In the Doghouse - Chapter 100
Frugality was a great virtue, but it could also be mistaken for stinginess. She needed to be more expansive—both privately and publicly.
“It’s not easy to do your first job this well. This reward is also a way of encouraging you to work even harder in the future.”
He explained the clear distinction between public funds used within the budget and personal funds that could be freely spent, even bringing up the close aides she had hired and her young nephews. When he mentioned that she could always use the money for charity later if it made her feel better, Courtney finally relented.
“Alright, I’ll go and thank His Majesty for the gift.”
“Yes, let’s go together.”
Having achieved his goal, Richard was delighted on her behalf.
Richard had always been her biggest supporter, but the praise coming from others carried more weight. In the Imperial Palace, no one treated her lightly anymore, and the once-awkward servants had become more familiar. Then there was the overwhelming applause from the balcony.
Courtney was slowly growing more confident. The position that once felt ill-fitting and excessive now felt more comfortable. She even believed she could hold her own at an imperial banquet. It was a change that anyone would deem favorable.
As they walked down the corridor together, Courtney suddenly stopped. Richard looked at her, puzzled, and she smiled brightly.
“That thing we talked about… shall we do it?”
“What?”
“Going to the festival.”
Richard’s eyes widened in surprise, and then his entire face lit up with excitement.
“Yes! I’ll make the preparations immediately!”
“No, let’s just go quietly, just the two of us.”
“Understood.”
Richard nodded eagerly, his grin refusing to fade. Was he really that happy? Courtney felt a little embarrassed and hurried her steps. He followed closely behind, his voice filled with excitement.
“I’m really looking forward to this. Taking a walk outside the castle with you, Master.”
Courtney suddenly turned around, glaring at him. The word “walk” sounded strange when paired with “Master”. She quickly looked around, her face flushing as she shouted.
“It’s not a walk—it’s a date!”
“That too.”
Richard’s bright smile left Courtney at a loss for words. She snorted loudly and quickened her pace. After all, it was festival time.
* * *
From the start, the couple faced considerable challenges with their outing.
First, deciding on their outfits wasn’t easy. Courtney’s initial plan for them to wear commoner clothes was immediately scrapped. No matter what Richard wore, he still looked unmistakably like a prince in disguise. Even changing his hair color with a magical pin didn’t help.
Frustrated, Courtney muttered to herself.
“This is ridiculous.”
“I’m sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
She shook her head. After all, it wasn’t his fault for being too handsome.
Next, Isabella suggested dressing him in an imperial guard’s uniform, which suited him. But the problem this time was still his face. Walking through the streets in that outfit would surely cause a stir, with everyone whispering about the handsome knight. Besides, he had already appeared before the public just a few days ago, so there was a good chance some people would recognize him.
Courtney, feeling a bit defeated, sighed.
“Maybe we should just give up on going.”
Richard’s face instantly fell, his disappointment palpable. He pointed to the black robe he had prepared.
“How about we just use this?”
“That looks way too suspicious.”
Her sharp tone made Richard fall silent. A suspicious-looking outfit for a date? As Courtney paced around, frustrated, Rebecca cautiously raised her hand.
“Your Highness, I have an idea…”
Everyone in the room turned their attention to Rebecca, but she hesitated, too nervous to speak. Courtney urged her to continue.
“Just say it quickly.”
“It’s… quite bold…”
“You’re forgiven for anything,” Richard quickly offered, desperate for a solution.
His earnest gaze left Rebecca no choice but to continue.
“W-What if Your Highness… wore a dress…?”
Courtney, who was still in commoner clothes, looked down at herself, confused. Was that really such a shocking suggestion? No one quite understood what Rebecca meant.
Taking a deep breath, Rebecca nervously pointed at Richard.
“If His Highness wears a dress… no one would recognize him, right?”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Courtney’s eyes slowly scanned Richard from head to toe. A cold sweat trickled down his back.
He knew. There was no escaping this now.
* * *
Though the Imperial Palace was abuzz with festival excitement, stepping out into the streets revealed an even more vibrant atmosphere. Whether before or after becoming the Crown Princess, this was Courtney’s first time truly experiencing the festival. She eagerly scanned the market stalls lining the alleyways.
What caught her eye were the brightly colored, handmade trinkets. As she made her way over, she paused and looked back. Richard, dressed for the outing, was lagging far behind. She waved at him, urging him to catch up.
“Riri, come quickly!”
Following on the heels of ‘Sasha’, now came ‘Riri’.
Richard’s expression stiffened at being treated like a young miss rather than the Crown Prince. His grip on the parasol tightened.
He let out a sigh and reluctantly walked toward her, the blue dress he wore fluttering with each step. He still wasn’t used to the way the fabric clung to his legs.
