IELNDMH - Chapter 13 < I'm Better Than That Guy >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
"Your Highness, do you really not know about the 'Gift of the Demon King'?"
I came out on the road to go for a walk at night, feeling sore all over. When I scolded Adrian for not coming out with even a candle, he laughed softly and asked that question.
"A gift from the devil? This is my first time hearing it."
In response to my answer, Adrian turned his gaze towards the flowers spread out in the garden. Dark purple flowers swaying whenever the wind blows.
The sight was as beautiful as the night sea with gentle waves undulating.
"That's the name of that flower. It is a flower from the demon world that does not exist in the human world."
"No wonder... It was amazing to see flowers still blooming in the flower beds even in the cold weather."
"That's not the only thing that's interesting."
Adrian held out his hand to me with a smile on his face.
"Would you like to take a walk through the flower fields with me?"
I held Adrian's politely extended hand and slowly walked out. And by the time we reached the border where the purple flower field began.
"Spread your other hand toward the flower, Your Highness."
"Toward the flower?"
At Adrian's sudden request, I stretched out my hand toward the flower with a puzzled expression. How many steps did I take through the flower field, feeling the soft petals against my palms?
I exhaled admiration at the beautiful sight unfolding before my eyes.
"And... What is this all about...?"
As I walked through the flower fields, everywhere I touched, the flowers began to emit a mysterious purple light.
Under the night sky, the soft light coming from numerous flowers embroidered the darkness. I touched the flowers over and over again, enjoying the mysterious light that came out each time, like a child.
Adrian smiled happily while looking at me.
"The forest of the Demon World is very dark. If you come across this flower when you are lost, you are considered lucky. So the name of this flower is The Devil's Gift."
"I see.... Why didn't anyone tell me until now? Mina and Adrian are both sad."
Adrian looked at me in silence for a while as I was completely distracted by the flowers.
"... Because it is such a beautiful flower, in the demon world, people often look at this flower with their lovers and promise love."
"..."
"So everyone probably thought that Her Highness would naturally know."
Adrian's eyes lowered slightly.
"Anyway, for Her Highness... Because the Grand Duke is here."
Only then did I realize why Adrian was looking at me with such pity in his eyes. This is where it becomes apparent that I didn't receive 'Cedric's love.'
I felt embarrassed and looked into the distance.
"It's okay now that you know. Even though we are not lovers..."
And as soon as I calmed down, I looked at Adrian again and smiled.
"I'm even happier that my loyal butler, Adrian, told me."
At my words, waves of emotion began to ripple in his blue-violet eyes.
"Your Highness, seriously... Are you?"
I nodded with the corners of my mouth raised. Then Adrian smiled slightly and picked a flower next to him.
"Then, since I'm being presumptuous, there's one more thing..."
As he said that, he gently placed a flower in my ear. The moment Adrian's hand, running through my hair, lightly brushed the shell of my ear.
"In the demon world, this flower is placed in the ear of a lover."
"..."
"Because they can see their lovely lover's face more clearly."
Adrian stepped back slightly, looked down at my face, and gently rolled his eyes.
"The people of the Demon World have a secretly romantic side."
When I spoke bluntly, feeling somewhat embarrassed, Adrian let out a small laugh.
"Haha, that's right."
It was a time when I, too, slowly raised the corners of my mouth while looking at his pleasant smile.
Bang!
The sound of a window closing could be heard quietly through the silence.
'Is anyone still awake at this hour?'
The place where the sound came from seemed to be the Mansion of Light.
I quickly turned my head, but all I could see there was still silence.
***
The next day, the anti-aircraft vision dressing room.
As the decorations were being completed, the corners of my mouth kept twitching, so I lowered my head and smiled secretly.
'I can't believe I can meet Bianca soon..!'
Bianca is the Princess of the Twins Grand Duchy and Cedric's youngest sister. Of course, I had to win Bianca's favor to survive. But even if it wasn't for that reason, I probably wanted to impress Bianca, because..
'No matter how cute our Bianca is, you are so cute!'
She's cute!
Bianca was my favorite character after Cedric. Bianca, who showed her affection by chasing after Lobelia, was truly the pinnacle of loveliness.
She said that the most attractive thing about that child was the white and plump cheeks. When Lobelia touched her blooming cheeks, Bianca felt happy, as if she had the whole world to herself.
'In the original, after Rebecca left, she came back here and I thought I'd never see her again, but...'
That was when her facial muscles began to shake uncontrollably due to her happiness.
"Rain, Rain..."
The maids' faces turned pale as if they had seen ghosts. Because of her harsh impression, her expression seemed to have become even more menacing than I had intended.
'I guess my impression is a bit harsh. Bianca might be surprised when she sees it, so let's restrain ourselves.'
However, contrary to her promise, the clown continued to ascend to the sky, not knowing how high it was.
'Bianca in the novel is nine years old.'
She's just before the original story begins, so it's about... Eight years old?!
'She was that cute at nine, and I can't believe she's eight!'
Do you want your cheeks to stick out more?
Ha, I'm really going crazy....
The corners of my mouth began to twitch without stopping.
I quickly lowered my head, barely covering my mouth. At that moment, the hem of Mina's trembling skirt came into view.
When I slowly raised my head, Mina was also looking at me with her terrified face.
"Your Highness... Are you displeased with attending Princess Bianca's welcome ceremony? Right?"
Mina raised the corners of her mouth and her tone of voice rose to an awkward level.
"Ha, indeed! Even I would feel really bad if my in-laws came back as if they had been waiting for me as soon as I left the mansion!"
"..."
"Never! Just like that! It's not because His Highness has a bad temper or is mean, yeah...."
It may seem like she's subtly swearing, but she even has her own desperate way of empathizing. Mina and all the employees seemed to think I was angry about Bianca's return.
The muscles on my face that were twitching uncontrollably in pleasure seemed to have added fuel to their illusion.
'But. No wonder everyone thinks that way!'
In the original, Rebecca hated Bianca very much. That meant that it was obvious that Bianca was now afraid of me. So she might not even be able to speak properly, let alone see Bianca's cute smile....
"Nonsense... I don't like that..."
As I cried out, Mina also started crying and stuck out her lower lip. Then, a subtle determination soon appeared in Mina's eyes.
"Her Highness the Grand Duchess, don't worry! I will definitely deliver it to the Mansion of Light right now!"
"What are you conveying?"
"Princess Bianca is still young, so she might make mistakes!"
Mina pursed her lips and nodded her head vigorously as if she had Made up her mind.
"If at all possible... The Princess says she will never go near Her Highness! I won't let her come!"
"What.....?"
"This isn't going to work. I'll go to the Mansion of Light users right now and get down on my knees and ask for a clear favor....!"
"No! No way!"
Mina's eyes widened as I jumped up and shouted at her.
'Ha, Mina... I can't help but ask you to come near me. Why are you doing this?'
I held both of Mina's hands, barely calming her startled mind.
"Mina, listen carefully. I plan to get along well with Princess Bianca from now on."
".... Yes?"
Mina quietly let out a laugh, her face saying,
'I heard wrong?'
"I am thinking of trying to repair my relationship with Princess Bianca. So, please don't do anything to disturb me. Okay?"
"Oh? Yes...."
Mina still had an uncertain expression. And it was the same for the maids around her. It seems like everyone still doesn't trust me, but we'll see.
"I have to go first."
After checking the time, I got up with a gasp.
"Mina, you go to Adrian right now, and when the thing I asked for is ready, ask him to bring it to the Mansion of Light right away."
***
It was almost time for Bianca to arrive. I hurried My steps until i reached the Mansion of Light.
A group of high-ranking servants could be seen lined up horizontally in front of the front door. And the image of Cedric talking with his aide in front of them.
Come to think of it...
'It's been a very long time.'
Cedric was still the same as he was last seen. The body lines match the suit well, the slow attitude, and even the overwhelming atmosphere that create a subtle tension.
When I saw him like that, I suddenly remembered Cedric's fascinating eyes looking at me from the path.
'Now...... Are you going to let me go?:
It was a time when I stopped without realizing it.
"Rebecca, you're here."
Cedric noticed me and gave me a slight wink as if telling me to stand next to him. As I gradually got closer to where Cedric was standing, the servants standing behind him lowered their heads with fearful faces.
"Cedric, how are you?"
"... Thanks to you. You seem to be doing well too."
I naturally approached Cedric. Soon, Adrian, who followed me, placed the gifts he brought in front of me and Cedric. It was a huge wreath with flowers arranged in the shape of Princess Bianca's Initials, which I had specially ordered from Adrian the other day.
"I thought the place to welcome Princess Bianca would be too empty. I asked Adrian to make a separate wreath."
At my words, everyone present looked at the wreath and then at me. It was surprising that not only did I attend Bianca's welcome ceremony, but I even prepared a welcome wreath. But strangely enough, Cedric's eyes kept turning towards Adrian.
Even as Adrian walked towards the group of workers, Cedric just continued to stare at him.
'Hmm, it seems like Cedric is coveting my talented butler... Should I brag about him now?'
I turned my head slightly toward Adrian and spoke again.
"Our Adrian is good at it. You can trust me and leave it to me because I know your tastes well."
".. Our Adrian?"
When I turned around again at the sudden attractive low sound, I immediately made eye contact with Cedric. Eyes so fierce that they feel sensual. It was the moment when that unique gaze fell even more heavily on my face
"..."
"...?"
"You don't like lilies."
Cedric's lips slowly opened again
"I'm afraid I know you better your' Adrian."
Someone’s jealous
ReplyDelete