PBPGD

CHAPTER 114

The sun had already begun to set by the time Claude returned to the manor. The business plan Ian had sent him through Lia was near perfect, he had to admit.

It seemed as though Ian had been planning this for a very long time. Claude met with the members of the Aristocratic Assembly, persuading them to support the cause. He gathered their signatures of approval and sent them to the imperial palace along with the business proposal.

He was pushing himself to the limit to wrap up most of the pressing projects before the ceremony.

Claude stepped out of the car with a tired sigh when Pipi ran past him without bothering to stop and curtsy. He watched her climb the stairs two at a time, face pale.

"Do you know why she's running like that?" he asked Owen, who took his hat.

Owen looked in the direction Claude pointed while taking his coat. "Lady Camellia suffered a stomachache from something she ate at lunch. Sir Ivan reported that it was most likely due to dishes that were too rich and sweet."

"Rich and sweet? Is she alright?"

"She's been lying down for a little while now. I presume her maid went to the kitchens to boil some tea."

Claude headed straight to Lia's room instead of his study. He knocked but didn't wait for a reply. Lia smiled at him, sitting at the edge of the bed.

She was dressed in a comfortable nightdress, hair flying in all directions from waking up from a nap. She looked more or less her usual self, as Claude noted with a sigh of relief.

"I heard you had an upset stomach." He sat by her side, studying her closely.

Lia sighed, tying her hair up into a messy bun. "I think it was hurting before I ate. I feel much better now that I've thrown up."

"That's how bad it was? Which restaurant was it? There must be something wrong with their food."

"Pipi and Sir Ivan also ate the same dishes, but they're completely fine. It was just me, okay? Don't you even think about punishing the owner or the store. Everything was fine," she emphasized with a pointed look.

Pipi seized the opportunity to hand Lia a cup of hot tea with honeyed lemon and ginger.

Claude hovered as Lia sipped the tea until she scolded him to sit somewhere. She seemed fine, contrary to Owen's reports.

He decided to sit by the fireplace when he noticed a new book on the mantel.

Camellia Alexei Ihar. He read the author's name with a proud swell of his heart.

"Oh, right. Here's a present for you," she said, picking up a book from a small pile.

He flipped through the colorful pages as though he were seeing it for the first time.

"It's extraordinary. Congratulations."

"It'll be available for purchase in Del Casa starting next month. Depending on the sales, they said it might be sold everywhere in Cayen," she said, cheeks rosy with excitement.

He knew as well as she did that it might not succeed, but he also knew that she wouldn't give up. The Camellia he loved shone brightest when she totally immersed herself in a project.

"Being a teacher won't be easy," he said, closing the book. "You'll already have a high profile as the grand duchess, meaning those around you won't leave you alone."

Lia nodded. She had learned the roles of a duchess and the history of House Ihar from Jasmine and Edith during their daily lessons.

She had cultivated a newfound respect for all the noble ladies who bore such a heavy weight on their shoulders and still performed their duties with elegance.