· 

Largo 45



 Chapter 45

    ****


    The person I was not too long ago would have taken it really perversely, but now I don't think anything of it, just that it must have happened.


    - To take it a step further, some of the maids who picked out the undergarments were demoted for choosing the wrong material for the day's outfit, and the one who made the dresses was punished for having the wrong length ribbon knot. It was always about perfection.


    -It must have been hard for you.


    The image of the queen overlapped for a moment.


    The maids who picked out her undergarments and dressed her were the highest ranking of all the maids, and the queen would treat them harshly.


    And if a maid made a mistake, she would be punished along with me.


    Whatever it was, it was probably the dignity of being the queen of a country.


    So the complaints my aunt-in-law vented on me were similar in the end.


    However, the woman who acted so harshly was now living in the countryside.


    No wonder the saying "place makes the man" came to mind.


    As the maid's tale came to an end, my husband stepped into the bedroom as if it were a matter of course.


    - You seem to be enjoying yourself.


    - Your Highness.


    The maid bowed lightly.


    Then, deftly, she lifted my hand, which she had been working so hard to refine.


    The creamy, honeyed hands must have glistened like gold dust in the evening light.


    - what do you think? Aren't even the hands of the Grand Duchess pretty?


    - The maid has a point.


    I felt like I was watching a conversation between the Eight Immortals......, only it was awkward to realize that I was the one they were talking about.


    I didn't know how to react.


    I could feel the blood rushing to my face.


    Perhaps my face was as red as his gaze.


    When I finally shook off the maid’s hand, he strode toward me, his eyes locked with mine.


    For some reason, a strange, impulsive feeling rose within me.


    Instinctively raising my hand, covered in sticky cream, against his cheek.


    In the sunlight, his cheeks glistened with something transparent.


    He blinked once at my sudden action.


    - ......now.


    Bewilderment tinged the voice that followed.


    - What did you do?


    -...Uh.


    My voice curled timidly inward.


    How was I supposed to explain my impulsive behavior?


    I just thought that the sticky cream on his cheeks, glistening transparently, looked strangely like him.


    I remembered how my aunt-in-law had described him as a jewel.


    A boyish, naughty smile on a beautiful face like a jewel.


    He snatched the cream jug from the maid's hand.


    He dipped the brush into the cream and painted a large, sweeping circle on my cheek.


    The feel of the sticky liquid spreading across my cheeks was unique. My embarrassed voice followed.


    - Your Highness.


    - The Grand Duchess started first.


    My timid rebellion aside, his actions followed.


    From cheek to nose, then the other cheek, then forehead, then chin.


    With my face as his canvas, he painted freely.


    Soon he was looking at my face, covered in cream, with satisfaction.


    I didn’t know how much he applied, but the sticky liquid dripped onto the floor.



    -Your face glistens like a jewel; I think I’m going blind.



    - Whatever ......, it's not fair.


    Perhaps my lips were pouting.



    I reached out to snatch the cream from his hand.


    But evading my grasp, he only raised his hand higher.


    I grunted and swung my arm after his hand.


    His arm moved fluidly, evading my grasp.


    Like a cat that can't catch its prey, I felt strangely motivated, high on drugs.


    - Please.


    - I don't want it.


    - Your Highness.


    -If I give you this, it will make my face shine, won't you?


    - Well, you know.


    Regardless of my struggles, his fast-moving brush grazed my forehead again.


    I could almost feel the weight of the cream on my forehead, now even thicker.


    - you’re going to be even prettier than you already are. 


    - What's the point of being pretty by yourself? Your Highness should be too.......


    Realizing there was something wrong with my words, I shut up afterward.


    He let out a guttural laugh, and even the maids laughed out loud.


    "Your Highness, enough with the jokes. Her Highness is going to be upset.


    Why, such a maid, she seemed to be looking at both of us with a smirk.


    Taking the tub of cream from him casually, the maid turned to speak.


    - I can't tell you how sad I was to have to trim Her Highness' nails in the meantime. Trimming nails is one of the things I'm very good at.


    -⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯Yes, thank you. I've noticed again that you’re excellent, so please do it again.


    This one was genuine.


    She had always been good at applying makeup and playing with my hair, but I never thought I'd be so good at this.


    - I need to wipe my face.


    - I'll leave you to wipe it, Your Highness.


    The maid, who had spoken skillfully, handed him the towel and turned quickly away.


    There was no time to dry off.


    He took the towel obediently.


    He soaked the towel in warm water and came closer to me.


    I took a step back, cautiously, away from him.


    -Grand Duchess.


    I avoided his eyes, which met mine squarely.


    And once again, there was a voice calling to me.


    -Grand Duchess.


    -....Yes.


    - Are you shy?


    - Who's shy?


    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his smiling face.


    I had never seen him smile like that before, and a strange feeling came over me.


    - I'm just saying, it's not fair. Your Highness’s face should be like mine.



    - Is this how it should be?


    Cutting me off, he reached over and smeared the cream the maid had left on his own face.


    It glistened red in the slowly sinking sunset.


    I gasped, feeling like a clueless girl.



    - It's only fair that I do it.


    He chuckled at that and wrapped his arms around my waist.


    Unconcerned that his clothes were smeared with sticky cream.


    - Grand Duchess.


    - Your Highness.


    - It's carnival time in the capital city. There's a lot to see starting in the evening, so why not go out for a while?


    It was an offer I couldn't refuse.


    Pressing his chin to the crown of my head, he spoke in a low voice.


    - But first, we need to get cleaned up, both of us.


    It was no wonder his voice was so sneaky and conspiratorial.


    The brief time between the sun rolling over the horizon was all his.


    ***


    It was late at night, when the only stars in the sky were the ones that were slowly becoming the Milky Way.


    The streets of the capital were bustling with life, unlike the palace, which had always been oppressive and pretentious.


    The familiar sounds of merchants hawking their wares, excited children running around, and  lovers holding hands and whispering in each other's ear.


    I had to struggle to restrain him as he tried to carry me around.


    My knees, which I wouldn't be using for much longer anyway, because it wouldn't make a difference if they got worse.


    He just matched my slow stride and watched as the others frantically passed us.


    A hand gripped my shoulder firmly as I was swept up in the crowd.


    It was a different feeling than the last time I was in the slums.


    I was too busy with my own thoughts to take in anything else, but now that I was one step closer to death, my mind was free.


    “Give your lover a cute doll!”


    I don't know if they sell crappy dolls or make festive entertainment.


    Either way, I hear a vendor shouting for business.


    It was a very simple game: shoot a doll not too far away with a toy-like gun and you win.


    - I...... honey.


    Pausing for a moment, I grabbed his sleeve.


    His eyes widened at the words I timidly spoke, as I couldn't bring myself to say "Your Highness.”



    ****


    To donate for extra chapters for my series or to tip me visit my personal kofi page 

    https://ko-fi.com/doradora 

    Join my discord to get notifications for updates     https://discord.gg/KftaxqanE4

    (If the link is expired, message me for a new link)

Write a comment

Comments: 0