Chapter 8 Part 3

Thinking that we’d figure something out when we met tomorrow, I was turning away indifferently.

Suddenly, a strong force gripped my wrist irresistibly.

“Calling me a child when you’re the one rushing in without thinking… That’s rude.”

Thanks to my captured wrist, my body naturally turned back toward Hyle.

Surprised by his unexpected rough action, I looked up to see his deepened green eyes fixed on me with an intense light.

Hyle slowly and gently moved his hand that was gripping my wrist upward.

As a result, my hand was instantly completely enclosed in his large one.

“This should be enough that no one would doubt us.”

“…Yes… I suppose…”

His breath, felt from up close, was intensely stimulating.

The subtle atmosphere that had permeated the heavily mixed air seemed to rush at me fiercely, as if to choke me at any moment.

The sound of a heartbeat in my ears was as loud as thunder.

I wasn’t sure whose it was, but it was beating so frantically that I thought the owner might die of cardiac arrest.

“…This is enough.”

I was the one who first detached my body from his.

Of course, practicing skinship was just a lie; I had only intended to tease him a bit.

My mistake was thinking it would be fun to tease Hyle because he had no experience with women.

His unusually relaxed attire had triggered my playfulness, but somehow I felt a lingering sense of defeat, as if I were the one who’d been had.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, ‘wife.'”

As if putting an end to this childish battle of nerves, he emphasized the word “wife” and turned around calmly.

Well… so that’s how he wants to play it?

“Goodbye, husband. I’ll miss you.”

As I played along with a slight smile, Hyle’s retreating steps came to an abrupt halt.

I noticed his shoulders trembling slightly, as if laughter had erupted.

Hmm… I didn’t particularly match his rhythm to make him laugh, but… well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.

* * *

“Um… my lady, do you really have to dress like this…?”

“Why? It’s cumbersome and childish—exactly what I wanted.”

The next morning, I asked Lynn to prepare a special outfit for my outing early on. The concept: ‘A Bride in Love’!

…But with my identity thoroughly protected by covering my face, while not looking suspicious.

After hearing my request and recoiling at what bizarre concept this was, Lynn eventually met my determined gaze and began preparing me with a deep sigh.

My completed outfit turned out quite satisfactory.

The coordination concealed my face and figure completely without seeming suspicious at all—no one would think I was Rosiel Laté.

The bright brown hat with a large white ribbon had a long brim and deep crown, naturally half-concealing my face.

Along with it, the neat white lace dress that completely covered my neck and shoulders featured impressive pink ribbons attached to the puffed sleeves.

Above all, the bell-line dress that young ladies apparently favored perfectly covered my characteristically thin frame.

However, since I had to look like a commoner, the overall quality of the fabric was far inferior to what I usually wore.

I’d thought the poor material would be uncomfortable, but it was actually quite comfortable and decent. Of course, the appearance wasn’t to my taste at all and I hated looking at it.

“It’s not that it looks strange, but it’s completely… the opposite of your usual style, my lady. Though you look perfect in anything, of course.”

“The opposite? That’s a success.”

“And it’s a bit sad not to see your beautiful pink hair. That’s your trademark, after all.”

Of course, my pink hair was well hidden inside the hat.

While pink hair wasn’t rare in the Empire, the Laté family’s pink had a distinctive shade that could be recognized immediately with just a bit of attention.

It was closer to a vivid scarlet pink than ordinary pink, which made showing my hair risky.

Temple priests had unnecessarily keen eyes, so I couldn’t afford to give them any reason for suspicion.

At the very least, I couldn’t reveal my identity to anyone before reaching the cathedral where the Cardinal would be.

If I were discovered… Hyle would be the problem, not just me.

If it was discovered that he was acting alongside me, a Laté, the position of Hyle, the Young Marquis of Feros, would become extremely awkward.

Even I would have no recourse then. I couldn’t exactly summon Caligo to the temple to erase their memories.

Of course, I could technically do it… but using such powerful magic would likely cause a magical backlash that could kill me on the spot.

“Shall we get going? If we want to avoid those two humans, we should move now.”

The ‘two humans’ I was concerned about were, naturally, the Laté bloodlines.

Showing myself in this ridiculous outfit to Fergio or Mattio was absolutely out of the question.

If they saw me like this… I’d bite someone’s tongue off. Not mine—the tongue of whoever saw me.

“Yes, they should both be in their offices or rooms at this hour, so it should be fine.”

Fortunately, it was rare for the two men to wander around the mansion this early in the morning. But… life is always full of unexpected events, so I couldn’t let my guard down.

Well, even so, nothing major should happen.

“The carriage is ready. If you go down now, it will depart immediately.”

Just as Lynn opened the door with a simple guide…

“…Huh?”

SLAM!

The wide-open door closed again with a dull sound along with Lynn’s strange groan.

“What’s wrong? Why did you do that?”

Not noticing Lynn’s wildly trembling pupils, I grabbed the doorknob again, but Lynn hurriedly placed her hand over mine and quickly shook her head.

“Ah, m-my lady, out-outside…”

“Outside? What, did a wall collapse?”

“N-no, that’s not it… out-outside… there’s…!”

While I stared perplexedly at Lynn who was stuttering incomprehensibly, suddenly the doorknob whirled.

Huh? I hadn’t opened the door yet… Wait, that means someone is outside right now…?

“Rosi, you’re being noisy this morning. Where are you going…”

It all happened in an instant.

My ridiculous image in a voluminous lace dress with a big-ribboned hat was vividly captured in Fergio’s red pupils.

“…wearing such a cute outfit?”

I had deliberately gotten up early and prepared early to avoid encountering him because I absolutely didn’t want to… but who would have thought he’d personally come looking for me?

I never expected my dignity to be shredded so easily…

“Get out…”

“Hm? I can’t hear you, Rosi. Is our princess going on a date? So early in the morning, with whom?”

A faint voice escaped through my slightly parted lips as I clung to my last shred of sanity.

Regardless, Fergio circled around me with a cheerful voice, his eyes creased into half-moons.

“Get out right now!”

I aimed precisely at his shin, kicked him, and quickly left the room.

At this point, I needed to dash to the carriage faster than anyone!

Since I already ran into Fergio, surely I wouldn’t run into Mattio too? He would definitely laugh his head off!

“You look dreadful. You’re not planning to go out like that, are you?”

But as soon as I turned the corner at the end of the corridor, I froze upon encountering Mattio, as if he had been waiting for me.

How can I have such bad luck first thing in the morning?

Is something catastrophic about to happen today? Otherwise, such impossible misfortunes couldn’t happen to me in succession…

I was reflected in Mattio’s dark red pupils, completely frozen.

Standing before him, self-loathing I didn’t know I had welled up inside me.

“…You’re up early today.”

“My eyes opened.”

After being told I looked dreadful, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away normally.

This was the first time in my life I’d ever heard such words.

I’d grown tired of constantly being called a fashion trendsetter who led the social scene’s trends…