DoaHD | Entry 7: I Accidentally Insulted the Consul
A/N: Once again, I want to thank everybody for their patience as I got the next chapter out. I like, love this chapter so much so I might be doing additional sketches since I couldn't figure out which scene to draw for spot art. Thank you all for your support and I hope everybody has a happy holidays!
Taglist: @minecraftninjerkid@ryctone@shipperlewaterkitty | Google Form to be added to taglist
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Strawberry Tea Cookie found herself resting on a balcony back inside, staring off into the ceaseless night where she mapped her thoughts against the stars, creating twisted constellations in the shape of her dilemmas.
“Can you continue doing that for the rest of your life?”
Wildberry Cookie had a point— he always did. The sickness, the guilt and shame… They will all continue to pile up until it's all she felt. She wondered how Peach Jam Cookie did it: lying and backstabbing so easily. Her saccharine words were as light as cotton candy, yet just like the confection was only full of air. Did she feel any guilt stringing along her uncle? Better yet, can she feel guilt at all?
What an obvious question.
Yet as much as she despised her aunt, she had won the favor of her parents, perhaps she was doing something right…
“Taking a break?”
Next to her stood the Consul, composed with his hands behind his back as he faced her. The designer took in a deep breath, reeling back everything into a neat spool at the back of her mind. If there’s one thing she can do correctly tonight, it’s not leaving a bad impression on the leader of this nation. “I am. Are you as well, Consul?”
“As much as I love chatting with others, I also enjoy a bit of alone time.” Clotted Cream Cookie remarked.
“Oh.” Strawberry Tea Cookie immediately took a step back. “I shall dismiss myself, then.”
“W-wait–” The Consul reached out for the former heiress from his place, his movements surprisingly impulsive. He seemed to have realized, as he quickly rewinded himself into his original position. “I actually wanted to speak with you.”
She raised her eyebrow. “About what?”
“I noticed that you left our conversation from before quite quickly. I couldn’t help but feel that I may have offended you with my comment about Hollyberry Cookie’s juice intake, and subsequently made an assumption about your drinking habits.” Clotted Cream Cookie’s expression was serious, yet his voice wavered with an unfamiliar nervousness. “I would like to formally apologize to you, Lady Strawberry Tea Cookie, for making such an inappropriate and unprofessional statement towards you and Hollyberry Cookie.”
The designer couldn’t help but be stunned at how… elaborate his apology was. Yet it held a strange sense of vulnerability in it.
“There’s no need to apologize, I left because Crab Dip Cookie was waiting to talk to you,” her voice faltered slightly when mentioning her name. “It didn’t register to me that you were making a stereotype.”
“I didn’t notice either until later on.” Clotted Cream Cookie replied, his voice more relaxed now. “I will be more careful with what I say moving forward, but I truly wanted to ensure you were comfortable tonight.”
“Thank you, Consul.” The conversation fell into silence. There was an itch in the bottom of Strawberry Tea Cookie’s stomach that urged her to continue with another topic, as if each word unspoken would bring her closer to being expelled from the Crème Republic. She was not well-versed in conversation regarding politics and government— and the knowledge she does have is irrelevant given she is in a foreign country. Other icebreakers such as “where are you from” or “what is your occupation” were already answered, and she felt it would be rather strange to ask for elaboration out of the blue. She needed something casual and inoffensive, one that could revitalize the stale silence and buy her more time to think of another topic, a question that can be answered by any cookie regardless of the situation: “...How has the night been faring you so far?”
“I had a great time, it’s not often I get to attend gatherings like this with all the work I do.” Clotted Cream Cookie mused. “Although I can’t help but say that I’m glad it has quieted down a bit.”
A vast majority of cookies had left at this point, leaving a polite mess that some servants were beginning to clean. The music had all but lulled into a concluding melody led by a single pianist, and the lights had dimmed to a degree that no longer gave the designer a headache.
“Likewise.”
“How about you?” The Consul reflected. “How has the rest of the celebration been for you?”
“It was… good.” An overstatement, but he was the last cookie she wanted to dump her woes on.
“I saw you were walking with Elder Sablé Cookie earlier,” he continued. “It seemed that I didn’t need to introduce you two after all~.”
“She’s…” The designer paused for a moment, biting the side of her cheek as she searched for an appropriate word. “...pleasant, I enjoyed my exchange with her.” Another overstatement.
“Yes, her knowledge on art and culture is truly one-of-a-kind.” Clotted Cream Cookie remarked with a light chuckle. “House Sablé has had a major influence on the Crème Republic’s fashion culture since its inception, much like your house, I presume?”
“House Strawberry does influence popular art trends in the Hollyberry Kingdom, however fashion belongs to another house.”
“Ah, you must be quite the outlier then.” Clotted Cream Cookie chuckled, he leaned against the rail. “Pursuing fashion in a house of art.”
An outlier in more ways than one. Strawberry Tea Cookie remarked solemnly. “I consider fashion as the medium for my art.”
“I see, it seems they are often interwoven, then.” He hummed. “Forgive me, I’m not well-versed in this subject.”
“I don’t expect a cookie like you to be—“ Her jam stilled, freezing itself into spikes that pricked her from the inside. She slowly turned her head to face Clotted Cream Cookie’s equally shocked expression. “I—“
“Pardon?”
She might as well return to the Hollyberry Kingdom at this point.
A feverish heat bloomed in Strawberry Tea Cookie’s cheeks, followed by a pang of dread piercing her stomach. “F-forgive me, I did not intend for that to sound as disrespectful as it did.” She internally scrambled to form an explanation. “You didn’t seem too knowledgeable on— I meant—“ She let out a desperate sigh, the heat in her face jumbling her thoughts as if her brain had been thrown into a blender at the highest speed.
Laughter.
The Consul was laughing.
Great Ancients, have mercy on her soul.
“Apologies, your statement just caught me off guard,” Clotted Cream Cookie said as his giggles became more controllable. “I believe I understand what you’re trying to say: that you expected this wasn’t the subject of my expertise, yes?”
For the love of the Greenish-Red Dragon that still sounds like a terrible thing to say. Strawberry Tea Cookie nodded, refusing to make eye contact with the Consul. “I had no intention of insulting your intelligence…”
“I’m not offended at all.” He chuckled. “How about we call this conundrum even, then?”
“Please…”
“Although it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about the arts...” Clotted Cream Cookie pondered. “Has Elder Sablé Cookie mentioned her exhibition to you?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Perhaps I should attend.” He pondered. “The arts is such an important pillar of the Republic, after all~.”
“I’m certain you’ll learn a lot from it.” Slowly, albeit reluctantly, she began letting the spool unwind itself.
“Yes, I’m quite sure. It’s a shame I missed so many in the past.” The Consul lamented. “Luckily, I have some time in the morning before my meeting with Lady Crab Dip Cookie.”
Strawberry Tea Cookie perked up at the name.
“Your meeting with her is on the same day?” An idea sparked in her head at his confirmation. “Would you be willing to deliver a message on my behalf if I met you at the exhibition?”
“Oh, of course.” He smiled. “What for? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Ah…” The designer paused, trailing off as she thought of the best way to explain this without revealing how terrible she was. “I was separated from Crab Dip Cookie before we could exchange contact information, I quite enjoyed our time together and would like to speak with her more.”
The Consul chuckled, a slightly confused look on his face. “I would be glad to, but the post office is always available to deliver it directly to House Crab.”
“It’s… Urgent.”
“My, Lady Crab Dip Cookie must have made quite the impression on you~.” Clotted Cream Cookie mused. “I’m a bit curious about what piqued your interest in her.”
“Well…” Crumbs she shouldn’t have said anything. “...I only intend to stay in the Crème Republic for a few months, I assume her schedule is quite busy so I would like to establish a connection as soon as possible.”
“Of course, I should have considered that.” He smiled. “How about we meet at Elder Sablé Cookie’s art exhibit at its opening and I will pass your message along to Lady Crab Dip Cookie.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Strawberry Tea Cookie gave a curtsy. “Thank you.”
“Consul.” They both turned to see the retainer standing at the balcony entrance, posture straight with a hand resting on her sword, formality and discipline like flour in her dough. “I apologize for interrupting the conversation but Elder Custard Cookie has requested for your departure back to Manor Custard.”
“I understand, thank you Financier Cookie.” He turned back to face Strawberry Tea Cookie. “This is where I unfortunately have to depart, have a wonderful—” Clotted Cream Cookie’s eyes lit up, realizing he forgot something. He reached behind his cloak, fishing for something in his pocket. “I have been meaning to return this to you this entire night, yet it seems I kept getting sidetracked.” In his hand was a familiar looking sketchbook with House Strawberry’s crest embedded into the burgundy velvet. “A crew member found this in the cabinet when they were cleaning out the airship, I believe it’s yours?”
“It… is.” Strawberry Tea Cookie slowly took hold of it. “I didn’t think I would see it again.”
“Well I’m glad we found it,” the Consul smiled. “It would have been a shame if those sketches were lost. That being said, I hope you don’t mind that I skimmed through it.”
Something within the designer skipped a beat, a satisfying tug like she had freed a huge tangle of thread stuck in the bobbin holder.
“...It’s okay,” she reassured. “Thank you for returning this for me.”
“It’s my pleasure~,” he joined Financier Cookie’s side. “Have a wonderful night, Lady Strawberry Tea Cookie.”
“You as well, Consul.”
“Honorifics are unnecessary, you may call me Clotted Cream Cookie.” With that, he departed, trailed by Financier Cookie who echoed the same goodbye to the designer.
Strawberry Tea Cookie stood in her spot, watching as they walked away. She kept staring into that space, before peering down at the sketchbook that had been returned to her.
“It would have been a shame if those sketches were to be lost.”
She opened it, slowly flipping through each scrapped design. Yet instead of overwhelming frustration, her eyes locked onto portions she did find satisfactory, archiving themselves into her mind where they were pieced together into something new— improved. A sudden surge of energy swelled within the designer, similar to that upon landing in the Crème Republic.
She had a long night ahead of her. But this one, she was looking forward to.