The Life of Maria Lewellin Chapter 12

“Yes, of course.”

 

The door soon opened and a middle-aged lady came in. It was a maid named Marilyn, the one who took care of me from the first day.

 

Is it time for dinner already?

 

I looked up at Marilyn with hopeful eyes but her next words made me froze up for a moment.

 

“His Royal Highness has a message. He said he wants to have dinner with Miss Maria tonight.”

 

*gulp*

 

“…..is that so?”

 

I replied awkwardly with a smile. We haven't even seen each other for a while. What's this all of a sudden?

 

I was actually starting to feel anxious because I haven't seen him for a while and he might have already forgotten my existence, but fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

“Then I'll help you prepare for the meal.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

And just in time, other maids rushed into the room.

'Why, what's wrong with you?'

My pupils shook frantically. Then I could hear Merlin's solemn voice standing next to me.

“Let's get started.”

The dress that I was wearing came off in no time and I was made to wear a much more colorful and flashy dress.

“Uhm, excuse me…. “

“Sit this way, please.”

Is her name Linda? I think she's the leader of the maids, she pointed to an antique chair.

I actually feel good to hear ' Sit down' if only I'm not being enforced to do it.

She skillfully led me into a chair and began to comb my hair.

Other maids filled my wrists and fingers with various accessories. Then something fragrant was applied around the neck.

The battle ended in a flash. In the middle of the night I looked at Marilyn with a bewildered eye

“Didn't you say that I was going to have dinner with the Crown Prince?”

“That's right.”

“But what is going on here? What's with this fancy dress…. “

I'm wearing a purple dress right now. My shoulders and collarbone were exposed. Even if it was a dress, the skirt was as grand as a wedding dress that I couldn't even see the chair I'm sitting on.

Then Marilyn made an embarrassed face.

“Does the dress not suit your taste? I'll get another one right away.”

“No, no! I like it. I was just asking why you're suddenly dressing me up.”

'Are you sure you don't know?'

Marilyn gave me a look that says something like that. I returned it with a more confused look and she proceeded to explain.

“You're going to be eating with the Crown Prince, so it's only natural to do this. To be honest, this is still lacking in my opinion, but I'm holding it in because I know Miss Maria doesn't like to decorate yourself much.”

It was a tone that seemed to tell the obvious. But my thoughts were quite different from Marilyn's.

I basically like to decorate myself and put on makeup, but the problem was, they went overboard.

During my first day here, they made me wear a disc-like fancy necklace and it felt like my head was gonna fall off, I didn't know what to do.

Since then I have declined any heavy ornaments and boldly refused to wear a corset because I can't breathe when I wear it.

The maids seemed very surprised, but they all didn't forces me while Marilyn asked me if I'm not really going to wear it.

Anyway, seeing that I had to work so hard to dress up for the reason that I had to eat with someone made me remember that Ains had a high position. I'm familiar with the word crown prince, but I always forget the power that comes with that title.

“It's done.”

The maid, who smoothed my hair for the last time, stepped aside.

Marilyn who's been watching from the side, scanned me up and down. She analyzed me sharply like she's picking fresh vegetables at the market, then she nodded as if telling me I passed.

Then we proceeded to the dining room.

Marilyn, who came with me, led me to one of the chairs.

“Sit this way, please.”

It was the left-hand seat nearest to the top seat. To put it in a modern way, it's where the second-in-command that assist the chairman was likely to sit down.

“Your Royal Highness will be here soon. Please wait a moment.”

Marilyn went back, but the maids who came with her remained. I sat in a chair and looked around like a habit.

A burdensome white tablecloth, the delicate and colorful chandeliers, and even the decorations on the fireplace.

Most of them are the same as I saw this morning, but there were also new additions. Now, there's a vase full of voracious flowers and a silver candlestick decorating the table.

How long has it been? Even though I've been waiting here for quite a long time already, Ains still hasn't showed up.

(t/n: wow he really likes to make her wait. Rude)

You're not planning to stand me up, are you?

(t/n: 'stand up/ stood up' means not showing up to an agreed appointment)

I was just starting to seriously doubt him when he finally came into the dining room.

I hurriedly stood up of my seat. I still don't know how to greet people properly here, but I still acted sensibly because I had experience in socializing.

“You arrived.”

“You came early.”

I'm early? Aren't you the one who's late?

His face didn't seem to tell a lie. At the same time, Marilyn's face flashed through my mind.

A strict, smart person like her who had spent time preparing me quickly, can't be lying too.

Well, it's not like complaining would do anything good in the first place. The fact that my opponent who made me wait has a great position remains unchanged.

'By the way, why did he arrange this? If he had something to say, he could have just say it in my face.'

I thought internally, but I could feel a gaze on me from somewhere. I turned my head and saw Ains was looking at me.

Why are you looking at me like that?

I almost ask out loud, but I held it in because I don't want to look like I'm asking for a fight so, I kept staring at him instead.

Hmmm, he looks good in his formal attire today as well.

Clothes really makes a man, his fair complexion match his uniform perfectly and it certainly looked cool. He definitely looks like a beautiful painting if he keep his mouth shut like this.

“You're all dressed up. And you're also wearing jewelries. I thought you were someone else.”

…why is he trying to pick a fight with me as soon as he opened his mouth?

I would've happily accept it if he laughed and said it in a playful way, but his expression were so blunt that I can't even hear it as a joke. I held myself back and opened my mouth.

“Yes. Madam. Marilyn helped me.”

“It's not “Madam,” it's “Mrs.” She's a high-ranking maid, but she's the one who's been assigned to take care of you so you don't have to be respectful.”

(t/n: there really is no english counterpart to these terms so in this case, madam is the more respectful term than mrs.)

Oh, yes. Really?

The corners of my mouth trembled. You didn't ask me to eat with you just to pick on me, did you?

Fortunately, my anger didn't last long. Because the doors opened and large trays of food filled the table one by one.

The smell of freshly baked bread was good like usual. The jam and butter, which will be served to add flavor, were equally delicious as well.

“Let's eat.”

“Yes, thank you for the meal.”

When I saw Ains holding a fork first, I quickly put a loaf of bread on my plate with tongs.

That's when the eating show started. The crunchy salad, a chewy noodle dish, A steak full of juicy meat. There was nothing that didn't suit my taste.

I was literally inhaling my food, then I suddenly heard Ains' voice.

“Maria.”

“Yes?”

I stopped eating and turned my head toward Ains. Maybe it was just my imagination, but he's looking at me with a strange expression again when my eyes met his.

“What's wrong?”

“….looks like you heard me.”

For a moment I didn't know what it meant, so I tilted my head. Of course I can hear him. We're sitting next to each other. What else are you trying to find fault with now?

“I thought you forgot that you were with me because you ate like crazy.”

“Everyone I ate with always says they're full after eating like a bird, but you didn't.”

I think I had a rough idea of what he was talking about. He seems to have shared a table with other ladies before, but it seems that I'm not doing the same things that they did back then.

“They must have been acting coy.”

“Acting coy?”

“Yes. You can't dine with the Crown Prince while acting like a beggar after all. Isn't it a common sense? How can a person who only ate like a bird, be full? Only birds can be satisfied with eating that little.”

Besides, those ladies probably can't eat even if they want to eat a lot because of their tight corsets.

“As you say but–“

“Yes?”

“Why aren't you acting shy in front of me?”

Are you really asking that because you don't know?

“It's because I don't want to.”

“Those people probably want to look good and be liked by the Crown Prince, but not me.”

What? Did I do well because I showed you this?

I looked at him with a smile on my face. He looks at me again with a strange face. Then he nodded and started to continue eating again.

It turned quiet. Only the rattling sounds of the utensils were heard from time to time, but the silence was not as awkward or burdensome as I thought.

Far from that, the food was so delicious that I can't help but smile. The wine the maid poured me is perfect for my taste as well.

“Did you say your hometown was Adela?”

“Yes.”

“You've come up all alone from far away. Your parents are surely worried.”

Will they…. worry?

I swallowed the bitterness and smiled.

“Of course they won't. I'm already a full-grown adult.”

Come to think of it, I was curious. How old is Ains?

I know he's young because he looks strong, but it's hard to pinpoint his exact age just by looking at his face. I think he's about the same age as Maria or a little older but…

Once I got curious, I kept thinking about it.

It's fine, right? It won't be a very rude question.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

I asked carefully, then he looked straight at me. He stared at me as if asking me to go on.

“How old are you?”

“Why are you asking?”

“I'm just curious.”

“You're not interested in me, were you?”

“What?”

“You said being coy means you want to be liked and wanted to look good for that someone. But you keep eating without a break.”

It's a shame that I couldn't deny that think I've been eating like a starving person for a few days, and I got a refill for my steak.

In fact, on the first day, I was shocked because the pit water was so thick as soon as I cut the meat, but when I asked them to cook it a little more, they brought me the right one and I really enjoyed it.

Well, anyway.

“You can be interested in someone even if you don't like them.”

“Does that mean you really have interest in me? “

“It's not like that, it's more like… just pure curiosity.”

“I'm twenty.”

It was a simple answer compared to the prying question. As expected, you're still young.

“By the way, Glick certainly got a lot better.”

I checked him this afternoon, and the wound was almost healed to the point where only a tiny trace was left. Thanks to that, Glick was finally able to eat as much big raw meat as he wanted today.

◆◈◆◈◆◈

Chapter end