Living Up to Your Expectations - Chapter 38

“You’re not wearing the Akrum stone necklace that lets you see the spirits today?”

From across the table, Via looked at me with keen interest. Through the steam of her tea, her eyes sparkled with faint curiosity.

“No. I’ve decided to only wear it for the few hours I’m at the estate, and during ceremonies.”

I smiled gently as I returned my cup to its saucer.

—The spirits are chatty, and absolutely love mischief.

I recalled that night when I’d chatted with the spirits until late and accidentally fallen asleep still wearing the necklace.

The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes the next morning was the strange, heavy weight of my hair. The moment I stood before the mirror, I understood why.

My hair had been exquisitely coiled up, adorned with colorful flowers and small ribbons, as if I were wearing a festive wreath. Moreover, the intricacy of the styling was so perfect it could rival that of a professional hairdresser.

Yet, it took me over an hour to undo that delicate work of art. With every tug at my hair, I sighed, my head ached, and I could only stare helplessly at my reflection in the mirror.

—It seemed the spirits thought decorating me would make me happy.

“The spirits were quite forgiving of you,” Laila said, her eyes wide. At her words, I gave a small shrug.

“Yes, well, before, when I made a terribly sad face at the result of the spirits’ innocent antics. It seems they decided to listen to my plea and try to make me happy this time. And also, this is another reason.”

Saying this, I gently placed a small wooden box on the table. The polished mahogany was carved with delicate vines, and when I opened the lid, a soft, sweet fragrance wafted out.

Inside, colorful macarons were arranged like a floral wreath—lavender, mint green, strawberry pink—each with a faint gloss, shining like tiny jewels.

“Oh, how lovely! Did you make these too, Lady Felicia?”

Laila’s eyes lit up instantly, her joyful face as soft as a spring sunbeam.

“Yes, I baked them just this morning. They’re a little treat for the spirits nearby.”

The moment I said this, one of the macarons floated gently into the air, scattering faint particles of light, and vanished as if carried away by the wind.

“Ah, ah… The macaron…!”

Laila’s voice trembled slightly. Her gaze followed the path of the vanished sweet, and she pouted just a little. She must have really wanted to eat it.

“Hehe, it’s alright. I made sure to save some for you too.”

Smiling, I brought out another small box. I placed macarons from the floral-patterned box in front of her and Via, one for each.

A small gift baked to suit each of their tastes. The sweet scents mingled softly over the table.

“When I give permission, I can share sweets with the spirits. We made a promise, only once a day.”

The sweet aroma of macarons blended with the scent of tea.

“So they’re right here with us, even if we can’t see them,” Via murmured in her calm, low voice, bringing her teacup to her lips. Her emerald green dress caught the afternoon light and shimmered quietly.

“Yes, it seems so. They’re happy with any kind of sweet, but they seem especially delighted with my homemade ones. That’s why His Majesty the King has officially granted me permission to continue baking.”

“Indeed, the spirits do seem pleased. It’s not even raining, yet there’s a rainbow.”

Via smiled as she gazed at the sky.

“Hehe, it seems more young ladies might start baking from now on. I specialize in eating, so Lady Felicia, please continue to take good care of us.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

I smiled as I replied. Afternoon light streamed through the lace curtains, casting faint shadows of the teacups on the table. It was a gentle, contented, quiet moment.

After a while, Via narrowed her eyes nostalgically.

“Even so, Feli being a ‘Spirit Princess.’ But thinking back, whenever you came to visit us as a child, the garden flowers would all bloom beautifully at once. It was strangely wonderful.”

“And on the days we went out together, it never once rained,” Laila added, nodding as she lowered her gaze, as if tracing distant memories.

“There have always been legends of ‘Spirit Princesses’ appearing in nature-rich lands, but it seems young ladies in the royal capital may now become subjects of the ritual too,” Via said, and I nodded quietly.

“Yes. The existence of those like me, raised in blessed, natural territories, has been recognized as ‘precedent.'”

The days I spent quietly in the beautiful lakeside territory with my frail mother when I was young perhaps that time was what deepened my connection with the spirits.

“If we investigate the young lords as well, we might unexpectedly find a ‘Spirit Prince’ among them,” Laila said amusingly. Indeed, it’s not necessarily only women who are beloved by the spirits.

The assumption that only a cherished child can see and speak with spirits, the belief that Spirit Princesses only appear in nature-rich lands—yes, and perhaps the assumption that there are only princesses.

I took a sip of tea, the fragrance tickling my nose. But then, as if slicing through the peaceful atmosphere, Laila quietly said:

“—I wonder how the other princess is doing.”