Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Royal Tea Party

The movement to Windsor Castle used the carriage the servant brought.

Thanks to the Metropolitan Police map I knew it wasn't far from the manor, but the castle was in a closer place than expected.

I was careless because there was no structure like a castle around the manor, but it was just obscured by a high hill.

About 10 minutes riding the carriage?

Between the dense trees a real medieval castle gradually started entering the view.

Wow, that scale is considerable?

Snort.

Matching the rough horse's breath sound and the clopping horse hoof sound, the carriage continuously clattered. This has a leaf spring attached at the bottom, right?!

"Sir Durand, by any chance is the seat uncomfortable? Shall I drive a bit slower?"

"No, it's fine. Ugh, it's nothing."

"We'll arrive soon. Please endure a little."

When I frowned my face, the servant driving the carriage carefully asked and I just shook my head.

The road was covered with round and wide cobblestones (*Cobblestone, paving cobblestones) like London city, but with the flow of years it was much dented and didn't fulfill its role.

Moreover due to the recent rain a fishy water smell wafted from every puddle, and the mood was also slightly unpleasant.

But even if a bit uncomfortable I have to endure what can I do. Originally it's this era.

Windsor Castle was located at the highest place on a sloping hill.

A huge circular tower at one corner of the castle, a medieval fortress surrounded by rough castle walls around it.

According to what I heard from the Earl the British Empire royal court has acted with Windsor Castle as a base for generations, but it was a place that didn't match at all with the splendid image the royal court has.

But the moment I passed the castle's main gate, I let out an oh exclamation in my heart.

A magnificent mansion decorated in splendid Gothic style that couldn't be guessed from outside the castle revealed itself.

There a well-managed garden and a fountain located in the central plaza added even more coolness.

"Sir Durand, I'll guide you. Her Royal Highness Princess Louise is waiting."

As soon as I got off the carriage, a waiting attendant quickly guided me inside the mansion.

What entered my eyes as soon as I entered were splendid chandeliers and statues of unknown era, and the interior decorated with various paintings.

Seeing that the room of the Duke of York exactly came to mind. It seemed the prince was trying to follow this interior.

The internal structure of the mansion was considerably complex.

Only after winding the corridor several times, and passing several luxurious halls did I arrive at a quiet and uninhabited terrace.

And the moment I stepped on that terrace, I couldn't help but let out the biggest exclamation of today.

A fragrant flower scent spreading thickly enough to pierce the tip of the nose!

"Wow... Really beautiful."

"It's a rose garden. It was the place Her Majesty Queen Victoria loved the most. If you came in early summer you would have seen more roses, it's unfortunate. If you come next year your eyes will be more joyful."

Come next year too? You're joking, right?

However the flower field spread in front of my eyes was reality not a dream. Full of carefully cultivated colorful plants that can't be seen anywhere in London.

Lavender? Begonia? Is that gladiolus?

If I knew flowers well I could appreciate more deeply, but even just this moment was sufficiently enchanting.

It seems like I came to some flower exhibition!

"Sir Durand, this way."

"Ah, yes, yes."

The place the servant finally guided was a cool space surrounded by white cloth and curtains located in the middle of the flower garden.

And there were already previous guests in that place. I slightly paused before entering.

What should I do at times like this? Offering a greeting first is courtesy, right?

But to whom? Three women were sitting at the table. Of course I didn't know who among them was Princess Louise.

If Princess Louise is the fourth daughter of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, no matter what she would be at least over 50. The problem was that all three had appearances that didn't look like in their 50s.

Well, think well, Jean-Paul Durand! If the first greeting goes wrong it becomes an uncomfortable seat throughout the tea party!

First candidate. A woman wearing a blue high-neck blouse and a black bodice. Age looks about early 30s, no matter how young the princess is she wouldn't be that young.

She covered her face with a hat and lace fan so one couldn't tell the age, but it was insufficient to deceive my eyes that have met numerous people.

Immediately candidate eliminated.

Second candidate. A woman who looks about mid-40s who smiled as soon as she saw me. Wearing an embroidered hat, and the hair color and eyes were the same as His Majesty Edward VII.

Moreover the attire was the most splendid among the three, and she was sitting in the upper seat, so is this person the princess?!

But the detailed appearance was completely different from His Majesty. Moreover she's even wearing a wedding ring on the left ring finger. While saying she's distant from her husband she wears a wedding ring?

Something is strange. For now hold.

I quickly turned my gaze to the last candidate.

A face with not a big age difference from the first. Almost no wrinkles, an appearance that one could mistake for mid to late 30s at a glance.

Clothes also the most modest among the three, and a simple appearance with no accessories like earrings, rings, necklaces at all. At this point this is also eliminated.

Just looking I know. The three are colluding and trying to fluster me.

So I offered a greeting to the real Princess Louise. Of course it was the last candidate.

"Hello? Thank you sincerely for inviting me to such an excellent tea party. I'm Jean-Paul Durand doing lowly cooking in London, Your Royal Highness Princess Louise."

"...How did you know me? Usually one doesn't know?"

As soon as I uttered the words the last candidate opened her eyes round in surprise.

How to answer? Tell her I cheated with the status window? Or shall I say I've never been caught in such a prank since birth?

[ Louise Caroline Alberta: This man is the one His Majesty spoke of...? / Emotion: Surprise / Satisfaction: - ]

With the name floating so clearly it's embarrassing to pretend to be deceived. But she's really amazing at looking young. Who would see that face as in her 50s?

I just acted crazy and returned the answer sheet.

"According to worldly rumors the most beautiful and elegant among the five princesses of Her Majesty Queen Victoria is Princess Louise. If I couldn't recognize at a glance my eyes would be knotholes. I swear to Saint George it's the truth."

"Oh my!"

"In the world, a young man whose words are as gentle as his handsome face, Sir Durand is!"

Even though it was a hastily made flattery looking at the atmosphere it seemed it worked well.

Like that I barely secured a seat among the three women, and was able to safely obtain the burdensome tea party participation right.

###

While writing a success story as a bachelor there is something one can't avoid.

Matchmaking proposals coming in from all directions.

In my previous life I wasn't the highest skill chef, but in image packaging techniques I had almost reached the extreme. Thanks to that I made a name quite a bit from all sides.

The restaurant under my name was in fact just a side job, and most of the profit came from YouTube ads or various broadcast appearances, and business, so thinking half is a celebrity was fine.

But people strangely liked my image very much. Thanks to that I often ranked high in the groom candidate ranking selected by netizens. Then inevitably unrejectable matchmaking seats also arise.

Of course not even once was it properly successful. Because not a single person passed the twenty questions filter. Everyone's insides were so black.

Honestly an uncle in his mid to late 30s with even a belly sticking out what else would they chase for besides money...

Anyway there was a technique of forcibly breaking off relationships that would be troublesome if continued.

That was exactly checking the sucker.

Parents? What do they do? Annual income? House? Car?

Questions I don't want to hear others also don't want to hear. If one repeats this question like a loop the other party first kicks the seat and leaves.

And I was currently receiving the karma accumulated in my previous life intact.

At the tea party of Windsor Castle.

"Parents? What kind of work do they do?"

"Yes? Uh... Business, they do business. Food service!"

"Oh my. Then Sir Durand inherited the family business? Really cool! The house? Where does Sir Durand live now? Belgravia?"

"Ahaha..."

Is this really not knowing and asking, or trying to probe me and asking? Information one could know even with a little background check on me. I was born in a poor commoner family on Baker Street, right?

Already almost 30 minutes of only this kind of conversation. But they were questions there was no need to answer factually.

I mixed lies and ambiguous answers and killed time while rolling all sorts of thoughts inside guessing why they called me.

The Princess Louise who actually invited me, except for the first one word of surprise was only sipping tea without any words, and the questions were being thrown by the two women beside.

Why on earth did they call me?

"Sir Durand! Can I also visit Sir Durand's restaurant? There's a rumor that Sir Durand's cooking is very delicious in high society?"

"Well... If you just make a reservation anytime is fine."

"Really? Thank you!"

I said make a reservation?!

Anyway the first candidate, this talkative woman in her early 30s is 'Countess of Albemarle.' Just looking she was a very extroverted person.

To the point it's suspicious whether covering her mouth with the fan at first was needing preparation time to attach a motor to her mouth.

"Sir Durand, by any chance are you dating or is there a daughter of a noble family you have in mind?"

The second candidate, this side was just called 'Lady Churchill.' The husband is the second son of the Marlborough duke family, but no title? She was the wife of a famous Conservative Party politician whose name I had also heard in the newspaper. I really didn't know even in dreams that I would suddenly meet that person's wife at a tea party.

"No... There's no particular person I've thought of yet."

"In the world! Having such a handsome face and not dating is an insult to the creator! I can introduce a good person, how is it?"

"Ha, haha..."

Am I really handsome? My confidence almost dropped a bit due to the matter a few days ago.

Lady Churchill poured difficult questions whenever there was a gap. In fact she was the center of this uncomfortable sucker check.

"Ah right, inviting to the tea party and this is what rudeness! Your throat must be dry so drink this tea too, and how about this cake? It's really delicious!"

"Thank you."

Chiffon cake I see after a long time!

The soft cream looked appetizing, so I mindlessly put a piece with the fork into my mouth, and almost spat it out as is.

Damn, what crazy person poured peanut butter into the cake?

"Really delicious, right? This is a cake that took 1st place in the dessert competition hosted by the Duchess of Edinburgh! Made with recently popular peanut butter, because it's so precious I specially asked the factory president and bought one box. If you liked it shall I send a few bottles?"

"No, it's fine! But the cake is really delicious!"

I hurriedly waved my hands.

Surely this isn't that one Lady Edith made?! Ah, no way.

Even in the midst of such a commotion happening, Princess Louise was still just looking at the distant sky without any words.

Did something happen? Even with the status window it was difficult to read the deep inner thoughts.

What I could guess at best was the clothes the princess was wearing.

A modest velvet dress mixed with white, gray, and lilac. I didn't notice at first, but that's mourning clothes.

Half mourning.

Thinking about it I remembered seeing an article in the newspaper about a month ago that the German Empress Victoria died. She was a relatively young age in her 60s, was she Princess Louise's eldest sister?

The moment I was lost in thought looking at her with a side glance, there was a word that flashed across the status window in an instant.

I didn't miss it and quickly grabbed it.

[ Louise Caroline Alberta: Isabella...? / Emotion: Regret / Satisfaction: - ]

What? Isabella? Isabella again?! What secret on earth is there in that name?

A name already mentioned twice in front of me. And that name that even put His Majesty Edward VII into great confusion.

At this point I can't help but notice. That name, clearly has some relation with me.

How to find out separately? Shall I ask my parents? By any chance is there a person named Isabella among relatives?

Right then, raindrops suddenly started falling pitter-patter from the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky.

"Oh my?"

"Oh, the weather is unusual. Shall we continue the remaining afternoon tea in the reception room inside the mansion?"

"Yes, what does the princess think?"

"Yes, let's go inside."

"Sir Durand?"

"I'll follow too."

The cleanup was done by servants who popped out of the mansion. The ladies led the way, and I just followed behind trailing and only matched the walking speed.

But while passing the corridor, the appearance of servants gathered in a corner murmuring caught my eye. At a glance the expressions were unusual.

"What's the matter? Gathering in the corridor like this."

"Ah, so-sorry! Lady Churchill!"

"There's nothing to apologize for. I just asked what the matter is."

"That... It's about Princess Alice."

"Princess Alice?"

At that moment Lady Churchill and the Countess of Albemarle simultaneously turned to look at Princess Louise. Princess Louise asked back with a tired-looking expression.

"Why Princess Alice? Wasn't she shut in my room from a few days ago?"

"She hasn't returned yet."

"...What?"

"The riding clothes have disappeared, and one horse is also not visible in the stables. Probably she went out riding a horse, but suddenly rain came�"

The rain was gradually getting rougher. It wasn't up to a downpour, but in the cool weather if the body gets wet it's just the right rainfall to catch a cold.

In Britain adjacent to the sea it wasn't a very rare phenomenon in this period.

Princess Louise shouted surprised even before fully hearing the attendant's words.

"Oh, find quickly! Why on earth did that child ride a horse in this weather!"

"But I can't guess where the princess went..."

"Gather the attendants who can ride horses! What are the guards doing? Also contact the surrounding mounted constables and tell them to find the princess! Tell them I'll give a reward to the person who brings her back safely!"

"Princess, sorry. Recently the telephone line is cut and under repair... It's a difficult situation to contact the Metropolitan Police..."

"What?!"

The situation seems to be gradually getting worse?

But this is the time! An opportunity to naturally escape the uncomfortable tea party!

I quickly raised my hand!

"I can ride a horse! I'll volunteer for the search party!"

"Sir Durand...?"

Whatever, getting a bit of rain what!

Moreover in fact there was a place I could guess.

I was thinking of running to the manor's stables.