Celestina slightly raised her eyebrows. The Duchess's fan was half open. The gentle breeze blowing across her face was gentle, but just that one movement was enough for people to read the emotions in her heart.
"Of course, in terms of virtue and reputation, no one can compare to the eldest lady. I heard that since she debuted in society last year, she has received a lot of attention, right?"
Thanks to that late addition, the atmosphere finally calmed down. Clémentine breathed a sigh of relief and poured more tea.
"This time my daughter has been chosen to be the companion of Her Majesty the Queen, who will soon enter the royal palace. So please choose for her dresses that match that dignity."
“I just found out that I have some special designs for really special ladies.”
As soon as she heard the word "special", Giovinetta's ears immediately twitched. Clémentine's characteristic soft, nasal voice clearly shows its value at this time.
"This model has similar lines to the dress once worn by Princess Asetria, but is sewn much more elaborately and luxuriously. Premium silk and precious gemstone embroidery are spared, the whole thing is extremely gorgeous. It will definitely be the most outstanding design this year."
“I want this set. Okay?”
“Make us some outfits in that style.”
Clementine secretly cheered in her heart. The reputation of being difficult to please is certainly not an exaggeration, but this guest is as generous as rumored.
“Then I will send the completed sets to the government via messenger.”
“I will look forward.”
Clémentine sent mother and child off with a bright smile. The two-horse carriage of the Flores family waited outside and then rolled towards the mansion.
Having just spent a large sum of money to order costumes, Giovinetta's mood suddenly improved. Celestina looked at her daughter admiring the newly bought hat and ribbon and hummed softly, suddenly a worry arose in her heart. Even though she's called an adult, she's still very immature.
"You are about to enter the royal palace to serve Her Majesty the Queen. You need to maintain proper manners."
Giovinetta raised her ornately decorated hat to her head, her lips pouting with displeasure.
“I know.”
She immediately sat up straight, looking over with a slightly sulky look. Celestina replied in a calm voice.
“You know, you have to stand out more than anyone else.”
Giovinetta immediately grimaced.
“At least be more prominent than her.”
She moved her lips, rubbing her thumb as if she wanted to tear her fingernails out of anxiety. Celestina just felt sad.
"Don't worry. Wearing the dress from before, you will shine brighter than everyone else."
Giovinetta's eyes immediately lit up.
“Will I attract the princes' attention, Mom?”
"Don't talk nonsense. Don't pay attention to them."
The Duchess sternly rebuked him.
"I heard that the Second Prince is very handsome? I was away last year so I haven't seen him yet."
Celestina replied with a stern expression.
“That is someone you absolutely must not get involved with.”
“Why?”
Celestina smiled a little sadly. Second prince Mathias had a defect from birth.
“Prince Mathias is the child the Empress gave birth to while she was the Emperor's lover.”
That is the label 'illegitimate child'. Even though Cornelia has officially become Queen, prejudice still cannot be changed.
Even though Crown Prince Cesar has mental problems, his position as successor is still stable thanks to the support of both conservatives and coalition factions, simply because of his undeniable legitimacy. Cesar's mother is Princess Adelheid of the kingdom of Isavria, while Queen Cornelia is just the daughter of a low-ranking provincial official, even involved in slave trading and stripped of her hereditary title. In other words, she comes from a fallen family.
Cornelia was originally just a maid serving in the palace, but only because she caught Guido's eye did she become his lover. That's why people still talk about the fate of the new Queen to this day.
"Furthermore, it is rumored that the Second Prince has a promiscuous habit. You must absolutely not get involved."
"Yes."
But Giovinetta showed great interest in that prince. Celestina noticed and raised her voice once more.
"Absolutely not. Don't have any wishful thinking."
“I heard that, Mom.”
“Also, remember carefully who you need to sympathize with.”
"I know, I know. You're talking so much that my ears are growing picky. You mean Marquis Romero's eldest son and King Itaca's cousin, right?"
Celestina was determined, but neither of them caught Giovinetta's eye. The eldest son of the Romero family is thirty and can't even get married, rumors say he's impotent. In addition, his face is small and wrinkled and his head is too big.
What about the king's cousin Itaca? Giovinetta had met Giovinetta during last year's social season, but he always held his neck up as if he were an important person. He always smelled of heavy alcohol, and his belly was so bloated that just looking at his face made him want to vomit.
“In short, if it can't be done then it can't be done.”
“Okay then…”
Giovinetta pursed her lips and looked out the car window. Spring flowers bloom brilliantly. Such a beautiful season, her heart suddenly sank.
She could not sacrifice her youth to such ordinary men.
Cesar was reading a book when he suddenly spoke. Somehow I felt like I already knew what he was going to say. We have repeated this conversation dozens of times.
“When will the baby be born?”
"Huh?"
As expected. The questions are so overwhelming that I can't even take a breather and always put me in an awkward situation.
I pretended to be bewildered.
“What?”
“The result of love.”
Since the night they shared the same room, his only concern has always been this matter. I quickly glanced around for fear that someone would hear words like "childbirth" or "love result" uttered so carelessly.
Luckily, no one could hear the servants standing near the door. I quickly put my index finger to my lips.
“Shh, we have to wait more.”
“How long to wait?”
Cold sweat began to trickle down my back. Every time I have to think of a new way to keep him quiet.
“If you talk too much… it might not work out.”
"Why?"
Again “why.” Cesar has been asking "why" a lot lately.
Why? I myself don't know.
Honestly, facing that persistent questioning, I just wanted to cry.
Cesar suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered.
“Do… should we hold hands more?”
The words were so innocent that they made my heart ache.
“Yes… but not now.”
I glanced around again then put my lips close to his ear.
“Hold hands only when no one is looking.”
That lie has now grown like a snowball that keeps rolling, but I don't know what else to do. It's better than letting the whole world see me and him holding hands in broad daylight.
Cesar looked at me with eyes full of expectation.
“Things like that… shouldn't be seen by anyone.”
I lowered my voice. He also imitated, lowering his voice.
“Like last time?”
“Yes, just like last time.”
I didn't realize at the time that this whispering game was like two people sharing an intimate secret.
"Alright."
He nodded and obediently continued reading the book. The way he so easily believed me made me feel like I was doing something terrible. My heart ached like it was being pricked by a needle.
Maybe I have to think of something. If it keeps going like this, it won't be over. Because from the beginning, what he said was impossible. I cannot produce eggs.
On the wooden table, a few silver coins jingled and fell. A large hand, with rough fingers and rough joints, turned over the silver coins and then tightened them. The strength is so great that the pattern engraved on the surface even prints on the palm of the hand.
Thirty ounces of silver. Money to bribe a maid in Luc Thach Palace. In return, she provided information that the night before, that girl had ended up sharing a room with Cesar.
“It must feel like I just touched the world.”
Mercedes muttered sarcastically, then opened her hand. The mark was clearly visible and the crushed silver coin appeared.
Rosentaria, the most widely circulated silver coin in the Empire, has existed since the empire was a kingdom. When first issued, the silver coin embossed with the portrait of the founding king contained ten parts of pure silver. But as times changed, war, famine and financial policies caused the silver rate to gradually decrease.
At one point, the war blocked the silver trade route, causing the amount of silver in Rosentaria to fall to less than one-tenth, causing outrage throughout the empire. Some people even melt silver and then mix it with copper to cast fake money.
What was in her hand was that fake silver coin. No need to weigh to know: lighter than real silver.
And its meaning is very clear. Once we allow exceptions, the order will collapse from that very gap, just like this silver coin, with just one crack, the entire foundation will collapse.