Dear My Friend - Chapter 52

Chapter 52 – Someone Else He Has Feelings For

When I went to the drawing room, Sir Dilton was drinking tea in an upright posture, as usual. I always had this thought in the back of my mind, but he was so aristocratic that I could not reconcile his energetic appearance that sometimes revealed itself.

“Sir Dilton,” I said as I stepped into the parlor room. Sir Dilton quickly put down the teacup and stood up. A gentle smile spread across his mouth.

“Lady Maristella,” he greeted.

“Good to see you again, Sir Dilton. It’s nice to see you often.”

“It really is. It hasn’t been that long since the maid went up. You came here quickly.”

“Yes. Fortunately my outfit was proper.”

With a smile on my face, I walked to the table where he was sitting, then gestured for him to sit down.

He took his seat again, and as soon as I settled down myself, a maid came from outside and brought my share of refreshments. I took an appreciative sip of orange tea before speaking.

“What brings you here? Did something happen to the Crown Prince?” I asked.

I could guess why Sir Dilton was here, but it was too embarrassing to bring that up first. Sir Dilton smiled as if to say no.

“It was not about that. I’m here to give the answer to your previous offer.”

“If it was something that I offered previously…”

“Yes. The blind date.”

“Oh my.” I quickly hid the excitement bubbling up in me. “Did His Highness really say he would do it?”

“Yes, he did. I don’t know what made him change his mind. His Highness said he will discuss the schedule with Lady Odeletta himself.”

“That’s great,” I said with a pleased grin. “But wait, what do you mean he changed his mind? Did something happen to him?”

“Ah…” Sir Dilton hesitated, then soon replied cautiously. “Well… I didn’t expect His Highness to accept. He’s not very interested. However, he’s old enough to get married. It’s quite a problem if he doesn’t have any interest…”

“I suppose the Emperor is rushing him into marriage.”

“I don’t know about that, but I’m sure the Emperor is giving him hints. After the Crown Prince met the Emperor last time, his complexion has gotten much worse.”

“I see,” I said, nodding. “Anyway, I’m glad His Highness gave a positive answer. Lady Odeletta has been looking forward to this.”

“Ah.” Sir Dilton’s expression turned somewhat strange at my remarks.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing. Hmm… I suppose you want him to get married as soon as possible.”

I didn’t think too much about it. “I think it’s right for the Crown Prince to get married soon to stabilize the Imperial family and the Empire.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have cared about Xavier if he didn’t take up a big share of the storyline of this book. But to change Maristella’s future, he had to quickly fall in love with Odeletta and marry her. And just as I said to Sir Dilton, Xavier had to get married as soon as possible for the sake of the Empire. He was the Emperor’s only son, after all.

“You’re very kind, Lady Maristella,” Sir Dilton said out of the blue, and I raised my eyebrows at him curiously.

“Pardon? Me?”

I didn’t think I was that kind, but I never thought I was terrible either.

“It may sound a little blasphemous, but isn’t the Crown Prince the best of all marriage candidates?” Sir Dilton.

“Of course.”

Xavier was certainly an excellent prospect. Firstly, he was devastatingly handsome, secondly, he was a powerful man who would lead the Empire in the future, thirdly, he was rich, and fourth, he had a great personality.

“But I suppose you don’t desire him,” Sir Dilton said.

“Hmm… What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

“Usually in this situation, people would try to gain His Highness’ favor for themselves rather than introduce their friend.”

“You have a point there,” I said, speaking in a tone as if I were talking about someone else. Sir Dilton looked shocked at my attitude, but I continued on casually. “But I don’t want to take away someone my friend likes.”

I might have been interested in Xavier for myself if it were not for that reason. Xavier was certainly a good-looking, capable and great man.

But that was pointless in the present situation. Odeletta was already in love with Xavier. I didn’t want to lose my hard-earned friend by making a careless decision.

“You’re very ethical,” Sir Dilton commented.

“I will take that as a compliment. But I mean it,” I said seriously.

“You’re right, Lady Maristella. But…” Sir Dilton paused to choose his words. “But what if the Crown Prince’s heart is set on someone else?”

“Pardon?”

“What if the Crown Prince has someone else he has feelings for?”

I felt my heart sink. Did that mean…Xavier liked someone other than Odeletta? But who?

There were only two women in the book that Xavier looked at.

Dorothea and Odeletta. If it wasn’t Odeletta, then it was Dorothea. But no matter how much I tried to wrap my head around the idea, it couldn’t be Dorothea.

But just in case, I decided to put out feelers. “Is it…”

“…”

“Lady Cornohen?”

“…No.”

Ah, thank God.

No wait, no.

“Then who does he like?” I asked.

“For that.” Sir Dilton sighed briefly and then continued. “I don’t really know. I’m not sure about it.”

“Pardon?”

“But just in case… think of it as an assumption. Just in case. What if His Highness does have his heart set on someone else?”

I shook my head. “Well, then he shouldn’t accept my offer. It’s deceiving to both him and my friend.”

“You think so too, don’t you?”

“But His Highness is not someone who has a bad character. So I’m sure he doesn’t like anyone else right now. You’re simply speculating.” I looked at Sir Dilton. “Isn’t that right?”

“…Yes, Lady Maristella. You’re right. That’s why he accepted your offer. As you said, it’s just speculation.”

“Yes,” I concurred. That was a relief. “But why were you making such wild guesses?”

“Just in case,” he answered.

“That is an unnecessary worry. There is no reason for the Crown Prince to hide his feelings.”

“Why do you think so? That is possible,” Sir Dilton said.

“Well… He has everything,” I pointed out. “What woman can resist his feelings? Even if he wasn’t the Crown Prince, he would still be perfect.”

“Thank you for seeing him like that,” Sir Dilton said with a proud expression. He was a very loyal butler.

“Anyway, I hope Lady Odeletta and the Crown Prince will have a good relationship,” I concluded.

“…I see.”

The room fell into silence. I wondered if I said something wrong, but I couldn’t think what it was. Finding it strange, I quickly brought up another topic.

“More importantly, how’s His Highness doing?”

“Yes, well… He’s as usual.”

“That’s a relief.”

Conversation died again. I wondered if my conversation with Sir Dilton was always this awkward, but remembered it wasn’t like this last time.

What was it? What had changed?

Sir Dilton broke the silence. “Come to think of it, you don’t seem to be particularly interested in dating, Lady Maristella.”

Ah, fortunately he changed to another topic. I answered him with an oddly happy expression.

“Not at all. I’m also still at a fresh age,” I answered.

“You don’t seem to be interested. Or am I wrong?”

“I’m afraid so. If there’s someone good, I also would like to go out with him anytime.”

“Then, what about Duke Escliffe?” Sir Dilton asked.

I panicked and my eyes blew wide open. “…Pardon?” After a moment, I chuckled awkwardly. “That was out of the blue…”

“I apologize if I’m being rude. But you two seem to be quite close lately.”

“We’re not awkward with each other… But I have never thought about him that way,” I answered slowly. I was puzzled. I couldn’t believe that question came up when I was already a bit uneasy about that!

I cleared my throat. “I haven’t thought about getting involved with His Grace like that. Even if I do, and if he doesn’t want it, my feelings wouldn’t matter anyway.”

“What do you mean they wouldn’t matter, Lady Maristella? That’s not true.” Sir Dilton looked at me with a bewildered expression. “All unrequited feelings of love are feelings worth respecting. It’s precious in itself and it has to be protected, or, well… something like that.”

“Do you have an unrequited love?” I asked.

“Pardon?” Sir Dilton said, surprise registering on his face.

“You’re talking as if you’re suffering from an unrequited love right now.”

“…It’s not me,” he said after a moment.

“Really?”

“Yes. But my acquaintance.”

“Oh no.” I frowned in true sympathy. There was no feeling in this world as terrible as unrequited love. One couldn’t even give it up, and it was a difficult, desperate situation to convey one’s feelings! I had experienced it a few times, so I understood his acquaintance’s situation.

“Your acquaintance must be having a hard time,” I murmured sympathetically. “They haven’t confessed, right?”

“They cannot. But how did you know?” Sir Dilton asked.

“Because that’s how it goes. If they are afraid to confess, it’s because they are afraid that the relationship they barely have would fall apart. They are worried that they may be dumped…”

“You talk as if you had experienced an unrequited love before.”

Sir Dilton’s remark was unsuspectingly astute. I cleared my throat and lied to him.

“Not me, but my acquaintance,” I said.

“Lady Odeletta?” he asked.

“No. Not her.”

“Then, Lady Dorothea?”

“Ah.”

Dorothea was also too much for me to treat her as an ‘acquaintance’ emotionally. I shook my head. “No. Not her either.”

“Now that we’re on the subject, were you able to deliver the tea leaves safely to Lady Cornohen?”

“Ah.” I smiled awkwardly and answered. “Yes. I asked my maid to do it.”

“So you didn’t want to meet her.”

“It would only hurt my feelings.” I shrugged my shoulders and then turned back to the original subject. “I hope that your acquaintance with the unrequited love can find success. It can be really hard.” I paused, then quickly added to my words. “My acquaintance said that. My acquaintance.”

“I see.”