of dreamed of everything doing this.”

“A dream?”

“Yeah. Not long ago, I never thought these happy days would await me. And this is how we are together now.”

“… may I ask”

“Yeah, anything”

Claire is in a good mood to reflect on the day she enjoyed.

“I heard you were engaged to His Royal Highness Asberto in the Noston Nation.”

Claire’s eyes opened only slightly to her surprise, but she quickly returned to her original smile.

“Me, did I tell you when I drank too much? I’m embarrassed…. yes. Something that has grown up in the middle of a power struggle. It was a long time ago in me.”

Claire continues.

“I’m so glad I came to this country. I laughed at your answer to His Majesty the King when he said you were an honorary student, but there was really no such thing as lying. Keith to Lewis, Donnie… I’m impressed by everyone’s kindness and feelings for my master, and I’m getting the courage to live. So I was really happy to protect everyone’s smile from the tornado. … one day, I want to help everyone too”

“… eh”

Claire went on even further, unaware that Vik had hesitated to say the words.

“You know what? Isabella, who I’m tutoring, received an invitation to a night club next month. I don’t know how I can support everyone, but I’m gonna build up a little bit of what I can do. First, Isabella’s success in attending the night club. Even though she’s a noble, lovely lady, she seems very anxious and worried…. Your Highness, if you find him at the venue, please be nice to him?

It was also the best possible strength.

But seeing Claire with a pranky, sparkling smile on her face, there’s no way Vik can even spot that.

“Oh.”

Vik answers by looking up at the sky, which is completely darkened.

I couldn’t take out the pale green envelope I had in my nostalgia.

―――――

Around that time, the Lehne family had a tailor who was making it look good.

“Lady Isabella, you will order a pink dress for next month’s nightclub and it is currently being made…… Are you going to make a different dress from wanting a fabric sample?

Isabella replies with an innocent smile to the tailor who asks frightened with a blue look.

“No. Don’t worry, it’s not that mean…. I wanted to order another dress for the night club on the express. I would wear it to someone who is taller, more transparent, and more sophisticated in beauty than me. What color would you like?”