Do you really think I'd seduce you wearing something like that?
I cleared my throat loudly and began to make a serious excuse.
“There were unavoidable circumstances.”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell me.”
"I got it as a freebie when I bought clothes, but the maid must have thought I was embarrassed, so she snuck it in and gave it to me. I clearly told her I didn't need it."
I emphasized the word 'no need'.
“Yeah. Are you going to wear this on your honeymoon?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself...”
“Then I’ll buy you something prettier, something that suits my taste.”
It was a languid, breathy voice. How on earth did he manage to produce such a sensual voice? I forced myself to keep my expression in check. He neatly folded the slip and placed it on the dresser, then sat down naturally on the edge of the bed.
“Did you practice your prom dance well?”
“I learn quickly. I just have to watch it a few times to get the hang of it.”
"I know, smart one. Don't dance with other men. That's not what I taught you."
Noah narrowed his eyes with a serious expression, as if warning.
I think it means I should dance only with him, but this man is so elusive that I keep my mouth shut and stare at him. His stiff expression relaxes into a languid expression as he waits for my answer.
Her mysterious blue eyes were like a calm afternoon sea. It's said that when you look at the sea, you feel like jumping in without even realizing it. I barely managed to avoid drowning, tearing my gaze away and turning my head.
“Yes, I will go out with a girl.”
“Nothing works. The same goes for women.”
“Then who will I dance with?”
Even though I knew it was obvious, I asked again. Noah put his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.
“Oh my goodness, asking such an obvious question.”
“Who? I really don’t know.”
I, too, pretended not to know, even though I knew it, just like Noah did. It's a method he uses to get the answer he wants to hear.
“You’ll find out when you go to the ball tomorrow.”
But it didn't work on him, a high-level player. He slipped away smoothly and leisurely, like a flexible cat.
“I’ll read you a fairy tale from the newspaper. You like reading books, don’t you?”
"Yes. But what would you like me to read? You didn't bring a newspaper."
“It’s here.”
Noah pointed to his head with his fingertips. He sat down next to me on the bed and began reciting the story in a read-aloud tone. Surprisingly, he seemed to have memorized every single word.
The story was roughly about a black shepherd protecting a girl from a ferocious wolf. After reciting two or three of them, Noah asked me what she had done that day and what dress I had bought. He then looked at his watch and slowly got up.
“Go to bed early. You shouldn’t stay up late reading dirty books.”
“I didn’t bring it.”
"Then I'll buy you a new one, just the way you like it. Good night."
Noah gently closed the door and waved his hand through the gap. As he looked at the closed door, a sudden wave of regret washed over him. He should have said no to dirty books. Noah might have bought enough to fill the entire bookshelf.
“It’s unusual.”
I chuckled as I thought of him, then realized a shift in me I hadn't noticed before. I didn't mind him coming to visit and talk to me every day. In fact, I looked forward to him, and when he left, I felt sad.
“This won’t do.”
He's the only person I interact with in this unfamiliar world, so it can't be helped. He's been so kind to me, having just landed empty-handed, that I can't help but rely on him, regardless of his intentions.
I'm human, too, and I have my own unique loneliness. So he's not special to me.
I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, giving myself a self-hypnosis.
It's not special. It's peculiar.
“Miss Parsene, wake up!”
Who is Parsene?
Ah, my new name was Diana Parsene. Perhaps because of the ball being held at the royal palace, a maid woke me up early in the morning. The culprit who had brought me that lewd slip was the maid named Rosie. I looked at her with a disapproving look and sat up.
“Please call me by my name from now on. And the ball is in the evening, right?”
“I have to do my hair, try on a dress, and put on makeup, right?”
This isn't even a wedding photoshoot. The noble ladies here live a hard life, marching every ball day. Rosie had already filled the bathroom bathtub with water and filled it with dried rose petals.
"You said you like bathing alone? You're shy and don't like showing your naked body to others."
This was the first time I'd heard that either. Rosie grinned at my questioning gaze and left the bathroom. Molly had already seen my entire body, so I couldn't figure out where she'd said it. It seemed like Noah, who was jealous of women, had relayed it to me, so I agreed. Apparently, he wasn't jealous of Molly.
Rosie dried my hair after I washed it and quickly began helping me with my hair. Since I only applied makeup to my lips and my hair was short, it didn't take long to do it.
Finally, the hellish dress fitting time arrived. The idea was to try on about seven dresses, and more maids, including Rosie, joined in. I couldn't hide my despair, wearing a corset over my winter underwear.
Time flew by, and I didn't even have much to eat for breakfast or lunch. If I ate the regular portions, I felt like I'd vomit back up because of the tight corset.
After a grueling try-on, the maids unanimously agreed upon a dress: an Art Nouveau dress in dark gray fabric decorated with white lace and ruffles. The dress was tightly cinched at the waist and hips, with a skirt that flared out slightly, leaving me feeling a bit suffocated. I finally finished dressing after putting on shoes and a hat of a similar design.
“It’s pretty. I’m sure the master will like it.”
“Is that so?”
I'm not sure, because he reacts the same way whether I dress up or not. He just smiles as usual and offers a few polite compliments like, "You're pretty," or "You look good together." These are all pretty meaningless, since he says it even in my pajamas.
As I finished my preparations and left the room, Noah, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looked up at me silently.
“You're pretty.”
Noah continued to praise me concisely. He was wearing an overcoat over his black dress uniform, complete with epaulettes, badge straps, rank insignia, and medals. It struck me anew how impressive the uniforms here were.
A well-proportioned man with good body proportions looks even more sophisticated and elegant in this outfit. Suits are nice, but I prefer uniforms, so this is a real feast for the eyes.
“Noah is pretty, too.”
“Am I pretty?”
"Yes."
I took this opportunity to observe Noah intently. His bangs were naturally swept back, revealing his handsome forehead and eyebrows.
“You’ve slicked back your bangs. You look different.”
“Are you in love?”
"Yes."
I answered nonchalantly, but my gaze briefly swept over the chiseled jawline of the handsome man looking down at me. Then, feigning indifference, I boarded the car, escorted by Noah, heading to the capital.
We boarded a chauffeured car and drove for about an hour to Effenberg, the capital of Frogen. The Imperial Palace, visible from the spacious square, was incredibly luxurious and ornate, reminiscent of the Winter Palaces I'd seen in my own world.
Built in the Rococo style, the palace's emerald exterior is adorned with gold, with even the roof and statues painted in gold. The artist appears to have modeled the work after a real-life palace.
Luxurious carriages and classic cars lined the square, competing with each other. Coachmen and drivers busily dropped off women.
Perhaps because the open river lay right before us, the strong north wind blew hard, piercing through my bones. Escorted by Noah, I got out of the car, pulling my sable coat tightly around me.
The driver got out of the driver's seat and bowed to us. It was quite a distance to the palace entrance, so I walked with my lips trembling, clinging to Noah.
“It’s really cold here. Aren’t you cold?”
At my question, Noah stopped walking and quickly picked me up in his arms.
“I’m cold too.”
“Why is this happening?”
“It’s warm because I'm holding a fur ball. Let’s go quickly, Princess.”
He started running while holding me.
The nobles, who had been walking with proud faces, pretending not to be cold, immediately focused their gazes on us. The sight of a high-ranking official and a powerful Duke running across the square with a woman in his arms was almost comical, but Noah seemed unfazed.
“No, you have social standing! You have to maintain your dignity!”
“My superior, the Princess, says she’s cold. How can that be?”
He seemed quite absorbed in his Princess role. Perhaps it was his long legs or his speed, but he arrived at the palace entrance in the blink of an eye. Noah tried to run straight to the ballroom, and only after whining to be let down was I able to stand fully on my own two legs.
“Just a moment. Please bow your head.”
At my words, Noah bowed down, and I reached out and straightened his messy hair.
“Your hair is a mess.”
"Thank you."
Noah raised his head and smiled with his eyes. His eyes, normally upturned, curved downward when he smiled, giving him a gentle look.
It was amazing how he ran so fast without even gasping for breath. Linking my arm with Noah's strong one, I walked through the arched hallway toward the ballroom.
The spacious and ornate ballroom was already crowded with people. A stringed instrument band played music, and the nobles chatted, or pairs of men and women danced.
As I walked in with Noah, countless people's eyes were fixed on me, almost tingling. It was a burden. I hate crowds. For a handsome man, rarely seen in places like this, to appear with a woman of mysterious age was bound to attract attention. The curious gazes soon led to action.
“Colonel, who is the lady with you? She is beautiful.”
A young man who appeared to be a soldier approached, saluted, and asked.
Noah glared at him with a cold, sullen face.
“Don’t pay attention.”
He clearly said he'd give me a social debut. But didn't he just introduce me to people and stuff? It seems like he's trying to isolate me and bury me.
Several women approached him and asked about me, and Noah explained, "She's a Princess who's about to marry me, but wants to enjoy the romance a little more." He seemed genuinely out of his mind. One noblewoman asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Princess? What kingdom is she from? Judging by her appearance and hair color, she's from Medea."
“No... It’s just a nickname.”
Medea? I was puzzled by the unfamiliar name, but I couldn't answer, "I'm the daughter of Admiral Belford, an enemy of Frogen, and I was kidnapped."
“The Duke also had this side to him.”
Middle-aged noblewomen smiled as if looking at young men and women in their prime.
"Is this your first time in high society? You must be happy that your first dance is with a handsome Duke."
“Yes, that’s good.”
I don't know what the first dance means.
The interest shown in 'Diana Parsene', who made her first appearance in the social world, was bound to be high.
Everyone seemed to think we were engaged. As we sipped our strawberry-flavored champagne, ignoring the countless attention and curiosity pouring in, a woman with jet-black hair and blue eyes approached Noah and smiled beautifully at him.
She had a slightly different appearance from the Frogens or Belfords. She was a beautiful woman with delicate features and a small build.
“Noah, it’s been a while.”
“That’s right.”
Noah, who had called out his name and given a cold answer, turned around first.
"You're getting married? What a sight, she has black hair, a rare sight in Frogen."
The woman spoke again, as if trying to stop Noah from leaving. She looked somewhat uneasy. Noah turned his head to look at her, then smiled coldly.
“Yes. Like you.”
The woman's lips tightened at the word "you." She approached me, swinging her glass around, and greeted me with a haughty air. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were frozen cold.
“Nice to meet you. I am Princess Elita Spencer Grace of Medea.”
In high society, it's said that the higher-ups are the ones who speak first. Following the local etiquette, I grabbed the hem of my skirt and bowed.
“Hello, Princess. I am Diana Parsene.”
“Yes, Miss Parsene.”
She smiled gently with her eyes closed, came closer, and whispered softly.
“Don’t blindly believe the Duke’s sweet words. He asked me to marry him, too.”
I cleared my throat loudly and began to make a serious excuse.
“There were unavoidable circumstances.”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell me.”
"I got it as a freebie when I bought clothes, but the maid must have thought I was embarrassed, so she snuck it in and gave it to me. I clearly told her I didn't need it."
I emphasized the word 'no need'.
“Yeah. Are you going to wear this on your honeymoon?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself...”
“Then I’ll buy you something prettier, something that suits my taste.”
It was a languid, breathy voice. How on earth did he manage to produce such a sensual voice? I forced myself to keep my expression in check. He neatly folded the slip and placed it on the dresser, then sat down naturally on the edge of the bed.
“Did you practice your prom dance well?”
“I learn quickly. I just have to watch it a few times to get the hang of it.”
"I know, smart one. Don't dance with other men. That's not what I taught you."
Noah narrowed his eyes with a serious expression, as if warning.
I think it means I should dance only with him, but this man is so elusive that I keep my mouth shut and stare at him. His stiff expression relaxes into a languid expression as he waits for my answer.
Her mysterious blue eyes were like a calm afternoon sea. It's said that when you look at the sea, you feel like jumping in without even realizing it. I barely managed to avoid drowning, tearing my gaze away and turning my head.
“Yes, I will go out with a girl.”
“Nothing works. The same goes for women.”
“Then who will I dance with?”
Even though I knew it was obvious, I asked again. Noah put his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.
“Oh my goodness, asking such an obvious question.”
“Who? I really don’t know.”
I, too, pretended not to know, even though I knew it, just like Noah did. It's a method he uses to get the answer he wants to hear.
“You’ll find out when you go to the ball tomorrow.”
But it didn't work on him, a high-level player. He slipped away smoothly and leisurely, like a flexible cat.
“I’ll read you a fairy tale from the newspaper. You like reading books, don’t you?”
"Yes. But what would you like me to read? You didn't bring a newspaper."
“It’s here.”
Noah pointed to his head with his fingertips. He sat down next to me on the bed and began reciting the story in a read-aloud tone. Surprisingly, he seemed to have memorized every single word.
The story was roughly about a black shepherd protecting a girl from a ferocious wolf. After reciting two or three of them, Noah asked me what she had done that day and what dress I had bought. He then looked at his watch and slowly got up.
“Go to bed early. You shouldn’t stay up late reading dirty books.”
“I didn’t bring it.”
"Then I'll buy you a new one, just the way you like it. Good night."
Noah gently closed the door and waved his hand through the gap. As he looked at the closed door, a sudden wave of regret washed over him. He should have said no to dirty books. Noah might have bought enough to fill the entire bookshelf.
“It’s unusual.”
I chuckled as I thought of him, then realized a shift in me I hadn't noticed before. I didn't mind him coming to visit and talk to me every day. In fact, I looked forward to him, and when he left, I felt sad.
“This won’t do.”
He's the only person I interact with in this unfamiliar world, so it can't be helped. He's been so kind to me, having just landed empty-handed, that I can't help but rely on him, regardless of his intentions.
I'm human, too, and I have my own unique loneliness. So he's not special to me.
I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, giving myself a self-hypnosis.
It's not special. It's peculiar.
***
“Miss Parsene, wake up!”
Who is Parsene?
Ah, my new name was Diana Parsene. Perhaps because of the ball being held at the royal palace, a maid woke me up early in the morning. The culprit who had brought me that lewd slip was the maid named Rosie. I looked at her with a disapproving look and sat up.
“Please call me by my name from now on. And the ball is in the evening, right?”
“I have to do my hair, try on a dress, and put on makeup, right?”
This isn't even a wedding photoshoot. The noble ladies here live a hard life, marching every ball day. Rosie had already filled the bathroom bathtub with water and filled it with dried rose petals.
"You said you like bathing alone? You're shy and don't like showing your naked body to others."
This was the first time I'd heard that either. Rosie grinned at my questioning gaze and left the bathroom. Molly had already seen my entire body, so I couldn't figure out where she'd said it. It seemed like Noah, who was jealous of women, had relayed it to me, so I agreed. Apparently, he wasn't jealous of Molly.
Rosie dried my hair after I washed it and quickly began helping me with my hair. Since I only applied makeup to my lips and my hair was short, it didn't take long to do it.
Finally, the hellish dress fitting time arrived. The idea was to try on about seven dresses, and more maids, including Rosie, joined in. I couldn't hide my despair, wearing a corset over my winter underwear.
Time flew by, and I didn't even have much to eat for breakfast or lunch. If I ate the regular portions, I felt like I'd vomit back up because of the tight corset.
After a grueling try-on, the maids unanimously agreed upon a dress: an Art Nouveau dress in dark gray fabric decorated with white lace and ruffles. The dress was tightly cinched at the waist and hips, with a skirt that flared out slightly, leaving me feeling a bit suffocated. I finally finished dressing after putting on shoes and a hat of a similar design.
“It’s pretty. I’m sure the master will like it.”
“Is that so?”
I'm not sure, because he reacts the same way whether I dress up or not. He just smiles as usual and offers a few polite compliments like, "You're pretty," or "You look good together." These are all pretty meaningless, since he says it even in my pajamas.
As I finished my preparations and left the room, Noah, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looked up at me silently.
“You're pretty.”
Noah continued to praise me concisely. He was wearing an overcoat over his black dress uniform, complete with epaulettes, badge straps, rank insignia, and medals. It struck me anew how impressive the uniforms here were.
A well-proportioned man with good body proportions looks even more sophisticated and elegant in this outfit. Suits are nice, but I prefer uniforms, so this is a real feast for the eyes.
“Noah is pretty, too.”
“Am I pretty?”
"Yes."
I took this opportunity to observe Noah intently. His bangs were naturally swept back, revealing his handsome forehead and eyebrows.
“You’ve slicked back your bangs. You look different.”
“Are you in love?”
"Yes."
I answered nonchalantly, but my gaze briefly swept over the chiseled jawline of the handsome man looking down at me. Then, feigning indifference, I boarded the car, escorted by Noah, heading to the capital.
We boarded a chauffeured car and drove for about an hour to Effenberg, the capital of Frogen. The Imperial Palace, visible from the spacious square, was incredibly luxurious and ornate, reminiscent of the Winter Palaces I'd seen in my own world.
Built in the Rococo style, the palace's emerald exterior is adorned with gold, with even the roof and statues painted in gold. The artist appears to have modeled the work after a real-life palace.
Luxurious carriages and classic cars lined the square, competing with each other. Coachmen and drivers busily dropped off women.
Perhaps because the open river lay right before us, the strong north wind blew hard, piercing through my bones. Escorted by Noah, I got out of the car, pulling my sable coat tightly around me.
The driver got out of the driver's seat and bowed to us. It was quite a distance to the palace entrance, so I walked with my lips trembling, clinging to Noah.
“It’s really cold here. Aren’t you cold?”
At my question, Noah stopped walking and quickly picked me up in his arms.
“I’m cold too.”
“Why is this happening?”
“It’s warm because I'm holding a fur ball. Let’s go quickly, Princess.”
He started running while holding me.
The nobles, who had been walking with proud faces, pretending not to be cold, immediately focused their gazes on us. The sight of a high-ranking official and a powerful Duke running across the square with a woman in his arms was almost comical, but Noah seemed unfazed.
“No, you have social standing! You have to maintain your dignity!”
“My superior, the Princess, says she’s cold. How can that be?”
He seemed quite absorbed in his Princess role. Perhaps it was his long legs or his speed, but he arrived at the palace entrance in the blink of an eye. Noah tried to run straight to the ballroom, and only after whining to be let down was I able to stand fully on my own two legs.
“Just a moment. Please bow your head.”
At my words, Noah bowed down, and I reached out and straightened his messy hair.
“Your hair is a mess.”
"Thank you."
Noah raised his head and smiled with his eyes. His eyes, normally upturned, curved downward when he smiled, giving him a gentle look.
It was amazing how he ran so fast without even gasping for breath. Linking my arm with Noah's strong one, I walked through the arched hallway toward the ballroom.
The spacious and ornate ballroom was already crowded with people. A stringed instrument band played music, and the nobles chatted, or pairs of men and women danced.
As I walked in with Noah, countless people's eyes were fixed on me, almost tingling. It was a burden. I hate crowds. For a handsome man, rarely seen in places like this, to appear with a woman of mysterious age was bound to attract attention. The curious gazes soon led to action.
“Colonel, who is the lady with you? She is beautiful.”
A young man who appeared to be a soldier approached, saluted, and asked.
Noah glared at him with a cold, sullen face.
“Don’t pay attention.”
He clearly said he'd give me a social debut. But didn't he just introduce me to people and stuff? It seems like he's trying to isolate me and bury me.
Several women approached him and asked about me, and Noah explained, "She's a Princess who's about to marry me, but wants to enjoy the romance a little more." He seemed genuinely out of his mind. One noblewoman asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Princess? What kingdom is she from? Judging by her appearance and hair color, she's from Medea."
“No... It’s just a nickname.”
Medea? I was puzzled by the unfamiliar name, but I couldn't answer, "I'm the daughter of Admiral Belford, an enemy of Frogen, and I was kidnapped."
“The Duke also had this side to him.”
Middle-aged noblewomen smiled as if looking at young men and women in their prime.
"Is this your first time in high society? You must be happy that your first dance is with a handsome Duke."
“Yes, that’s good.”
I don't know what the first dance means.
The interest shown in 'Diana Parsene', who made her first appearance in the social world, was bound to be high.
Everyone seemed to think we were engaged. As we sipped our strawberry-flavored champagne, ignoring the countless attention and curiosity pouring in, a woman with jet-black hair and blue eyes approached Noah and smiled beautifully at him.
She had a slightly different appearance from the Frogens or Belfords. She was a beautiful woman with delicate features and a small build.
“Noah, it’s been a while.”
“That’s right.”
Noah, who had called out his name and given a cold answer, turned around first.
"You're getting married? What a sight, she has black hair, a rare sight in Frogen."
The woman spoke again, as if trying to stop Noah from leaving. She looked somewhat uneasy. Noah turned his head to look at her, then smiled coldly.
“Yes. Like you.”
The woman's lips tightened at the word "you." She approached me, swinging her glass around, and greeted me with a haughty air. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were frozen cold.
“Nice to meet you. I am Princess Elita Spencer Grace of Medea.”
In high society, it's said that the higher-ups are the ones who speak first. Following the local etiquette, I grabbed the hem of my skirt and bowed.
“Hello, Princess. I am Diana Parsene.”
“Yes, Miss Parsene.”
She smiled gently with her eyes closed, came closer, and whispered softly.
“Don’t blindly believe the Duke’s sweet words. He asked me to marry him, too.”
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