Chapter 8 Part 2
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“Lady Laté, it’s been a while! Thank you for inviting me!”
My meeting with Lady Artine took place in a greenhouse garden in the center of the capital.
She was a striking woman with chocolate-brown hair and deep blue eyes.
“It’s good to see you, Lady Artine.”
“Please, call me Celi. I’d be more comfortable if you addressed me casually.”
Celi’s eye smile accompanying her clear expression was radiantly bright.
She approached me warmly, as if she’d completely forgotten the humiliation I’d once inflicted on her.
“To think I’m having tea alone with Lady Laté! It feels like a dream. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with you like this.”
Celi chattered about this and that throughout our tea, but it wasn’t particularly noisy or bothersome.
It was a moment that slightly cracked my preconception that noble ladies’ tea parties were a waste of time.
“You wanted to talk with me? That’s unexpected.”
“Not just me—every noble lady dreams of this at least once. After all, you’re someone everyone admires.”
I was vaguely aware that people’s gazes toward me had softened compared to before my regression.
This made sense, considering that since my regression, I’d been so focused on fixing my heart that I hadn’t committed any notable evil deeds. Instead, I’d been deeply entangled with the most sought-after men in the Empire, naturally drawing women’s attention.
Whether that attention was jealousy or admiration was another matter.
“I appreciate you thinking that way. At parties, no one approaches me, so I thought I might be disliked.”
When I continued with a faint smile and playful tone, Celi’s eyes widened for a moment. Then she hesitantly opened her mouth with care.
“Well… His Highness the Crown Prince or the Young Marquis Feros are always by your side, Lady Laté. That makes it difficult to approach you.”
I had expected it, but… those two men truly seemed to be the culprits strangling my social life. No wonder I had no friends.
“If I got rid of those two, would I make friends?”
Of course, that wasn’t possible. It was just a casual joke, but… Celi’s expression suddenly grew cold.
No, perhaps “blanched” would be a better description? Either way, she was clearly flustered.
“I-I mean, no one could ever presume to replace His Highness or Young Marquis Feros! But I can be your friend! If that’s all right with you…”
“That would be nice. I already have some business acquaintance with Marquis Artine, so it might be good for us to meet occasionally.”
“Oh! Father would certainly be pleased. It’s well-known that any business you touch becomes wildly successful!”
“Then next time…”
Though our conversation was mostly insubstantial, it wasn’t an unpleasant time.
As our brief tea party ended and we were about to leave, Celi approached me again.
“Lady Laté, if it’s all right with you, would you meet with my friend next time? I haven’t known her long either, but she’s very kind and pretty. Somehow, I think you two would get along well.”
…Is this what people call a friend blind date? I had thought I didn’t particularly need to make friends.
But it might not be so bad to occasionally come out for fresh air like this instead of being cooped up at home every day.
Whatever my true feelings, having more acquaintances wouldn’t hurt.
And someday, when my heart was fully healed, I might be able to mingle with peers like other ordinary noble ladies…
“All right. If she’s your friend, she must be a good person.”
“You’re truly kind, Lady Laté. Honestly, I used to think you were quite frightening… but I suppose that was my misunderstanding. I’ll write to you, so please be sure to reply, all right?”
When I nodded lightly, Celi smiled happily, said she’d see me again, and departed.
Speaking of being called “kind,” didn’t Tia say the same thing? I don’t think I’ve been particularly caring, yet strangely, I hear it often.
After the tea party ended, the greenhouse garden was utterly quiet.
Since I had rented the entire garden for this brief meeting, there was no one else around.
It was a moment of solitude that I hadn’t had in a long time.
Perhaps I should take a short walk before leaving? Tomorrow would be incredibly busy, so it might be good to clear my head in advance.
Rustle
While quietly walking through the garden, a strange sound suddenly reached my ears.
I was certain no one else was supposed to be here, so the noise made me uneasy.
Could it be the greenhouse caretaker? But the sound seemed too loud for that.
When I turned my head toward the rustling sound, there was…
“Hyle?”
“…Rosiel? What are you doing here?”
Hyle was standing there, looking at an herb garden in one corner, dressed more casually than usual.
In a pristine white cravat and neat dark brown pants, he appeared more approachable than when he wore his uniform.
Both equally surprised by each other’s appearance, we stood facing each other silently for a few seconds.
Surely Hyle hadn’t followed me here to monitor my movements because he found them suspicious… Was this a coincidence?
Actually, even if he had come to monitor me, I wasn’t in a position to complain…
“I reserved this place for today. I have every reason to be here.”
I was the first to speak, having concluded that this encounter was purely coincidental.
My reflection was clearly visible in Hyle’s straightforward green eyes beneath his black hair.
“…It seems I’ve crossed the greenhouse boundary. This is the herb garden managed by the Feros. Since these flowers can only bloom with holy power, I come here occasionally as the person in charge.”
Following Hyle’s brief explanation, I shifted my gaze to see numerous red flower buds lushly blooming, awaiting full blossom.
“Only blooming with holy power… Does that mean all those flowers grow by consuming your holy power?”
“That’s right. As you can see, I nurture many flowers besides you. Of course, among them, Rosiel, you’re the most greedy flower.”
Hyle subtly mentioned me with an understated tone. But who is he calling greedy?
We made a contract for our respective purposes, so it’s only natural that I take his holy power!
“You’re my only lifeline, so of course I’m greedy.”
“…I think it would be better to call me your benefactor. Isn’t ‘lifeline’ a bit too blatant?”
Though he spoke with somewhat troubled eyes, the corners of his mouth were gently curved.
He seemed to have already anticipated that I wouldn’t listen to his opinion.
“It’s not wrong, so what does it matter? Besides, do you have time to be doing this? Tomorrow we’re meeting the Cardinal.”
“Weren’t the preparations already finished? What more do you want?”
“What else—”
I abruptly cut off my words and approached him with a slight smile, taking one step closer.
As I narrowed the distance further, Hyle’s gaze froze in place as he finally realized my intention.
“What… what are you doing?”
“If you freeze up just because I got closer, what are we going to do? Try to get used to it.”
“Of course I’d be surprised when you suddenly…”
Seeing Hyle completely frozen, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Sigh… He’s such an awkward person, contrary to his appearance.
We haven’t even done anything yet, and he’s already so stiff! Anyone would find this suspicious!
“We’ve done more than this before, so why act new now?”
“More…? Ugh, that was different. I was trying to save you…!”
Perhaps due to his confusion, Hyle’s mouth moved faster than usual.
He spoke so quickly that I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying… but it didn’t seem important enough to listen carefully.
Regardless of what he was saying, I linked my arm with his.
Sure enough, Hyle stiffened once more with a start.
Seriously, what’s wrong with him? He had no problem initiating a kiss before!
Of course, that was a different situation, but when faced with such urgent circumstances, most people would find an appropriate solution, not just kiss without thinking!
“For a newlywed couple, this kind of skinship is nothing. If you tremble every time I touch you, who’s going to believe we’re a couple?”
“…Haa, there’s no need to embrace like this. Just holding hands normally would…”
To equate linking arms with embracing… This man would clearly be in big trouble if I got any closer.
“You’re acting like a child. Well… I don’t mind. Do as you please, then.”
Having lost interest, I quickly moved away from him.
