"You don't think you'll be able to attend the New Year's party? Suddenly?"
The night before the New Year's party, Mikhail came to Karina and said.
"It's unfortunate, but I think that's the way it has to be."
Mikhail's face turned pale as he said that.
"I feel a little unwell."
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Karina asked with a worried expression.
"It's not that bad, just rest for a bit and I'll get better. Don't worry too much."
He said he was sick, but in fact, it was a fake illness to avoid going to the New Year's festival. His face was made to look more pale and bloodless than usual with magic. His conscience was a little prickly, but he couldn't think of any other excuse to avoid going to the New Year's festival. Mikhail really didn't like this situation where he had to say with his own mouth that he couldn't be with Karina.
'Even if the teacher hadn't attended this New Year's ceremony...'
Mikhail swallowed his bitterness inside. Just in case, he asked Max to confirm, and as expected, he received a definite answer that the Master would attend the New Year's Festival in person.
'If I run into the Master at the banquet hall, I will be dragged to the magic tower on the spot.'
Mikhail had no choice but to give up escorting Karina during the New Year's festival, crying. Mikhail's expression was gloomy.
"Your complexion is so bad?"
Karina lifted her hand and slightly lifted Mikhail's bangs that were covering his face. Then she carefully examined Mikhail's complexion.
"..."
Mikhail was quite satisfied with the sight of Karina looking at him with a worried expression. But at the same time, he felt a sense of emptiness that could not be filled.
"I think it would be a good idea to call a doctor and get a checkup."
The moment Karina turned around to leave, Mikhail grabbed Karina's hand.
"Lady Karina."
"Why? Do you need anything else?"
Mikhail was so happy that Karina's eyes were completely filled with him as she asked him that question. Mikhail swallowed dry saliva, his throat gurgling, and buried his head in Karina's shoulder.
"Ha."
A groan escaped him without realizing it.
"Why of all people..."
Mikhail complained.
'Oh, I really hate it.'
'I wish I could escort Karina instead of the Grand Duke.'
He wanted to watch Karina dress up and attend the banquet.
Mikhail sighed and raised his head again. He had planned to follow her secretly and keep an eye on Karina, but he couldn't stay right next to her.
'Just in case!'
Mikhail said with a very important expression on his face.
"Karina, I will cast a protective spell on you."
"Huh? What kind of protective magic is this all of a sudden?"
Mikhail wiggled his eyebrows at Karina's question.
"You're not asking because you really don't know, are you?"
Mikhail placed Karina's hand on his chest.
"It's because I feel anxious when I can't be by your side. I can't take my eyes off you all the time."
Karina asked with an expression that seemed to know why he said that.
"Oh, is it because I got involved in the hostage situation last time?"
Karina blinked, looking faintly embarrassed. It wasn't Mikhail's fault. Karina didn't want Mikhail to feel guilty or responsible for it.
"It was just an accident. It won't happen again. Who in the capital would dare do something like that?"
It's not something that happens often, and to be honest, it was more surprising that I got caught up in it at that time."
"That's not all."
At Mikhail's answer, Karina looked at him with an expression that said, "What else is there?" However, Mikhail didn't seem to have any intention of answering.
"I really don't think you need to go that far."
Karina was unfamiliar with the concept of protective magic and wondered if there would be any great danger in attending a banquet held in the palace where the Emperor of the Empire resided. So she tried to refuse. However, Mikhail continued speaking in a pretended stern voice.
"Listen carefully. Don't drive people crazy."
"... Yes?"
Mikhail's expression was stiff as if he was slightly angry. Karina was a little taken aback by his reaction, but she soon understood.
'Oh, while I was down because of that, Mikhail was locked up in prison and suffered for nothing.
And then she remembered his words that he was really worried because she didn't wake up. She thought that the shock Mikhail received at that time must have been greater than she thought.
Karina finally nodded her head in agreement. After her permission, Mikhail came closer to Karina. Mikhail's pretty face filled Karina's field of vision. In the darkened room. The moonlight streaming in through the window gathered and illuminated his figure. As Mikhail began to glow softly as if absorbing the moonlight, his soft hair swayed as if the wind was blowing from somewhere. As if by magic, Mikhail's eyes, which were staring straight at Karina, gradually turned red and swayed. Karina was so amazed by this sight that she unconsciously stared into his eyes. When Mikhail blinked, his long, thick eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. His eyelids covered his red eyes that were clearly capturing Karina's figure, then revealed them again.
Immediately after, a sly laugh escaped from Mikhail's teeth. His breath touched Karina. When Karina flinched in surprise at the slight stimulation, Mikhail gently pulled her towards him.
"It's okay, just relax."
"...!"
The tips of Karina's ears turned red at Mikhail's words.
'Oh, did I just stare at you too intently because I thought you were curious?'
Karina closed her eyes tightly in embarrassment. Looking at Karina, Mikhail snickered like a child playing a mischievous prank. The soft light disappeared as if it had been absorbed by Karina. Then, the wind that had been swirling around her soon died down. The magic was over, but Mikhail just stared at Karina with her eyes closed. Today, Karina's red lips looked particularly attractive.
'I want to kiss you.'
A strong desire rose up inside Mikhail. Without realizing it, Mikhail tilted his head slightly and slowly lowered his body as if he was being sucked into Karina.
The moment his lips got close enough to touch Karina's, Karina opened her mouth.
"Mikhail?"
Mikhail came to his senses when his name was called. Karina, who felt the wind had died down, asked in a small voice.
"Is it over now?"
When no answer came, Karina opened her eyes slightly with a puzzled expression.
"...Yes, it's all finished."
Mikhail, who had hit Karina's forehead with his own, smiled, hiding his regret. Karina, surprised by the close distance, took a step back. Then she checked her condition.
"I don't feel like anything has really changed...?"
Karina tilted her head and muttered as she did so. Mikhail smiled softly and said.
"Don't worry, the protection spell has been cast well. This spell will protect Lady Karina once you are in danger."
Karina nodded and said she understood, then asked as if she had just remembered something.
"But if you're sick, is it okay for me to cast a spell like this? Won't it make your condition worse?"
It didn't matter at all because it was just a case of malingering, but Mikhail felt good again seeing Karina worrying about him. That made him want to whine even more for no reason.
"I think I'll get better faster if Karina hugs me."
Mikhail said with a lot of sincerity. Mikhail stood with his arms wide open towards Karina as if asking her to hug him.
"..."
Karina glanced at Mikhail with a suspicious expression.
"Michael. Are you really sick?"
"Yes? That... Of course."
Mikhail immediately pretended to be in pain, feeling that she had been too obvious in her suspicions towards him.
"Oh my, I overused my magic..."
But since it was a fake illness, the gesture felt awkward. Karina narrowed her eyes and lightly pinched Mikhail's cheek.
"Hey, Karina?"
Mikhail called Karina with a puzzled expression.
"I was planning on taking you to this New Year's to help you get acquainted with other nobles who might be able to help you."
Karina didn't hide her glum expression. She even had a strange feeling of being floating.
"Is that so? I just need Karina."
Mikhail smiled brightly as if he would be okay with being pinched. Karina snickered at the sight, let go of Mikhail's cheek, and turned around.
"I'll call a doctor, so get a proper examination and take your medicine properly."
"Yes."
Mikhail answered obediently, wiping his pinched cheek.
'Next time I should ask her to hug me without telling her.'
Of course, his intentions were completely different.
***
It was the first day of the New Year. Before daybreak, the servants of the mansion were busy moving around.
Thanks to this, even though it was the crack of dawn, the inside of the mansion was chaotic and noisy.
"Your Highness, you must rise now."
Jen gently shook Karina awake.
'Oh, I'm sleepy. I want to sleep more.'
Karina sat up, still half-asleep. This New Year's banquet was the first time she had been seen by the people of the capital since becoming the Grand Duchess. Karina had attended New Year's ceremonies in the past as well.
'It was the worst.'
Karina tried to shake off the sleep and recalled the bad memories from that time. Her past self had to endure countless stares and glares from people in that huge and magnificent banquet hall. Some of them wondered if the malicious rumors about the Grand Duchess were true. Others believed the rumors and looked at her with contempt. Others, regardless of whether it was true or not, most of them were interested in it as a mild interest.
'This time it's the same, but different.'
In the past, Karina had suffered from malicious rumors even though she did not want people's attention. But this time, there were no malicious rumors. And Karina would rather use the attention people had for her to her advantage. Karina planned to carry out her plan today when the banquet was at its peak. If that happened, no matter what she did, she would be talked about and chewed out, but she refused to be criticized for her clothes.
In the past, she used to go around as plainly and normally as possible to avoid being noticed. She tried her best not to be caught, but originally, people who were criticized would get cursed at no matter what they wore or did.
'Then this time, I'll decorate it extravagantly so that it can't be ignored, and use it as a means to attract people's attention.'
Karina prepared everything from dresses to accessories in a flashy and expensive way to grab everyone's attention.
"Please don't make it look easy."
Jen nodded at Karina's request.
"If you change your makeup just a little bit, the atmosphere will be completely different. The Grand Duchess already has a noble and dignified expression and gestures!"
Jen answered confidently, saying that she should just trust herself while arranging her makeup products.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment