Chapter 13 – Julien was hurt and Carol bribed Sharon

Madame DeJoue had told me that Julien was sad.

My heart hurt for the prince who could not cry for himself. His voice was low and resigned, and I felt my tears spill over on his behalf.

Silence reigned between us as Julien stared at me and I cried soundlessly. A small hand touched my cheek.

I leaned on that hand, which carefully wiped away my tears. Did they start him on sword classes as soon as he was old enough to hold a sword? His hands were callused.

That also made me upset. Why did a young child have to bear such a heavy burden, suffer such wounds?

"Why are you crying…?"

"Because you won't."

Julien had to wear long sleeves even in the summer. Underneath, I could see a red bruise, and I sobbed.

I grabbed the hand that was still on my cheek and put it down. Holding that small hand in mine, I cried, unable to stop.

***

Julien had fallen asleep. His white shirt was light enough that I could see the bruises under it. After carefully applying the medicine, I put a blanket over him and left.

"Madame DeJoue, I'm done."

Madame DeJoue had been waiting for me by the carriage. She opened the door for me to enter. "Shall we go back now?"

"Yes."

It was almost the time I promised Carol I would return. If I didn't make it, Carol would be anxious.

"Have you finished buying off the servants of the crown prince?"

"They will act according to your will."

I stared at the cabin on the mountain where the orange lamp was lit for a long time. I couldn't take my eyes off of it until it finally went out of sight.

"Please tell them to mind the prince's diet and health. He'll try to avoid showing his wounds to them, so they must take special care. Also, we should prepare bath products with medicinal properties. Who is in charge of the prince's bath?"

"It's one of the Empress's people."

"Then we'll have to do these without letting that person know. Madame DeJoue, will this be difficult?"

Madame DeJoue quietly shook her head. I was really glad that she was by my side.

"The only trouble I have is you, my lady."

The air had changed. I scratched my head and smiled awkwardly as she looked at me.

Um, what did I do?

***

"Sharon!"

Carol had been sitting on the steps, waiting with her chin on her hands, but she jumped up and ran toward me as soon as she saw us.

Why was she sitting there? Her bottom was probably cold.

I received Carol's embrace and turned to Madame DeJoue.

"Please find a carpet that would suit the stairs," I requested.

"Of course, my lady."

We were getting to all of the corners of the mansion, one by one. Soon, there would be no place that didn't have our touch on it.

"So, what happened with Julien?" Carol asked. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah. It was nothing. But anyway, have you finished reading the books? Why did you come out here? I won't let you sleep in my bed if you haven't finished reading."

"Huh? I read it all!" Carol said confidently

I narrowed my eyes.

"I really did!"

"Fine. Then I'll quiz you."

Carol's feet stopped moving.

"Quiz? What quiz?!"

She trembled as if it was something she had never seen or heard of.

Carol was acting suspicious. Very suspicious. Why was she so flustered?

Carol yelled, "Sharon, don't you trust me?"

"It's not that I don't trust you. It's that I can't believe that you studied. You hate studying."

"What's that supposed to mean? Anyway, you're saying you don't trust me!"

This was really getting under her skin, wasn't it?

I narrowed my eyes at Carol again. She should just admit the truth.

Carol flinched. "Well, um…" She wrung her fingers. "I, I'll read it from now on. I'll go read it right now. That works, right?"

I shook my head. If you miss a bus, it doesn't come back for you.

"Nope."

"Why?!"

I turned my back on her and started to walk away. Carol followed me and started to babble. "Sharon, I'll give you 500 shillings. How about it?"

500 shillings were equivalent to 500 won.[1]

Wow. How generous.

I had repeatedly told her not to spend money frivolously so that she wouldn't end up like the original Carol.

Then, with Madame Berna's agreement, I drastically reduced Carol's allowance. Of course, it was Madame DeJoue who had ensured that this was done.

So Carol now knew how precious 500 shillings was as she made the offer, staring at me with trembling eyes.

"No thanks."

Carol looked shocked at my refusal. Then, with a determined face, she said, "Then I'll give you 1,000 shillings!"

Honestly. Did she think I could be bought with just that?

"…1,500 shillings."

Carol's jaw dropped.

"What… Sharon, you thief!"

***

Fortunately, this week, the prince did not seek me out. I don't know if that had anything to do with my request to make sure that his path didn't cross with the Empress's.

While I could keep Carol away from her mother in the mansion, I couldn't do the same for Julien.

After consulting with Madame Berna, we had turned over Carol's budget to the duchess. The money was too much to spend anyway, especially for a child. If Carol needed a lot of money, I figured that I could just give it to her.

In addition, the butler was instructed to deliver the invitations from the small families instead of tossing them away. That would distract the Duchess and keep Carol away from her sight.

Duchess Gratoni had been pleased by all this. She considered it as her daughter doing her filial duty.

Well, this was just what I had heard from Madame DeJoue.

Because the duchess was rarely home now, Carol was no longer dragged around to the gatherings she didn't want to go to, and the duchess could not influence Carol as much. 

It was clear that the duchess only brought Carol to social gatherings to show off how she was a "good mother." Now, Carol still had to follow along about once or twice a month to meet her peers, but she didn't have to go to the others.

"Sharon, you're coming too, right?"

"Why would I go?"

Carol couldn't avoid meeting her peers and their parents. She was someone who belonged to this world, and she needed to build connections and make friends with people her own age.

But I didn't have to. I planned to nap all day, comfortably spread out on the couch. Carol would also meet with Julien there, so I wouldn't have to leave the house at all until next week.

Ah… It was heaven.

"Hey! Hey! Let's go! Please?"

"Aunt Gratoni won't like it."

Even as I said it, the word tasted funny in my mouth. Duchess Gratoni was my aunt, but it felt awkward to refer to her as such. Even the duke didn't really feel like an uncle. Madame DeJoue had scolded me for addressing them by their formal titles, though.

"It's only proper to call them your Aunt and Uncle," Madame DeJoue had said.

"As long as everyone knows whom I'm referring to…"

Madame DeJoue had glared at me, and I gave up. I didn't want to be nagged at for something so inconsequential.

"My mom won't care!"

"No. She won't approve."

The duchess simply hated kids. It was the same in the novel.

"Come on!" Carol whined. "Let's go together! Please? Julien will be there too! We were supposed to go on a picnic today! Please?"

"It's not because I don't want to go; I can't go. And we can just go on a picnic next week."

Carol shook her head and her whole body at my words.

I was exhausted because I had to take longer than usual on Carol's hair since she was going to a brunch party today. No matter what Carol said, I wouldn't go. 

Carol's hair, which was braided finely along her head and tied back into pigtails, also shook.

"Hey, don't shake your head. I worked hard on it."

It was really hard to braid hair with these tiny hands. I thought my fingers would tear open.

Carol looked at me pitifully.

Ugh, why is she like this? She was just fine going by herself last month!

"Let's go. Please? I bragged about you to all my friends. I told them that I'd bring you along next time! I told them that I was friends with a princess!" Carol whined.

What princess.

But, well, flattery gets you everywhere. Even a whale would dance if you praised it.

My mood lifted at her words.

To be honest, this face was incredibly pretty. Anybody might say that I looked like a princess.

I chuckled.

"Hm? You're going to come, right?"

"That's a little…"

My refusal brought Carol to tears.

"Let's go! C'mon! If my mom says something, I'll take the punishment for you!"

Ah, really.

"You don't have to."

I was going to refuse Carol up to the very end when the bedroom door burst open.

"Duchess Gratoni…!"

A maid followed her in. Apparently, she was unable to stop Duchess Gratoni.

"Why don't you come?" the duchess asked.

This was the first time we spoke to each other since I came to the duchy.

"My daughter seems to really want this. Does it make sense for the daughter of this household to beg like this? As a guest, you should act more properly."

"Aunt Gratoni," I called.

Her lips, lined with red lipstick, twisted. Duchess Gratoni was wearing a dark red dress and heavy makeup. She was beautiful, but there was a cold venom to her beauty.

"M-Mother."

Carol hid behind me, holding the back of my clothes in her fist.

Hey, I thought she said she would take the punishment.

This silly child.

"Get ready quickly," the duchess ordered.

Well, this wasn't a situation in which I could defy her.

"Yes, Aunt Gratoni."

Pleased at my acquiescence, her lips spread into a thin smile.

Ah, well. I guess today will be exhausting as well.

"Hehe. I'll help you get ready!" Carol said excitedly.

However, she was stopped by the Duchess.

"You, come here."

"But mom… I… Sharon…"

The duchess raised her eyes. Intimidated, Carol trudged over to her mother.

The duchess sat down at the table in my room. Murmuring, she said, "I came here wondering who was taking care of you in my place…"

Is that something you should say in front of Carol, Duchess?

I sighed.

"She certainly stands out. She'll be useful later."

That wasn't something she should say, either.

She really was a terrible adult.

***

Led by the duchess, Carol and I arrived at the restaurant where the brunch party was hosted.

Judging by the bustling crowd, it seemed that most people had already arrived.

"Tsk. We're late. Why didn't you get ready earlier?"

That was because I wasn't going to come in the first place, Duchess Gratoni.

Silently, I held Carol's hand and followed her. I didn't want to sass back the duchess in front of Carol, who was young and impressionable.

All sounds stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. The door opened by itself, and we walked through it.

"Ah…"

The exclamation escaped my mouth without me meaning to say it.

There weren't any kids running around. All of them were sitting at the table, restrained and feigning adult-like elegance. It was a little scary to see everyone turning to us.

"Oh my. Who's child is this? I remember that she accompanied you last time as well."

"This is my niece and Carol's cousin. They're close because they're the same age. She's usually shy, so she doesn't come out much, but Carol insisted on bringing her along today."

…Why was the duchess calling me shy?

I laughed. Maybe there was a part of me that not even I knew.