~•|•~
The car stopped in front of the Manor of Verthall. Dante gets out of the passenger seat with a slightly flushed face. He had drunk too much tonight at the social club with Lennox. Well, he was in a good enough mood to have a good time.
"Captain!"
An elderly man ran from inside the manor toward Dante, who was barely able to walk straight. He was panting when he reached Dante because of his age. However, the man immediately helped Dante walk.
"Kaspar," Dante called out with a wide smile.
"Yes, Captain?" replied the man who was the butler at the Manor of Verthall at Beetheaven.
"Did you send my letter to the Marquess?" asked Dante, blinking.
Kaspar nodded slowly. "Yes, Captain. I sent the letter immediately after you left with His Highness." He noticed his master smelled of alcohol. "Are you enjoying yourself tonight?"
Dante chuckled wryly at first. He was silent for a moment as he looked up at the night sky, which had beautiful moonlight and stars. "I quite enjoyed it. But..." He trailed off.
"But?" replied Kaspar, waiting for Dante's continuation.
"Forget it," said Dante with a small shake of his head. "I'm sorry, Kaspar."
"Yes?" Kaspar looked at the man in confusion. "Sorry for what, Captain?"
Dante looks away for a moment and laughs. "You still have to carry me when you're old."
"Gosh, Captain, even though I'm old, I'm still quite capable of carrying you," Kaspar jokingly replied.
"Really?" Dante gave a small chuckle. "Well, I believe so," he replied. "Tomorrow..."
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow, call the tailor in the capital," said Dante. "I have to make a new suit for the ball at the palace," he added a little mumbled, but it could still be heard in the ears of Kaspar, who was immediately delighted when he heard it.
"Of course, Captain. I'll contact the best tailor in the capital!" Kaspar had planned to do that since Dante had only brought a few clothes. Plus, the clothes in the manor were already too ancient to use.
"There's no need to be the best," Dante replied. "The important thing is that the tailor can make clothes for me quickly."
"Alright, Captain. I'll find a tailor who fits your criteria. Ah, would you like to have dinner first?"
"No." Dante shook his head softly. He stared at the door of the manor, which still seemed some distance away. "I want to go straight to bed."
"Okay, Captain."
Dante sighed softly. If it weren't for the topic of conversation that Lennox had brought up, he wouldn't have gotten this drunk.
~•|•~
The smell of creamy mushroom soup woke Inez from her sleep. However, when she opened her eyes, everything seemed blurry.
"Anne, are you there?" asked Inez calmly. She gets up from her sleep and sits down, leaning against the dashboard.
"Yes, My Lady?" The sound of footsteps approached the bed.
Inez turned her head as the mosquito net surrounding the bed opened, and she could see Anne standing on the right side of the bed. "My eyes are blurry. Please bring some water," she said.
"Ah..." Anne looked at Inez's swollen eyes. It seemed that after going into the bedroom last night, Inez had cried again. "Yes, My Lady." She stepped hurriedly to fetch a basin of water.
Inez smiled with a knot. Anne was indeed very alert. Inez rubbed her eyes, but her vision had not returned to its original state. So she decided to stay quiet until Anne came.
"Here it is, Lady." Anne placed a basin of water on the trolley. She also dipped a cloth into the basin and intended to wipe Inez's eyes, but the girl forbade it.
"Leave it, Anne! Let me do it myself," pleaded Inez, who lowered her legs from the bed. She picked up the cloth in the basin and let out a small whimper.
"My Lady...!"
"The water is colder than usual," said Inez, who continued and started wiping her eyes with cold water. "That's okay, Anne. Instead of that, do you have a letter for me?"
"There is, Lady. The letter from His Highness came at sunrise," Anne replied as she watched Inez, who smiled widely afterward. "And there was a gift given for you as well."
"Really?" Inez paused for a moment, looking at Anne, who was starting to come into her view. The maid nodded slowly with an awkward expression. Inez smiled slightly. Anne must be trying hard to adjust her attitude after last night's incident. "Prepare paper and pen! I will reply to His Highness' letter," she said, and after wiping her eyes and face a few times, she could see again.
"Yes, My Lady." Anne nodded while taking the cloth handed over by Inez. "And I have also prepared breakfast for you," she added.
"Yes. I woke up to the smell of the cream of mushroom soup you brought," Inez replied as she got up from the bed.
"Huh? How did you know?"
Inez gave a small chuckle. "Of course, I know," she replied, then stepped towards the balcony where chairs for breakfast had been set up.
While Anne cleaned the water basin, she noticed that Inez's behavior was different from last night.
~•|•~
[Inez, my dearest deer]
Instantly, the girl spouted tea from her mouth. "Pfftt!"
"Lady!" Anne was wide-eyed and immediately gave the girl a handkerchief, which she accepted while chuckling.
"I shouldn't have read this letter while drinking tea," Inez said, wiping her mouth. She sighed as the letter from Lennox splotched her tea spout. "Deer," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. She continued reading the letter without returning the handkerchief to Anne.
[You ran away from me without looking back. Just like a beautiful deer dodging a hunter.
As promised, I sent a letter to you, Inez. Are you waiting for my letter?]
Inez nodded slowly without realizing it.
[Inez, I'm always in a hurry when it comes to relationships. So, I wanted to kiss you yesterday, and not without reason. If only Dante hadn't come, we would have kissed and become lovers, and then I would have guided you around the palace flower garden.
I will not apologize for that. Instead, I'll make up for what didn't happen yesterday by inviting you as my partner for the palace ball.
Yes, you saw it right. Her Majesty the Queen will be holding a ball at the palace as soon as possible. Before that happens, I'd like to take you on a date to the Chete River. What do you think about that, Inez?
We can camp by the river, or if you want, I can row a boat for you.
Ah, and I sent you a gift. I hope you like it and will also reply to my letter soon.
Lennox]
Inez closed the letter and looked at the gold necklace with a small diamond in the center that Anne had placed on the table. "Is this what His Highness sent?" she asked Anne as she touched the necklace.
"Yes, Lady. It seems His Highness is very fond of you." Anne smiled happily.
"My goodness, Anne. Why did you say that?" Inez retorted with an embarrassed smile. "Isn't this a bit much? We only became lovers yesterday."
"Ah, not at all, My Lady. It is only fitting that His Highness should give you this gift," Anne chided. "After all, His Highness has a lot of money," she added.
Inez chuckled until she remembered Anthony's words last night, telling her to end her relationship with the crown prince immediately.
"I don't think I can obey Anthony's wishes, Anne. At least, not for now because our story has just begun," said Inez, who sighed and looked out at the balcony.
Anne was silent for a moment, watching the girl. "Lady, I will stand by your side."
Inez looked directly at her servant and smiled. "Thank you."
Anne returned it with a sincere smile. "Ah, would you like to reply to His Highness' letter now?"
"Yes. I must reply now," Inez replied excitedly.
———