The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 109

Chapter 109. Night of the Charity Event (1)

“His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to inform you that he won’t be able to have dinner with you today.”

It was the news she had expected. He said he would come early, but Louid, who had become even busier than before, would find it difficult to make time for her.

“Alright, I understand. Have they all left?”

Nodding, Emilia asked about the ladies-in-waiting.

“Yes. I briefly explained their duties and told them to come on a rotating schedule starting tomorrow. There isn’t much for ladies-in-waiting to do yet, so five is too many, and if too many people stay together, it might feel stifling for you as well, Your Highness.”

“Good, you did well.”

As expected, Helen understood her well. Aside from Helen and Lucy, the others would commute from their family residences, and even when they came, they would only have tea together and keep her company, so there was no need for them to come every day.

“Lady Carrion said she would come every day. She said she would take care of errands to the Crown Prince’s office or something like that.”

Helen spoke with a displeased frown.

So she wants to freely go in and out of Louid’s office.

“And what did you say?”

“As the head lady-in-waiting, I said that’s my responsibility, so I told Lady Lina to take charge of afternoon tea instead. Then she got upset and went back home.”

“Haha, I see. I’ll leave matters regarding the ladies-in-waiting to you, so handle them as you see fit.”

“Yes, understood,” Helen answered firmly.

It seemed she was quite satisfied with being appointed head lady-in-waiting. Seeing Helen pleased also made Emilia feel good.

“Shall I bring dinner to your room?”

“Yes, thank you.”

In truth, since it was her first day living in the palace, she had wanted to share dinner with Louid, but since he was busy, there was nothing she could do.

“Who does she think she is, telling me what to do?”

On her way back to the marquess’s residence, Lina ground her teeth inside the carriage.

I became a lady-in-waiting to see the Crown Prince, not to serve tea.

“Lady Lina, please take charge of afternoon tea. And you don’t need to come every day.”

It felt like Helen’s irritating voice was echoing in her ears. Someone from such an insignificant family was acting like the head lady-in-waiting, giving orders to the daughter of a marquess, and even saying she would be the only one to go in and out of the Crown Prince’s office.

“What do you mean, I don’t need to come every day?”

Who does she think I am?

Fine. I’ll show her soon enough.

Lina’s face twisted with spite as she glared out the carriage window.

***

A few days later, Emilia attended a charity event at the monastery alone without Louid. It was a regular event held several times a year, where nobles purchased items made by the monastery and also donated funds.

During that time, Louid had been extremely busy. There were signs that he slept beside her every night, but he was busy with state affairs today as well and couldn’t come with her, so Emilia attended with Lina.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

When she arrived at the monastery, the abbess with a kind face warmly welcomed her.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I will guide you.”

The abbess showed her the items displayed in the monastery courtyard. On the long tables were various goods such as wine, tea, and dyed fabrics. Emilia carefully examined the fabrics and touched them.

“The quality seems excellent. It must have taken a lot of effort to prepare these.”

“That’s right. The quality is very good. We prepare for it every year, so we enjoyed getting everything ready.”

“There’s so much to see. It will take quite a while to look through everything.”

Emilia looked around the courtyard filled with displayed items and spoke. It had been a long time since she had gone out, and there was so much to see, so she was very excited.

“Yes, that’s right. Would you like to take a look around at your leisure?”

“Let’s do that.”

The abbess left to attend to the other nobles, and Emilia slowly looked around at the items.

“Your Highness, would you like to taste some wine?”

When she reached a display filled with wine, a nun poured some into a glass and spoke.

“Thank you.”

Shall I try the wine made by the monastery?

Taking the glass, Emilia brought it to her lips and tasted it.

“It’s good. It’s well made.”

“Thank you.”

“One hundred bottles of wine.”

Emilia spoke loudly so that Lina, who was following behind, could hear.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lina suppressed her irritation and wrote down what Emilia had called out on paper.

How much is she planning to buy? Emilia had already bought a large amount of fabric earlier.

“Lina, how much should I donate?” Emilia tilted her head back slightly and asked in a small voice.

“That….”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Lina hesitated and couldn’t answer.

How would I know?

She had diligently attended various banquets held in the empire, but she had no interest in charity events and had never attended one or made a donation before. Moreover, this was her first time attending someone of such high status, so she couldn’t think of what to say.

“I’m not really sure….”

“Alright, I see.”

If it were Helen, she would have answered immediately….

Emilia let out a quiet sigh so Lina wouldn’t hear her, regretting that Helen hadn’t come along.

“Oh my, there are paintings too.”

Her previously subdued expression brightened.

“Welcome. Your Highness. These are paintings drawn by the children from the orphanage run by the monastery.”

A nun standing in front of the paintings kindly explained.

“I see? They’re well done.”

The monastery also ran an orphanage, and the children’s drawings were being sold as well.

As Emilia carefully looked over the paintings, she selected a few that didn’t seem likely to sell. The well-drawn ones would be bought by other nobles anyway.

‘Her taste in paintings is terrible.’

Lina, unaware of Emilia’s reasoning, inwardly mocked her poor judgment as she wrote down the names written on the paintings.

The event hall also sold various teas and cookies. Emilia purchased all kinds of displayed items evenly, and Lina, who was recording them, was on the verge of exploding with irritation.

‘I, a marquess’s daughter, am doing this kind of work….’

“Lady Lina, I’m busy today, so could you accompany Her Highness to the monastery?”

That morning, when she had come to the palace, Helen had instructed her to accompany Emilia to the monastery event.

“Will His Highness the Crown Prince be going as well?” Lina asked with a blunt expression.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is busy with state affairs, so only Her Highness will attend.”

“…Alright.”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

As Lina was recalling what had happened that morning, a familiar voice was heard behind the two of them.

“…?”

Emilia’s body stiffened. The owner of the voice was Ian.

***

“His Highness the Crown Prince is said to spend the night in Her Highness the Crown Princess’s bedroom every day.”

That morning, at Ian’s residence, his aide reported to him about the Crown Princess’s situation. Recently, many personnel had been added to the palace, and among them were spies Ian had planted who had obtained this information.

“Is that so?”

At the aide’s report, Ian’s expression turned cold. So the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were getting along well. It wasn’t news he had expected.

Still, the Crown Prince’s palace was better than the Grand Duke’s residence, where security was strict. In the palace, he could plant spies, making it easier to monitor Emilia’s movements. And since he lived in a residence near the imperial palace, he liked that he could go there and see Emilia often whenever he wished.

“Does she has any plans today?”

“She is scheduled to attend a charity event at the monastery today.”

“Alone?”

“That is correct.”

At the aide’s answer, Ian smiled faintly.

***

‘Why is that prince here again?’

Emilia wasn’t pleased to see Ian suddenly appear, but she hid her true feelings.

“Prince, we met at the investiture ceremony. It’s good to see you.”

The ceremony had been just a few days ago, so it hadn’t been long since she last saw him. Emilia gave Ian a polite smile.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, may I look around with you? There’s quite a lot to see at the empire’s monastery.”

“…Yes, of course.”

After hesitating for a moment, Emilia had no choice but to accept his request. She had no proper reason to refuse a prince.

“This is a traditional hat of the Richert Empire,” Ian said as he touched a uniquely shaped hat. It had an extremely wide brim and was so large it could cover a small child.

“You know a lot?”

Emilia looked at Ian with a curious expression. Even though he was a prince of another country, he seemed to know quite a bit about the Richert Empire.

“I’ve come to know naturally since I’ve lived in the empire. You could say it’s like a second home. Haha. Would you like to try it on?”

Ian placed the hat on Emilia’s head. With its wide brim, it completely shaded her from the sunlight.

“It suits you well. It’s pretty.”

Taking a few steps back, Ian crossed his arms and looked at her as if admiring her.

“Is it?”

“I’ll buy this for you.”

“…Thank you.”

After a brief pause, Emilia accepted his offer. The hat wasn’t expensive, so she thought accepting one wouldn’t be a burden.

“By the way, how much would be appropriate to donate to the monastery?”

Walking beside Ian, Emilia lowered her voice and asked. Since she had met a prince anyway, she decided to ask what she was curious about. As a prince, he would be familiar with events like this.

“You may give as your heart guides you, but since this isn’t a one-time donation, an appropriate amount would be….”

Ian stepped closer to Emilia and brought his lips near her ear.