Chapter 49

The day after the party. Elina was in the carriage of the Marquess's family, accompanied by Harubara, the Marquess's daughter. It was not easy for noble young ladies to walk around the town below, especially in such a crowded place. It would also be a burden on the guards, so it was common to enjoy the atmosphere from inside the carriage.

"This is the first time I'm going around with you, Lady Elina."

"Yes, that's right."

"Did you participate in the festival every year?"

"I did look around, but that was all."

Just watching from inside the carriage with her family. That was the town below the castle that Elina knew. The National Foundation Day was a period when the number of people increased anyway. As the Crown Prince's fiancée, she had never gone anywhere on her own. For Elina, this was her first time going around the town with a friend.

"With him too?"

"Yes, never. Last year, he came with Lillian, though."

Girard never invited Elina, saying he had official duties. As the Crown Prince, there was always the possibility of something happening. Elina didn't particularly mind not being invited. However, last year, Girard had appeared at the festival, accompanied by Lillian. When Lillian's name was mentioned, Harubara sighed.

"Ah... I'm sorry, Lady Harubara."

"Don't worry about it. It just lowered my opinion of him even more."

"Lady Harubara?"

"Last year, he didn't invite me either. He said he was going with her... In the end, he couldn't go with her because he lost that position to him... But now I realize that he was the worst fiancé for never inviting you even once."

Harubara used to enjoy the festival with her fiancé every year. When she was young, she would change her appearance to look like someone from a slightly wealthy merchant family, not quite a commoner. As she grew older, she would walk around confidently. Of course, there were always guards, so the time was limited, and they mostly enjoyed themselves inside the shops. Still, Harubara seemed to have had a good time.

Just listening to the story made Elina's face light up. At the same time, she felt a bit lonely, realizing how close Harubara and her fiancé had been. Harubara smiled, looking a bit troubled at Elina's complex expression.

"Thank you, Lady Elina. I feel a bit lonely now, but being able to go with you is also very pleasant for me."

"I'm very happy too. Thank you for inviting me."

"Let's enjoy it, Lady Elina."

"Yes."

This time, it was Harubara who invited her, so Elina left everything, including where they were going, to Harubara. Elina was not familiar with the town below the castle. In contrast, Harubara, despite being a Marquess's daughter, knew the town very well. The shops they visited all had private rooms, and some were places Elina knew. In the case of the Lithaard Duke's family, the shops usually delivered, so Elina didn't even know their locations. Seeing Harubara's extensive knowledge, Elina felt her own ignorance.

While having tea at a famous pastry shop, Elina couldn't help but sigh heavily.

"Lady Elina?"

"...I'm envious, Lady Harubara."

"Of me?"

"I live in this town, but I know very little about it. However, you know so much."

There are things you don't learn at school. This is one of them that Elina is now acutely aware of. It's not something you learn in the education for a queen. But Harubara, being a high-ranking noble young lady, knows these things.

"I also... want to know more. To be able to talk about more things."

"With... Prince Alvis?"

"Yes..."

Elina mentioned that Alvis had no time to visit the town below the castle because of his work. Harubara also knew that the Royal Guard patrolled during the National Foundation Day. He must have been working while feeling the festival atmosphere in the town below until last year. However, this year, he couldn't even go down to the town. Elina wanted to bring stories from the festival, but she lacked the foundation. Harubara could have talked about the differences from last year and perhaps even had some meaningful conversations.

"With my current knowledge, I'm not capable of conveying the atmosphere of the town..."

"Um... Lady Elina, I don't think you need to think so deeply about it."

"Am I overthinking it?"

"You are overthinking it. The festival is for enjoyment, so isn't it best to simply tell him what you enjoyed?"

"What I enjoyed..."

So far, what she enjoyed was having meals and shopping with Harubara, and being able to have conversations while having tea. Since she rarely went out with friends, everything felt fresh and enjoyable.

"But wouldn't Prince Alvis find that boring?"

Men, in Elina's experience, dislike hearing about shopping and such from women. Watching her parents, when her mother talked about buying dresses, her father only nodded, not looking particularly interested.

"That's the same with my parents... Ah, why don't you give him something memorable?"

"Something memorable?"

"I have a friend who is very skilled. I'm sure they offered special services during the National Foundation Day for memorabilia."

Clasping her hands as if it was a great idea, Harubara stood up. The place was not far from where they were. Pulled along by the excited Harubara, Elina hurried out of the shop.

What they bought there was a carved pen. And for Elina, she also bought a matching one for Alvis.