Episode 15
The princess’s reading club in the capital was very famous.
The age group ranged from sixteen to as much as twenty-five.
Unmarried ladies from noble families, including those of my age group, were members.
Although it was called a reading club, it included various gossips, exotic fabrics and items easily obtained, and occasionally the honor of planning royal events hosted by the princess, with a bonus of touring the palace.
As one of the groups leading the trends in the empire, any unmarried noblewoman wanted to join, despite the high competition. There were no clear criteria for becoming a member, but the princess invited those she wanted at times, mostly those close to her or well-known figures in social circles.
I didn’t meet either of the two conditions.
Was I invited here with just a nod from the crown prince?
My thoughts became complicated.
I read the words on the invitation with a troubled gaze.
“Miss…”
“Yes?”
A maid, who had been whispering nearby, approached with a reminiscent face.
“If I may, regarding the princess’s…”
“I need to send a reply. Could you bring me some good-quality paper and a pen?”
“Yes…”
I quietly stared at the maid, who was turning away with a dissatisfied voice.
The people by my side change every two years, and this time, the maid seemed rude.
Even if I don’t make an immediate decision, I thought I should tell the head maid about it later, turning my head sideways.
As I turned my head, I suddenly caught a scent at the tip of my nose.
The source was the letter I received from the princess.
The sweet scent of flowers emanated from the scented letter.
Suddenly, I remembered what the princess’s reading club was being called.
There was an official name, but it was too long and difficult to pronounce, so most people referred to the gathering as the “Princess’s Greenhouse.”
I used to call it that too.
Attending the meeting and becoming a member were different things.
It wasn’t a big deal to be invited to attend once or twice.
However, if one became a member, especially if it was a gathering that the capital paid attention to, it was even more significant.
Was the Princess’s reading club a danger to me, who sought not to attract attention?
Or could it be a lifeline that would save me?
I concluded that even if I pondered alone, nothing would change.
I got up to ask Igon for his opinion.
Coincidentally, I heard that he had no special schedule and was holed up in his office today.
“I should go to the Duke.”
Just as I said that while holding a letter and pen, a maid approached.
Rubbing my stiff neck, I wondered what in the world.
Did it have to become such a grand affair just to get back a pair of shoes?
As I walked towards the office, I suddenly remembered that Eunice would also be attending the reading club.
Igon’s interest in her that he had shown at the banquet, whether it was fake or not, was never discussed with me, nor did he inquire about Eunice or talk about her.
Unconsciously, I found relief in that and silently chuckled at my own complacency.
*Knock, knock.*
“The lady has arrived.”
The response to the servant’s introduction came quickly, instructing me to enter from inside.
After standing aside for a moment, I heard the sound of the door closing behind me when I took a few steps forward.
I thought Igon would be sitting at the office desk, but I couldn’t see him.
I felt a breeze on my right cheek, and I noticed that the terrace was open.
A subtle fragrance carried by the gentle wind reached me.
As Igon, holding a teacup at his fingertips, slowly walked out from the open window, I saw that the top five or six buttons that usually filled up to his neck were casually undone, and the sleeves were rolled up.
Because of this, the wristbone of his right hand, which lightly tapped the armrest, looked more pronounced.
The slightly undone attire created a somewhat peculiar atmosphere, unlike the usual.
It didn’t look lazy, but rather than appearing lethargic, it had an unusual charm.
His eyes were shining more sharply than usual, as if he was taking a break.
It could be seen as good timing or bad timing.
“Eve.”
Igon, who saw me standing in the middle of the room, stretched his lips and smiled.
“It’s not like you came to cheer up the hardworking husband… What’s the matter?”
“Princess sent an invitation.”
For a moment, one of Igon’s eyebrows went up and quickly returned to its place.
It was a brief moment, but it was discernible.
“Shall we sit and talk?”
I got up and moved to the seat Igon indicated, taking out the invitation I brought with me.
Igon, who quickly scanned the contents of the invitation he received, burst into a small laugh.
“The princess is quite ambitious.”
A reading club.
Igon leaned back against the back of the chair, tapping the armrest lightly with his fingers.
He looked like someone who was enjoying a leisurely moment but seemed to be very bothered, like someone irritated.
“Tea?”
As he brushed back the hair that had come down, Igon asked.
I nodded in response to the gentle smile and affectionate question.
Igon knocked on the table, signaling the servant, but he refused the offer of tea brought to him as well.
“I’m fine.”
He looked at the servant’s hand reaching out to pour the tea with a fleeting gaze and then withdrew his hand.
“Done with mine.”
Keeping an eye on the master’s mood, the servant retracted the hand that had been extended.
They quietly left the room.
I sipped my tea quietly, and the conversation paused.
I could hear the curtains rustling against each other in the wind.
He, sitting cross-legged, placed his finger on the armrest with a look that seemed to observe “me drinking tea.”
“Eve, what do you think? Do you want to go?”
If I didn’t want to go, it would be a lie.
There was a mix of difficulty and fear in meeting new people, along with the expectation of possibly meeting someone I liked.
No, perhaps, besides those ordinary reasons, there was one more important reason left for me.
Eunice.
Now that I kept encountering her, it was impossible to avoid her anymore.
“Hmm? If you had no intention, you wouldn’t have brought this to me.”
Anyway, Igon said so, smiling.
“Nevertheless, your opinion is more important than anything else, so feel free to speak.”
I expected a flat-out refusal, but the answer was different from what I anticipated.
A few years ago, in a similar situation, he had told me not to go, but now it seemed different.
If Igon’s thoughts are like that…
After careful consideration, he put down the teacup.
He nodded slowly, up and down.
“Since there is no proper reason to refuse the invitation, I’ll attend the gathering for now.”
Igon, who heard the answer, smiled faintly.
It was a smile that seemed to say he expected that.
“Sure, attend the gathering, and if you don’t like it, it’s okay to find an excuse later, like an illness.”
Tapping the back of my hand with a finger, Igon smiled.
“You need to prepare a dress for the gathering. Call the dressmaker.”
“A dress…?”
“Yes, they value appearances a lot. And get some new jewelry.”
Igon spoke exemplary words, as if he were becoming a truly considerate husband.
The cold glint in his eyes, combined with the affectionate words, created a sense of discomfort.
Ignoring those things slightly, I nodded in agreement with Igon’s words.
“Thank you for caring.”
Although I said thanks as a formality, almost simultaneously, I heard a knocking sound on the door.
Someone was looking for Igon behind the door.
If it wasn’t urgent, there was no reason to disturb the Duke’s siblings.
I realized that it took up a lot of the busy Duke’s time.
As I got up from my seat, Igon stood up as well, guiding me to the door.
He raised my hand to his lips and gazed into my eyes for a moment.
“May you have a peaceful day today…”
Unable to endure the clinging gaze, I greeted first.
“Evelyn Rodore.”
Calling my name, Igon wrapped his arms around me.
I trembled without realizing it.
“May you be the same.”
He said so, smiled warmly, and kissed my cheek.
Releasing my hand, he opened the door and escorted me out.
Exiting the office and walking through the corridor, I tilted my head.
Was it really a good decision?
* * *
After sending a positive response to the princess, a reply came back shortly.
It was a routine expression of gratitude and some information about the dress code.
For this gathering, in consideration of me being a newcomer, they had decided only on matching the color, leaving other details undecided. Was that really consideration?
Although I was anxious about what to wear and what to put on, I left those worries to the dressmaker.
I had too many other things to think about.
I attended small gatherings as usual, took classes, and prepared an outing dress for the gathering.
The dressmaker and maids seemed more enthusiastic and excited than me.
Finally, following the latest trend in the capital, a simple yet elegant yellow dress for outings was completed.
It didn’t stand out much, but strangely, it attracted attention.
Smiling with satisfaction, as I touched the hem, the dressmaker mentioned that they put a lot of effort into it.
She was usually a reserved person.
The fact that she initiated a conversation with me was surprising enough.
Looking at me with slightly surprised eyes, the dressmaker mentioned that if all the young ladies in the capital dream of becoming a part of ‘The Princess’s Greenhouse,’ I must be very pleased.
Well…
As a minor noble, would I really fit in there?
Especially when it’s a gathering I’m attending because of the crown prince?
Whenever such thoughts crossed my mind, I shook my head to dispel the sinking feeling in my chest.
Time flowed like water, and eventually, the morning of the day arrived.
Thank you. 😘♥️