TPOTLPIM Chapter 17

Young ladies sat huddled together around a wooden round table, completely absorbed in something.

Each of the young ladies held white fabric, thread, and needles in their hands, busily crocheting lace.

"Let's make them pretty and attach them to our hats as a symbol of our reading club."

"Ugh, if we want to make them big enough to attach to hats, it'll take months."

Lady Emelita, who was slow with her hands, squinted as she wrestled with her tattered pattern.

"Haha, Emelita! Are we using the same pattern? Why does yours look like this!"

"Ah, I'm ruined. But it's not just me - you all know that everyone's shapes are a little different right now, don't you?"

The young ladies were busy giggling endlessly over each other's results.

No matter how much they focused on lace-making, there was no way chatter could be left out.

Before they knew it, the young ladies were passionately heating up over talk of the equestrian competition that had suddenly approached just ten days away.

"Lord Lauren is said to be a newly rising championship candidate."

"Prince Dant is also sharpening his blade for this competition. Something about restoring honor that's been tarnished these past few years."

"Ugh, Lord Crolyn? If that was his thinking, he should have quit drinking ages ago. He's decent-looking, so why does he behave like that?"

"Exactly? Whether he soars on horseback or not, I despise drunkards."

For once, all the young ladies gathered in that place reached complete agreement, and a deep sense of camaraderie formed.

"Come to think of it, Lord Teros won't be participating this year either, right?"

At the name that suddenly jumped out, Cecilia was startled with a jolt. When gazes that seemed to say 'don't you naturally know the answer?' were fixed on her, she reluctantly opened her mouth.

"Ah, Lord Teros said he would participate this year."

"How unusual, he's never participated before. But how did you know that, Cecilia?"

Lady Catherine sent a subtle look that seemed to ask what kind of relationship she had with Teros.

"Well, that's because... he asked me for a victory kiss."

It would all become known on the day of the equestrian competition anyway. Cecilia decided to be honest.

As expected, exaggerated reactions poured out.

"I knew it! Lord Teros has an unexpectedly romantic side!"

"Actually, I saw him feeding cake to the young lady at Reno Bakery the other day."

"My goodness! What if Lord Teros asks for other kisses besides the victory kiss?"

Kyah - dolphin-like squeals erupted along with boisterous laughter.

"Oh my! It's not like that! Stop teasing me!"

Cecilia's face heated up as if it would burst. Would her relationship with Teros be alright continuing like this? Her wish for there to be no scandal was already dashed.

Suddenly, Cecilia wanted to complain to Teros about being teased by the young ladies today. That because of him, she was in such a difficult position. Even if she did, Teros would probably say, 'You're going to marry me anyway,' or 'We should hurry up the marriage.'

Would she really end up marrying Teros like this? Then what about the antidote? Her head ached even among the laughing young ladies.

From across the table, Rosein was quietly gazing at Cecilia, who had become the center of the topic.

'Teros is seriously meeting Cecilia?'

Her small yet proud lips twisted with jealousy.

Rosein recalled the day she was first introduced to Teros through Dmitri. That day, Teros showed no particular interest in her except to say please take good care of his brother.

Such an attitude from him came as a fresh shock to Rosein.

'The rose hidden by goddess Anes.' This was the nickname by which social circles praised the beautiful Rosein. Originally beautiful with her fresh red hair and delicate, well-arranged features, the elegant pet name made her appear even more noble.

Not all noble men in the capital could adore Rosein, but at least when they received her gaze, there was no one who didn't smile, and when she smiled at them, they smiled along.

But Teros was different. Even when she smiled as charmingly as possible, his expression remained blunt, and only occasionally would he show that crooked smile he usually made. Of course, that smile wasn't for Rosein.

'So there are people like this too.' Rosein had thought Teros was a block of wood. And such a person liked mere Cecilia? Absurd.

With her mood twisted, Rosein wanted to torment Cecilia.

"I'm also going to cheer for Lord Teros with my beloved. Would you like to watch with us on the competition day, Cecilia?"

"What?"

At Rosein's suggestion, Cecilia frowned, then composed her expression, conscious of the other young ladies' gazes.

"It's fine, Rosein. I'm not so tactless as to intrude on a lovers' date."

"Oh my, why would we worry about such things between us? Think of it casually, Cecilia. He would genuinely be delighted too."

"Thank you, but I'll really have to decline."

Cecilia's mouth hurt from forcing a smile. To get along smoothly in social circles, she would have to continue this friendship that wasn't quite friendship with Rosein in the future. But no matter how much time passed, she didn't think she'd ever get used to this kind of relationship.

"Well, it's a shame, but if you're uncomfortable, I won't force you."

"No, it's not because I'm uncomfortable..."

Rosein put on a pitiful expression as if she felt hurt. This would make her appear to be a warm-hearted woman who showed goodwill to a friend, while Cecilia would seem like an unsociable woman who didn't know how to accept such kindness.

Rosein tasted a slight sense of victory and smiled subtly.

"Cecilia has already agreed to watch with me."

Asen, who had been maintaining silence in one corner, entered the conversation as if protecting Cecilia. At those words, Rosein's sky-blue eyes glared at Asen as if she were contemptible.

"Miss Odik, you just called Cecilia by name only. The Cecilia you're supposed to watch with seems to be unaware of it?"

Rosein deliberately emphasized calling Asen 'Miss Odik' with force, as if telling her not to interfere in their business.

"It's right that I agreed to watch with Asen, Rosein."

"Is that so? That's a shame. Well, the equestrian competition isn't just one day."

Rosein didn't like that Cecilia also called Asen Odik by name only, but she spoke in a bright tone as if it was no big deal.

"By the way, then will Miss Cecilia be claiming this year's golden wreath?"

At the topic someone brought up, Rosein's brow crumpled so slightly it was barely visible.

The golden wreath was one of the prizes given to the winner of the equestrian competition. It was an ornament made by melting gold and casting it into petal shapes, with regularly embedded emeralds that brought green leaves to mind.

Usually the competition winner would take that wreath, but occasionally there were cases where it was gifted to the woman who gave the victory kiss. Rumors about who gifted the golden wreath to whom would sometimes make social circles buzz with excitement.

"No. Even if Lord Teros wins, we're not in a relationship where he'd give such a gift."

"Would Lord Teros be wanting for money, would he be wanting for ornaments? If he just wins, he'll surely gift it to Cecilia. I'll stake my lace on it!"

Emelita held up her lace, which had now become droopy and stretched out, and chuckled.

"Ahaha, Emelita! If you're so confident, stake something better!"

The young ladies began competitively staking their treasured brooches, pendants, and such things.

This scene once again rubbed Rosein the wrong way. What was so special about a mere golden wreath to cause such a fuss?

If she married Dmitri Jeminick, she could enjoy much more. She could ask for a hundred golden wreaths to be made, couldn't she?

But Rosein knew that the symbolism of the object was more important than the object itself. No matter how many imitation golden wreaths were made - ten or a hundred - they couldn't capture the meaning of passionate love offered by the empire's most valiant man to a woman.

Suddenly, Rosein began to wonder why Dmitri wasn't skilled at horseback riding. When the reading club ladies praised him over his poetry collection, Dmitri had seemed like the most wonderful man in the world.

But when topics like equestrian competitions and golden wreaths came up, Dmitri's presence was virtually nonexistent.

Feeling her pride trampled, Rosein only chewed her lips.

After the reading club ended and Cecilia returned home, a dress had arrived for her.

「I wanted to choose it together, but I'm sorry. I'm practicing hard for the competition. I'll come pick you up on the night of the pre-competition ball.

—Teros Jeminick」

Teros, who had said he would come to Serin Street to have a dress fitted, must have been absorbed in riding practice, as he only sent the dress and a letter. Along with a promise to pick her up in ten days.

"Oh my, Miss. How did he choose clothes that suit your taste so well?"

Dalein fussed admiringly from the side.

"It's from Mrs. Shields' dress shop. The clothes there are always the latest fashion. He probably didn't deliberately choose clothes to my taste."

Dalein looked at Cecilia with puzzled eyes at her unexpectedly calm response.

"Don't say that, hurry and try it on!"

Dalein quickly helped her put it on, as if trying to cheer up Cecilia, who seemed somewhat downcast.

The sky-blue dress had ribbons dangling all over it, which were fashionable decorations these days. Looking at the cubic gems studded all over the skirt hem, it wasn't something that could be worn as everyday clothing.

"When am I supposed to wear something like this?"

"Of course you should wear it to the pre-competition ball! You should show appreciation to the person who gave it to you."

Cecilia moved her arms this way and that, examining the sleeves.

The dress seemed to fit her body perfectly - even when she spun her arms around, it was comfortable without any tight spots.

"How did Teros know my measurements to have a dress made?"

"Um! That's easy! It's Mrs. Shields' dress shop. Since most noble young ladies go through that shop, they would have known your measurements there."

At the somewhat exaggerated tone, Cecilia's eyes narrowed.

"Really? How dare they give my measurements to someone else. I should complain to Mrs. Shields and cut off business with her."

At the unexpectedly firm words, Dalein's eyes widened, and only then did she begin stammering out the truth.

"Ah, Miss. The thing is, the butler from Hasblue begged so earnestly..."

Dalein had accompanied the butler to the dress shop and helped him learn the measurements, saying it was for clothes Miss Cecilia would wear. Additionally telling him what style of dress Cecilia preferred was a bonus.

"Dalein! You did something unnecessary."

"I'm sorry, Miss. But I really like him as your match."

Cecilia let out a small sigh. It seemed Teros had done something to firmly capture Dalein's heart.

She sat at her desk and began writing a letter of gratitude.

She couldn't figure out why her mood had sunk like this. Was it because she'd received a burdensome gift?

As she wrote the first sentence of the letter, she inadvertently realized her true feelings within the words she'd written out of politeness.

「Thank you, I received it gratefully. It would have been even better if you had come in person.」

A few days later, Rosein was walking through Gerard Square holding up a parasol when she saw Prince Crolyn coming from the opposite direction.

His usual staggering, drunken gait was unusually upright and firm. Since he was entering the equestrian competition, he must have started abstaining from alcohol.

Come to think of it, Prince Crolyn had also been the winner of the equestrian competition six years ago. Though he'd lived a dissolute life close to alcohol for a long time, he was fundamentally a noble prince skilled in horsemanship.

Normally she would have passed by pretending not to know him, but Rosein approached Crolyn and offered a greeting.

"Hello, Lord Crolyn."

"Oh, who might this be? Isn't it the Rose Goddess!"

At the words "Rose Goddess," Rosein's brow cracked minutely.

Crolyn had always changed Rosein's nickname arbitrarily and continued using it as if it were his own pet name. By calling her that, he seemed to feel a sense of superiority as if he had become someone special to Rosein.

'This person is still unappetizing.'

Feeling Crolyn's sticky gaze, Rosein involuntarily trembled. Even at her engagement ceremony, he had sent wistful looks as if he were a former lover, making her shudder.

Rosein considered whether to correct him that her nickname wasn't that, but stopped, not wanting to lengthen the conversation time with trivial matters.

She wanted to convey words of encouragement to anyone who could be called a championship candidate for the equestrian competition and stimulate their fighting spirit. She didn't know if it could prevent Teros from winning, but there wasn't anything else she could do.

"I heard you're entering the equestrian competition. It's been six years?"

"Yes, my body isn't like it used to be and my skills have gotten rusty, but I'm practicing steadily and abstaining from alcohol."

"Moderating? You should quit completely!"

Crolyn's eyes widened at her sharp, scolding reaction.

"Do you know how wonderful you looked riding back then to me as a young girl? I really want to see you win this competition again."

"Oh, I didn't know the Rose Goddess thought of me this much. Don't worry. There hasn't been anyone threatening enough to challenge this Crolyn lately."

"You entered the competition without even checking the other candidates? Lord Teros is participating this year. You need to give it your all."

At the name Teros, Crolyn's brow crumpled noticeably.

Seeing that expression, Rosein thought this level of stimulation was sufficient and turned her body with a farewell.

"You understand, right? I'll be expecting to see you win, Lord Crolyn."

"Oh, wait, Miss DeNeuve. That day, could you give me a victory..."

"See you on competition day."

Rosein hurriedly left as if escaping. Crolyn had definitely been about to ask her for a victory kiss. A victory kiss from a woman with a fiancé! How senseless and discourteous.

Rosein quickened her steps as if shaking off her displeasure.

Left alone, Crolyn bit his nails in a way unbefitting a noble prince.

"Damn, Teros! Why of all people!"

Teros, who acted stiffly, was already displeasing to him, but now he was irritated that Teros was butting into even the equestrian competition he was participating in after so long.

Crolyn was planning to win this equestrian competition, have his abilities recognized by Duke Dant, and secure a definite promise of ducal succession. His father, Duke Dant, had long distrusted Crolyn, who became senseless when he drank, and often discussed family affairs with his second son, leaving him out. The successor position he'd naturally possessed as the eldest son had clearly become precarious due to his long dissolute lifestyle.

No, actually there was an even bigger problem besides the succession issue.

He needed the emperor's prize awarded to the equestrian competition winner. A few years ago, he still hadn't retrieved the family treasure he'd secretly taken without Duke Dant's knowledge to pay gambling debts.

A sapphire necklace.

His real purpose for trying to win the competition was to gather the emperor's prize and money he could raise to recover the family jewel. If he were discovered by the ducal couple without recovering it, he might not only lose his position as heir but be banished from the family.

But why on earth was Teros, who lacked neither money nor honor, entering the equestrian competition!

Crolyn kicked stones randomly with his deeply wrinkled face.