Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 10

The next day, Margravine Cladnier couldn’t help but laugh as Miesa ran into the living room and sprawled out on the carpet.

“Oh my, what on earth is on your face? Is that flour?”

“She was in the kitchen earlier…” Mrs. Dialle grumbled.

Margravine Cladnier nodded but made sure to remind her. “Alright. She can wander around the mansion, but the kitchen is dangerous with all the fire and knives, so it’s best if she stays out of there.”

While they were talking, Miesa, bored, began to fidget. Margravine Cladnier stood up.

“Miesa, if you’re bored, would you like to come to the temple with me?”

Though there was no verbal response, when the madam took her hand and gently led her, Miesa got up and followed. Margravine Cladnier slowed her pace to match the princess’s slow steps.

It had been a while since the princess had been outside the mansion, and she seemed to enjoy it, stopping occasionally to look at the garden and the ground. This extended their walk, and it took quite some time before they and the accompanying maids reached the temple.

The temple, which was built for the Cladnier family, was small but neat. Inside, the afternoon sunlight filtered through colorful stained glass windows, casting pretty hues on the floor. However, Miesa stopped at the doorway.

“Come on, let’s go inside and pray to the goddess over there.”

Miesa mumbled without even looking at the goddess statue. Her face had gone pale with fear.

Margravine Cladnier coaxed her with a gentle voice, “There’s nothing to be afraid of. The goddess is someone who watches over and protects us, a good presence.”

But Miesa continued to whimper and fidget. Seeing her fear, Margravine Cladnier couldn’t force her and ended up entrusting her to the maids outside.

“Please take care of Miesa. I came all this way, so I must at least say my prayers.”

Leaving those words, she entered the temple and knelt before the goddess statue in reverence.

“Where is my wife?”

“She fell into the creek in the garden before lunch, then washed up, had lunch, took a nap, and now she’s in the maids’ workroom.”

“The creek?”

Eirik frowned but relaxed as the butler continued explaining.

“Ah, I see. She was with my mother at the temple.”

She’s been quite active today. Smiling wryly, Eirik gave an order to the butler.

“Make sure there are always plenty of sweets on my desk. Replenish them daily.”

His wife wouldn’t have any reason to make a mess of his desk anymore. Smiling, Eirik headed to the maids’ workroom on the first floor of the west wing.

His wife was playing with a ball of yarn. The maids chatted among themselves but quickly stopped Miesa whenever she tried to put something in her mouth.

“Young madam, spit it out. That’s not for eating.”

“I have some leftover lace. Shall I tie it around your wrist like a bracelet?”

Eirik watched for a moment. Though she was his wife, he didn’t feel confident he could entertain her as well as the maids could.

“Young master.”

The maids jumped up in surprise at his silent approach, quickly standing to greet him. Eirik nodded in response, then went to take care of his wife.

It was time for dinner. Once the servants finished setting the table and left, only Eirik and Miesa remained, as usual.

Miesa obediently opened her mouth to accept the food Eirik offered. The evening seemed to be passing peacefully until it was time to serve the grilled eggplant.

As he held out a piece, Miesa suddenly turned her head just as the food touched her lips, causing it to fall.

“Oh, it’s alright. Let me give you another piece,” Eirik said, trying to reassure her.

The piece of eggplant had landed on her chest. Eirik hesitated, wondering whether to pick it up with his fork or his hand. Finally, he decided to use his hand.

As he carefully lifted the food with his fingertips, Miesa, like a baby bird, followed his fingers with her mouth wide open.

“This isn’t for eating. I’ll cut a new piece for you.”

Despite his words, she didn’t listen. Leaning across the table, she eventually caught his fingers in her mouth.

The warmth of her lips was a strange sensation. Startled by the sudden touch, Eirik jerked his hand back, inadvertently pushing her away.

Miesa yelped and twisted her mouth in discomfort. For a long moment, they stared at each other in shock.

Miesa broke the silence first. Apparently upset, she tipped over the bowl of stew, then reached for the soup and began drinking directly from the bowl. More of the soup ended up on the floor and her clothes than in her mouth, but she seemed satisfied. She rolled the empty bowl across the table, creating a mess around them.

Mrs. Maleca, peeking in to see if the meal had ended, shook her head at the chaotic scene and took Miesa away.

After her bath, Miesa lay clean and content on the bed. Eirik lay down at a distance from her.

However, while she quickly fell asleep, snoring softly, Eirik lay awake for a long time. The lingering sensation of her warm, soft touch on his fingers unsettled him.

“Damn it,” he muttered to himself.

Despite being his wife, she was like a child. She probably didn’t even realize he was her husband. He knew she wasn’t someone he should think of in a romantic way.

The unexpected physical contact with a woman for the first time left his mind in turmoil. Eirik clung to the edge of the bed, trying to sleep.

***

The next day, Eirik felt a heavy weight on his heart as he went to find his wife. Fortunately, seeing her in the bright daylight, she appeared more like a child or a small animal. When he saw her lying in the living room with cookie crumbs all over her face, the tension in his body eased.

“Miesa, did you have fun today?” he asked.

Margravine Cladnier laughed at her son. “You sound like a father checking on a child left with a nanny. Yes, Miesa had a good day.”

Eirik mechanically lifted Miesa into his arms. Just then, Margravine Cladnier seemed to remember something and stopped him.

“Oh, by the way, there’s a poetry reading this Wednesday. The mansion will be crowded, and I’m worried Miesa might be frightened.”

“Is it really necessary to hold the event… Isn’t it too much trouble?” Eirik asked.

“They will hunt for meat like hyenas, looking for weaknesses. We need to show them we are doing well.”

Miesa, nestled in Eirik’s arms, fiddled with the ornament on his chest and then spat out the cookie she had been chewing.

From Monday, two days before the event, the Cladnier mansion bustled with workers coming and going. The poetry reading, though grand in name, was essentially a gathering of influential families’ mistresses to discuss the corrupt royal family and other noble matters.

The Marchioness of Crispin and her only daughter, Rakane, would also be present. Though they couldn’t openly blame each other for the broken engagement, the atmosphere would undoubtedly be tense.

“Ah, Miesa, the greenhouse is finally ready. Would you like to go see it?” Margravine Cladnier called out as she spotted Miesa rubbing her head against the stairs.

Recently, Miesa had started to follow the margravine more willingly, so despite hesitating, she eventually stood up.

Knowing they were going outside, Mrs. Maleca, the royal maid, reluctantly followed.

The greenhouse, teeming with lush plants, seemed to forget the cold season outside. As soon as Margravine Cladnier entered, the butler and maids eagerly sought her opinion.

“Madam, it’s almost March. Do we still need a large brazier in the greenhouse?” one asked.

“It’s colder than usual, so prepare a small brazier just in case,” she replied, giving various instructions while keeping an eye on Miesa. The girl showed interest only in the colorful flowers, allowing the margravine to turn back to the butler with peace of mind.

While everyone busily moved about, a maid carrying a birdcage hurried out from the back of the greenhouse. No one paid it much attention until—

“Aaahhhh!”

A terrifying scream pierced the air, sending a chill through the greenhouse. Margravine Cladnier spun around to find Miesa collapsed on the floor, mouth agape.

Miesa trembled violently, her face pale as she continued to scream. The attendants nearby could only stand helplessly, unsure of what to do.