The last week of our shared life with the commoner was quiet and peaceful. For the first time in my life, I spent so much time with another person. Especially someone almost unknown to me.
Despite the fact that the commoner and I met by chance and had nothing in common, we easily managed to find common ground. You could say we even became friends.
I think I'll even miss her for a while when we part.
The servants' sidelong glances towards us dissipated rather quickly, so we calmly walked around the residence grounds. Even that idiot finally calmed down and stopped bothering me.
It seemed Yufil had finally resigned himself to the commoner's presence here. Only, why...?
If it were up to me, I would certainly want to investigate the reason for this sudden change in his behavior. But, unfortunately or fortunately, I was too indifferent to care about it. This person, like the Duke, didn't interest me as individuals at all.
From now on, I decided not to waste any more time on people to whom I was indifferent. That's why my older brother's impulsive outbursts passed me by.
Let him do what he wants. As long as it didn't concern me, I didn't care.
Instead, I preferred to properly say goodbye to the commoner before she left this place forever. The girl's wounds were healing quickly, and I realized the moment of our parting was closer than ever.
As expected, according to Xavier's prognosis, within ten days the commoner could stand firmly on her feet. She no longer needed my help.
I decided to send her off into the "free world" tomorrow. And today, to organize a farewell tea party in the garden.
I wanted her new and undoubtedly difficult life to have as many good memories as possible. Especially since arranging it wasn't that hard.
I told Elisha to set up a tea table in the garden planted with white roses. A lace tablecloth was neatly spread over it, and white cushions lay on the chairs. The final result was elegant and cute. Just the sight of it took my breath away with delight.
Usually, I didn't ask the chefs to cook so much for just myself. But today was an exceptional case.
The table was filled with many sweet desserts, such as colorful macarons, shortbread cakes with lots of strawberries, and a chocolate cake with delicate chocolate garnishes. My mouth was literally watering.
"I didn't know what you liked, so everything was prepared to my taste. You don't mind, do you?"
When Camilla gave her a dazzling smile, Kaena slowly nodded her head.
Actually, seeing the contents of the tea table, the Crown Princess unconsciously grimaced. "Too much sugar here." Kaena didn't particularly like this kind of food. Nevertheless, when she wanted to voice her dissatisfaction about it, the smiling face of the woman who was happy at that moment stopped her. In the end, the princess unconsciously decided that she would just drink tea.
I sat relaxed on the chair, slowly eating my dessert. At that moment, I saw the commoner raise her cup, and she did it so elegantly that I found it unusual.
"Hmm, that's a bit strange."
Tea is a rather expensive product, mostly part of the aristocratic diet. Poor people rarely had the chance to try tea, so how could she have learned to drink it with such casual manners? This couldn't help but provoke certain thoughts in me.
"Well, it must be because she has such a beautiful appearance, her manners while eating also seem very attractive."
Indulging in absurd fantasies, I didn't notice myself staring at her foolishly.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh... I... I wanted to tell you something."
The girl raised her head and glanced at me. She put her cup down on the table.
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"What exactly?"
Hearing her question, I smiled contentedly.
Surrounded by the scent of white roses, we spent time in the garden, and the atmosphere was simply wonderful. It seemed to me that this was the most appropriate moment to do it.
I set down my empty cup with a sense of enjoyment and was about to give her my farewell gift. Well, since I couldn't just give her a stack of money, I had to resort to a more cunning method.
I had no personal funds, as all property was under the Duke's control. All I could do was ask him to write me a check every time I needed to buy something.
Actually, that's why I had bought so many jewelry and expensive things. One fine day before my escape, I planned to sell them and use the proceeds to support myself for the first while.
After that, I would figure out what to do next...
The necklace with a rare pink ruby was one of the most valuable in my collection.
I was sorry to part with it, but nevertheless, without hesitation, I placed it in the commoner's palm. She would clearly need it more than me.
"Take this with you. If you sell it, you'll have enough money to rent housing and hire a good doctor."
Seeing the sparkling necklace in her palm, the princess's face became puzzled.
"Why would she give me something like this?"
There were only two options. Either she deliberately wanted to insult her, or she offered it out of ignorance. But... The latter option didn't sound too plausible.
If this woman had ever read the news, she should know that her wealth was twice that of the emperor's treasury. Kaena stared doubtfully at the duke's daughter, trying to decipher her motives.
"I have money."
I sighed and shook my head.
"Now is not the time to be proud."
Although, perhaps, this really did sound somewhat inappropriate. Even among commoners, there are proud people. I didn't want to humiliate her with my pity. Be that as it may, the thought that this commoner might suffer from hunger upset me. So I had to approach this issue from another angle.
"I'm not giving it to you for nothing. If ever there comes a time when I'm in a difficult position, you'll have to help me."
I gave her the necklace as an advance for a future service — so this shouldn't embarrass her. Of course, it was unlikely that I, as a lady from a noble family, would ever need to ask a commoner for help, so this was just an excuse.
But on the princess's face, a frowning expression appeared again.
"Is she really trying to bribe me with this...?"
Kaena thought it was some kind of joke.
In her life, Kaena de Ronan had met many people who tried to bribe her with money. In this way, they tried to save their lives, avoid trouble, or secure the princess's support. But such deals didn't interest Kaena at all. She wasn't about to let anyone manipulate her with money. On the contrary. Most often, such a person parted with their life even faster.
So far, no one had managed to make a deal with the monstrous Crown Princess.
However, what surprised Kaena most in this situation wasn't the fact that this woman was trying to bribe her. But the way she wanted to do it.
In her eyes, this necklace was completely worthless. Even one button on the clothes the Crown Princess usually wore cost more than this jewelry. This woman must really be out of her mind if she hoped to bribe the second most powerful person in the empire with something like this.
And yet...
"Alright."
Saying these words, she saw a smile appear on Camilla's face. That seemed quite enough for Kaena. The princess smirked and brought the cup to her lips.
"I wonder what she'll ask of me?"
Having made a deal with the Crown Princess of this Empire herself, this woman must have had certain ambitions. Destroying her family and becoming head of the house? An honorable position at court? Elevation of status in society, or maybe an assassination attempt on someone?
In any case, the very fact that some duke's daughter had actually managed to bribe her with a low-grade necklace seemed unheard of. Not long ago, the Crown Princess would never have believed this. However, now she thought this deal wasn't so bad.
"Does this mean she wants to continue meeting with me?"
"Well, we had a good time today. Tomorrow I'll take you to the city, so we'll need to go to bed early."
"..."
Hearing these words, Kaena's mood plummeted.
"Oh, right."
The girl had completely forgotten that she was supposed to leave here tomorrow. For some reason, this fact greatly upset her.
She glanced at Camilla, but as soon as their eyes met, she felt she was in a difficult position. Especially when a wide smile appeared on the girl's beautiful face again, the princess's mouth went dry.
The hand with which she gripped the cup felt hot.
A strange expression was on the Crown Princess's face all evening, but Camilla didn't pay any attention to it.
After all, we had spent a lot of time together. She must be sad to part too. But this was for the best.
If I can't even protect myself, how can I take responsibility for another person? So it would be better if we both went our separate ways.
I promised the commoner that tomorrow afternoon I would accompany her to the capital. For now, we should get a good rest.
My eyes were already involuntarily closing from fatigue. I took a bath with aromatic oils and went to bed, feeling that this had been one of the best days lately.
Sweetly tossing in my sleep, in the morning I didn't immediately realize that someone was waking me. With difficulty opening my eyes, I found before me the agitated face of Elisha, who had unexpectedly burst in on me early in the morning. "Uh...?"
I was so sleepy that I could barely form words into sentences.
"My Lady, something has happened!"
"Uh... hmm... Oh?" I mumbled incoherently in my sleep.
But her next words instantly sobered me up.
"The commoner you sheltered fell from a tree this morning...!" the maid announced like a bolt from the blue.
"What?!"
I was so surprised that I jerked up from the bed. Was I still dreaming?! Stammering, Elisha continued:
"My Lady, it seems she's broken her arm!"