How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 32

The Lake

“So, how is your sister now?”

“She’s currently spending her time inside the house. She has decided to abstain from society for a while.”

“I see.”

‘As I thought, he is interested in my sister… it’s understandable. I can’t even compare with my beautiful sister.’

Miriam pretended to smile, ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest. 

‘Why does it hurt so much…’

Miriam was currently sitting inside the carriage, facing Emilio.

Her father, Marquess Ferdinand had been grateful to the royal family for their help in the kidnapping incident. But, since the Second Prince Ivan was involved in orchestrating it, both the King and Emilio had turned down his gratitude.

Furthermore, Ivan’s aide had helped provide information and helped look for the culprit; and the matter of Alessia’s kidnapping, who was still unmarried, could not be made public since it would tarnish her reputation, so, in the end, Ivan had gone unpunished. However, in private, Ivan was made to apologise to the Caparoni family. And, although his right to succeeding the throne was not officially stripped, it was clear it would be impossible for him to become the crown prince.

However, Miriam, feeling something was necessary, had gone to the palace to give her thanks to the three witches, and to Emilio.

“We left earlier than usual today. Would you like to stop somewhere for a bit on our way back home?”

“Yes! Oh, but would it be alright?”

“Yes?”

‘Doesn’t he want to quickly go home and see my sister…?’

“Ah, then I’ll be very happy to do so.”

Emilio covered his eyes and looked up at the ceiling at her smiling face.

‘She’s too adorable! I’m always occupied by work but only her presence can penetrate my heart and soothe me…!’

He felt like one of the reasons for the kidnapping was also the speculation and misunderstanding that arose because he couldn’t decide on a partner for marriage.

So, Emilio had been determined to quickly finalize his fiance and move onto ascending as the crown prince.

‘Both mother and father had a love marriage so they want the same for me. Although the court has recommended a few candidates, the final decision is left to me. But I can’t leave it be any longer.’

Emilio glanced at Miriam who was sitting in front of him.

She was looking out of the window at the passing scenery, smiling occasionally as if she saw something nice. He studied her profile and felt his heart tighten.

‘As I thought, it would be nice to share my future with Miriam… I’ll go talk to my father as soon as I return to the Palace, then we can reach out to Marquess Caparoni with an offer for marriage… Wait! Before that, I need to tell Miriam my feelings! Today? Should I tell her today?’

“Hahaha!”

Emilio was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of laughter. When he looked up he saw Miriam giggling as she watched him.

“Sorry. What were you thinking about? You were making so many different expressions! It was funny so I… ah, please forgive me for laughing.” Miriam tilted her head as she finished speaking and looked at him.

Emilio felt his body go hot at the sight.　

“H-how dangerous…”

“What?”

“No, I can’t help but feel worried when I think of you attending events with such a lovely face. I can finally understand Leo’s feelings.”

“Well, no one has ever shown any interest in me. See, I’m so plain…”

“That’s not true! You are really beautiful!”

“No, no. It’s my mother and my sister who are the beautiful ones. Compared to them I am just…”

“I think I understand the reason for your unusually low self-esteem… your standard of beauty is too high.”

‘Well being brought up surrounded by that family of hers would be the cause…’ 

Emilio had a distant look in his eyes. Soon, they reached their destination and the footman knocked on the door.

“Looks like we have arrived.”

“Um, where are we?”

“You’ll know when we get there. Come, let’s go.”

Emilio helped Miriam climb out of the carriage. Miriam looked up at the scenery before them and gasped.

“It’s so beautiful…”

There was a wide lake in front of them; the water’s surface was shimmering like emeralds and was clear enough to see the bottom. At the deeper end, the blue of the sky and the green of the trees was reflected on the surface. Various flowers were swaying with the wind on the shore.

“You’ve been cooped up in the house recently, right? I thought it would be nice to have a change of scenery like this.”

“Thank you! This is really pretty.”

The footman spread out a blanket under a tree near the lake, and set out a picnic on it. Emilio led Miriam to the blanket.

“Go ahead, help yourself. I’ve brought your favourite sweets.”

“Oh! It’s the amaretti from Prodotti da Forno!”

“Yup, I’m a huge amaretti fan now.”

“Hahaha.”

Emilio proudly picked up one and showed it to Miriam who let out a laugh at his antics.

“Ah! She’s so lovely! I want to buy her all the amaretti in the world!’

Miriam gently tucked her hair, which had escaped because of the wind, behind her ear when their eyes met.

Emilio decided now was the time to tell her his feelings.

“Prince Emilio, are you going to propose to my sister?”

Emilio was shocked into silence for a moment as his brain tried to process the words that had flown out of Miriam’s mouth.

“Huh? Why your sister?”

“I heard from my brother that you were looking for someone to marry.”

“Ah, I see. So, why your sister?”

“Prince Emilio, um, you’re very kind and a truly nice person.”

“Oh, you think so!?” Emilio grinned at the unexpected praise.

“That’s why you would look very good with my beautiful sister. And you both were talking so animatedly the other day when we had tea at our house…”

‘Talking animatedly!? We were just having a quarrel concerning Miriam!’

“Wa-wait a minute.” Emilio grabbed Miriam’s hand and covered it with both of his.

“It’s not your sister I’m planning on proposing to.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m so sorry. I just jumped to conclusions…”

“Don’t tell me. You don’t know at all do you…?”

“Huh?”

Emilio picked up Miriam and settled her on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders as he hugged her.

“Prince Emilio! W-what’s wrong!?”

“It’s you, Miriam.”

“…huh?”

With his cheeks tinted red, Emilio looked down to look at Miriam. He leaned closer and, resting his forehead against hers, looked into her eyes.

“You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Can I ask for your hand in marriage?”

‘Prince Emilio wants to marry me…?’

TN: Finally! I was crying at Miriam’s cluelessness TT