The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 58
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
Wearing earrings, a necklace, a ring, and even a hat, he looked remarkably well put-together. Far from appearing strange or excessive, the ensemble suited him perfectly.
His skin was well cared for and pale, his eyelashes long, and his hair had a fine texture.
Yes, he was the Shadroch man she knew well.
‘But… wait. Was Nick always so… slender?’
It seemed like he could do with some exercise.
Among the delicate Shadroch women, he stood out as a man, but among the bulky and muscular Niflheim knights, it was somewhat different.
Why did he look as though a slight push could knock him over?
His health was genuinely a concern for her.
“Everyone wanted to send gifts, but someone had to deliver them. It’s too far and dangerous for a lady to travel, and of course, the King couldn’t come in person. I was more than eager to volunteer.”
“Ah… Brother. How is my brother? Is he well?”
“Of course, he’s perfectly fine. He was very worried when he heard about the situation here. He wanted to gift an entire warehouse, so it was quite the task to dissuade him. I couldn’t possibly bring that much.”
Nicholas joked. Amber burst out laughing and then finally turned to Igmeyer.
“Igmeyer. Though you’ve probably already met, let me introduce him again. This is Young Marquis Nicholas, my childhood friend.”
“Hmm, childhood friend, you say.”
“Yes. We met when we were six? We’ve been close since then.”
Nicholas’s thoughtful nature was just as she remembered, greatly felt in his mention of ‘gifts’.
His words conveyed concern about the situation here, yet he never explicitly said ‘the support goods requested by the Princess’. He refrained from doing so, perhaps worried about any negative impact it might have on her.
“…We can’t just leave a guest who brought gifts outside. Let’s go to the castle and talk.”
Igmeyer smiled, seemingly welcoming, but the involuntary twitching of his facial muscles as he feigned enthusiasm for the unexpected guest was amusing.
* * *
“What? You’ve become an official doctor?”
“Yes, look at this. My license.”
“Really! Wow, that’s amazing. It feels like just yesterday you were trying so hard to treat injured animals.”
The kitchen, aware of the special dinner guest, seemed particularly tense, making the evening meal quite lavish.
During the meal, Nicholas continuously introduced topics of conversation, mostly engaging with Amber but occasionally seeking Igmeyer’s input to ease any awkwardness.
It was a display of Shadroch diplomacy.
“Actually, I’ve been wanting to show this to you in the presence of the Grand Duke.”
As dessert was served, Nicholas snapped his fingers. A servant who had been waiting behind hurried forward with a small chest.
Upon seeing the silver-crafted, ancient chest, Amber’s eyes widened in surprise.
Something bubbled up from the depths of her forgotten memories.
“Could this be…?”
“Yes. It’s the chest that the late queen cherished, found by His Majesty during a major cleaning.”
The chest, adorned with the peach tree motif symbolizing Shadroch, had a very complex locking mechanism.
Yet, Amber easily unlocked it and lifted the lid.
“This is…”
A moment later. A tear rolled down Amber’s cheek.
Her chest felt hot and the overwhelming feeling made it impossible for her not to cry.
“It’s ….. baby clothes…”
“Yes. These are the clothes the Grand Duchess wore as a baby.”
“I can’t believe my mother kept these.”
“Perhaps she intended to show them to the Grand Duchess when you had your own child.”
Nicholas whispered, as if offering comfort.
Without thinking to wipe away her tears, Amber’s hands trembled as she gently held the baby clothes. She was afraid that they might tear if she applied too much force. Carefully unfolding them revealed the tiny garments.
“They’re so small. You wore these?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Even Igmeyer, usually quick to tease or complain, paused to show interest this time.
“I often heard stories about how I was much smaller than most babies and that it was a concern. It seems those stories were true. The clothes are tiny.”
After caressing the soft cotton clothes several times, Amber handed them to Igmeyer, hoping he would become familiar with such things as the future father of the baby.
“Hmm, indeed. It’s small.”
“A baby that fits into these would be only about the size of two of your palms.”
“…Hmm.”
As if he was imagining it, Igmeyer looked perplexed as he spread his palms. Then squinted as if confused, tilting his head.
“So, an infant is essentially a creature that’s all body and head.”
“Right, Igmeyer. They’re two heads tall.”
“Two heads…?”
“That’s how they grow. Haven’t you ever seen a baby?”
“No.”
His startled reaction amused Amber so much that she laughed.
