#13.
To Archie,
I wrote an extremely long letter and then crumpled it up.
When I read it again, it was too verbose.
With an embarrassed heart, I’ll try to convey it again, but briefly.
Yesterday, a famous antique book collector named Mark Laughlin came to our house to buy the gold book you gave me.
After a brief conversation and lunch, he drove me back home. The atmosphere was quite nice when we took a walk near my house.
In the afternoon, I went to Portobello to receive a manuscript from author Anne Selin and then met Liam again. Liam immediately subdued Garrett, an annoying colleague from the publishing company who was following me. I used to think he was just a handsome fairy, but seeing him like that made me feel differently. Liam also escorted me to my house.
What do you think? Suddenly, so many things are happening!
On a fluttering, pale green moon night. Cordelia.
* * *
To the flirty Cordelia,
So who is your choice? Mark or Liam?
-Archie
* * *
To Windsor’s biggest scoundrel, Archie,
It’s an honor to be called ‘flirty’ by someone like you. Although I haven’t mentioned it, author Anne Selin has also elaborately described your womanizing ways in her setting book.
Peace-loving, bookworm prince, actually, your best skill is seducing women, right?
Daphne, Penelope, Julie, Jane, Eloise…
I know at least a dozen names of women you made cry.
I’m confused about which one was your true love.
So, Archie, as an expert, what are your thoughts on the two men? Maybe neither of them likes me, and I’m just excited by myself.
P.S.: I just had a brief phone call with a friend named Juliet. When I talked about Liam and Mark, she asked, ‘Did you?’ You are more mature than Juliet, although not by much.
6.12. Early morning. Not a flirt, Cordelia.
* * *
To the foolish Miss Cordelia Grey.
I never thought I’d call you ‘foolish’.
Of course, they both like you.
-Expert Archie
* * *
To the great rake, Archie,
How do you know?
-Innocent Cordelia.
* * *
To the quite pretty Cordelia,
Who wouldn’t like you? My talkative pen pal.
You are quite a fun conversational partner, and (as you say yourself) you’re pretty too.
If you were in front of me, I would also line up behind Mark or Liam.
Moreover, both men came to your doorstep. Even if they don’t seriously like you, they clearly have some feelings for you.
P.S.: I can’t help but ask too. So, did you?
* * *
Lowly Archie.
You and Juliet are just the same. To answer your crude question, unfortunately, I am not the type of woman who sleeps with a man she meets for the first time. I think too much for that.
-Cordelia.
* * *
Cordelia.
Sleep? What are you talking about?
I meant… did you kiss?
Archie.
* * *
Archie,
Oh, a kiss?
* * *
My irreverent friend, Coco
This is getting interesting.
Yes, a kiss.
Hurry and tell me. I waited eagerly for two hours and you sent me a mere five-line letter.
What are you hiding from me?
* * *
Archie,
Yes, a kiss. A kiss, indeed.
Mark actually tried to give me a hasty kiss in front of my house. It was still before sunset, and we had just met a few hours ago for lunch, so I was a bit flustered and quickly pulled away. I even screamed, so he might not contact me again.
Liam, like Mark, escorted me to my house, but he didn’t even touch me. I thought at least holding hands would have been okay.
-A rather embarrassed Cordelia.
P.S.: In the character setting book I read, Archie was a character who seduced noble girls or the daughters of small lords and ‘did it’ countless times in gardens and their chambers… Was all that ‘doing’ just kissing?
P.S.: Windsor Kingdom is, of course, a conservative country where ‘doing it’ before marriage is forbidden, right? Or is the prince teasing me?
* * *
Vulgar Cordelia.
Yes, I am teasing you.
-Archie.
* * *
Annoying Archie Albert William.
Do you enjoy teasing me?
-Cordelia.
P.S.: So you really didn’t sleep with her? Not even with Daphne? You two seemed quite passionate.
* * *
My dear Coco,
Of course. Teasing you is my greatest delight these days. By the way, Mark’s kiss was a bit hasty. My preference is Liam. Although not holding hands is a bit cowardly, I prefer taking things slow.
P.S.: What on earth is this character setting book you have? Your question is too crude for me to answer. Lady Daphne Bennett’s honor is at stake.
The guardian of all ladies’ honor and lips, Archie.
* * *
To the holy Prince Archie,
Here, ‘holy’ refers to saintly, not sex. So you kissed Daphne so much that your lips were chapped, enough to become the guardian of lips? I never realized how pure you were, Prince. And what about Mark and Liam’s honor, huh!
By the way, Archie, don’t you sleep?
If tonight is another sleepless night for you, would you like me to lend you another book, instead of a poetry collection?
I’ll send it without waiting for your response. Both books are by the same author who wrote *Macbeth*, which I lent you last time: Shakespeare.
In fact, one is Mark’s favorite book, and the other is Liam’s favorite book. I’m curious which one the Prince will like more.
6.12. Midnight, your book recommender, Cordelia.
* * *
To my lovely book supplier, Cordelia,
Why would I refuse? Bring it on.
I was just thinking of re-reading Sherlock Holmes.
*Wuthering Heights* was borrowed by Cecil. I was worried that such a book of wild love poetry might only fuel Cecil’s already brutal nature, so I was re-reading Sherlock Holmes instead.
Maybe it will help with the search for Princess Edwina’s son, which starts next week.
-The twelfth night of the pale green moon, expecting an all-nighter, Archie.
P.S.: What do I care about the honor of Mark and Liam? A man’s honor exists to be sacrificed to the gossip of women.
* * *
To cruel Cordelia,
I will build a willow hut beside your door.
And I will sing your name across every echoing hill.
The murmuring air will cry out, ‘Cordelia.’
Oh, you will find no rest.
…How was that? I tried quoting *Twelfth Night*. If we could talk face-to-face instead of through letters, you would realize that I am a talented actor before being a great prince.
This book is incredibly fun. I like it ten times more than *King Lear*.
Come on, hand over another book before I shout so loudly that Arly Castle shakes.
P.S.: Writing with the pen you gave me makes me ramble on even more in my letters. Is that a good thing? Anyway, I now understand how you manage to write your letters so fluently as if you were speaking.
———= Postscript =———
To those who read,
This is what I call excerpt fraud…
Yes, that short excerpt was actually among these long exchanges.
Once again, I failed at balancing the length, so the next part will be longer than this one.
If you enjoyed reading, please click the recommendation button!
<– Daddy Long Legs –>
(Continuous series 3/9)
Leave a Reply