Chapter 21: It’s really nice to see you, Dottricia! Part 2
Dott wanted to gather information about the monastery and Morgana’s movements, but the location made it tricky.
‘No, I can’t. If Duchess Klein happens to turn her head and ask Morgana who you are, things will get messy. I have to stop the two from making contact until the paternity test at the temple is done, as planned…!’
“Oh, right!”
“Huh?”
Just as Dott’s inner conflict was at its peak, terrifying words escaped her sweet, cherry-like lips.
“You know, Dott, the nuns said you’ve become Eina of the Duke’s house. But… did you, by any chance, take my silk robe when you left?”
“What? What… what are you talking about?”
Dott’s eyes widened in shock.
That silk robe for infants, always lying at the bottom of Morgana’s old wardrobe drawer.
At first, Dott hadn’t even known such a thing existed. What had first caught her attention was the sparkling ruby pendant that always hung around Morgana’s neck. Anyone could see that the pendant was a rare and precious item.
Dott, pretending to be friendly with Morgana, had relentlessly asked about it, and eventually learned about the silk robe and its origin. Naturally, she had to take it. She had also wanted to steal the ruby pendant, but stupid Morgana had taken it with her when she went to the training hall, foiling that plan.
Morgana had said that she couldn’t even wear the robe, and only looked at it once a year. So… she shouldn’t have realized it was missing yet. How did she already know?
Dott was too flustered to even check whether Morgana still had the ruby pendant around her neck.
“You…! Are you accusing me right now? We’re friends!”
“Well, aside from you, Mother Superior, and Priestess Cheryl, no one else at the monastery has ever seen my silk robe.”
“What does that have to do with me?!”
“You said you wanted to eat plenty of summer fruits, so I stayed at the training hall for ten whole days, picking grapes and strawberries. But when I got back, you had already gone off to Duke Klein’s residence, and the silk robe was gone. Can you imagine how hurt I was?”
“You were gone for ten days! Someone else must have broken into your room in the meantime!”
Dott, backed into a corner, lashed out, but then instantly regretted it. She couldn’t afford to escalate this yet, especially with those nosy noblewomen approaching from beyond oblivious Morgana!
“Hahaha!”
“Now, let’s head back. The other ladies are waiting in the hall.”
“Yes, of course. It’s been a while since the Duchess has graced us with her presence.”
“I hope they’ll soon start discussing Duke Kassel’s marriage. My niece is quite smitten with him, you know.”
“Oh-ho-ho!”
A group of noblewomen, who had briefly stepped out to the garden to cool off, were already returning with slow, deliberate steps.
Though they had ignored Dott as they passed her outside the hall earlier, they knew her face and name well.
Dott quickly racked her brain.
‘I can’t let them see me here talking to Morgana. If they get curious, they’ll definitely mention this to the Duchess, and that would ruin everything!’
Meanwhile, Morgana, oblivious as ever, grumbled with a sullen face.
“It’s not fair… I worked hard for ten days because you begged me to pick summer fruits for you, but when I came back, you were gone, and now my silk robe is missing.”
“Poor you, Morgana. But I really don’t know. Whoever stole it will get what they deserve.”
Dott lied boldly without a single change in her expression.
‘I can’t back down now. If I show any weakness, it’s all over.’
“I see. But Dott, you could’ve at least left a letter before you left. We’re best friends. I was so hurt.”
“I didn’t have time. It all happened so unexpectedly.”
Dott barely suppressed her frustration, offering a flimsy excuse, but Morgana kept whining.
“Really, how could you just leave like that? I even saved some grapes for you, thinking you might come back, but they got too soft, so I ended up eating them myself…”
“Why would you save them? You should’ve just eaten them yourself.”
“Dott, you’re so mean. Don’t you know how much I care about you?”
As Morgana pouted and grumbled, Dott’s chest tightened with anxiety.
Just then, the noblewomen, who had been cutting the rare autumn roses, called for the gardener to fetch them.
Barely managing to buy some time, Dott busied herself soothing and calming the sulking Morgana.
“I had to rush to the Duke’s estate, so I didn’t have time to leave a message. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect things to go that way either. I’m getting plenty of fruit here, so don’t worry.”
“Okay…”
Dott’s heart was pounding faster by the second.
“Morgana, I’m currently handling some official business, so I can’t stay and talk.”
“Oh, I see! I’m sorry. I’ll get going now. I believe in you, Dott. You’ll do great as the Princess’s Eina. I’m rooting for you!”
“Huh…!”
Morgana, now smiling brightly, waved her hand and began to walk away.
‘What should I do? I barely stopped her from meeting the Duchess, but I still need to find out why she’s here at the imperial palace and what’s going on!’
Though Dott wanted to chase after her and ask, the risk was too great. Plus, she couldn’t ignore the noblewomen who were returning after cutting the roses.
……
(T/N: Well, that was so satisfying~)
Legnakra
It would have been nice if I had put her at a crossroads 🤣🤣🤣… Thank you Bunny 🥰🐰💕