Maria - The Blind Princess

Chapter 13

"You said Mr.Tranchant will role play as a princess?"

"Yes, here are the scenarios as well." Madame de Laconte gave Jacques another book, which was the scripts for the show tomorrow.

"The story is about a boy who dreams of defeating the dragons to save the kingdom... He then met the princess who is a descended angel to guide him the way. It's interesting though."

It was obvious that Jacques really liked this genre of the show. He had always thought, the shows at the theaters would be full of boring romance between a guy and a girl and their tragedy. In Jacques's point of view, the true value of the arts is its contribution on the improvement of human's emotion and humanity - the thing he knew as humanitarianism so he would surely come to see this performance tomorrow if he could.

"I understand. I will guide Mr.Tranchant in singing." Jacques continued "However, to compensate our big effort to help House of Marquess De Laconte, we also have a request for you."

"What is it?" Martin began his doubt, he carefully asked the prince.

"I want Marquess De Laconte to share her noble name to Mr.Tranchant. It meant, after his graduation at the academy, please adopt him as your familly member as well."

Hearing that, both Martin and Maria were shocked. Why did Jacques give such an impossible request like this to madame De Laconte?

However at the side of the marquess, her kind facial expression changed into serious state. After thinking for a moment, her eyes looked carefully at Jacques's half hidden face under the coat.

"Mr.Menard, it's indeed a sudden request, my sincere apology that I may need time to reconsider."

"Yes madame, please take your time. I'm sorry for asking such excessive request as well."

"It doesn't matter, I really treasure Mr.Tranchant too. I'll think about your request and give you my soonest response as possible."

In reality, Marquess De Laconte could sense the voice of that boy named Menard sounding very familliar with her. It gave her a dominating aura alike with the king's so she was back to cautious state, in the case if her guess was right: "That boy can be that person." She thought.

Suddenly, one of the marquess's servant came in, interrupted the conversation.

"Madame, the costume had been prepared."

"Thank you Vani." She guided Maria and Jacques to the dressing room "Mr.Tranchant, Mr.Menard, please come this way to try your dress."

***

In order to not let anyone find out Maria as a girl, Jacques refused alll the servants's help and supported Maria changing clothes by himself. At this moment, he could understand Gerald's hard work. For a prince having the servants to do everything for him, it was completely not easy to him to help changing clothes for a girl. Jacques got blushed, when he imagined how many times Gerald had to witness Maria being clothless.

"Oh my god... how can I tie this corset?" Jacques awkwardly researched how to tie the corset for Maria.

"Let me guide you Jacques." Maria's hands touched on her smooth skin at her back, found the holes to thread the string. "First, you thread the string into this. Next, this one..."

"Okay My Lady."

Next was wearing the dress, Jacques couldn't believe that it was too complicating than he thought. But Maria could professionally guided him to help her wearing very professionally. He then remembered, he almost forgot that she used to be daughter of a noble familly as well.

And the last step, fixing Maria's hair by untying, brushing her hair and use a ribbon. Voilà, the dressing process had been done.

"Jacques, how do I look?"

Jacques's heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was the first time he had ever seen Maria in girl's costume in front of him. The red ribbon highlighted the color of her blondy wavy hair. The blue dress also matched very well with her beautiful aquamarine eyes... In Jacques's eyes, Maria was totally a descended angel like the story of the show.

"My Lady, I'll be honest..."

"Something is wrong?"

"YOU'RE SO PRETTY!!! Your beauty is blessing my eyes!!!!" Jacques shouted, totally forgot that he had to keep silent to keep his secret "My Lady, after we return to the academy, I will surely buy many dresses for you!"

"Sh! Jacques, lower your voice please!"

Maria panickly stopped Jacques. Then, she changed the conversation's topic.

"Anyway Jacques, can I know why you did request Marquess De Laconte to adopt me?"

"There are two reasons I want to do that. First, House of De Laconte is one of the few noble famillies who stood at neutral side. They don't have much politic influence, even rarely got involved into the conflict between my father and the kingdom's citizens. So I believe House of De Lanconte would be the place where you can feel safe if the kingdom was going to have a war..."

"I see." Maria answered "But I thought once I become a royal knight, I'll be involved a lot into the kingdom's politics?"

"That's right. Once that time comes, I will give the marquess a clear explaination about your identity as well, with my title Crown Prince. I notice.. she really loves you so it wouldn't be her problem to adopt you. But she needs a time to think about it."

"Then how about the second reason?"

"Once you become a royal knight, you must have a noble name."

"Really?!"

"Do you remember the honor for the non-noble students after their graduation?"

"Yes, if they got excellent score at the academy, they will be adopted by a noble familly corresponded to their study's speciality."

"I already guarant for you that slot." Jacques mimiced Gerald's thumbs-up with a smile.

Maria kneeled down in front of Jacques and couldn't remember how many times she said thanks to him, not as a friend, but as a underlying in front of a majesty. She never believed in her life, a person having high position like Jacques would never help her with enthousiasm like this. This fact even gave her more respect to the prince.

"Oh My Lady, please stand up..." Jacques said, but Maria could feel the sadness mixed with his voice as well "I can be a prince but I treasure our friendship more than our social position. So, don't ever treat me as a prince anymore."

"... I understand, your highness."

"I want you to call me 'Jacques' like usual, okay? Now don't mind about it anymore and we need to practice singing for tomorrow as well~"

"Okay Jacques, let's go!"

***

Same as Jacques's reaction before, Maria's apparence in the trial costume shocked everyone in the mansion. She could hear the whispering discussing of the servants surronding her, that they never thought they could witness a boy being so pretty in a girl's dress. Even the Marquess De Laconte couldn't hid her surprised expression as well. "If this boy was a girl, I would surely adopt him..." She thought in regret, since she also loved to have a daughter.

"I would like to borrow your piano, Madame." Maria wondered, why did she never know Jacques could play piano?

"Sure, it's for guiding Mr.Tranchant singing right?" Marquess answered "It's located at the backstage hall. Please feel free to use it."

"I have a piano in my room as well." Martin said "They can use mine for more tranquil space."

"It's a great idea too, if you allow them to go to your room. Well, I'll let our gentlemens decide by themself then."

Eventually, Jacques chosed to play the piano inside Martin's office room.

"Wow, this is so amazing."

Jacques looked around Martin's room with sparkly eyes. It was his first time to witness a working environment of a noble familly having arting tradition. There were full kinds of musical instruments, each of them even had a collection of every expensive famous brands. The painted pictures were put on the four walls of the room. Jacques guessed each of them might cost at least thousands coins of gold.

"Here we are." Martin pulled out the curtain, revealed the super luxury piano at the corner of the room "Your highness, would you like to give a try?"

"This piano was imported from Onkalor Kingdom right? I have the same piano in my palace too so no need to try."

However, what happened next to Martin and Maria... they just stood and felt awkward. Meanwhile, Jacques looked at the script, then looked down to the piano's keys and pressed slowly.

"Your highness..?" Martin drained all of his courage and asked Jacques "Would you mind if I can play the piano for Mr.Tranchant?"

"Oh... uhm..." Jacques scratched his hair, felt embarassed "My apoplogy, it had been so long time I haven't played piano. I completely forgot all of its basic knowledge."

"It's no problem. Also, I have practiced this song before so it's easier to me to play them than you."

"Then do it."

Martin then helped Jacques playing the piano, while Maria listened carelly the music. Everyone was trying with their best to guide Maria singing, of course she couldn't disappoint them.

"Your highness, you will sing the song first as an example for Mr.Tranchant." Martin said "Then, he could learn singing by following you. Also, feel free to tell me to repeat anytime."

"Understood."

Maria listened Jacques singing. She could feel the warmth and the sincere mixed with his deep voice, like an invisible power which was embracing her and gave her the feeling being safe.

"Mr.Tranchant, it's your turn now." Maria also began repeating Jacques's singing too.

Time by time, Martin and Jacques were stunned by Maria's amazing memory. In just two hours of practicing, she already could remember singing a third of the entire scripts. Just by listening her angelic singing voice, all of Martin's worry had been faded away. He was sure that that blind boy wasn't a disguised spy or a wizard. "Now I understand why both the princes loves being friend with him. He is just too pure, too good and gentle. Inside this dark kingdom, his existence is like a candle of light." Martin thought.

Eventually at 10pm, it was already too late and the practice went very smoothly. The Marquess also ordered the servants to prepare for three of them the the hot milks as night snack before their sleep.

"You have really caring mother, Martin." Maria smiled.

"No, she is like that in front of the guests. You cannot imagine, she always whooped my a*s whenever I skipped her music class!"

"Hahaha it was your fault of course." Jacques laughed.

"Your... your highness, please don't tell her what I have told you."

"I got it Mr.De Laconte, don't worry."

Since Maria had to stay inside the mansion for too long, she wanted to take a promenade at the mansion's garden before going to sleep.

"You want me to go with you?" Jacques asked Maria.

"No it's ok. I can ask a servant of the mansion to guide me." Maria said "You have worked hard for me a lot, it's better if you go sleep soon."

"Sure then."

Jacques then said goodbye to Maria and went to his bedroom as the servants's guide. Meanwhile, she happily enjoyed the fresh air of the nighttime while walking freely at the mansion's garden. She wondered if Gerald already slept yet, he will be okay when being alone at the hospitality.

Maria kept thinking about Gerald. Suddenly, from behind, someone violently shutted her mouth. She could feel something very sharp touching her neck. It was a knife!

"Be quiet, and go with me."