Dance partner

Spring has come just like Elroy said. The flowers in the Palace garden started to bloom. The air started to warm. Several birds and squirrels began to appear in the Palace garden trees. The atmosphere became more lively.

Which means Mariette's real life begins.

"I'm sorry, Linda. I have to take you to the Palace," said Mariette.

"No problem, My Lady. I'm glad I got the chance to look around the Palace!" said Linda happily. "By the way, I was informed that the shoemaker is coming this afternoon. Then the flower arrangement has arrived."

"Tell Her Highness' maids about the presence of the shoemaker. After that, you wait here, maybe someone will come again. I'm going to meet a flower arranger."

"Yes, My Lady."

There was nothing the Palace family couldn't do. Whatever it is they want, they will get it. Make everything fast, and pay whatever it is they need. That's more or less how Mariette works as a palace secretary.

Well, of course Mariette still can't just waste money. She still has to manage the money that has been entrusted to her. Enough money for maximum results!

"I am happy to once again be able to work for Your Highness. Please look forward to the initial results."

"Yes. Thank you for taking the time for me."

"Of course, Princess Louisa. Have a nice day. Please excuse me, Viscountess Tierney."

"Yes. Thank you for your time, Madame."

After meeting with the last designer of the day, Louisa let out a long breath.

"Mariette, that was the last one, wasn't it?" Louisa asked tiredly.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will ask the maid to bring evening tea for today," said Mariette. She disappeared for a while, then returned. "Please remember that tomorrow, you must do your first inspection of the dance hall."

"My goodness," Louisa groaned. "I don't want a big banquet. Why can't I just have a normal debutante show?!"

"This is training for you when you become the real lady, Princess Louisa. Please remember as soon as you enter adulthood, you have to open the Palace's salon, which has been closed for a long time."

Mariette could hear Louisa grumbling.

While Louisa grumbled, Mariette silently made a mental note of what jobs were still waiting for her. Interior set-up, meeting with the chef, inspection of the entire Palace, checking the flow of funds already prepared, confirming that King Vallotton and Louie's outfits are for Louisa's debutante event, and…

Mariette's eyes accidentally fell on the flower arrangement in the corner of the room. It was a flower picked in the garden of the Prince's Palace, the first flower to bloom there. Mariette was reminded of the flowers someone had given her some time ago. And, it reminded him of something.

"Have you decided who your first dance partner will be, Princess Louisa?"

Louisa immediately stopped munching her cake. The grin the young girl gave answered Mariette's question.

Mariette let out a long breath. "I am not unsympathetic to your concern, Your Highness. But please decide soon. Or would you like me to help you sort the letters you got?"

"Isn't there someone closest suitable to be my dance partner?" muttered Mariette. "Who are the young men around me?"

"Nobody's young enough for you - unless you want to dance with Sir Anatole."

"No! How many times do I have to tell you that Sir Anatole has to dance with you!" Louisa insisted. "When it gets stuck like this, I really want to invite Count Lavaud's son."

"He's only 12 years old, Princess Louisa," Mariette warned. "Speak with Prince Louie. He knows best what kind of man your first dance partner should be."

"Can't I just dance with dad or brother?" muttered Louisa. She stirred her tea lazily. "Who else, huh… Oh! What do you think if I dance with one of the two tutors, Mariette?"

Mariette fell silent at the suggestion.

***

In the Lamamont Kingdom, there were so many considerations and qualifications to become a princess or queen dance partner when they didn't have a partner. It can't be just anyone because the man and his family will definitely expect something from the princess or queen in the future.

In Louisa's case, her first dance partner would most likely be considered her husband.

"Please don't talk about my husband just yet. I'm still 17 years old," said Louisa. "It's just a dance partner. The first dance! I should be able to dance with anyone, right? We'll just pick them at random. Anyway the only choices are Sir Elroy and Sir Ferdinand."

"You can't do that, Lou," said Louie tiredly to himself. "Listen, I'd like to be your dance partner if I could."

"Sir Ferdinand comes from among the common people. Meanwhile, Sir Elroy was the last son of a marquess. Judging from his qualifications, Sir Elroy can be your dance partner," Mariette told her. "The problem is that Sir Elroy is just an ordinary knight. I don't know how the invitees will respond."

"But as you said earlier, Sir Elroy is the son of a marquess. And the marquess we are talking about here is Marquess Gauthier. They are a respectable family," said Louie.

"It sounds like you have great faith in your two tutors, Prince Louie."

"They're lovely people."

"And nice," added Louisa. "Sir Elroy is not a bad choice. He's pretty handsome too."

"Huh? You dare say there are handsome men out there besides me and Father?" Louie asked in an irritated tone.

Louisa rolled her eyes. "Don't be so possessive, Louie. Which do you prefer, I don't dance with any guy in my debutante or I dance with the guy you call 'King-licking son of a bitch'?"

"Princess Louisa, please watch your words," Mariette admonished sharply. "If you both agree to have Sir Elroy as Princess Louisa's dance partner, I will have the invitations ready as soon as possible. Please decide quickly. There is still work waiting for me."

"Yes… Alright, I agree."

"I'll give the letter directly to Sir Elroy then."

In this way, Mariette's job increased by one more.

Would Sir Elroy want to be Princess Louisa's dance partner? thought Mariette.

Ah, suddenly Mariette was also worried about Elroy's dancing ability. Can this man dance? It seemed she was the type who would spend her time immersed in the library like she was doing lately.