How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 11

About Presence

“However, it’s quite bold of you to completely forget about the tea party hosted by my mother.”

“I-I-I apologize!”

At Emilio’s words, Miriam became flustered again and nervously started clutching and releasing the skirt of her dress.

Emilio couldn’t help but laugh when he saw this. 

“Hahaha, it was a joke. You’re quite innocent.”

Miriam patted her chest in relief.

“You don’t like tea parties?”

“Well… you can say I’m not good with them.”

“I’m the same. I’m not very good with them either.”

“Your Highness as well?”

“Yeah. And I’m also not good with balls.” 

“Me too.”

“We’re the same,” Emilio smiled, and then suddenly decided to ask about the thing he was interested in.

According to Leonardo, she had attended quite a few tea parties and evening balls, but, for some reason, is like a ‘phantom’ in society.

He had also experienced the phenomenon of ‘not being noticed despite being there’, if possible, he hoped to find someone to share this feeling with. 

“I heard from Leo but seems like you have attended quite a few tea parties and balls, Miss Caparoni.”

“Yes, I have. I usually go to all the events my family attends.”

“I see. That being the case, I heard a rumour before that the youngest daughter of the Caparoni family is so sick she rarely goes out in public; is that wrong?”

Miriam looked down, feeling dejected when she realised that this embarrassing rumour about her had even reached the prince. 

Emilio hurriedly called out to her when he saw her suddenly feel sad. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset. It’s just, you seem perfectly healthy. I was just wondering why such a rumour is going around. Did something happen?”   

Miriam thought of her beautiful family and let out a sigh.

“It’s probably my own fault. It feels really strange to say so myself, but the people in my family are all extremely beautiful. Except for me.”

“No, I think you’re quite beautiful too…” Emilio had expressed what he really felt, and not just flattery or anything. 

In truth, Miriam was fairly pretty, but, thinking he was being polite, she strongly denied it. 

“No, Your Highness. I know myself best. This is an undeniable fact. I am not beautiful.” 

Emilio was stumped at her unshaken resolve. He decided to first see the situation.

“For instance, I do attend tea parties with my mother and sister. Since we came together, of course our seats would be together too, right?”

“Yes.”

“With my mother in the middle, my sister and I sit on both sides of her. Even if the three of us are sitting on the same table, people at the same table only acknowledge my mother and sister. In front of their overwhelming beauty, I fade into the background without leaving an impression. It’s like I don’t even exist.”

“I know! Trust me, I know that feeling!” 

As soon as Miriam stopped talking, Emilio stood up with vigour and clutched both of her hands in his.

“Oh! Y-your Highness… my hand…”

“Ah, sorry! I was so moved I touched you insolently.” 

“It-it’s fine…”

Emilio let go of her hand and once again sat on the sofa. This was the first time Miriam had been touched by someone of the opposite gender outside her family. She blushed involuntarily.

“S-so… what did you mean by ‘I know.’” She asked while still looking down.

“Well you must have heard from him as well, so you should know Leonardo is my close aide.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Miriam felt it strange to suddenly talk about her brother, but Emilio paid no mind to it and continued.

“We always go everywhere together. Even tea parties and balls.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. When we do so, probably because of Leonardo’s good looks, I often go unnoticed. Even though I’m the First Prince.”

“Th-that’s an awful inconvenience caused by my brother…” While saying so, Miriam felt a sense of closeness to the prince. He didn’t feel like a stranger at all.

“It really is a pity for a prince of the kingdom to have such a weak presence.”

“Not at all. I understand Your Highness’s concern very well. I can sympathise with you.”

This time, Miriam got up and,without thinking, grasped Emilio’s hands in hers.

“I see! So you understand!”

Emilio also stood up and wrapped his fingers around Miriam’s hands.

For the first time, they’d found a kindred soul. The two gazed at each other with such thoughts. 

Cla-ng!

Miriam looked over her shoulder at the piercing sound. Leonardo who had gone to pick up medicinal herbs with Beatrice had returned. He had dropped the harvesting tools he was holding, and was glaring at Emilio in rage.