Nivea Pale Face
"Good morning Father, Mother."
Duke Eduardo was stunned to find his daughter stepping closer to him and his wife at the dining table. "Morning Nivea."
"Good morning, my child.", replied duchess Elvira.
Lifting the front of her pink dress slightly, Nivea carefully plopped herself down on the dining chair.
"Why haven't you left yet, Nivea?"
"I relaxed a bit when I woke up earlier. Opening the shop a little later in the day, it seems... no problem, Mother."
"Yes. Okay! Let's get started on breakfast."
"Why are you so quiet, Dad? Are you... still angry with me?"
The man sitting in the main seat gave his daughter a faint smile, "Never mind Nivea! Let's forget about that for a moment. Eat! If your bakery gets busy, you won't be able to eat on time."
"Hmm. I understand Dad."
Nivea decided to have breakfast with her parents this morning, as a form of apology for last night's incident at the palace. Although in truth, after reflecting on the incident, Nivea still did not feel guilty. She felt that she had done the right thing, although on the other hand she realized that her attitude had hurt the pride of the people present there. And for her it was not a mistake.
The girl was only aware of her disrespectful attitude, without feeling the slightest regret for acting like that. Even though she was the ruler of the country.
As the minutes passed, Nivea and Seri had arrived at the bakery. The morning sun was warm, its rays beginning to pierce the eyes. Nivea began to make new bread dough, to add to the supply of bread already available in her store. And of course the bread is of such good quality that it is still worth selling there.
While Nivea was busy with her dough, she asked Seri to stand guard at the order desk. Because a few minutes ago, after David finished cleaning up the customer desk area, Nivea immediately opened the shop's operations.
"Clara, I'm very thirsty. Could you please get me a bottle of lemonade at the front?"
"Yes, ma'am. Just a moment.", said the girl wearing a kitchen apron. She had been a Nivea worker since the bakery's inception.
Then after getting a bottle of lemonade and a glass for her lady, Clara walked back to Nivea who was standing on the counter stirring her dough.
"Here's your lemonade, miss."
"Put it there! Thank you Clara."
Clara nodded with a genuine smile. Just as quickly as she disappeared, she remembered to bring Nivea a bottle opener. But when she returned with it, she was quite surprised.
"Ah, Miss. Did you drink it?", the girl gawked at Nivea who was reckless enough to chug her lemonade straight from the bottle. And that sentence made Nivea gasp in surprise.
"Ah... That. Hahaha. Sorry if I was rude. I was too lazy to pour it into the glass."
"Hmm... But, I mean... that's not it, miss. How did you open the bottle cap that was still sealed? Didn't the bottle have to be opened using a tool? We don't sell lemonade in bottles with easy-to-twist caps, miss."
Nivea was silent for a moment, swallowing. "Really? I... I don't remember how I opened it either. Yes... I don't remember. Hahaha. Come on Clara, get back to your work!", Nivea ruffled her feathers.
"Yes, ma'am.", Clara's astonished face stuttered in reply.
Two hours later Nivea had entered the front area of her shop carrying a wooden tray containing several sweet buns.
"Arrange these, Seri!", she ordered, handing the tray to Seri. She stood behind the ordering counter, displacing Seri who had been there all along.
While her personal attendant was doing her bidding, Nivea had a customer. The girl was quick to greet and serve.
"Good afternoon Mr. Matias.", as she bowed slightly in honor of her guest.
"Ah, good afternoon Miss... Pretty one."
"What? Hahaha. You're really good at small talk, sir."
"No, it's not just pleasantries, miss. But, I'm telling the truth."
"Really? Alright then. Would you like some bread with chocolate jam inside?"
"Hahaha. You make me laugh, Miss Nivea."
"Yes? What do you mean?"
"You're starting to memorize my favorite bread."
"But, I do know my customers' favorite bread by heart. It's very easy to remember, sir. If a customer comes in, then comes back several times with the same order, doesn't that... mean they like a certain bread?"
"Ah, of course, Miss! You're not wrong. I just... Oh, sorry miss I feel your face is a little pale. Are you unwell?"
"What? Ah, that's right miss! You seem to be sick.", Seri hurriedly approached Nivea when she heard the word pale come out of the man's mouth.
"Ah, but I don't feel sick, Seri."
"But last night you...."
Nivea hurriedly cut off the girl in front of her with her rounded eyes. So Seri did not dare to continue her sentence in front of their guests.
"Sorry, sir. So, which bread would you like?"
"Hmm. One bread with chocolate jam and three breads with berries."
Nivea, who was ready with her tray and claw tool, swiftly followed the man's words and grabbed the breads he mentioned.
"Alright, I'll wrap them up for you."
"I bought them for me and my sister."
"Wow, you are very considerate of Miss Martha."
"Yes. Of course Miss! And you... you'd better get enough rest, Miss. So that you don't get sick."
After a few minutes, the man had walked out of Nivea's shop after paying the price for his bread.
"Miss, you really look pale. Take a look at your face!", as he thrust a mirror into Nivea's hands.
In a few seconds Nivea noticed her face and said, "You're right Seri! I guess I'm just tired."
"But you took a long bath last night, miss.", as she accepted the mirror that Nivea handed back to her.
"Then we should go home now, Seri. Let Clara and David take care of the shop."
Seri nodded, agreeing to her lady's words. The two of them hurried back to the Del Castano family residence.
Upon Nivea's arrival, the mother caught the presence of her daughter who was walking towards her own room. Without Seri trailing behind her. The maid went straight to the kitchen to make a hot drink for her lady.
"Nivea! Wait!", duchess Elvira called out as she got closer.
"Yes, Mother."
She looked at every corner of her daughter's face, "Are you sick, child? I think... you're starting to sweat."
"Ah... I don't seem to be getting enough rest, Mother."
"I'll bring you some blood-boosting medicine. You're so pale, don't you feel dizzy?"
Nivea shook her head, "No mom. It's just... my tongue feels quite bitter."
"Go to your room! I'll catch up. Ah yes, where is Seri?"
"She's in the kitchen making tea for me."
After a few minutes, Nivea had finished the cup of hot tea that Seri had brought to her room. She had also taken the blood-boosting medicine given to her by her mother. It was still very bright outside when Nivea, who was sweating coldly, started to fall asleep.