~•|•~
[To Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Lennox,
I was waiting for your letter.
Did I look like that when I ran away? I was so embarrassed because we were caught by Captain Dante that I didn't want to see him. But when I remembered that the Captain would be busy in the war again, I calmed down a bit. At least we won't be meeting anytime soon.
Your Highness the Crown Prince, Lennox,
I apologize if I didn't know and couldn't get along with you yesterday. Normally, I'm quite slow when it comes to relationships. But if you say so, I'll try to keep up with you. Kissing... I mean, if it's nothing more than kissing, I think I'm confident enough to make up for it.
A date at the Chete River—that's not bad. The weather in the spring is the best for going on a picnic. And I've never been on a boat, so I'm a little scared. But if it's with Your Highness, Lennox, it seems like it will be fine, right?
That's encouraging news. I think Beetheaven will be crowded during the palace ball.
And thank you, Your Highness, Lennox. The necklace you gave me is very beautiful. But it's a bit of a burden for me since we just became lovers yesterday. Can it be like this?
I'm starting to miss you. So tell me when we're going on a date at the Chete River.
Inez Cal Buford]
The girl pressed the stamp, which had a small dried flower on it. She stares at the letter with a wide smile.
"Give this letter to His Highness, Anne!" Inez gave the letter to Anne, who immediately received it carefully.
"Yes, Lady." Anne looks straight at Inez. "After this, what do you want to do?"
"I think I want to go to Ille Town again like that time," Inez replied with a dry chuckle.
"Do you want to go there?"
"Yes, I do. And besides drinking tea, what else can we do there?" Inez asked curiously.
"I think Ille has a circus or an Opera show. Would you like to see it?"
Inez smiled widely and nodded enthusiastically. "I want to go by tram there. Can we?" Inez asked hopefully.
Anne smiled a simple smile. "I'll help you get ready," she said. "But I'm going to send this letter first. So finish your breakfast, okay?"
"All right, Anne. Tell the courier to carry the letter carefully!"
Anne chuckles. "I'll tell Jack like that." She agreed with a small nod and went out of Inez's bedroom. Meanwhile, the girl finished her crusty bread and cream of mushroom soup.
~•|•~
Dante leaned against the dashboard of the bed with his eyes closed. The man looked chaotic. His hair was a mess, his sleep robe was almost off, and he smelled of alcohol. If you look at him now, he doesn't look like a Captain on the front lines of a war.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath as he remembered the events of last night at the social club. He should not have been provoked by Lennox's words.
Amid his regret, Dante heard the door to his room being knocked on several times.
"Who?" asked Dante, pulling back the blanket and getting out of bed.
"It's Kaspar, Captain."
"Come in!"
The bedroom door opened. Kaspar appeared while pushing a small trolley that had a cover on it.
"I thought you'd overslept," Kaspar said when he saw Dante re-tying his robe. "It turns out you woke up like a normal person."
"This is already oversleeping for me, Kaspar," Dante said, stepping out onto the balcony. He opened the curtains that covered it, then opened the balcony door wide.
"Is that so?" Kaspar stopped pushing the trolley. He placed Dante's breakfast and hangover reliever on the table as he watched the man take in the fresh air. "Normally at the barracks, when would you wake up?"
Dante gave a small snort. He turned his head and stepped over to Kaspar. "I only sleep for two hours at most and get up before sunrise, then exercise. That's a normal day in the barracks," he replied, which surprised Kaspar very well.
"You're human too," the old man responded. "No wonder when I see you again after so long, your eyes are getting blacker."
Dante chuckles in satisfaction when he hears that. He looks down at his breakfast, which is far more humanized than it would have been in the barracks or the middle of a military battle, then sits down on the chair leisurely.
"Oh, Captain... I've made an appointment with the tailor. He'll be here at noon," Kaspar said with a happy smile.
Meanwhile, Dante stares at the butler with surprise. "Tailor?" he asked. He was silent for a moment. "Did I send you a command last night?"
"Yes, Captain. Don't you remember?"
"Haha..." Dante laughed bitterly. "Never mind. It's because of Lennox," he said.
Kaspar smiled. He didn't know what was going on between them, but Dante didn't seem to want to discuss it with him. "And Captain," Kaspar said, pulling a letter out of his coat pocket. He handed it to Dante, "A letter arrived before sunrise."
Dante, who was sipping a hangover reliever, furrowed his brow. He took the letter. There was an army stamp on it. And the person who could use the seal was the General.
"This must be from General Grummond," said Dante, who was very sure about that. Schubert did have five generals in the army, but the only general who would send him a letter was that man. He opened the letter and read it carefully. He grinned slightly as he finished reading it.
"What's wrong, Captain?" asked Kaspar, who saw the change in expression on Dante's face.
"Sorry, Kaspar." Dante closed the letter and looked at the man. "Reschedule the meeting with the tailor for tomorrow. I have to go to the army barracks at nine a.m. It's important," he said, placing the letter next to the bowl of tomato soup with chunks of meat.
"Yes?" Kaspar was a little surprised, but then he nodded. "Alright, Captain," he replied, sounding a little weak.
Dante looks at the man and smiles slightly. "I just did it because I don't know when I'll be back," he said.
"Yes, Captain. I understand," Kaspar said.
"By the way," Dante glanced at the letter, "it says Ille Town has finished installing the tram?"
"That's right, Captain. Ille is a popular tourist spot to visit in Schubert now."
"Really? The town that used to be a slum?" asked Dante somewhat skeptically as he devoured his breakfast.
"That's right, Captain. If you don't believe me, please go there! The army barracks are close to Ille. It's only half an hour away," Kaspar said excitedly.
Dante smiles. "I never said I didn't believe." He nods slowly. "Very well. Since I'm at Beetheaven, I'll go to Ille Town too."
Kaspar cheered inwardly. He really hoped that the captain could find a suitable lady in Ille Town. It was said that it is popular to find a mate in that town these days.
~•|•~
"Ah ...."
A sigh exited the lips of the two people who were facing each other and staring at each other. Anne, who was behind Inez, hid an amused smile on her face.
"C-Captain Dante" greeted Inez with a flushed face. She swallows saliva nervously. 'Why is he still here?' she thought to herself, who could not avoid the man like her plan.
Meanwhile, the man who was already at the tram stop is silent for a moment. He smiled when he saw Inez's face, which clearly showed the contents of her brain. "Lady of Buford," he greeted.
"Yeah," Inez replied, lowering her front hat. She turns to face the busy street.
"Would you like to go to Ille Town, Lady?" asked Dante, starting the conversation between them.
"Huh? Yes." Inez nods slowly. "What about you, Captain?"
Dante smiled broadly as if he were cheering triumphantly. "We have the same destination."
Inez glanced at Dante, who was wearing a full naval uniform. 'He wants to go to Ille in that uniform? Is he going on a date there?" she wondered. "I see," Inez responded simply.
Dante glanced at Inez too, who stood and kept her distance from him. He also looked at Anne, who was smiling behind her face. He gave a small snort. "They say Ille is a must-visit tourist town in Schubert."
"Yes, it is, Captain." Inez nods again. She still dared not look directly at the man. "Ille Town is so popular these days."
"That's good," Dante responded with a brief nod. He looks over to the crossroads and sees a tram heading their way. "Have you ever been on a tram, Lady?" he asked, turning to Inez.
"Yes?" Inez stares spontaneously at the man. She was surprised by her own actions. She broke her stare. "Not yet. This is the first time."
"Ho...." Dante nods in understanding. The tram was getting closer to them, and more people were approaching the stop to board the tram.
"Ah, why is it so crowded all of sudden?" chirped Anne, trying to keep Inez away from the crowds.
"Well, I don't know either," replied Inez while avoiding the push of people.
Dante, who had a towering body, was not fazed by the crowd. He noticed Inez and Anne, who seemed to be struggling. "Take my hand, Lady Inez," he said, extending his hand.
"Yes?" Inez stared in surprise at the man. "N-no..."
"You could fall," Dante said stubbornly with his offer.
Inez stares at the Captain's hand. Finally, she took it hesitantly.
Dante grasped Inez's hand tightly as soon as she took it. He looks at the tram and no longer looks at the shy girl.
'The Captain's hand is rough, unlike His Highness, who is soft,' thought Inez, who couldn't remove her gaze from their handgrips. 'But his hand is warm, unlike His Highness, who is cold.'
———