"Lady Carina, it's good to see you!,"
"Nice to meet you as well. It's been awhile," I curtsied slightly as Hill stepped down his carriage.
After I returned from visiting Vance, I received an emergency letter addressed to me the very same night, and it was from Hill Clementine himself. For him to send such a letter that is written abruptly and hastily, he must've found out about the pills.
"For now, let's go to the greenhouse," I immediately cut to the chase.
Hill also gulped nervously and nodded without saying anything. When we arrived at the greenhouse, there was nothing but tea on the table. No maids, no knights, no sweets. It is ultimately a confidential conversation.
Of course, Hill is a bit nervous. He may involve himself in something shady but, for the sake of the Clementine's alchemy reputation and gaining Carina and Aspera ducal's favour, he's willing. "Alright, so what have you found?," I asked as I poured tea for him.
He sighed as he took out the pills that I acquired for him. "Lady Carina, what I found out is very illegal. No...I don't think even law dictated such an order. This very thing could be blasphemy itself,".
I calmly took a sip, but my nerves got to me a little as I grip the teacup handle a bit tightly. "Enlighten me," I said.
"And you know what to do Lord Hill. The Asperas always have clean business. We don't appreciate you snooping around more than you should, or leaking whatever speak now outside,"
He nodded, chucking nervously. In the end, no matter how sweet Carina is, an Aspera is an Aspera.
Fierce dogs of the empire.
------
"The Asperas!! Dogs!!!," I threw the candelabra to the wall, almost hitting a terrified servant.
"Your highness crown prince! Please calm down!," his aide bowed down to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
That's right! I am the crown prince, from the royal family itself! I am supposed to inherit the throne. But that second prince is gaining favour from the nobles, and even now a bastard child of a Frigore north witch himself is gaining power from attaining Aspera's side.
I've been waiting for almost a month but Carina still didn't accept my invitation. An issue like this couldn't be brought as a complaint to the emperor because the invitation is merely informal. Plus, the unmarried bachelor etiquette stated that I should not force a bachelorette to accept my invitation.
"It must've been that bastard Caspian," I slammed my desk in frustration.
Luciel and Jared, Hern's personal knight sighed. Today is one of those days their master is in bad mood again. But both of them knew that the people in the crown prince's palace all have swords on their necks. The true nature of the crown prince is never to be seen outside his palace.
As a knock interrupted my tantrum, a servant quietly walked in and in fear, announced a matter pertaining to the shadow knights I stationed near Aspera's ducal palace.
"What? Hill Clementine visited Lady Carina today?,"
The news gravely aggravated me more as I wear my coat impatiently. Even for a-once-famous alchemist baron family get two steps ahead of me. It bruised my ego. I don't care for such etiquette any more. "Let's go. We are leaving for Aspera palace,".
"Y-your highness! What if rumors were to spread of this indecency?! To visit an unmarried woman's palace," the aide panicked.
I clicked my tongue. "So an exception is given for that baron?," I glared at the aide.
Nothing is going well for me right now. But my mother empress once said that sometimes handling things delicately like I always do is not enough. This time, I am going to press through.
I will propose to her today and that will be final.