“…Lady Kallenberg. … Lady Kallenberg.”
“Eh… ah, yes!”
Called by her family name, Ilse’s consciousness resurfaced from her thoughts. Being called people by their last name was commonly during work.
“P-please excuse me. Prime Minister Schwarzen, was that you? How may I help you?”
The moment she recognized the person who had called out to her, the blood drained from Ilse’s cheeks, and she offered a brisk bow.
She was on her way back to Heidmarie after finishing an errand, but perhaps because she was preoccupied with her current predicament, her complaints had been endless, and she hadn’t noticed Diethardt’s voice.
“No, it’s fine. It was my fault for speaking in a low voice.”
“No, it was my lapse in attention that I walking while lost in thought. So, what can I do for you, sir?”
Ilse looked up at the distinguished face of her country’s Prime Minister, who stood before her. Standing before her was Prime Minister Diethardt Schwarzen, the man whom Count Kallenberg had ordered her to set a honey trap for yesterday.
His tall, slim figure was clad in a frock coat made of broadcloth wool, the recent trend fashion. The fact that he chose clear, colorless gemstones for the pins on his cravat and his cufflinks was typical of Diethard, who disliked extravagance. Yet, the fact that the gemstones were diamonds certainly marked him as the gentleman of a prestigious Marquis family.
“I see you are way back to Her Highness Heidmarie. I actually have business with the Princess as well. Will it be alright if I accompany you?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Heidmarie was scheduled to leave Deigeln at the end of summer. She was currently in the midst of preparations for her marriage.
Simultaneously, as it was her last social season in Deigeln, Heidmarie had a heavier schedule of public duties than in previous years. The King relied on Diethardt and frequently asked him to handle matters concerning with Heidmarie.
“Ah, but… perhaps it would be better if I went ahead to announce your visit, Prime Minister Schwarzen?”
“There is no need. It would be troublesome if she pretended to be unavailable.”
“…”
Not knowing how to respond, Ilse chose to remain silence. As she was now walking alongside him, a sudden question came her way.
“Lady Kallenberg, which do you prefer coffee or tea?”
“Um?”
Question marks flew around in her head. Why on earth was he asking that?
“I believe it is important as Prime Minister to understand the preferences of the citizenry. So I was wondering, would you mind assisting me?”
“If that is the case…”
She began, then pondered. She liked both coffee and tea equally, drinking whichever suited her mood at the time.
“I like both equally.”
“Then, are there any particular brands you prefer?”
“Well…”
Coffee and tea were provided at the palace, so she mostly drank those. While some of her colleagues had their favorite teas or beans shipped from their favorite shops in their hometowns, but since most of Ilse’s salary was confiscated by Count Kallenberg, leaving her just enough to buy essentials and save a little money.
Luxuries were necessarily put on the back burner. She was not close enough to Diethardt to share such intimate financial details. So, putting on a slight show of sophistication, she named a well-known, established shop in the capital—a brand of Beate’s tea had shared with her once, which she had thought that was delicious.
“Then, between chocolate cake and buttercream cake, which do you prefer?”
“Let me see… I would say chocolate cake.”
She recalled hearing that the venerable hotel especially their Sacher’s salon in the capital had recently released a new chocolate cake, and customers with a fondness for sweets and new things were flocking there daily.
Apparently, noble ladies were even visiting incognito. She thought about visiting with Beate before she left to Leitis.
“I see. So, you like chocolate cake…”
Diethardt mumbled something under his breath in response to Ilse’s answer. He has a serious look on his face. Ilse couldn’t help but observe him because she had to play the role of a woman falling in love with him at the upcoming palace ball.
(I don’t know anything about her, but he’s handsome enough that an innocent girl would be unconsciously drawn to him.)
His sharp and clean face featured well-shaped, crisp eyebrows and long, slender eyes that all perfectly balanced around a nose bridge of exquisite height. His beauty had attracted many young lady glance, combined with his title as the heir to the Marquis of Schwarzen, which he coldly dismissed.
He also pushed through reforms, ignoring the opinions of old people, the cunning nobles. His resulting nickname was the Ice-Cold Prime Minister.