On the day of the award ceremony, the short summer heat in Loyburn was no longer subsiding.
But since the weather was clear, the party was expected to go off without a hitch.
“It's really hot.”
Thérèse whispered this in a low voice.
Because of the hot, humid weather, she did not sleep well, and her mind seemed heavy and confused.
Thérèse was naturally vulnerable to cold and heat.
This may be due to her luxurious upbringing, or perhaps she was born with a weak constitution and was more sensitive to heat and cold than others.
“Your Ladyship’s face is pale.”
The bridesmaids said in a worried voice after looking at her from behind the mirror.
“They brought out my freshness.”
Therese had her eyes half closed.
She felt the movement of the brush dipped in powder gently touching her skin.
“How do we style your Highness’s hair?”
“Pack it up.”
“Shall we use the new decorative tape you asked for last time?”
"Yes."
“I'll go get him now.”
The footsteps of the seated bridesmaid were heard as she headed towards the dressing room.
Another bridesmaid sitting next to her began to blush pink.
When the soft brush touched her skin, Thérèse automatically closed her eyes.
Her drooping eyelids were very heavy.
Maybe I closed them just for a moment.
At that moment, someone approached her and brought cold juice to her lips.
"Oh?
Orange juice.
Do you have coffee?"
Tiez thought that the maid sitting next to her was the one who introduced him, so she asked like this.
“Have you not had breakfast, ma'am?”
But she was not the maid.
It was a sound that was not meant to be heard at this time and place.
Dennis.
It was him.
Therese opened her eyes wide.
He was dressed in full, smart formal attire: a black morning coat embroidered with gold, a green tie the color of his eyes, and black checked trousers.
His blue-black hair was combed back neatly, highlighting his handsome forehead.
It was a rare appearance, as he didn't usually wear his hair slicked back.
He was always handsome, but the way he looked dressed in party clothes was so captivating that it was hard to look away from him.
When Therese saw him, she felt happy, but she spoke in a cold, feigned voice.
“Are you coming?”
"Okay."
Dennis answered with a mumble.
“Drink.”
He was still holding the cup close to her lips.
Therese looked at the cup and then held it in her hands.
The juice made from fresh oranges was sweet and cold.
As the refreshing fruit juice spread into her mouth, she felt as if her energy was returning to her exhausted body.
"Thank you."
Therese said hesitantly.
"Good."
Dennis took the empty cup from her and handed it to a maid to clean.
“Why didn't you eat?”
Dennis asked again.
“...I have no appetite.”
“Why?”
Therese did not answer.
Should she say?
He didn't really seem to know.
At their wedding, at Denise's annual birthday party, at their New Year's party, and on occasions like the harvest celebration.
She had not put anything in her mouth since morning.
What's the point of telling him that she can't eat because of stress whenever she has to appear in public?
He probably doesn't even want to know that.
Thérèse remembered a memory she didn't want to remember.
It was probably the first party she attended with Denise after their marriage.
Due to the pressure and heaviness of it being her first event as a princess, she had not eaten well since the day before.
Also, her sleep disturbance a few days ago made her physical condition not good.
She woke up after a light, fitful sleep, and tried to eat a few pieces of fruit for breakfast, but experienced severe indigestion.
She doesn't even remember how she ended the party in that state.
After the party ended and she returned to her room, she spent the entire day vomiting.
Even when she ate thin soup, she continued to vomit, until in the end all that came out was clear stomach juice.
Where was he and what was he doing while she was so ill?
As usual, Dennis didn't look for her.
However, his servants might have told him how she was doing.
Did he really not know?
Listen and then pretend not to know?
Or did he not want to know?
When she was struggling to regain her strength, he came to her in the middle of the night.
Like a thief who crept into her bedroom under the cover of darkness, he did not ask her anything.
He did not even notice that she had lost weight over the past days.
He didn't say anything.
As soon as he saw her, he showered kisses on her dry, peeling lips from not eating properly.
Then he held her in his arms until dawn.
After that, she suffered from severe health problems for more than a week.
Do you really want to know all these details too?
When she suddenly remembered this, Thérèse furrowed her eyebrows.
All he needs is a quick and easy medicine to solve the problem of insomnia.
Even though she knew she was being treated this way.
Do you want me?
Or do you just want my body?
“Okay.
That's okay, then.”
As if he accepted her silence as an answer, Dennis didn't ask again.
He didn't even encourage her to eat properly.
Then he said nothing else.
Therese looked at Dennis sitting on the sofa behind her through the mirror.
He appeared to have dark circles under his eyes, probably because he also didn't sleep well last night.
“I brought the red and silver ribbons, Your Highness.”
When the lady-in-waiting came back and saw Dennis and bowed to him, he nodded with his hand as if to say, “No need,” and then got up from the sofa.
“I'm leaving now, take good care of her.”
“Okay, Your Highness.”
As the bridesmaids bowed in greeting, Denise nodded once, then strode out of her room.
“It seems that His Highness the Prince knew that Her Highness the Princess had not eaten.”
The lady-in-waiting who was blushing next to Thérèse said so.
“It is impossible for His Highness and I to eat separately.
How did he know?”
“But...”
The bridesmaid hesitated.
Another bridesmaid replied:
“Maybe Mr.
Daniel asked.”
Daniel (the butler) was busy with other tasks and temporarily absent from her side, so it was not possible to ask him directly.
“It's possible!”
The bridesmaids supported each other in the opinion that this might be true.
One of the runners-up put the clincher.
“Otherwise, why would he have come to Her Highness the Princess’ suite carrying juice?”
Thérèse stared at the mirror, motionless.
There was a woman with a stiff expression in the mirror.
Therese's eyes continued to wander to where he was sitting.
If only she could read what was inside it, just for once.
If that were possible, that would be really cool.
“The dress is very beautiful on you, Your Highness.”
“Thanks, but.”
After finishing the decorations.
The bridesmaids were looking at her with a satisfied expression.
At her request to highlight freshness, and thanks to makeup, her face looked better than usual.
Although she actually didn't sleep any more than usual.
Therese examined her face in the mirror several times carefully.
She should not appear even the slightest bit tired.
Since Marquis Engelger had returned from the border area, she had to appear perfect.
Marquis Engelger.
He's back, so I have to be firm.
The awarding ceremony was held in the Moon Hall, the second largest ballroom in the main palace, Biliu Palace.
The largest celebration hall, the Sun Hall, was only used for major occasions such as coronation ceremonies or the victories of kings across generations, so this ceremony was practically in the largest halls.
Thérèse realized that Denis, who had received Vansan's help during flood relief, had put in a great effort at this award ceremony.
The hot weather, the lit candles for decorations, and the crowd of people.
Because of the stress, Thérèse felt as if she was gradually losing consciousness.
Thérèse pressed her hands together tightly and smiled naturally.
I have perfected this elegant smile after years of practice.
When she smiled, the click of photographers' lenses was heard.
The ceremony began, and titles were awarded to those who made achievements in dealing with flood damage, as well as those who made achievements in the border dispute with the Ho In'an state.
“Congratulations, we must now call you Baron Murat.”
“Thank you.
It’s all thanks to you, Your Highness.”
“It is impossible.
It is compensation for the tolerance shown by the Baron in difficult times.”
Immediately after the award ceremony ends.
Vincent Murat and his son Jerome Murat visited Thérèse's pavilion.
This is to give thanks.
Therese received the guests without changing her sweat-soaked dress.
Barun Murad had a bright smile on his face that had never been seen before.
At the same time, he seemed to have completed his life's mission and felt relieved.
Therese put down the teacup and said:
“Isn't this the beginning now?
Baron.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
His son Jerome responded to Therese's words.
There was firm determination on the young man's face.
“Good.
Then let’s propose to the Marquis of Benchetrit.”