If You Conquer Me - Chapter 13
“….”
Her blue eyes widened.
It had been some time since the delphinium had been picked, and its petals were now completely wilted. It was an entirely ordinary flower. The maids might have dropped it while briefly resting, hiding from their masters. But…
It’s Christian.
Ophelia was certain. The signal she had sent had been noticed, and her knight had come. She was sure of it, because this flower… was a promise between them.
“Teach me swordsmanship, okay?”
When Ophelia was still a young girl, she had stubbornly insisted on learning, despite her lack of knowledge.
“But, Princess, swordsmanship…?”
Christian had hesitated, looking confused. Of course, Ophelia could now fully understand Christian’s position.
Ascanior placed the highest importance on divine power. Even after the confirmation that Ophelia had no divine power, the Queen had spent a long time trying to awaken her youngest daughter’s divine ability, going to great lengths.
In that environment, it must have been jarring for the neglected princess to suddenly insist on learning swordsmanship. As a guard knight, Christian must have been understandably taken aback. But in the end, Christian had given in to her stubbornness.
“Teaching you swordsmanship will be our secret. Understood?”
Instead of drinking tea, the two of them would secretly train with wooden swords, just the two of them.
The flower placed on the windowsill in her bedroom was the signal. When a flower was placed there, it meant that swordsmanship training was possible that day. So, Ophelia would go to bed hoping the flower would be on the windowsill.
And now, remembering those times, Ophelia gently picked up the wilted delphinium.
Even though it had withered, its soft petals and graceful purple color still reminded her of Christian. Her ever-kind guardian knight.
“I will find you somehow.”
It was as if she could hear his gentle voice. Just then, as Ophelia became lost in thought, she was interrupted.
“Lady Leticia.”
Someone called her name suddenly. Startled, Ophelia turned around. Behind her stood an elderly maid. She was one of the long-time servants from the Count Cornelli’s mansion.
I think… she’s the maid who used to serve the Countess.
During the requisition of Count Cornelli’s mansion, the surviving Countess had temporarily gone to her family’s house. Naturally, the maid had followed to serve her, but unexpectedly, Hugo had stopped her.
“No. I need someone to look after Leticia.”
Since then, she has been attending to Ophelia.
She doesn’t seem to like me very much.
Ophelia couldn’t really blame her. The maid had been forced to switch loyalties and had been displaced from serving her former mistress. Ophelia managed her expression and calmly asked,
“What is it?”
“The jeweler is here.”
“Again?”
Ophelia frowned without realizing it. Recently, Hugo had been keeping his promises to her.
“I plan to spread this rumor.”
“That I’ve lost my mind over some gladiator slave and can’t think straight.”
It was about spreading that very rumor. Thanks to that, Ophelia, being hounded by jewelers, cobblers, and all sorts of others, was utterly exhausted.
I suppose paying for things is the easiest way to spread rumors.
Ophelia thought cynically. At the same time, the maid added in a flat voice,
“Also, the tailor sent someone to take measurements. The cobbler is waiting as well.”
“…I see.”
Ophelia sighed and turned her body. After all, she wasn’t in a position to do much about it.
“….”
“….”
The entire way back to Count Cornelli’s mansion, there was a heavy silence between them. Then, the maid spoke first in a matter-of-fact tone.
“It seems the Grand Duke really cherishes you, Lady Leticia.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
