Chapter 85
“…Well, I don’t know.”
For a second, Lilien considered confiding exactly what she was so curious about, but she decided against it. Matilda, despite all her talk of romance, was a surprisingly devout believer and had no experience of her own.
With just a week left until the wedding, Lilien realized she hadn’t figured out a single thing she needed to know.
“I went and acted all tough in front of Cairn… What am I supposed to do now?”
Her upper body slid down the soft sheets as she lay sprawled across the bed, legs dangling, thumping her fists and stomping her feet in frustration.
“I’m doomed. I’m really, truly doomed.”
“Miss, I know you’re upset about the embroidery. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it for you. It’s nothing to be ashamed of if you can’t sew.”
Matilda tried to reassure her.
* * *
Lilien felt a pang of guilt as she held the beautifully embroidered handkerchief—each stitch painstakingly made by Matilda. Lilien herself hadn’t managed to finish a single one. Well, there was one, but she’d been so embarrassed by it, she hid it at the very bottom of her reticule.
“Miss de Bermore! It’s been so long. How have you been? You look absolutely radiant these days.”
“Well, isn’t it only natural, when the most handsome man in Klatt is so in love with you?”
“My goodness, Miss de Bermore! I thought with your wedding so soon, you wouldn’t make it today.”
As soon as they heard ‘Miss de Bermore’, the noble ladies swarmed around her like a pack of wolves. Surrounded by them in a tight circle, Lilien felt a cold sweat break out.
“I—I probably won’t be able to come for a while… I just happened to have, um, an embroidered handkerchief to bring…”
She was more anxious than usual, terrified they’d start asking questions about her relationship with Cairn.
“The embroidery is so beautiful! Did you make it yourself this time, too?”
Unable to admit the truth, Lilien just pressed her lips together and offered a sheepish smile. This was a noblewomen’s charity bazaar, after all. Cairn wasn’t here, and there was no one around to rescue her.
All those curious eyes turned on her at once. Lilien felt her neck stiffen as she nervously searched for an escape route. But the circle of ladies was so tight, there was no way out. Instinctively, she started to edge backward—only to step on someone’s foot.
“S-sorry!”
Madame Laurent, the unfortunate victim, just smiled kindly. In fact, she seemed almost pleased.
“I was so shocked when I heard the two of you were suddenly getting married…”
“Lilien!”
A voice rang out—just as warm and familiar as Cairn’s.
“…Eisen?”
Eisen pushed her way through the throng of women, reaching out for Lilien. In that moment, to Lilien, Eisen looked like a queen ant rescuing her favorite little worker from a horde of other ants.
“Lilien, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? Come with me.”
With a firm but not unfriendly grip, Eisen pulled Lilien out of the circle and marched her away. Lilien had to scurry to keep up with Eisen’s elegant, purposeful stride.
“Thank you, Eisen. Really.”
“For what?”
“For noticing I was in trouble and helping me out.”
“Well, that’s part of it, but honestly, I was in trouble too. So don’t thank me too much—I just used you as an excuse.”
After putting some distance between themselves and the booths, the two finally settled at a table in the shade of the tea tent.
“So what was your predicament, Miss Eisen?”
“Oh, everyone’s suddenly decided to become matchmakers and is dying to introduce me to every eligible man in the room.”
“Ah…”
“I suppose Lord Headington was the most sought-after prize. Too bad for them, huh?”
Lilien’s face went bright red, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
“I’m just teasing, Lilien. Sorry if that was too much.”
“N-no, it’s fine…”
At that moment, two steaming cups of tea were placed before them.
“By the way, I caught a glimpse earlier—your embroidery skills are quite impressive, Lilien.”
“Uh, um… thanks.”
The sunlight was blushing pink on Lilien’s cheeks as Eisen pulled out a few handkerchiefs she’d embroidered herself, laying them on the table.
“How’s my handiwork?”
“…”
Lilien was speechless. The embroidery was… well, a disaster.
“Uh… you made these yourself? That must have been quite an effort.”
“And? What do you think?”
They were, honestly, the worst embroidery Lilien had ever seen.
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