ELIZABETH SWAN'S

Chapter 12 - Rumors & Compliments

Count Swan was about to go to the southern region of the empire for his trade business affairs at the port which was experiencing a slight obstacle. With a heavy heart he allowed Elizabeth to go west to check out his newly acquired stores from Edgar, alone with Leila.

"What should be today too? Can't Elly back it up until dad gets back?" asked Count Swan who was about to board his horse carriage with a worried look mixed with sadness.

Elizabeth shook her head, "Can't, dad. After all, this father's daughter is not a child anymore who must always go with her parents. Don't worry, I can take care of myself." Elizabeth said.

Count Swan sighed sadly, "When Elly's father is now an adult, I'm still worried about letting you travel to a faraway place alone."

"I'm not alone, dad. There, Leila too. Sir Bernhard also left first. It looks like he's already there."

"Master, it's time for her to leave" the chariot coachman told Count Swan.

Count Swan sighed again, then rode the horse carriage with a heavy heart.

After delivering the father's departure, Elizabeth rushed to prepare for her departure to the west.

...****************...

In the middle of his journey to the west, due to the difficult terrain full of slippery rocks and hollow roads, Elizabeth's horse-drawn carriage wheels tucked into a small hole deep enough.

The coachman looks into the suspension jacking himself up. Leila who realized it was immediately down from the horse carriage so that the burden was slightly reduced. But the coachman still did not manage to jack up the wheels of his train.

"This mud is really troublesome." the coachman grumbled.

"Shall I go down too?" ask Elizabeth from the car.

"Can't! There's mud puddles everywhere, miss. Your clothes will get dirty if they come down." Leila said quickly, forbidding her from going down.

"It's okay. Can't I change my clothes later?" answer Elizabeth.

"But you only brought one pair of shoes, Miss. If the shoes are dirty because the mud stains will be exposed even though it has been washed once." concluded Leila.

Ketoplak! Ketoplak!

The sound of several pairs of horseshoes made the coachman and Leila turned towards the source of the sound.

"Thank God, we can ask them for help" Leila said happily.

The horse-drawn carriage and several guard knights behind it stopped, because the small road was only enough for one horse-drawn carriage.

"What's wrong? Why stop?" the clear voice of the man was also noble heard from inside the horse carriage.

"Sorry, Your Honor. There's a little obstacle." replied the coachman.

"Huh? Your Honor?" leila said, then the girl was curious about the family symbol on the horse carriage, "Grand Duke?" he realized that the symbol belonged to the Grand Duke Dominique.

Sebastian then got off his horse-drawn carriage, "Your Majesty, be careful! You'd better get back in the carriage, your shoes can get dirty, Your Majesty" said the Grand Duke secretary who inevitably came down.

The coachman and Leila bowed, "Greet His Majesty the Grand Duke Dominique" said the two simultaneously giving their greetings.

"Greetings to His Highness Grand Duke Dominique. I apologize for my discourtesy for greeting you from the carriage, Your Majesty" Elizabeth said from behind the window of her carriage.

"Elizabeth? Why are you here?" sebastian asked curiously but was also happy at the same time to be able to meet Elizabeth again after so many weeks.

Elizabeth was about to open the door of her horse-drawn carriage, "It seems impolite if we speak in this kind of position. Hold on, I'll be down."

Bruk!

Sebastian holds the door of Elizabeth's chariot with his right hand, "No, don't come down. Your shoes will be dirty" Sebastian said.

"But your shoes are dirty too, Your Majesty" Elizabeth said after looking down at Sebastian's feet.

"No problem. But you're a Lady, of course I can't let your shoes get dirty no matter how small the stain." Elizabeth could not reply to Sebastian, she chose to remain silent, "Why are you silent and not helping him? Didn't you see that coachman has trouble jacking his wheels all by himself?" sebastian said to his secretary.

"Y-yes? Me, Your Majesty?" the secretary looked puzzled, clearly visible on her face if she questioned why she should be while there were four strong and gallant knights standing back there.

"So you think I should do it?" sebastian said with a sharp look.

"Well, Your Majesty!"

The man immediately ran up to the coachman and helped him push the jack together. But still it didn't work, the mud under the wheels was really solid and slippery.

Elizabeth nodded, then Sebastian took a few steps back because his burly body was right in front of the door.

As soon as the door was opened, he came forward to Elizabeth, "Previously sorry if it was rude, now can you jump in here? I'll catch you, don't worry" Sebastian said as he opened his arms wide, preparing to receive Elizabeth's body into his arms.

Elizabeth raised both eyebrows, "Y-yes? B-but, Your Highness, that's kinda.. I mean, my body is heavy. I'd better just get off."

"Quick! Are you gonna let my hands go on like this?" insist Sebastian.

Elizabeth could not resist, and she jumped. Sebastian caught it, "I'm sorry if I'm heavy" Elizabeth said in embarrassment.

"Weight? I just felt like I was carrying a lump of cotton." said Sebastian, "You help the coachman push the jack, then you three push the horse carriage." the Grand Duke addressed the four knights, before taking Elizabeth into his chariot.

Inside Grand Duke Dominique's carriage, Elizabeth looks awkward after being treated like one by the man in front of her.

"So where are you going?" sebastian asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm going to the city of Romagnya. Then Your Majesty himself, what is the matter in this western region?"

"For a week it's been my schedule to make regular visits in the west."

"To my knowledge isn't the western region the Crown Prince's authority? Why did you make the visit?"

Sebastian stared out the window with a sad expression, "How else, this is a task that the Emperor directly assigned to me. Rejecting him is like defying the Emperor, right?" sebastian said as he curled the smile that he seemed to force.

"I'm sorry I said too much, Your Majesty. I didn't mean bad." Elizabeth feels bad for Sebastian.

"No, I'm fine. Don't feel guilty." said Sebastian, "If I may ask, what's the matter in his Romag?" coined.

"I want to see the store I just bought from someone. The store has been neglected for a long time so I intend to see the condition first before starting to do some renovations" explained Elizabeth.

Sebastian looked at the girl in front of him with an inexplicable gaze, "It turns out that the rumors circulating are very different from his reality" he said later.

"Rumors?"

"Yes, the rumors about you. They say that Lady Elizabeth only knows how to seduce the Crown Prince. Childish and reckless. But the Elizabeth I know is in stark contrast to the Elizabeth they speak of."

"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment from a Grand Duke Dominique" Elizabeth said, giving her sweetest smile.

Sebastian crossed his arms, right in front of his chest, "Of course it's a compliment. Then, after you're done with the renovations, what will you use the store for?"

"I'm going to open a jewelry store."

Sebastian furrowed both eyebrows, "Are you sure? No one dared to sell expensive items in this western region. Even the previous jewelry store also went out of business because of the lack of interest from buyers, because there are only a few nobles here. And they'll go to the capital if they want new jewelry."

Elizabeth was not at all surprised by Sebastian's explanation just now, "Yes, I already know that, Your Majesty. It is impossible for an entrepreneur not to do field research before starting his or her business, right? I've been thinking about a strategy since before I bought the store. And I'm sure that my strategy will work" said the girl confidently.

Sebastian is like being bewitched by Elizabeth's burning spirit, "Hmm, well if that's your decision. It seems you are also completely sure of your plan. As a friend I can only support you and give you advice" he said.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Your Majesty" Elizabeth said politely later.

Geck! Geck!

"Your Majesty, the problem has been resolved" exclaimed the Grand Duke's secretary from outside the carriage.

"Yes. You can sit there with Elizabeth's maid. While Elizabeth will stay here with me until she arrives at her Romag." Sebastian replied.

His secretary was silent for a moment, digesting the owner's words. It's not usually that the Grand Duke would be like this. A man who has always avoided the cause of all rumors, whether political or romantic, suddenly becomes interested in a Lady named Elizabeth.

The man who loved cleanliness was even willing to get his shoes dirty to meet a Lady. And even carried him into his horse-drawn carriage.

Sebastian still saw the secretary's shadow from the window curtain of his horse-drawn carriage, "Wait what else? Why are you still there? Did your ears get in trouble after I asked you to press jack?"

"N-no, Your Honor. I'll be there now." said the secretary of the Grand Duke who then ran towards Elizabeth's chariot.

Elizabeth chuckled, "What's pressing that jack using the ears, Your Majesty? I should have used my hands."

Sebastian also laughed, "He really likes to suddenly be silent like that, but the job is very good" concluded Sebastian.