The Flower Dances and the Wind Sings

Chapter 9

“Your Grace, you have a letter from the House of Redea,” Beth explained.

“From the Redeas?” Ersella repeated, as Beth handed her a letter which she accepted curiously. The letter was quite a surprise as she was not close to the Redeas by any means. “Is it Countess Redea?”

“No. It’s from the wife of Count Redea’s brother. So it would be just Lady Redea,” Beth replied.

If what Beth said was right, then it really was a stranger whom she rarely interacted with. Ersella cocked her head and read the letter.

Dear Duchess Bernhart,

I am Pricilla of the House of Redea.

I am writing to you because I would like to invite you to the tea party which will be held in our garden this weekend.

You wouldn’t know how delighted I am to be able to invite you, as I always wanted to get to know you. I have also prepared the tea from Sansche that you enjoy.

Lady Akela and Countess Jardea will be there as well. Would you please grace my humble party with your presence?

Ersella could not remember receiving such an invitation before, having never actually met Lady Redea. However, it was not the first time she was invited to a tea party, as noble ladies often invited other ladies they did not know to foster friendship.

Judging from the fact that Lady Redea mentioned Lady Akela and Countess Jardea, she must know that those two ladies were close to Ersella. Perhaps she feared that Ersella might feel awkward at her party. If true, she must be quite considerate.

“Is it an invitation to a tea party?” Beth asked.

“Yes,” Ersella replied.

“What will you do? Are you going to accept? If I remember correctly, you do not know that family very well.”

Ersella nodded. “I think I’ll accept. It’s been a while— no, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’m going to go.”

Indeed, it was going to be the first tea party since she went back in time. When she was bedridden, she could hardly move, which meant she could not imagine going to any tea parties or balls. It would be nice to go out and talk to people and maybe make some friends.

Ersella estimated Lady Redea to be about thirty-three like the count’s brother—assuming that the couple had an arranged marriage. Ersella put back the letter in the drawer, thinking that she would write a reply later.

She was currently busy getting ready to go out. Lianne and Beth walked around the room busily, delighted at the prospect of Ersella and Vicente going to town. Feeling pressured to style Ersella perfectly, they ended up arguing.

“Lianne, do you really believe that necklace goes with this dress?”

“Are you commenting on my aesthetic? A diamond is perfect for an important day!”

“Do you really think a diamond is perfect for everything? Ruby suits Her Grace’s pale skin better!”

“Ruby? You country bumpkin, a ruby is way out of style!”

Ersella chuckled as Lianne and Beth bickered, unable to help but smile at the happy maids. Lianne and Beth turned toward Ersella in unison, making the latter halt nervously. Looking at the lady passionately, the two maids presented a diamond and a ruby.

“What do you think, Your Grace? Do you really think a diamond does not go with this dress?”

“Or do you believe that a ruby is truly out of style?”

Ersella looked awkwardly at the two necklaces. As much as she appreciated their enthusiasm, she really could not afford to waste more time. “Both of you have poor taste. I choose an emerald,” she said.

There was stunned silence for a few moments.

“Yes, well… I suppose you have better taste than our humble selves,” Lianne pouted and grumbled before adorning Ersella’s neck with emerald on a golden chain. Thinking that it went quite well with Ersella’s sunny, marigold dress, she then moved to her lady’s hair. “Your Grace, should we braid up your hair or let it down?” she asked.

“Braid it, please,” Ersella replied.

“But I think letting it down would look good too! It’ll make you look like a girl— uh, a mature girl?”

Beth cut across Lianne, blowing a raspberry. “Pfft… Lianne, are you crazy? How dare you say such a thing? But I agree with Lianne. Letting it down would be nice. It would make you look more like a friend than a noble lady…”

“I already heard you laugh, you know. Also, you may do as you please with my hair. How can I stop you?” Ersella replied with a nod, unable to deny the maids, whose eyes sparkled enthusiastically.

With Ersella’s permission, the maids cheerfully began to tend to her hair. Ersella’s expression shifted as she observed the locks of her own hair being brushed.

The woman in the mirror had cascading golden locks. Ersella realized that it had been a long while since she went out with her hair down. Ever since she had gotten married, she mostly wore her hair up. For the first few years, she did not think too much of letting her hair down.

However, the longer she lived as a married woman, she found herself putting up her hair without anyone telling her to. Though Lianne sometimes suggested that she let her hair down, she refused.

I thought it would be unbecoming.

Indeed, a noble lady seldom let her hair down, which Ersella came to accept. It was strange. Nobody had actually forced her to put her hair up. Yet, she felt obligated to do so.

Why did I think that? Ersella thought. All the married ladies put their hair up, afraid that people might call them out for trying to look too young, or that it might look unbecoming.

However, there was nothing morally wrong with it. Yet the practice that started somewhere solidified in society. It became an unsaid rule. Anyone who dared to question it became subjected to quiet mockery. That was probably why people hesitated to break the rule.

Lianne, however, was a commoner which meant she was distanced from such custom. That was why she always asked if Ersella would let her hair down, even if she knew the answer.

Ersella looked ahead, finding her own reflection quite jarring. She was dressed not in her nightgown but in a dress, her hair neatly brushed down below her chest. She looked at herself in a daze. She looked pretty. But she was not admiring her superficial beauty. It was something more. For some reason, the woman in the mirror looked—yes, she looked more—alive.

Feeling like she was back to being the daughter of a marquess, Ersella felt her heart race. Was it because she put on makeup? Her cheeks were blushed, and her lips were rosy. She smiled softly. It felt good.

Lianne and Beth finally stepped away from her hair. “You’re quite beautiful, my lady!” Lianne commented with a playful chuckle.

“You should not tease your lady,” Ersella chided.

“But you’ll forgive me since today’s a good day, right?”

“I guess I can’t deny that…” Ersella playfully glared at Lianne.

She could probably forgive Lianne, Beth, or any servant of the house no matter what today, as excited as she was to go out with her son for the first time. Her heart fluttered as if someone tickled it with a brush. How was it possible that she was this excited for a mere day out?

“Lord Vicente’s lesson is almost over. Would you like to go and wait?” Beth suggested.

“Yes,” Ersella replied.

She got up and went outside. The servants smiled as she lightly pranced down the stairs, marveling at how happy she looked.

“Let me bring Lord Vicente,” Clifton said with a small smile, his ashen mustache twitching as his lips curled in a smile.

Ersella nodded and waited—or she tried to. She did not realize that she was on tiptoes, like a child.

Clifton who normally would have dissuaded her merely smiled and walked up the stairs.

A moment later, footsteps could be heard from the upper floors. Dressed simply, Vicente walked down before stopping.

“Hello,” Ersella greeted shyly, looking up at her son who was on the stairs.

Vicente did not reply as he looked down at her before walking down slowly. For some reason, each step seemed to take ages. As slowly as ever, he approached her.

“I apologize for making you wait,” he said.

“Huh? Not at all. Waiting for you was a joy,” she replied.

“Is that so…?”

Ersella’s own comment surprised her. She must be quite excited. Trying to calm herself down, she made to walk. However, Vicente stood still instead of following her, his gaze elsewhere. Ersella realized that he was staring at her hair. Smiling sheepishly, she touched her waist-length hair. His eyes were still fixed on her as she twisted her own hair.

“I tried letting my hair down. Does it look strange?” she asked, realizing that this might be quite new for Vicente—unlike Harzen and Lianne who were used to her hair being down as she let her hair free before bed. Normally, by the time she left her bedroom, her hair was up in a perfect bun without even a strand out of place.

Vicente’s blue eyes trailed down Ersella’s long blond hair. She hunched, feeling quite self-conscious at his blatant staring.

Maybe I shouldn’t have let it down. This must be too much, she thought, regretting doing something out of excitement. Though she did not know what exactly he was thinking, she could guess.

Just as she averted his gaze with a sheepish smile, he said, “It’s fine.” His flat voice was devoid of any mockery or criticism.

Ersella finally sighed in relief. Though Vicente did not openly approve of her choice, he did not disapprove of it, at least. She felt invigorated. For some reason, she felt confident even though it was only her son who approved of her choice. She felt as though she wouldn’t care about what others thought.

“That’s a relief,” she said.

Vicente did not say anything further but continued to glance at Ersella occasionally. Feeling pressure every time, she forced herself to smile.

***

They got on the carriage and, before too long, arrived downtown. Vicente got out first and reached out. Ersella hesitated before accepting his hand and getting off the carriage. Getting escorted by a handsome boy made her feel like she was a young girl again.

However, something was different. She felt a joy that was quite different from what she felt as a daughter of a marquess. Something quite different from what she felt back when she loved music and parties filled her heart.

“May I ask why we’re here?” Vicente asked.

Had it not been for his question, she would have been lost in her thoughts. Snapping out of the vague feelings that ruled her heart, Ersella replied, “We’re going to buy clothes.”

“Would that be all?”

“No, we also have to buy a hat.”

“And then?”

“I would also like to buy a handkerchief.”

“And then?”

“Shoes, too.”

“Is that so?”

“I hope we can find something that suits you.”

Vicente stopped, sensing something was off. He tilted his head.

Ersella smiled teasingly. “You didn’t know? We’re here to buy something for you today.”