Chaise a la ReineChapter 51

The sunlight scattering against the glass window created a splendid halo at the tip of the branches.

Eugène noticed that the shade of the short lime tree, which had been around for a while when he first came, had now shortened to his ankles, and raised his head from the book he was reading to measure the sunlight above his head. It seemed to be just past ten o’clock. After guessing the approximate time by looking at the position of the sun, he closed the book and stood up. xSMJN

Compared to the customs of the high society, the imperial schedule, centered on the Emperor’s official schedule, started rather early. As summer approached, the number of people looking for a warm glass greenhouse greatly decreased, but around this time, people who went for a leisurely walk started to appear one by one. Eugène was planning to get away before anything troublesome happened.

He was currently located in the most secluded and quietest place among the glass greenhouses on one side of the court’s garden.

Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Compared to other greenhouses that display rare plants such as rare cacti, precious orchids, expensive tulips, or tropical fruit trees, this greenhouse grew fruit trees common in Southern Ladivenia, such as lime trees and orange trees. And perhaps that’s why it wasn’t very popular.

But Eugène liked it and enjoyed visiting this place. It was not easy to find a place so quiet and seldom visited in a court that was always crowded with people. The last few days he had been in and out of this greenhouse, luckily, he hadn’t run into anyone. HKdA2d

Rustle-

But that luck seemed to have run out now. After having just straightened his waist as he got up from his place, the hem of a pastel-toned dress appeared under the clove tree opposite him.

Eugène, unaware that the person was approaching when he was sitting hidden by a small shrub, did not notice the presence until he met the gaze of the other person who was located far below.

She was a young child, who looked only about six or seven years old. Even in the greenhouse, the little girl holding a white parasol looked at him with wide eyes, surprised, as if she did not know that Eugène was there as well.

“Madame Royale.”

Even if one had never seen the Grands at the Emperor’s Supper, one would have recognized who she was at a glance.

Her curly hair, gathered in a half-bundle and arranged with a large ribbon at the back of her head, was as black and shiny as her mother’s, like a crow’s wing feathers.

The tiny face the size of a fist had so many pieces of her father on it, Eugène felt as if he was facing the Emperor transformed into a little girl in front of him. yM7qKv

The young princess looked frightened by the stranger who popped out of nowhere at an unexpected moment. To reassure her, Eugène politely knelt down to his knees and bowed.

In fact, kneeling to a superior was only a formal greeting, and in everyday situations, lightly bending the knee and pulling one leg back was sufficient as a counterexample.

But he didn’t want to scare the little girl with his large frame, so he reassured her by taking the routine of keeping one knee up while kneeling on the other.

Like a knight in a story, the girl’s boundaries softened slightly with his formal attitude. Despite her high status, the princess, who was still young and had never encountered a formal greeting like that, raised her small chin to hide her surprised expression. wiTQeg

“You may stand up.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Eugène politely bowed and stood up.

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The princess, who kept raising her head to face him, stumbled backward and almost fell, stepped back slightly so that the other person wouldn’t notice – under the illusion that he didn’t notice – and asked calmly.

“Who are you?”

Chrysanthemum Garden.

“My name is Eugène Lothair de Chastan, Your Highness. I go by the title of Baron Amieux.”

“Oh, you are Baron Amieux? I have heard the name somewhere.” E6xa2q

She couldn’t remember exactly where she heard it, but anyway, it wasn’t an unfamiliar name, so the princess was more reassured than before.

On the other hand, Eugène, who heard her words, couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He felt sick at heart to hear that rumors about him had even reached a young child who was only eight years old.

“By the way, Your Highness, why are you alone without a lady-in-waiting?”

He looked around to see if there was an attendant, but no one seemed to be following her. Considering her age and her supreme status as the Emperor’s eldest daughter, it was incomprehensible that there was no lady-in-waiting behind her. ad31WG

Although Grand Duchess Alienor claimed to be the Grand Duchess, it was her, Princess Anne Meredith, who officially held the title of Madame Royale. What that meant was that in the current imperial family, where there was neither an empress nor a crown princess, the highest-ranking woman was the young princess right in front of him.

“Do I look like someone who cannot even take a walk without a lady-in-waiting?”

“That is not it, but it is against the decorum for a high-ranking lady to move alone and unaccompanied.”

“It is not like I am going somewhere far, am I? This is my father’s court, and no one here dares harm me. Even taking a walk in the greenhouse could be done by myself.” wSE0Ag

The noble girl, not accustomed to her will being questioned, did not break her stubbornness despite Eugène’s concerned advice. Her words were not completely wrong, but this was a place unknown to many people, and recently there had been terrible incidents in the court that cannot be mentioned.

Eugène could not leave the immature child alone. He didn’t know how the lady-in-waiting left the princess alone, but he thought he would have to stay with her and take care of her for the time being until he found her guardian.

“However, as a gentleman, I cannot let a high-ranking be left alone. If you allow, may I escort you back to your place of residence? I will not hinder your way.”

He made the request in a respectful manner so as not to hurt the little girl’s self-esteem. YyB9Hu

He had served as a soldier for a long time, and even the smallest act was imbued with orderliness. Although many people showed courtesy to her, it was rare to see a person who was strictly polite like Eugène, so Princess Anne Meredith’s young heart fluttered slightly. The princess became very fond of Eugène, who treated the little girl as though she was a grown woman.

“I have no choice but to accept the Baron’s request. I will allow you to accompany me on my walk.”

Princess Anne Meredith politely gave permission in a mature tone and nodded her head. Eugène thanked her and walked with her at a distance, one step behind her back, as usual.

“Where are you going?” SvZc4P

“I heard that lime flowers are in full bloom in this greenhouse. Do you know where the tree with the most beautiful flowers is?”

“The back side has the best sunlight, so the flowers bloomed early. Did you come to see the lime flowers?”

Chrysanthemum Garden.

“Lime flowers and gardenias! And I want to see the clove tree too. Where is the clove tree?”

“This tree in front of you is a clove tree. Its flowers usually bloom in early spring.” HpePdN

“Oh, I see. The flowers are already gone. I love the scent of cloves… .”

Princess Anne Meredith, staring in disappointment at the clove tree, which had only bluish leaves bare of flowers, found a lime tree that had just begun to bloom on the other side, and walked over. She was walking because she couldn’t run due to her status as a princess, but her steps were quite quick, as if her mind was somewhere else.

Princess Anne Meredith, now under the lime tree, opened the silk pouch she had hung on her arm and reached over the tree. But even the branch closest to the ground was too high for her to reach, and she could not easily pick the flowers.

Eugène, watching the scene, lowered the branch to help her pick the flowers herself after witnessing her doggedness to do so, regardless of her failing many times before. The princess, who was only able to pick the flowers with Eugène’s help, smiled and looked up at Eugène with bright red cheeks. 2gr5pk

“Thank you, sir.”

“It was nothing.”

It was easier in many ways to simply snap it, but Eugène did not do that. She didn’t even ask for help, but seeing her picking flowers with his aid, without a lady-in-waiting, she seemed to want to do it on her own, so he just let her be.

Eugène took her to the young and small trees and limited his help to tilting the branches only when necessary. Thanks to this, it took quite a bit of time, but the princess was able to fill the silk pouch she had prepared with utmost satisfaction. DryEJs

“I will dry these well and make a scented sachet. My mother gave me some fine muslin and a beautiful à la mode fabric, woven at the Renens Convent. The ladies-in-waiting said they could make a beautiful scented sachet out of it. My nanny said she would teach me how to tie a silk knot to decorate the tassel once the sachet is complete.”

The princess, excited by the success of what she had set out to do, revealed her plans as she chattered like a robin on the windowsill.

It was nice to see her full of childish vibrancy, unlike before when she tried to be dignified. Even a high-status child like Anne Meredith had an innocent and happy face, no different from that of a trainee cadet of her age.

“Princess Anne Meredith!” hBND6X

Suddenly, a scream was heard from somewhere. Eugène and Princess Anne Meredith, who were happily coming out of the greenhouse after finishing their business, turned their heads in the direction of the sound, startled by the thunderous voice.

On the other side of the road, a woman was approaching quickly, staggering gracefully as she did so. The woman, with her dark auburn hair tucked up without any special decorations, and her brown eyes that resembled her hair, shining all over the place, moved in a straight line, looking only at Princess Anne Meredith.

The little princess looked at her with a startled expression on her face and then hid behind Eugène. However, the woman looking at the princess, eyes wide open like a hawk watching her prey, couldn’t miss her.

“How… how could Your Highness do this to me? You disappeared without saying a word to me! Do you know how long I have been looking for you?” dFpdrl

“Na- Nanny-”

“That is right. I am Your Highness’ nanny! Do you know what that means? Until the princess gets married, you have to take me with you wherever you go!! How could someone as precious as the princess wander around the court without a lady-in-waiting? Did the princess think she is some sort of a laundry girl or shepherdess?”

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Early 20s to early 30s at most?

A woman too young to be someone’s nanny clutched the hem of her skirt and ruffled it in frustration. Since the princess was of imperial blood, she couldn’t wave her finger in front of her face like a strict aristocrat’s tutor, but seeing what she was doing, she seemed willing to do something worse than that. 0Ljhk7

But Eugène did not lose sight of her worried eyes as she scolded the princess. Hopefully she is not hurt, she is not in a rough state… The worried look on her face was no different from that of a country woman scolding her children for playing late at night.

“Wh- why are you being like this? Baron Amieux was also with me.”

Princess Anne Meredith, well aware that her nanny was usually very kind and gentle, but that once she got angry, wouldn’t calm down for hours, took Eugène next to her and used him as a shield for herself.

The nanny, who was about to continue nagging at the princess’s attitude as she showed no sign of remorse, understood what Princess Meredith had said one beat too late and opened her eyes even wider. fP7U2u

As if she had just discovered Eugène’s existence, she turned to look at him and covered her mouth with both hands out of embarrassment.

“Oh my goodness, how dare I do this! My apologies, sir. Forgive me for the rudeness. I must have lost my mind after the princess suddenly disappeared.”

“It is all right, Miss. Please do not mind me.”

The princess’s nanny would be a noblewoman with a title of her own. As the woman hurriedly grabbed the sides of her skirt with both hands and bowed, Eugène placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly. rADTFy

“The introduction is late. I am Countess Sertois, the nanny of Princess Anne Meredith.”

“The princess introduced me, but I shall greet you again. I am Baron Amieux.”

Countess Sertois raised her head with a face reddened in embarrassment. In a way, it was only natural for a lady who considered dignity as her life to be so embarrassed when she displayed such a sight in front of others.

“… Did you just say that you are Baron Amieux?” R2vTSi

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Oh, I see.”

It was such a situation where his identity was quite unexpected. After the introduction, Countess Sertois, who was silent for a moment, tilted her head once and reaffirmed Eugène’s identity in a daze. As Eugène nodded, belated realization struck Countess Sertois like a lightning bolt.

She noticed that the person with her precious princess was Baron ‘Doe’, the number one scandal-maker in the present court. This sturdy man in front of her was the Emperor’s hidden lover—the supreme one who was also the real father of the princess! pVgfLi