CH 31

Madame Lientil, who didn’t know Charelize would say something like that, was so surprised that she widened her eyes. She couldn’t close her gasping mouth for several seconds. Her momentary bewilderment was clearly visible on her face.

The coat of arms within the Elioter Empire was one of the symbols representing each family. It was a serious thing that was allowed only to the head of the family and their successors. Nobles didn’t allow their family crests to be embroidered by someone unless they had a close relationship from the trust that had been built for a long time.

It had been a long tradition for a designer who was allowed to embroider the crest on a cape or handkerchief to harmoniously decorate a flower symbolizing themselves with their family crest.

“As you know, the red cloak worn during my coming-of-age ceremony was the last piece Viscountess Rugal made.”

“The symbol of Madame Pone… I have heard of it because it’s said to be the end of two gypsophilas.”

“Even at my mother’s last moment, I’ve never taken it out again.”

Charelize’s face had an expression that looked somewhat lonely.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask the reason?”

When the name of Viscountess Rugal, one of the people Madame Lientil admired, she became curious and asked the reason.

“Do you know why Viscountess Rugal’s symbol was two gypsophilas, and why did she represent herself with that?”

“The flower language of gypsophila… I know it mean as success in love and a clear mind. I’m sorry, but I don’t know what’s in Madame Pone’s heart.”

“They say the two gypsophila represent her birth mother, who passed away due to postpartum illness, and her stepmother, who later married her father.”

* * *

In the past, a few days before Charelize’s coming-of-age ceremony.

“Oh my gosh… Viscountess Rugal, did you come all the way here yourself?”

“I see the Princess. May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach you.”

“May Viscountess Rugal be protected too. Please take a seat.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Charelize had already known from her mother that Viscountess Rugal would make the cape for her coming-of-age ceremony. She was bewildered and apologetic at the same time when Viscountess Rugal, who had injured one of her legs and had difficulty walking, brought it to the Duchy.

“You could have made the servant do it. It must be tough for you.”

“It wasn’t tough at all, so you don’t have to worry.”

“But—”

“Princess didn’t know how happy I was throughout the whole time embroidering it,” said Viscountess Rugal with a pure smile like a little girl.

Charelize was absolutely amazed by that appearance.

“This is Rooibos tea. Please drink it.”

“Oh my, it’s from the Loshard estate, right?”

“…how did you know?”

“I can tell it apart because of its distinctive scent.”

Then, she served the well-known rooibos tea, which she usually preferred. Viscountess Rugal smiled as she slowly picked up the teacup and took a sip.

“Ah, come to think of it, I almost forgot. Please wait for a moment.”

“Has something happened…?”

Soon after, as if she remembered something she had forgotten, she clapped her hands lightly and said those words.

“For celebrating your 17th birthday, congratulations in advance on your coming-of-age ceremony.”

Viscountess Rugal took the box out of her pocket and handed it to Charelize.

“This… what is this?”

“It’s my little sincerity.”

She glanced at Charelize, who received it with a puzzled look. As Charelize opened the box with a careful touch, a well-folded handkerchief was placed inside.

“Handkerchief…?”

“I embroidered Adonis, Princess’s birth flower.”

“But… you must have been busy making the cape at my mother’s request…”

Charelize continued to touch her birth flower, which was embroidered on the handkerchief.

“It’s a pretty flower, both in appearance and meaning.”

“…is that so?”

“Yes. Eternal happiness, which everyone wants.”

Eternal happiness. They were awkward words for Charelize.

After that, only heavy air flowed through silence.

“I have a question for you.”

“You have… a question for me… what is it?”

Charelize, agonizing for a long time, made a big decision and asked.

“You voluntarily quit your job as the imperial designer…”

“Yes.”

“I heard that you refuse contracts offered by other nobles and don’t even accept private requests from your acquaintances.”

“…”

“Why did you receive my mother’s request?”

Pone de Rugal. Called Madame Pone or Viscountess Rugal. She was a commoner. Perhaps because of that, she was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a kind-hearted noble to enter Eralpier Academy.

She passed several exams and ended up becoming the first imperial designer. Soon after, with overwhelming skills that others couldn’t match, she created the perfect robe. Nevertheless, the label of ‘commoner’ that followed her like a tag could hardly be erased.

It was the same even when she received the title from the previous emperor. When Harbert IV ascended to the throne, she voluntarily left the imperial palace to live a quiet life. She refused several nobles who offered her contracts on good terms. Even at the request of her close acquaintance, she didn’t budge.

“Honestly, it’s not like I didn’t think of my personal relationship with the Duchess at all.”

“…”

“I never did it knowingly, but I have sinned against her.”

“…”

“During her days as a princess, she said that changing her dress several times was so annoying… She was frightened when she saw me and was busy avoiding me here and there…”

“…so my mother was like that.”

According to Viscountess Rugal, her mother’s childhood was very lively. She had never imagined it, so she couldn’t believe it.

“She guessed exactly what the two gypsophilas that symbolize me mean.”

“…”

“She said she wanted to be of strength for the Princess.”

“What does… that mean?”

“The day I was born is my birth mother’s death.”

“…”

“Thanks to my stepmother’s warm teachings, I could live with a clear mind.”

Viscountess Rugal said she could feel the maternal love from her stepmother, who truly cared for her daughter. She added that she did it because she thought she wouldn’t regret it even if she used the last of her two gypsophilas as Charelize’s cape.

* * *

“Just looking at the cape reminds me of my mother, who smiled at me during my coming-of-age ceremony.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay. It has become dull. As time passes, it’s worth forgetting as long as I don’t see it with my own eyes.”

When Madame Lientil was restless, Charelize quickly changed the subject.

“I’m also saying this because I don’t think I will regret if I grant Madame Lientil this chance.”

“Your Highness…”

Madame Lientil wiped away tears that fell without realizing it. The hidden stories of the person she admired were sad, but she was moved by Charelize’s words that she wouldn’t regret giving her a chance to do that.

Duke Marsetta was by no means an ordinary noble family. As one of the three dukes who had been with the Elioter Empire since it was a kingdom, its authority pierced the sky. Several of the successive heads of Duke Marsetta maintained their noble lineage by marrying neighboring royal families, including the imperial children of Elioter. So the family had immense power, equal shoulder to shoulder with the emperor.

She was allowed to make the coat of arms of Duke Marsetta and embroider it on its successor’s cape was proof that it could be recognized anywhere on the continent. As to prove that, it wasn’t long after she formally signed a contract with Charelize.

Madame Lientil even received an apology from Marchioness Limbel, who had been rude to her. Unlike before, fewer people bothered her. Nevertheless, many people still thought that her misfortune would be transferred to them because she gave birth to twins, which was considered cursed by Goddess Resina.

But the situation would be different if she embroidered the coat of arms for Duke Marsetta’s family with her own symbol. It wasn’t that she would be abandoned after helping a little, but she would become the real person of the little Duchess.

Madame Lientil’s husband, who had gone to war for the empire, returned shortly to the Goddess’s arms. Far from rewarding him, they said that a curse from Goddess Resina had been placed on him. In a moment, the sturdy fence that had been protecting her collapsed, and she was in a hopeless situation.

Even if her family was rumored to be cursed, she had to raise her two talkative children alone. The children would have to be left alone in a harsh world if she died. In order to survive, she opened a small dressing room using her old hobby and worked as the Countess at the same time. Of course, there were many times when it was difficult for her to endure, both physically and mentally.

“Eric! You can’t get on the desk! It’s dangerous, so come down quickly.”

“No!”

“Deron, why are you crying?”

“Brother took my toys…”

“You idiot. Can’t you even come up here?’

“Who are you calling an idiot! You can’t even write your own name yet!”

“Hey, do you really want to die?”

“Who wants to die!”

“Hey!”

“Eric, I told you not to use bad words. Hurry down and stand facing the wall.”

“I hate mom. Why does this only happen to me?”

“Because only Brother was wrong.”

“It’s your fault for being shorter than me.”

“You guys… Mom is having a hard time… Why don’t you listen to me…”

However, since she had children, she could survive. She wasn’t happy at all, but she hypnotized herself and endured day by day like that. Even though her husband’s eyes were already closed, she lived her life with her husband buried in her heart. Madame Lientil realized that there were people she should never forget during her life, no matter if it was only for a short time or for a long time.