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Chapter 50
As soon as we returned to René Palace, I called the palace physician to treat Marie.
Her injuries were deeper than I expected. Just watching her being treated made me feel pain myself.
Fortunately, I was told that if we applied ointment carefully, there would be no scars.
“Thank goodness. No scars on this cute little face.”
All of this was because of Adelina Weiss.
Clenching my teeth at the memory, I gently touched Marie’s cheek. She smiled shyly and nodded.
“I’ll put the ointment on carefully. Don’t worry.”
“Good, that’s my girl.”
I smiled and stroked her head.
“You were really scared today, huh? Do you want to rest in your room, or have a late tea with me?”
“Tea time!”
Marie shouted. I was a little surprised by her enthusiasm, but then she quickly became shy again.
“I… was really looking forward to it.”
“Oh, I see.”
Come to think of it, Joachim had said she had been excited for the past two hours.
“Alright, let’s go. Shall we get up?”
“Princess…!”
Marie called out and stopped me. I looked at her, puzzled, and saw her hesitating.
“I… just one hand… please.”
“Hmm? Hand?”
I held out my hand as she asked. Marie carefully placed her small, closed hand into mine and opened it.
I felt something light and smooth in my palm.
When she pulled her hand away, there was a tiny four-leaf clover resting in my hand.
“Oh my, what’s this?”
“…It’s a gift for inviting me to tea today.”
Marie said softly.
“It’s a thank-you gift. It’s humble, but…”
“Did you go out just to find this?”
Marie nodded, and I felt a wave of emotions. The contrast between the first time we met—when she was wary of me—and now, going out to find this for me, was overwhelming.
The four-leaf clover was perfect. I asked carefully,
“Did you hurt your elbow while holding onto this?”
Marie smiled sheepishly. I felt a surge of affection and hugged her tightly.
“You fool, all that for a clover? If you had fallen on your palm, it would have hurt less…”
“But then the clover would have been torn. I barely found it… It would have been such a waste.”
“Nothing is more precious than you.”
I hugged her tightly again and smiled.
“Thank you, Marie. I’ll dry it carefully and keep it. How did you find one in such a perfect shape?”
The maid watching us spoke up,
“Marie picked the most beautiful one among the clovers she found.”
Surprised, I realized she hadn’t just found one. Marie looked shy.
“I wanted to give the best one because it’s for you, Princess.”
“You’re too thoughtful, Marie. Thank you. How can I repay you?”
“You’ve already given so much. Earlier… thank you for getting angry for me.”
“I wasn’t angry too much. You’re a princess too. You’re my sister.”
When I called her “sister,” Marie blushed so deeply her face turned red as a tomato. I rolled my eyes and asked lightly,
“Earlier, you were fine with it?”
“W-well…”
Seeing her fidget, I decided to leave it for now and stood up, smiling.
“Let’s go together, sister.”
Marie grabbed the hem of my dress. I widened my eyes, then laughed and held her hand.
As we walked to the garden, two men holding tea cups stood up quickly when they saw us.
“Your Highness, are you alright? Princess Marie…”
“I’m fine.”
Come to think of it, if Joachim heard about today, he would probably clutch his neck in frustration.
I laughed lightly and sat with Marie.
“It’s nothing serious. On the way, Marie almost got hit by Miss Weiss’s carriage and fell.”
“What? Really…!”
“So I twisted her wrist for her.”
Joachim’s raised voice stopped abruptly. He asked hesitantly,
“Did you break it?”
“Hmm, I controlled the strength.” I replied casually. Joachim looked even more confused.
“It was a fair punishment. Don’t worry.”
“Are you alright, Princess?”
Friedrich, who had been quietly observing, asked. I nodded with a smile.
“Just a little sore from slapping. I’m fine now…”
Before I could finish, Friedrich took my right hand and began massaging it. I smiled, used to him doing this silently lately.
“I thought you might get along well with Miss Weiss, but I guess that’s impossible.”
“You don’t need to force it. So… will you skip Miss Weiss’s tea next week?”
“Hmm, no. That would be rude. I said I would go.”
Friedrich and Joachim exchanged slightly worried smiles, knowing the past.
“Maybe today’s incident will postpone her tea party.”
“All the more reason to go. She might tell everyone I broke an innocent person’s wrist instead of admitting her own mistake.”
I just wanted to see Adelina’s uncomfortable expression.
“I can’t stand people spreading lies.”
When Adelina Weiss returned home, the Weiss mansion was in chaos. Her wrist was swollen badly.
“What on earth happened, Adelina?!”
The Marquis Weiss, who loved his daughter dearly, was furious.
“Who dared to hurt your wrist? Did you meet a thug on the way?”
“Not wrong. I met a thug from Stade Palace.”
“What are you saying?”
“Princess René hurt my wrist. I was so arrogant.”
Adelina began crying. The Marquis was confused.
“Why would Princess René do that to you? Did you do something wrong?”
“Father!”
She shouted in disbelief. Earlier, she had acted as if no one could stop her, but now she was helpless.
“Even if I did something wrong, that doesn’t mean someone should hurt my wrist like this!”
“Well… yes, but…”
Not getting the sympathy she wanted, Adelina sulked. Only then did her father try to calm her.
“Don’t worry too much. Princess René is known for her capricious and bold nature. Tomorrow, I’ll buy you the dress you wanted. How about that?”
“I don’t want a dress. I want to kneel Princess René under my feet, just like I did today in front of her. I’ll become crown princess, then crown princess consort, then empress, and I’ll make it happen.”
Adelina clenched her right hand tightly, but the pain forced her to release it quickly.
