Chapter 138

Before Luciel knew it, the day Max had promised came. Luciel was pacing and wandering around the parlor with excitement. But until the end of the afternoon, there was no contact.

“I’m done with my article and I’m ready to go to the Imperial Salon, and now all that’s left is to take the crafts……Is it still not finished yet?…”

The glass craft that Luciel asked for was a three-dimensional flower-shaped lantern.

In fact, it wasn’t an easy task.

Since stained glass is a craft that uses flat glass, the difficulty was higher to capture a three-dimensional shape.

‘……Maybe something went wrong.’

She asked him to contact back if there were any difficulties in the middle, but it was true that he was pressed to make something in three days. It would be a big deal if the crafts were accidentally damaged.

Luciel rolled her eyes in anxiety, but first of all, she decided to trust him and wait.

* * *

A day before, in the studio of Gallius, Max had already completed the craft for the fourth time, but he couldn’t contact Luciel because he wasn’t happy with it.

When the desired result did not come out quickly, Count Gallius, who was passing by and saw Max never giving up while his hands were cut by the piece of glass while working, spoke up.

“You look worse than me. There is no big difference in my eyes.”

“It’s a pity that this one has a flower shape out of place and that one lacks finished luster…….”

“Isn’t tomorrow the promised date?”

“……I’m going to try making it one more time.”

As a result of painstaking efforts to make the craft, Max only nodded his head after finishing the fifth flower lantern at noon on the third day as promised.

“……Now it looks like it’s worth a look. Please contact the aide.”

Then Ellington rushed to Luciel’s villa and told her.

“Little Madam! Did you wait a long time? It is said that the craft was successfully completed. Shall we go and get it togheter?”

“Yes, let’s go together. But is Mr.Max okay? I thought something had happened.”

“Perhaps he was deeply concerned.”

Luciel thought for a moment before answering.

“Ellington, just in case, I would like to bring a mage with me, who will put conservation magic on the craft. I haven’t learned the conservation magic yet.”

“Yes, I understand. I will prepare the carriage. Please wait.”

Luciel got on the carriage and ran to the studio at once.

“Mr. Max, are you okay?”

“Yes, come this way, please.”

Although he was exhausted, Max showed his crafts with a bright face.

It was a beautiful three-dimensional flower-shaped lantern.

It seems to create a really soft and bright atmosphere as if you have turned on the lights. The three-dimensional pink flower buds were vivid and as if they were about to bloom.

“Wow, it’s more beautiful than I ever imagined.”

It was a beautiful design, but it must have been very difficult to make. Besides, it looked like he had looked at the sloppy picture that Luciel had drawn and made the right design anew.

“Did you redraw the design?”

“Yes. I’ve been thinking about it in several ways. I was looking for the best shape.”

Max scratched his head and showed the designs, there were dozens of them.

“You’ve been thinking a lot. I’m sorry, I made a difficult order, didn’t I?”

“It’s nothing. It was difficult to make, but it was rewarding.”

At that moment, Luciel’s eyes saw the bandages wrapped around Max’s hand.

“Oh, Mr.Max, are you hurt? You need treatment.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It looks like a slight scratch because of the glass. Count Gallius treated me.”

“But you’d better be treated properly.”

Luciel was worried and called the mage who was waiting outside and asked to use healing magic on Max.

“In order for crafts to be safely transported to the Imperial Castle, I think we need to use preservation magic to prevent it from being damaged. Please be meticulous.”

“Yes, Little Madam.”

Following Luciel’s spell, the mage carefully cast preservation magic on the flower lantern.

Luciel grabbed Max’s hand and said.

“Thank you very much for your hard work. I hope it will be an opportunity for everyone to know the beauty of glass crafts. I will let you know the results when I get back.”

In fact, Luciel had a belated idea.

It was about making a bookmark.

If she gets attention with a flower lantern, she’ll get more reactions when she hands out the little flower bookmarks to the people who attended the salon.

But looking at Max’s injured hand, she was unable to speak.

‘It’s a little sad, but I can’t help it. A flower lantern is enough.’

But Max, noticing this, moved his hand saying it was okay.

“……My hands are all right.”

“No. You’ve worked hard, I want you to rest well, now.”

“Little Madam, you need something else, don’t you? Just tell me a little bit.”

“Yes, I know how to handle glass after all. I can help!”

Ellington said so, and Gallius also noticed Luciel’s hesitation.

“…….”

‘Did everyone read my expression?’

As she turned her head in embarrassment, something caught her eye. It was pieces of petals that Max had left after making several flowers over and over again.

“Ah, these are the leftovers after making it many times over. Be careful to not touch it. I will throw it away or collect it again and melt it in a kiln.”

“… uh, this It’s a waste to just throw it away. The shape and color are beautiful. So, Mr. Max, can you make a bookmark with these petals?”

“Oh, isn’t’ that a good idea? Of course. I don’t think it will take long.”

“…… I’ll help too.”

Gallius rolled up his sleeves, and Ellington sniffed.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I want you to buy me a meal.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Thus, it was near midnight when the glass crafts for the summer night salon were finished, from flower lanterns to flower bookmarks.

“You have worked very hard today. Mr. Max, go back to Ivnak’s workshop and get some rest. If the response is good, we will discuss the next schedule. Thank you, Count Gallius, for passing on the skills while you were busy.”

“Yes, I learned a lot from Count Gallius in this studio. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I will put the skills you have given me to good use in glass crafts.”

Max nodded to Gallius.

“……Finally, the annoying guys won’t come. No, I think it’s not over yet, right?”

Gallius said with a look of regret in his heart.

“That’s right. We have to wait and see what the reaction will be like. Please wait a little longer.”

“Even if there are no results, I think I’ve had a great experience.”

Luciel handed Max a bag of gold coins.

“It may take a while for the results to come out. But since Mr. Max is talented, there will be definitely good results.”

Max’s eyes widened when he saw the gold coin.

“Princess, this is……The Duke also gave sponsorship to Hamel’s workshop, didn’t he?”

“That’s the Duke’s money, and this is my money. I want to reward you for your hard work, so please accept it.”

“……But there is nothing yet.”

He looked thrilled and Luciel’s small hand held his hand.

“The way I see him, Mr. Max is going to shine more and more, and you’re going to be a big hit no matter what you do. Then, I should give this much as a sign of support, right?”

“Thank you, really. Without the Princess, I would not have thought of doing this.”

“It’s still too early to say thank you.”

“Yes, I hope you have a good visit to the Imperial Palace.”

“If you don’t bring good results, don’t think about coming back, okay?”

“……Sniff, you are too much. I’ll make it work!”

As Max and Gallius saw her off, Luciel smiled broadly and waved her hand.

‘I hope it leads to good results, not just for me, but for those who have worked hard.’

Luciel realized again that a lot rested on her little shoulders. On their way back, Ellington hinted.

“Little Madam, it will be a lot of pressure, but you will do well. Even if you look weak, I know that you are stronger than anyone else. More than anyone else in Bellstein, I’m afraid.”

Ellington looked at her with proud eyes and spoke so but Luciel shook her head.

“……That’s not true. When I first came to Bellstein, I was literally……a small and scrawny kid.”

“You were a snow rabbit who loved parfait.”

“Pff……that’s right.”

“You have tamed many people with that image. Both the terrifying Duke and former Duke of Bellstein. Is that all? Elder Madam who is a dragon, Madam, who is reserved, even Young Master Kizef and Young Master Leoni. So Little Madam must be the strongest in Bellstein.”

Luciel asked back with a grin.

“Why are there so many compliments today?”

“I just wanted to tell you that I had fun while helping out with work, and if you do anything else, I’d like to help you with that. I have never felt this way before you.”

At Ellington’s serious remark, Luciel blinked. She was momentarily embarrassed in a loss for what to do.

I wonder if that means you want to be mine. But isn’t he the most capable aide to the current Duke?

“Huh? That……Wait a minute.”

“When was the last time you seduced me with candy, Little Madam? So take responsibility. I will assist you with all my heart and soul.”

“……Are you going to be my person? Ellington already has a master. If you betray him, Dad will…”

He wouldn’t let you go. As Luciel swallowed her words, Ellington’s green eyes widened.

“No, it is not even in my dreams to betray his Grace. In fact, I have a personal interest in being your aide. Because if it was the Little Madam, I thought you would do all kinds of things. Besides, from the beginning, I have been commanded by His Grace to help you in this glass craft job.”

“Ah, so that’s what it was. It feels good to be praised by a genius.”

Luciel sighed in relief and swept her chest.

“Well, I look forward to working with you in the future, Ellington.”

Luciel reached her small hand like a maple leaf and asked for a handshake.