Chapter 15 Part 4
It seemed today’s concept was a red theme that would leave a strong impression one way or another.
Knock knock.
While I was being busily dressed up, a sudden knock was heard.
The only person who would visit this early in the morning would be Lynn, but… Lynn was currently beside me looking at dresses.
Could it be…
“Hello, Rosiel.”
Fergio, a face I wasn’t particularly happy to see, poked his head through the doorway.
Somehow he’d captured Raphla again, who was fluttering in his hand.
Since I hadn’t particularly used Raphla lately and had been regularly organizing her memories, it wasn’t too bothersome.
“Leave Raphla alone. She doesn’t like you.”
“Hmm, she seems to like me. Have you seen her eating snacks? She pecks at rice grains with that tiny beak. Despite being a demonic beast.”
…Huh, Raphla the demonic beast ate rice? Perhaps she got curious after watching Entrie…
Not feeling that Fergio’s friendly words deserved a response, I quietly closed my eyes in the hands of the maids.
I didn’t know why he had come so early in the morning, but one thing was clear: he wasn’t here to say anything pleasant.
Sure enough, Fergio’s damned mouth opened.
“Rosiel, I hear you’re attending the National Foundation Festival with Feros? Father was quite displeased.”
Since there wasn’t really a partner concept at the National Foundation Festival, saying we were going together wasn’t quite accurate.
Fergio probably meant that he and Mattio didn’t like the idea of Hyle bringing his carriage to Laté to pick me up again.
“You don’t need to dress up so prettily, do you? What if he develops feelings for you?”
Not getting an answer from me, Fergio casually spewed out whatever he wanted to say, as if he didn’t really care.
“That won’t happen.”
As always, since Fergio’s words were consistently devoid of substance, I continued to let them go in one ear and out the other.
Hyle had already seen me dressed up like this several times by now.
He probably wouldn’t even feel any particular excitement anymore.
“After this National Foundation Festival, you’ll have a private meeting with Father. You’d better prepare yourself somewhat.”
I had wondered what he wanted to say, but in the end, he just came to provoke me… what kind of sister complex manifests in such a malicious way?!
“Why should I prepare myself?”
“There’s still no report about the high-ranking demonic beast that was recalled to the demon realm last time. You’re hiding more and more things, aren’t you?”
When I snorted and asked back, Fergio responded simply, as if I should obviously know.
Ah, now that I think about it, was I too preoccupied to report it at that time?
Even if I hadn’t been preoccupied, I wouldn’t have bothered to notify them anyway.
“Don’t make useless assumptions. I simply sent it back because I’ve had no use for a high-ranking demonic beast lately. Operating unnecessary power isn’t efficient.”
After adding that the remaining four were enough, Fergio exhaled with eyes full of disbelief.
“Huh, you’re always good with words. Couldn’t you have reported that earlier?”
“I didn’t see the value in it.”
At my resolute answer, Fergio’s expression briefly took on a strange color.
Soon shaking it off, he nodded his head with a slight smile.
“Well, putting that aside… occasionally use Laté’s carriage too. People might think you’re a member of House Feros.”
Having ridden Feros’s white carriage so often, even I now found Laté’s black carriage unfamiliar.
I hadn’t thought I’d be conditioned this way, but adaptation is such a frightening thing…
Having finished my adornment, I had to prepare to leave immediately.
The time when Hyle would come to pick me up was approaching.
“Have a good time, Rosi.”
Fergio, leaning awkwardly against the wall, waved his hand with a mischievous smile.
But about having a good time…
Perhaps once the official announcement was made today that I had been designated as the Holy Maiden, I might not be able to enter this house anymore.
Being the Holy Maiden clearly meant being a person of the temple, which automatically placed me at odds with House Laté.
This is why I still couldn’t easily accept being designated as the Holy Maiden.
Me, a Laté, as the Holy Maiden!
Although I wanted to live longer by diverging from the original story, I had no desire whatsoever to steal the female protagonist’s buff!
“Sigh…”
Thinking that this might be the last time I walked through the mansion, I suddenly felt like I would miss this dark interior.
Unlike other noble houses’ mansions, which were all bright and luxurious, Laté’s mansion was made of deep primary colors like gold, black, and red, making it both splendid and gloomy.
Perhaps because I had adapted, it wasn’t particularly bad, but I might miss it someday.
Going outside, I immediately spotted Feros’s white carriage approaching the entrance of the mansion.
Two white horses with shimmering, elegant manes stopped their movement soon after letting out a rough breathing sound.
As the carriage door opened, Hyle appeared.
Today, the atmosphere felt somewhat different from usual.
The black uniform he didn’t usually wear, the gray vest, and the dark green cravat underneath suited him perfectly.
Moreover, the slight dark circles under his eyes, as if he had stayed up all night, matched his unusual attire quite well.
Barely resisting the urge to tease him by asking what he ate to look so pretty, I slowly approached him.
“Rosiel, it’s been a while since you’ve worn a red dress.”
“…Have I ever worn something like this before?”
“Before, once at the Imperial ball.”
Hyle, who remembered some day in the past that even I couldn’t recall, raised the corner of his mouth smoothly with a gentle eye smile.
“Your memory is good in strange ways. Useless things…”
“You were impressive. That’s why I had to remember.”
Hyle, with a gentle smile, lifted the back of my hand and skillfully placed a kiss on it.
His gestures toward me seemed to grow more adept with each passing day.
“By any chance, do you meet women other than me?”
“…What? What are you saying all of a sudden?”
Seemingly flustered by the unexpected question, Hyle quickly raised his head while holding my hand.
His green pupils, clearly reflecting his bewilderment, were rippling beautifully.
“No, just wondering. You seem too skilled compared to before. But why are you so flustered? You could have a lover.”
“A lover… that’s impossible. Of course I don’t have one, that’s why I’m like this with you… Wait, do you have one?”
Hmm, somehow… seeing those anxiously trembling eyes makes me not want to answer.
How should I put it, I don’t know the exact reason, but it’s quite pleasing to see…
With my lips tightly pressed against the urge to curve, I withdrew my hand from Hyle’s grasp and boarded the carriage directly without accepting his escort.
“Aren’t you getting in?”
“You… are always like this.”
“It can’t be helped. You should understand.”
At my brazen answer, a faint laugh burst from Hyle.
As he boarded the carriage, the sound of hooves soon began to be heard again.
Perhaps because he was particularly sensitive to me, he remained an interesting man.
After the carriage departed, Hyle’s gaze persistently followed me.
There was something peculiar about his lingering eyes.
When I turned my head sharply, our eyes met as he was looking at me.
He doesn’t even look away… well, does he have something to say?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re beautiful. Red suits you well.”
…Huh? Did I just hear something wrong?
His remark, casually thrown with a composed face as if it were nothing special, was both quite elegant and explicit.
“…Were you always the type to speak so frankly?”
“I learned it from you.”
“You learned something good.”
This kind of blame I don’t mind taking. Mmm, I taught him well.
Familiar scenes passed quickly outside the carriage window.
As I quietly watched him, I found myself biting my lower lip at the thought that I might never see this scene again.
“Hyle.”
When I softly called his name, my cheeks burned under his gaze that readily turned to me.
Without facing him, still looking out the window, I opened my mouth again.
“Can I stay at your place tonight?”
There was no particular intention behind my question.
In truth, I could book a hotel anytime, or even purchase a mansion several times more comfortable than the Laté estate.
Yet somehow, I wanted to ask.
“There’s no reason why not, but is something wrong?”
His ready consent sounded gratifying.
