I have finished.
Elodie nodded, looking completely depressed.
I practiced a lot, but I couldn't say a single word.
I remembered what had just happened, and I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Hello Duchess. I was pleased with you.
It was a simple sentence, no difficult words. I practiced in front of the mirror at least a hundred times over the past few days.
But when she finally stood before the Duchess, her mind was completely occupied. Not only could she not manage the class, but she also could not pronounce a single word.
I was to say these words, then hand over the bouquet, and add quietly: “Thank you for what you did then,” just for the Duchess to hear.
But no! I messed it up! I was pathetic!
Elodie sighed deeply, grabbing the hem of her dress and letting go again and again.
The Duchess must have thought, “What’s wrong with this child?”
She was too nervous to get a good look, but the Duchess's expression was definitely not a smile.
She even seemed a little upset.
Elodie was so frustrated that she couldn't even remember how time passed after that.
Yes.
If that were the case, I wouldn't have volunteered to provide the package.
At least, she wouldn't have embarrassed herself.
At that moment, she heard a loud, exaggerated cough above her head.
Elodie was startled and raised her head.
"What have you been doing so far? You haven't made any progress at all."
Mother Superior's stern voice scolded her.
“I-I'm sorry”
Elodie quickly grabbed the needle. She was learning embroidery, but among everyone there, only the embroidery frame remained empty.
Elodie hurriedly tried to thread the needle with her clumsy hands, but she pricked her finger.
“Oh...!”
A drop of blood flowed from her fingertip, and fell directly into the center of the embroidery frame. As she watched the white cloth become red, her vision darkened.
At that moment, someone came running, the sound of his footsteps echoing loudly.
"Are you well?!"
Elodie shuddered at the loud sound, and her shoulders trembled.
“I'm sorry. I just—”
The person grabbed Elodie's hand and raised it.
“Oh my God, what a pretty little finger you had, and now it has a big hole in it… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you do this dangerous embroidery in the first place…!”
The person sighed as he wrapped a handkerchief around Elodie's injured finger.
The handkerchief was very soft, incredibly soft.
Only then did Elodie look at the person in front of her.
It was the Duchess. She held Elodie's hand, as if she was about to cry at any moment.
“……”
Elodie blinked, her mouth slightly open in confusion.
Suddenly, the Duchess looked up and met Elodie's gaze.
Wow, her eyes are so blue...
They were like the sky on a perfectly clear day – big, beautiful eyes framed by long, thick eyelashes, just like a princess from a storybook.
But it was not limited to her eyes only, it was her nose and lips - everything about them was the most beautiful thing Elodie had ever seen in her life.
She looked like a doll, though to be compared to her felt almost insulting.
At that moment, the Duchess quickly looked away.
'Huh?'
The Mother Superior addressed them.
“Elodie, are you injured?”
She looked at Elodie's finger, and a worried expression crossed her face.
“Oh my God, this must be an expensive handkerchief...”
“It's okay. Don't worry about it.”
The Duchess spoke, then let go of Elodie's hand and stood.
“The needle was very large, so the wound may be deep. Please treat it immediately to avoid infection.”
“Yes, I understand”
The Mother Superior raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at Elodie.
“Elodie. You have the Duchess to thank.”
“Ah...thank you, Duchess.”
The Duchess looked at Elodie in silence for a moment before moving the corner of her mouth slightly.
huh? Was that a smile?
Anyway, it looked more like a sarcastic smile.
Do you think I'm stupid for getting hurt over something like this?
And after thinking about it, Elodie's soul sank again.
But still...
The Duchess was the first to rush when Elodie was injured, and she was the one who stopped the bleeding. Before that, she seemed very worried.
Elodie quietly held the handkerchief wrapped around her finger.
***
Camille was showing a serious expression, lost in thought.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Camille.”
Audrey tried to talk to her, but Camille didn't seem to hear, because she didn't respond.
"Camille? Are you okay?"
It was only when Audrey asked again that Camille finally spoke.
“Embroidery is not out of the question.”
“...excuse me?”
“It's very dangerous. Embroidery needles are not tools for young children with small hands. They are more like weapons.”
“Uh...oh. Is that so?”
"Sure. Didn't you see what happened earlier? The hole in Elodie's finger? Oh my God, the amount of blood that came out! What if it doesn't heal properly? What if it leaves a scar? If that happens, it will all be my fault!" Camille sighed deeply as she spoke.
“No, it's not your fault. I was the one who taught embroidery in the first place...”
"I should have watched her more carefully. Then I could have stopped her from poking. I knew Elodie wasn't good at embroidery, so I should have expected that."
"Did you? That's weird. Have we talked about this before...?"
"Anyway, let's stop teaching embroidery. If Elodie cuts herself again, I won't forgive myself," Camille said as if in pain, her expression so serious that it seemed grim.
“……”
Audrey was left speechless, looking at Camille in confusion.
***
Using the confession as an excuse, she left Audrey at the orphanage again and went to church.
I had an appointment to meet Arthur.
'Huh'
I couldn't get rid of the bad mood caused by Elodie's injury.
Audrey insisted that “stopping a lesson that was already in place seemed a bit extreme,” so we eventually agreed that only Elodie would be exempt from the embroidery lessons.
Not all girls need to learn embroidery in the first place.
There were plenty of other things Elodie could excel at without risking hurting herself. She didn't need to learn something that might hurt her.
Despite the unexpected incident, the day was successful in its own way.
I achieved my goal of seeing Elodie face to face, exchanged a few words with her, and even received a bouquet of flowers directly from her.
Sadly they were flowers, though.
It can't be kept forever...
I sighed quietly.
“I will put them in a vase as soon as I get home, and when they wilt, I will dry them and put them in a frame.”
Then I heard the sound of a door opening and I looked up.
Arthur entered silently and sat down, leaving one seat between us.
“Have you thought about this?”
"Yes."
“What is your answer?”
“The amount you offered me is not enough to be able to do this job.”
“If the down payment is not enough, I will offer more.”
“It's not about the amount. Money is not a problem, and accepting other people's demands is not my livelihood,” Arthur stroked his mustache as he spoke.
“Are you not in love with the Chimera Heart?”
“There is no guarantee that the information you provide is correct or that I will be able to obtain it.”
“And what?” I asked quietly.
"so what?"
“Tell me what condition you want to add, Baron. If you had intended to reject me outright, you would not have taken so long.”
Upon hearing my words, Arthur laughed softly, “I need a guarantee. A guarantee that you won’t break your promise.”
“Is the name Dumont not enough guarantee?”
“Once the second order is completed, you won't be a Dumont anymore, right?”
“Sound words. So what do you suggest?”
“Give me one of your weaknesses.”
This time, it was my turn to laugh, “Are you serious?”
“What's so strange about that?”
“For someone like you, Baron, you must know. I have revealed one of my weaknesses to you.”
“Do you have?” Arthur asked in a calm voice.
“The second request I mentioned. If you reveal this plan to my husband, that will be the end of me.”
“That's true enough.”
“Don't tell me you haven't thought of this?”
“I wanted to make sure. I wanted to make sure who exactly was the person you were trying to avoid.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
Arthur nodded, “Yes, I agree.”