Chapter 187: Chapter 187
The carriage arranged for them was spacious as a Royal carriage demanded.
It was of great length and had a disguised appearance to prevent the subjects’ attention; for they would run to it wishing to show their utmost respects to the Royal supposedly riding it.
Their journey to the outskirts of the city was pleasant in each other’s company.
As the carriage permitted, the young Maid, Paige had been invited to accompany her ladyship in this outing.
The silence was a must, for the Duke was reserved when in his servants’ presence. However, it did not remain still for the whole journey.
"!... My Lord, it appears the news on my Lady’s Title attainment has already been announced to the people."
In a furtive glance outside, Paige commented as the carriage crossed the city’s busy market. Big sheets on the rustic buildings had discernable Headlines announcing the news to the citizens. Merchants offered discounts in celebration and women happily conversed about the news contained in them, delighted by the marvellous and unusual times they got to witness.
"Apples! Fresh apples! Take the reddest apples of the Empire at half its price!! Take nine for the Ninth has arrived!!"
"My~ aren’t the times wonderful? A Lady has been selected. The Empire is surely to beam in prosperity for years on end now."
"She must be a pretty Lady... A Duke’s daughter, huh? Sylfinnier’s too, hehe..."
"Oh, you old green geezer!! As soon as a noble Lady is mentioned men think of the same!!"
The conversation between a merchant and two customers was heard as they passed.
Orland raised a brow, slightly displeased and told the maid.
"His Majesty sent notice immediately after Marianne received her Surname. It is part of the tradition to communicate it to the people as soon as the circumstances permit. Hence... No corner of the Empire is devoid of those headlines."
"Everyone is to know, My Lord?"
"Everyone."
The maid listened as well as the alluded girl and once the dry confirmation was told, even ominous for the Duke’s chilling tone and demeanour, silence reigned once again.
It was solely as they approached the shop they were meant to visit that the Duke lightened up.
"Dear, we are almost there."
To his notice, Marianne perked up. She had yet to know where they were going and looking outside she found earthy grounds as one would assume for the remote neighbourhood.
’Hmm? It doesn’t look fancy... What are we doing here?’
She pondered, aware that her Father wouldn’t take her blindly to any place.
Once the carriage halted, the coachman’s announcement came and Orland unboarded the cabin to help her down as he liked to do.
She got down, looking curious at the front of the store they were to enter as Paige checked her dress, making sure the hem of the fading grey-blue fabric wouldn’t get dirtied as she paced.
Her dress was not as complicated in its design.
Its simplicity was its charm.
White corset and fluffy short sleeves that enhanced her youth placed themselves wickedly on her skin, barely covering her shoulders, as her hair covered the surface her unwilling dress continued to showcase intending to invoke the deserved awe her appearance demanded.
Lastly, a graceful shawl wrapped around her forearms, elegant in its silvery hue that matched her dress perfectly made the simplicity of her wear a marvellous sight.
Paige observed that every detail was in rule and satisfied she smiled, for her ladyship looked beautiful once again.
’What is she doing?’
However, the unaccustomed girl found her care strange.
’Is there something wrong with my clothes??..... Okay, stop that. Come here.’
Seeing that the maid kept looking after her, not letting her concentrate on what was to be shown by her father, she extended her hand to lead the maid to stand by her side.
"Ah... But..."
’No, no. Leave it. I don’t care if it gets dirty, I can see the skirt is not flashing my butt so it’s all good.’ — She inwardly told her close servant, supposing that orderliness was the maid’s aim, as she shook her head to tell her to stop her intention.
’It’s fine, see? I’ll lift it to not get more dirt on it. I won’t make you have more work.’ — She added giving her an example with gestures.
"... I understand, My Lady." — The girl smiled, softly agreeing to the gist of what she reckoned of her master’s order.
Orland observed the exchange in silence. From her wonder about what kind of place she was taken, to the wonder of what it was that Paige was doing going around behind her, inspecting her every corner as her duty demanded; The duke watched entertained.
"Sweetie, we are here to retrieve your tool." — He ultimately confessed.
"!!" — ’Pocka– My portable canvas!?’
With true joy she straightened, turning back to look at him after observing curiously the lonely tools of the craftsman laying on the floor near a piece of trunk serving as a table.
She became lively, not knowing where to lay her eyes in search of the man who would deliver her dear tool to her.
"Come, Marianne. Let me introduce you to Gustav."
Arm in arm, parent and child entered the shop to find the round man working on a wooden craft.
"Gustav."
"... A moment." — He answered, immersed in his work.
"..."
"... Haaa... We will have to wait." — Quickly resigning to the man’s request as if accustomed to it, Orland told his daughter.
"....." — ’... They must be close... Cause if I remember correctly... Uh... Wasn’t your Father a high noble? A Duke, if you want specifics, darling?’
The foreigner told her body’s owner who also seemed surprised at the brazen attitude of the craftsman.
"... Don’t touch anything. Wait outside."
The man concentrated on measuring the cravings made for the piece to be perfect, closing it to his eyes, holding it with the tips of his fingers as if it was a treasure had mumbled a warning, as if per habit.
"Tsk... I know." — The Duke answered biting his lips in frustration for he knew he should not interrupt the man when doing his business.
Turning on his spot Orland closed his eyes restraining his displeasure since his daughter was witnessing the blunt indifference to his authority.
’Curse you, Gustav.’ — He thought. — ’If not because you have one of those tools at hand...’
His younger days were reminded when the round man would hit him with any tool he had at hand if interrupted and to whom he could not return the favour since he was the best crafter in the city. Vastly known for the endless resentment he could hold against those who did not please him.
Regardless, the sound of the dirt at their feet as they turned brought the craftsman’s eyes to peek at them and...
"Hmm? You brought someone with you, ashy youngster? Who’s the pretty youngling?" — He said, taking the piece of coal out from his ear holding it and dropping it carelessly on the trunks of wood aligned to make a base.
Raising his thin almost non-existent eyebrow with a roguery smirk, he continued once they slightly turned to look at him.
"You’re a youngster to me but you’re too old to date the beauty. Won’t the dame be noisy if she finds out? Hwahwa!" — Gustav said, bringing one hand to rub his big belly, pleased at his teasing.
"... She’s my daughter, Gustav."
"... Thought so. Otherwise, she would have to be blind to date a boring guy like you." — Scratching his ear he retorted, unamused at his hard expression trying to restrain improper behaviour in front of his daughter.
’..... He’s... He’s not that boring...’ — She silently commented as her inner self alternated between the men, entertained in tight-lipped expressions.
"Wait. Daughter?..... Is it the clever one?? What’s your name kiddo?" — Gustav asked, gesturing with his chin for the girl to talk.
"?!" — ’Woaaaaah~... He has no respect..... I love it.’
"She is my eldest daughter, Marianne. Indeed the ’clever one’ as you said."
"Oh, the mute one? The old man didn’t say which it was last time."
"Gustav."
"... Yeah. That one’ on me." — Lifting his arms he apologised in his rough ways after Orland gave him a deadly glare for his harsh wording. — "So you are the kiddo that made the rest of my hair blow off, huh? That design was unique, gotta say my baldness is well received since it was fun to make. Hwa!"
’What the hell... This guy is annoyingly funny, heh.’
Watching him walk with difficulty to the back, the foreigner thought unbothered by the rough tongue of the crafter.
In unison, she looked up at her Father, who also met her eyes and shrugged at her, feeling sorry but also knowing she somehow understood the type of man they were dealing with.
Soon he came back from behind the worn-out curtain, bending as he dodged most of it, and giving strong steps to where the Duke and Mariane were waiting.
Paff!
"Here. Don’t these look nice? Make sure the wild b*stard stays away from my creation, kiddo. These are a pain to make since they are extra large. And I didn’t spend every night making these for you to let them get torn useless by a f**king animal."
Giving the high pile of papers a few proud pats, Gustav showed his customers his compromise with some confident cussing.
The pile of hundreds of layers was thick and meticulously measured to make each edge fit with the ones below.
The craft had improved.
"Now, show me what I’m curious about kid. Do that thing the clueless maid said you did with some skill."