Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 60

60: Childhood Friend – Romantic Relationships

In an elegantly decorated parlor, a young nobleman and noblewoman exchanged glances.

“It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Philas Tertan.”

“Hello, I am Harie Guidan.”

Philas Tertan observed the etiquette befitting a young lady of marriageable age, and Harie Guidan responded with a graceful greeting.

However, there was something noteworthy about Harie Guidan's etiquette.

She did not cover her deep neckline with her hand but held her skirt with both hands instead. This was a gesture typically reserved for a husband or fiancé.

Philas was taken aback by the visible cleavage, averted his gaze, and cleared his throat.

Harie spoke.

“Not at all. I am immensely pleased to meet such a beautiful young lady. I heard you arrived earlier. I am the one who should apologize for being late.”

Harie chuckled softly at his flushed face.

They had just met, but her first impression of him was favorable.

No, it’s not for me to judge.

“Would you like some tea? Is there a particular kind you prefer?”

“I’m not picky. Oh, you don’t need to pour it yourself…”

“I’ve learned a bit about tea. I also happen to like it. Here you go. I hope it suits your taste…”

Philas tried not to focus on her leaning figure as he took a sip of the tea.

“It’s fragrant. I’ve never tasted this tea before; it’s refreshing.”

“It’s brewed with ‘Punita’ from the Holy Kingdom. Our Orun Kingdom is close to the Jerome Holy Kingdom. Your Conrad Kingdom borders the Aisel Kingdom, doesn’t it? Do you have any stories to share?”

“Well, I haven’t traveled much, but I did hear…”

Harie and Philas exchanged stories about their distant kingdoms.

Harie spoke of the modest yet elegant culture of the Holy Kingdom, while Philas shared the mysterious artifacts from the Aisel Kingdom, known as the Kingdom of Magic.

“Oh my, time has flown by. I hope my long chatter didn’t tire you.”

“Not at all. I didn’t even notice the time passing.”

He meant it. The young lady in front of him was knowledgeable and a good listener.

Harie covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“I’m delighted to hear that. If it’s not too much trouble, would you like to rest for a bit and then join me for dinner?”

“It’s an honor to be invited first. I’ll see you soon.”

“I’m already looking forward to dinner. I won’t be late.”

Harie once again used the etiquette reserved for a fiancé, and Philas, unsure of how to respond, ended up showing a slightly different gesture.

Touching the scarf on his chest with his index finger, it was an etiquette gesture that meant ‘I like you.’

Harie smiled brightly as she turned away, and Philas returned to his room, trying to calm his excited heart.

‘This is not good…’

He recalled his grandfather’s instructions.

- Just hand over the jewel as a courtesy and return.

His grandfather had said he would refuse the marriage. Though Philas didn’t understand why he had to go through the trouble of delivering the jewel, marriage was a matter for the elders to decide.

‘But she’s so beautiful… and we get along well…’

Her calm laughter and melancholy green eyes. Despite her glamorous attire, she seemed to carry a sense of sorrow.

And that gesture. She acted as if they were already engaged.

Philas felt a pang in his heart at her seemingly hopeful gesture. It matched her melancholic aura, making it hard to dismiss.

‘I shouldn’t get attached to a woman I won’t marry…’

Such was the life of a noble.

To conceal one’s true feelings, to wrap oneself in etiquette, and to reveal only what was strategically necessary.

Harie Guidan’s gesture was likely planned.

However, the gesture Philas had shown last was genuine.

He liked her.

‘What should I do? This is a big problem.’

They still had two weeks to continue these conversations. It was unthinkable for two nobles to travel such distances and meet for just a day or two.

Unless it was a declaration of war…

Philas, trying to steady his swirling emotions, allowed the maids to dress him up again.

He no longer paid any attention to the maids.

“Oof, this is heavy.”

“Be careful with those; they’re full of liquor.”

Leo and twenty other servants were finally returning to the lord’s castle, carrying loads of supplies. They had been out for the first time in a long while, fetching necessities that were either not provided or inadequately distributed at the castle.

Having worked at the lord’s castle for nearly two months, the servants and maids had voiced their complaints about the lack of necessities.

“We’re short on essentials. I feel like I’ve been wearing the same undergarments for a month. And we don’t have enough towels.”

“Right. The ration of liquor and tobacco is too little. It’s getting colder; we need blankets.”

“We don’t have enough clothes to change into!”

The influx of people to serve the two distinguished guests at the castle, which didn’t originally have many servants and maids, caused these issues.

The steward and butler tried to stock up and distribute the necessary items in advance, but there were still shortages.

Finally, the butler, apologizing for the lack of attention, gave them money and instructed Leo and the others to buy the needed items.

Of course, they wouldn’t be buying blankets, promising to send everyone home within two weeks.

Upon returning to the castle, the servants distributed the supplies.

Leo also unloaded his pack, but he had something extra.

Supplies for Lena.

Leo had used some of his own money to buy high-quality items, knowing what Lena liked.

Soft towels and undergarments, a few of Lena’s favorite snacks, a light blanket, and shoes.

‘Lena will love these.’

He waited near the maids’ quarters for Lena.

Thanks to the tracking skill, it was always possible to determine the 'direction' she was in, but it was better to wait rather than follow it indoors.

Lena, who had returned after a shift change, asked.

"Leo! What's going on? Are you done already?"

"Lena, take this."

"What's all this?"

"The butler gave me some money to buy daily necessities today. I bought some things for you separately. I did well, didn't I?"

"Daily necessities? I have plenty, so it's fine... Anyway, thank you. But what did you buy to make it so much?"

"Here are some blankets, shoes..."

"What did you buy shoes for? Wait, you? You even spent the money meant for travel expenses, didn't you! Geez."

"Hehe, it's okay. I earned some money while working here. And here are some towels, and... underwear..."

"Kyaaa!"

Lena's face turned red as she snatched the underwear from Leo's hand.

"Le, Le, Leo! Why did you buy such things!"

"Huh? I bought them while purchasing underwear for the other maids. I chose a bit better quality..."

Lena gestured for him to stop talking. Her flustered appearance was cute.

"Ah, okay, just go quickly."

"Why are you like this? Anyway, I gave it to you, so I'm leaving. We're having dinner together later, right?"

"Ye, yes."

Leo left, thinking, 'Oh no, I'm late. I'm going to get scolded.' Lena returned to her quarters and fanned her blushing face.

'Geez. Why did he have to buy such things? How embarrassing.'

She calmed herself down as she neatly organized the items Leo had bought for her.

She placed the blanket here, tried on the shoes right away (Oh! They fit perfectly!), folded the towels and placed them by the bedside, and as for the underwear...

As she folded the underwear while blushing again,

'...Wait a minute.'

Lena's expression changed subtly. She lifted her gaze and pondered.

Something seemed off. Earlier, she was too flustered to notice, but now that she thought about it, Leo's behavior was bothering her.

He picked up the underwear without any shame.

'......'

Lena sat on the bed, motionless, repeatedly recalling the scene.

No matter how she thought about it, it was strange.

Leo and Lena used to hold hands when they were young, but at some point, they started avoiding each other romantically. Sometimes, their hands would brush while working together, and they wouldn't be able to make eye contact for a while.

But Leo's behavior just now was too natural.

The thing is, for Leo, handing over the underwear wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

Leo had been married to Lena twice. Before getting married, they set up a newlywed home in Demos Village, and they also lived together in a house as small as a bathroom in the capital, Lutetia, before getting married.

But for Lena, it was completely different.

To her, Leo was a fresh childhood friend, and even before they traveled together, he was a man she might have fluttered about becoming her spouse.

And the Leo she knew would never have boldly picked up underwear and handed it over. At most, he might have hidden it in a blanket and handed it over before running away...

Lena frowned.

Leo, whose habits, relationships, and personality had changed. What on earth happened?

However, whenever she asked, "You seem different somehow," Leo would always brush it off and never give a satisfactory answer.

It's suspicious. And,

'He must be hiding something... Why won't he tell me?'

She felt hurt. Since when did we have secrets between us?

As her hurt was about to turn into disappointment, another maid entered the quarters and said,

"Lena, it's time for your shift."

Lena hurriedly headed to Lady Guidan's room without taking a proper rest.

Lady Harie Guidan was relaxing in a chair with a deep smile on her face.

For several days, Harie had been repeatedly meeting with Philas Tertan.

She was happy these days because it seemed she wouldn't have to marry those dirty princes.

Philas Tertan was really a fine man. Though he wasn't even an adult and three years younger, what did that matter? He was a rare upright noble.

At first, it was cute to see him flustered at the sight of her cleavage, but after a few days of conversation, his true nature showed in his warm heart. It was unknown how such a soft-hearted noble came from the great house of Tertan.

She was quickly captivated by his genuine sincerity and upright character.

'A man who is both unlike a noble and more noble than anyone...'

Could it have been like this in the ancient Arcaea Empire?

Nobles who showed proper etiquette, raised armies with their own wealth to protect commoners from being harassed by other races, and stood at the forefront themselves...

'Haha, I guess I'm wearing rose-colored glasses. I've become quite exaggerated, haven't I?'

Harie smiled lightly as she sank deeper into the back of the chair.

At that moment, a maid she had recently taken a liking to appeared with a sullen face. Wasn't her name Lena? Why was she like that?

The maid approached to adorn Harie again, but Harie said, "I'd like to stay like this a bit longer. I'm quite tired."

The maid nodded and stood by.

Unusually, Harie, who was puzzled by the maid's displeased look, asked,

"Is something wrong? You seem upset."

"Huh? Oh, no. Not at all."

"Are you having a hard time?"

"Not at all! The butler and the head maid take good care of me, so there's absolutely no hardship."

"Then something must be wrong. Tell me. If it's something I can help with, I will."

Unlike usual, Harie inquired about the maid's personal affairs.

Nobles rarely engaged in personal conversations with commoners. The worlds they lived in were vastly different, and most commoners would just complain, making them inadequate for deep conversations.

She had heard of some nobles maintaining close relationships with commoner butlers, knights, or nannies who raised them, but Harie couldn't understand it.

What joy could there be in conversing with them?

She thought it was kind enough not to torment commoners for her amusement. However, now she was just feeling a bit sentimental, reminiscing about the nobles of the Arcaea Empire.

And this maid was to her liking.

But the maid simply said she was worried because a friend had changed a bit and declined Harie's help.

After a few more exchanges, it turned out to be a story related to a boyfriend.

'It wasn't something I could help with.' ─ thought Harie as she encouraged her.

Everything will be alright.

Isn't that usually the case with relationships between men and women?