When That Door Opens - Chapter 17
Yvonne followed the young Countess Alpen’s daughter’s gaze toward the entrance of the drawing room. A woman was just entering. She was tall with red hair and a beautiful but cold expression. The green dress she wore was embroidered with gold threads, making it seem like golden waves rippled around her with each step she took.
However, the most striking feature about the woman was not her beauty but the aura of dignity she exuded. Her straight posture and even the smallest gesture conveyed her noble status.
“Princess Amelia!”
“Princess… Amelia?”
Yvonne mumbled absentmindedly. Before she could fully grasp the meaning of the words, she found herself kneeling with her forehead touching the floor. Commoners could not raise their heads before royalty. In any case, just the presence of the princess was enough to make her dizzy and unable to stand properly.
“It’s been a long time.”
Yvonne heard Princess Amelia’s voice addressing the young Countess Alpen. It was calm and resonant.
“Y-Yes. It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Why the formal greeting, so unlike you? I was on my way to meet Dusk, but when I thought I heard your voice, I decided to come over. I hope I’m not intruding?”
“N-No, of course not. I was just having a brief conversation with the woman making my dress.”
Princess Amelia and young Countess Alpen conversed as if Yvonne did not exist. It was natural.
A commoner had no presence before royalty.
“Well, I happened to bring some fine tea leaves to the palace. Would you like to join me for a cup?”
“Of course! It would be an honor, Your Highness.”
While Princess Amelia called for the Countess’s butler to order tea, the young Countess Alpen discreetly signaled to Yvonne to leave quietly. Yvonne bowed in gratitude and, trying to make as little noise as possible, rose and left the drawing room.
“Whoever you are.”
At the sound of a voice behind her, Yvonne froze and dropped to her knees once more. A cold sweat trickled down her spine in fear. Perhaps she should have remained in place until the Princess had left. Then, a cool but warm voice fell upon her back.
“You too, have a cup of tea.”
“Do you mean…?”
Yvonne asked, not daring to lift her head.
“Your Highness, this woman is merely a commoner who makes clothes…”
The young Countess Alpen hurriedly spoke on Yvonne’s behalf, worried that her lack of familiarity with etiquette might cause her to make a mistake in front of the Princess.
“I know. But just because she is a dressmaker doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have a good cup of tea.”
Yvonne lifted her head in a daze and found herself staring at the Princess, who had a faint, but gentle smile tugging at the corner of her lips. The lips she had thought were only capable of being cold.
She is truly beautiful.
Yvonne couldn’t help but think that.
* * *
Whether it was truly an invitation to enjoy a good cup of tea, Princess Amelia did not look at Yvonne again after seating her across the table. Yvonne stared blankly at the steaming tea, occasionally glancing surreptitiously at the Princess.
With her long eyelashes lowered, savoring the tea, she seemed at ease. Even the young Countess Alpen, sitting beside her, looked more like a guest.
Are all nobles accustomed to others conforming to their ways, like this? Yvonne knew one other person who resembled the Princess in demeanor.
“How is Dusk these days…?”
“Even if he isn’t, our mother is…”
Excluded entirely from their conversation, Yvonne felt surprisingly comfortable. She even dared to sip her tea while glancing at the Princess over the rim of her cup.
At first, it was the beautiful dress the Princess was wearing that caught Yvonne’s eye. She kept silently admiring the elegance of the dress made from silk and velvet. Then, she suddenly noticed Princess Amelia’s hair color. It was similar to Yvonne’s own red hair.
However, while Yvonne’s hair, inherited from her mother, was a bright red that stood out everywhere, the Princess’s hair was closer to an elegant auburn. The hair, which must have been brushed several times by a palace maid since early morning, flowed softly below her waist.
She wondered if her hair would become as beautiful if she brushed it often.
As Yvonne was lost in that thought, it suddenly felt as if someone had removed their hands covering her ears, and she began to clearly hear the conversation between the Princess and the Countess.
