The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away Chapter 22

I should just go to sleep as soon as possible.

She often woke up when someone was beside her.

It was a habit she’d developed after the Day of Divine Blessing.

The maids who secretly entered her bedroom in the middle of the night to steal her belongings had made her develop this habit of waking up and staying on edge.

At least it was easier when she fell asleep before the duke came in.

She had grown accustomed to sleeping beside him, but whenever he lay down next to her before she fell asleep, her body stiffened without her realizing it.

There goes another night’s sleep.

Ivanna let out a faint sigh and buried her face in her pillow.

As the sound of running water gradually faded, she squeezed her eyes shut.

She slowly exhaled and steadied her breathing. Then, the click of the bathroom door echoed through the bedroom.

Her ears perked up at the small sound.

She wanted to know how far the duke had come and what he was doing.

She needed to know when he would get into bed so she could mentally prepare herself.

However, having squeezed her eyes shut so tightly, she found it difficult to open them again.

She occasionally heard the rustling of fabric, but she couldn’t sense him approaching the bed.

How much time had passed? Just as she was about to fall asleep for real, the mattress dipped slightly as weight settled beside her.

Ivanna almost let out a gasp when the duke lay down next to her. She desperately held back the breath that threatened to escape.

He had never once asked whether she was comfortable sleeping beside him. She had assumed he would fall asleep as he usually did.

So all she had to do was endure it a little longer until he fell asleep.

Ivanna deliberately slowed her breathing even more.

“I’m sorry. Did I startle you?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Ivanna answered Cedric’s question reflexively, then quickly shook her head.

“I see. Let’s have lunch together tomorrow.”

Ivanna’s eyelids were still closed, but her eyes wavered ever so slightly.

“Don’t you have a lot of work to do?”

“Have you ever attended a tea party with other nobles?”

“No……”

At his question, Ivanna realized why he had suggested having lunch together.

Since the princess had practically been confined to a separate palace, she probably didn’t know proper etiquette. He likely intended to check her knowledge beforehand.

Thinking of it that way made her feel a little more at ease.

If he could assess her conversational skills in advance, she wouldn’t have to deal with any awkward situations later.

Feeling somewhat reassured, Ivanna truly closed her eyes.

 

***

 

“My goodness. A request for a tea party with Lady Ivanna!”

“Anthony, it’s not something you need to make such a fuss over.”

Cedric had left the bedroom after breakfast. Ivanna had gotten up at her leisure and was now getting ready with Anthony’s help.

“How can you say it’s nothing to fuss over?! It’s your very first tea party invitation!”

Even after the marriage, the duke himself had never once invited the princess to have tea with him.

Nor had any other noblewomen or young ladies sent her an invitation. Of course, it was possible that the duke had rejected them on her behalf.

“She’s inviting me because we’ve come to her territory. She probably has no choice.”

“From what I heard from the servants, the countess has been ill for a long time.”

Anthony carefully brushed Ivanna’s long hair as he shared what he’d learned.

“Now that you mention it, she didn’t look well during the banquet either.”

“Does she have a chronic illness?”

“Yes. It seems to be a rare disease. Priests visit her regularly and use their holy power to keep her barely alive.”

High-ranking priests could charge whatever they wanted. The countess probably couldn’t afford to summon one every time she needed treatment.

Now Ivanna understood why Countess Lavern was barely managing to stay alive.

“I heard they even invited the Saintess, but she apparently identified the illness as Mana Erosion Syndrome.”

Mana Erosion Syndrome.

Ivanna let out a faint sigh. It was practically a curse of a disease.

Tiny cracks formed in the body, allowing mana to leak out. As a result, the body gradually weakened and lost its vitality.

She’d heard that as the disease progressed, fatigue accumulated, the patient began coughing up blood, and their fingertips grew cold and stiff.

“She must be suffering terribly.”

“Yes. That’s why the count’s estate is usually rather quiet, but it seems Your Grace’s visit has brought it back to life a little.”

Listening to Anthony chatter beside her, Ivanna decided she should avoid discussing health-related topics at the tea party.

She didn’t know enough about medicine, and there was nothing she could do to help.

If even the priests couldn’t treat the illness, who could?

“I think we should stop here for now and add the finishing touches after lunch.”

“Hmm? There’s more?”

Lost in thought, Ivanna looked at herself in the mirror at Anthony’s words.

“Doesn’t it already look fine?”

Her skin looked radiant and smooth, while a reddish shade around her eyes gave her a lively appearance.

He’d applied something to her cheeks, too, making her complexion look healthy.

“It’s your first tea party! We can’t leave you looking ordinary! It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as a ball, but I’ll make sure you’re elegant and beautiful!”

Anthony smiled confidently, explaining that he’d received intensive training from Elisa for this very purpose.

I think I’m going to be sick.

Ivanna listlessly prodded her meat with a fork as she thought.

The duke’s suggestion that they discuss things over lunch before the tea party had been a disaster.

He clearly had no idea what noblewomen talked about at tea parties. Either that, or he had completely misunderstood their purpose.

“Why do you think timber prices in the east have been rising lately?”

“Because of the drought?”

“That’s both right and wrong.”

Surely noblewomen don’t really have conversations like this at tea parties, do they?

The duke asked his questions so seriously that Ivanna had no idea how to respond.

His questions were completely different from what she’d heard from Elisa and Anthony. She’d been told that noblewomen talked about their favorite flowers, literature, and paintings.

“The drought in the east is severe, but it’s still not as bad as it is in the south and west.”

At his explanation, Ivanna cautiously studied his expression.

“Perhaps the eastern trading companies have been fixing prices, or the tax rate has increased.”

She had no idea whether that was the answer he wanted, but she racked her brain to come up with something.

“Or is there some kind of tree disease spreading?”

“Correct. A disease is spreading.”

Phew.

Thank goodness she’d gotten one right.

The questions continued throughout the meal. He asked why nobles were gradually reducing their charitable donations and why their spending on perfume had increased, demanding that she explain the reasons behind the changes in consumption.

“Do people really have conversations like this at tea parties?”

“What else would they discuss if not topics like these?”

The duke genuinely seemed to believe these conversations were useful and worthwhile.

His expression showed not the slightest hint that anything was unusual, and Ivanna had to suppress a laugh.

There was no doubt about it.

The duke knew just as little about tea parties as she did.

Once she realized that, the burden that had weighed on her throughout the meal disappeared. The topics Anthony had prepared for her sounded much more plausible.

Countess Lavern’s favorite flower was lavender, and in her youth, she had been a mage who defended the southern border alongside the count.

Even if Ivanna couldn’t discuss the countess’s illness, she could at least ask questions and talk about magic.

“Please don’t worry about the tea party. I’ll be careful not to bring shame upon House Reynold.”

She’d had enough questions about politics and economics to last a lifetime. With a lighter heart, Ivanna chewed her meat thoroughly and swallowed.

 

***

 

I hope she’s not pretending to be sick like I used to.

Ivanna swallowed nervously as she looked at Countess Lavern, who sat before her with a sharp, alert gaze.

The countess’s face, which had looked so pale and sickly during the previous banquet, now seemed almost impossible to reconcile with her current appearance.

Was she also in a position where she wasn’t supposed to go outside?

Despite having been ill for years, Countess Lavern had a healthy complexion when they met again after several days.

Her back was straight, her movements were gentle and graceful, and even the way she gestured to her maid to serve tea was elegant.

She truly looked every bit the lady of a distinguished southern count’s family.

Ivanna tried to calm her heart, which was pounding with nervousness.

Since no one expected anything from her, the countess had probably invited her simply because she was lonely.

Quickly recalling the information Anthony had given her, Ivanna forced the corners of her mouth upward.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness the Princess. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

Ivanna was about to return the countess’s greeting when she hesitated.

The countess had addressed her as a princess, not as the Duchess of Reynold.

That meant she still didn’t recognize Ivanna as the mistress of the ducal house.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

If the countess intended to treat her as a princess, then Ivanna would behave like one. After all, whether as a duchess or a princess, her rank was higher than the countess’s.

She didn’t need the countess’s recognition, but it was clear that the woman had no intention of establishing a good relationship with her.

As expected, a princess without any power was useless wherever she went.

Ivanna lifted her teacup to hide the bitterness around her lips.

“This tea tastes wonderful.”

Its aroma was just as lovely as the tea she’d had at the ducal estate. It suited her taste perfectly, as she preferred a soft, bright fragrance over a bitter one.

“I prepared it because I heard it’s popular among young ladies these days. I’m glad it suits your taste.”

The countess said this without even touching her own tea.

Is she looking down on me for being young?

Unable to think of an appropriate response, Ivanna simply took another sip of her tea.