How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 23

Realisation

“Achoo!”

“Oi, you alright? Don’t catch a cold during these busy times.” Leonardo stated bluntly to Emilio who had just sneezed.

“No, maybe someone was talking about me? Anyways, aren’t you treating me too callously these days? I’m still your Prince after all.”

“I hold you in high esteem, Your Highness, Prince Emilio. Here sign these documents, and you need to reply to these letters. Oh and we have received a request for an address during next month’s festival so please start working on that. I humbly implore you.”

“Ugh.”

His very diligent aide handed him more work one after another.

Emilio sighed as he flipped through the growing pile of documents on his desk.

“… Is Miss Miriam in good health?”

Leonardo raised an eyebrow as his friend asked him about his youngest sister. Emilio was showing a lot of concern over her recently.

“Don’t you remember you escorted her back home just a few days ago?”

“Yeah. Did she like the sweets I gave her that time?” Emilio looked away awkwardly as he asked.

“I just want to make sure, but what exactly are your intentions towards Millie? You always go out of your way to escort her back home from Beatrice’s mansion, and you give her presents each time you do so, and ask about her every single day. Considering all that, could it be you want to ask for her hand? Just tell me, everyone at home is stressing about it.”

Emilio’s recent actions towards Miriam went far beyond the relationship one would have with the sister of their friend. It was more like he was courting her.

Even though the person in question had no intention to do so, those around them were waiting expectantly for an announcement of an engagement. Or perhaps they were considering engagement in secret? These kinds of speculation were happening around them. 

“It looks like the Second Prince’s faction has been feeling uneasy. I can’t deny they may do something extreme at this rate. You can’t just expose Millie to danger like this.”

“I know.”

‘A marriage with Miriam…’

Emilio thought about Miriam. He recalled her downcast eyes as she sipped tea next to him, her sweet voice, and her kind personality. Her small hand he had clutched while escorting her, her lovely smile that she sometimes showed him inside the carriage… 

He immediately felt overcome with emotion as a light and fluffy feeling settled in his heart.  

‘It’s not bad… actually, it would be nice. No, rather, I can’t think of anyone except her.’

“Leo.”

“What?” His aide looked at him with a serious gaze.

“I’m going to do it even if I have to call you older brother.”

Emilio had realised nothing would happen if he couldn’t conquer this ‘brother-in-law’. As soon as he’d become aware of his feelings for Miriam, he’d also realised that he was still far away from his goal. 

Thud, thud, thud!

Suddenly, there was a forceful knock on the door and the Caparoni family’s chamberlain rushed in.

“Lord Leonardo!”

“What’s wrong?”

The chamberlain rushed to Leonardo and whispered something in his ear.

“What!? Alessia was kidnapped!?”

“What!?”

Leonardo and Emilio rushed out at the sudden news.