"...Yes."
Ryan is right.
Now is the time to do what needs to be done, not to waste time on useless worries.
"The Prince will come here soon."
Speaking, I unlocked the bedside table drawer with a key, took out the paper I had prepared, and handed it to Ryan.
It was a plan to prevent the Wassenberg medical cartel from being established in the capital two years from now.
“I sent a telepathic message earlier asking the Prince to come. You never know when something might go wrong, so you have to be prepared in advance.”
Nike was worried from the moment he was told of a future where Wassenberg and the institutions' medical departments would join hands and do evil deeds.
However, since it is practically resolved now that I have perfected this ability, he will be very happy to know this.
"If he set off immediately after hearing my telepathic message, he will arrive in four days at the earliest, or a week at the latest."
"Bunny."
“When he comes, reassure him not to worry and let him know my plan. Also, tell him what he needs to do.”
Unfortunately, I look so sick that if we met, he would inevitably reveal my condition, so I won't be able to see his happy face.
“Just make up an excuse that I’m on a trip somewhere this time. I’ll hide quietly in my room.”
"Did you forget something?"
"Yes?"
Ryan and Merchen sighed.
"What's the matter?"
Merchen picked up the calendar from the desk and showed it to me.
“...?”
A calendar for blooming March.
I saw the schedule that I had personally marked with my own hands as ♡Count Ryan's Award Ceremony♡.
“By any chance, what day is it today?”
"There is a week left until the awards ceremony. Ryan has to leave for the islands today."
"Wow..."
My concept of time was shattered!
It was because I had been holed up in my room for nearly a month, as the completion of my supernatural ability was just around the corner.
At the point where I was in poor health and half-crazed, I was just one step away from perfecting my supernatural ability.
Out of joy and the thought that I couldn't delay any longer, I immediately sent a telepathic message to Nike telling him to come.
"I'm such a fool."
"That could happen. It was hectic, after all."
"But doesn't the Prince have to attend Ryan's conferment ceremony too?"
Merchen said.
“I don’t think he would skip a royal event and rush over.”
“What kind of bullshit is that? What’s so special about my award ceremony? If Bunny called, he should have run over right away. If he doesn’t come, he doesn’t deserve to be her boyfriend.”
As I listened to the conversation between the two, I pondered.
It would be best to just send a telepathic message to Nike again, telling him not to come and conveying the message through Ryan, but...
"You can't use this ability anymore, right?"
"Yes."
Unfortunately, ever since I completed <Restoration of Light>, I have been in a helpless state, unable to use my supernatural abilities for the time being.
This is because from now on, I must take a recovery period without using this ability to survive without dying.
'Let me see. Ryan has to leave today, Revan isn't here, Alex isn't here, Kali... I sent her to check on the situation in the capital, so that leaves only the Prince...'
No.
This is a divine revelation.
They say that out of sight, out of mind, and hasn't it already been a year since I started avoiding Nike?
I suppose I need to make a good impression on him, especially since he is already under pressure to get married at home.
"I'll just meet him and tell him."
Having made up my mind, I asked the two men the most important question.
“How does my face... look right now?”
Ryan left.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
I have vomited blood exactly six times, and I have had three times as many nosebleeds.
“Ahhh, missss!”
Ryan is right.
Now is the time to do what needs to be done, not to waste time on useless worries.
"The Prince will come here soon."
Speaking, I unlocked the bedside table drawer with a key, took out the paper I had prepared, and handed it to Ryan.
It was a plan to prevent the Wassenberg medical cartel from being established in the capital two years from now.
“I sent a telepathic message earlier asking the Prince to come. You never know when something might go wrong, so you have to be prepared in advance.”
Nike was worried from the moment he was told of a future where Wassenberg and the institutions' medical departments would join hands and do evil deeds.
However, since it is practically resolved now that I have perfected this ability, he will be very happy to know this.
"If he set off immediately after hearing my telepathic message, he will arrive in four days at the earliest, or a week at the latest."
"Bunny."
“When he comes, reassure him not to worry and let him know my plan. Also, tell him what he needs to do.”
Unfortunately, I look so sick that if we met, he would inevitably reveal my condition, so I won't be able to see his happy face.
“Just make up an excuse that I’m on a trip somewhere this time. I’ll hide quietly in my room.”
"Did you forget something?"
"Yes?"
Ryan and Merchen sighed.
"What's the matter?"
Merchen picked up the calendar from the desk and showed it to me.
“...?”
A calendar for blooming March.
I saw the schedule that I had personally marked with my own hands as ♡Count Ryan's Award Ceremony♡.
“By any chance, what day is it today?”
"There is a week left until the awards ceremony. Ryan has to leave for the islands today."
"Wow..."
My concept of time was shattered!
It was because I had been holed up in my room for nearly a month, as the completion of my supernatural ability was just around the corner.
At the point where I was in poor health and half-crazed, I was just one step away from perfecting my supernatural ability.
Out of joy and the thought that I couldn't delay any longer, I immediately sent a telepathic message to Nike telling him to come.
"I'm such a fool."
"That could happen. It was hectic, after all."
"But doesn't the Prince have to attend Ryan's conferment ceremony too?"
Merchen said.
“I don’t think he would skip a royal event and rush over.”
“What kind of bullshit is that? What’s so special about my award ceremony? If Bunny called, he should have run over right away. If he doesn’t come, he doesn’t deserve to be her boyfriend.”
As I listened to the conversation between the two, I pondered.
It would be best to just send a telepathic message to Nike again, telling him not to come and conveying the message through Ryan, but...
"You can't use this ability anymore, right?"
"Yes."
Unfortunately, ever since I completed <Restoration of Light>, I have been in a helpless state, unable to use my supernatural abilities for the time being.
This is because from now on, I must take a recovery period without using this ability to survive without dying.
'Let me see. Ryan has to leave today, Revan isn't here, Alex isn't here, Kali... I sent her to check on the situation in the capital, so that leaves only the Prince...'
No.
This is a divine revelation.
They say that out of sight, out of mind, and hasn't it already been a year since I started avoiding Nike?
I suppose I need to make a good impression on him, especially since he is already under pressure to get married at home.
"I'll just meet him and tell him."
Having made up my mind, I asked the two men the most important question.
“How does my face... look right now?”
***
Ryan left.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
I have vomited blood exactly six times, and I have had three times as many nosebleeds.
“Ahhh, missss!”
"Yeah, it's nothing."
There were a few times when I fainted, leaving me confused whether I had fallen asleep or fainted.
“Vania, are you dead?!”
“I’m still alive...”
I have already copied many supernatural abilities using the <Eye of the Mirror> and even amplified their power, so my body has long since reached its limit.
'But now the hardship is over.'
As originally planned, I completed the healing ability <Restoration of Light>.
'Now, let's focus on eating well, sleeping well, and recovering well.'
First of all, today...
"Apply the lipstick a bit more intensely!"
“Is the curling iron heated up yet?”
Five maids were swarming around me. They were all veterans with god-given makeup skills.
“Guys, please make sure I don’t look sick. That’s the most important thing, so please put on really, really heavy makeup. It doesn’t have to be pretty.”
“No. I’ll make it pretty and bold, so don’t worry.”
Lindsey, who was concentrating on drawing my lips while even breaking out in a cold sweat, said.
Lindsey, a cute maid of the same age with carrot-colored hair. She is my best friend, and I have had her by my side for three years now.
“By the way, young lady, are you going out to inspect the estate? You aren’t feeling well.”
The maid who was drying my hair asked.
It must be puzzling that I, who have been cooped up in my room 365 days a year, am suddenly ordering to dress up.
"It’s not that; it’s just that guests might be coming today."
Today is the fourth day since I sent a telepathic message to Nike asking him to come.
Since it takes four days to get here without a single day's delay, it is actually more likely that he won't be able to arrive today.
I asked him to come, but since his schedule clashes with an imperial event, he might not come at all.
'But you never know.'
I intend to keep preparing like this from today until the day Nike comes.
Just then, knock, knock.
A knock was heard.
"Vania."
It was the voice of a Merchen.
"Oh my, it's Young Master Merchen!"
“Shall I open the door, Miss?”
Everyone made a fuss at Merchen's visit and straightened their clothes.
Oh, you sinful Prince...
There is probably no unmarried woman in this castle who does not have a crush on Merchen.
"Come in, brother!"
When I called out loudly, Merchen opened the door and came in. He was about to say something, but his eyes widened when he saw me.
“Who on earth is this beauty?”
“Hehe, how is it?”
Lindsey wiped the sweat from her forehead and spoke with her shoulders puffed up.
"I showed off my skills!"
“You’re unrecognizable. This is a bit dangerous, isn’t it? If I let you go like this, all the lousy bastards will swarm you.”
Ah? I'm looking forward to it!
Merchen, unable to view others' appearances objectively because of his own good looks. If he said something like this, isn't it high praise?
"Please make the brooch a ruby."
Lindsey, who had pinned a brooch to the chest of the dress, grinned and pointed at the dressing table.
I was surprised when I checked the mirror.
'Is this... me?!'
It feels surprisingly unfamiliar. Because I have never once in my life worn such heavy makeup.
It feels a bit awkward to say this myself, but I was confident in my looks, and light makeup suited me well, so I had always stuck to that kind of makeup style even before the regression.
However...
Heavy eye makeup. Bright red lips.
I really liked the heavy and glamorous makeup that completely covered up my sickly complexion just as ordered, as it didn't look youthful at all.
"It looks a bit like a poisonous mushroom."
"It's a compliment, right?"
"Of course. It means that everyone who sees you will be captivated. You are so beautiful. My Vania, when did you grow up so much?"
Merchen, who had approached, spoke with deep emotion.
"You were a baby when I first saw you..."
"It wasn't quite a baby."
"Oops!"
Merchen pointed to the door and said.
"The Prince has arrived."
"Yes?!"
“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you know he was coming today?”
"That's true, but!"
You really came? Given the time, Nike must have skipped meals, slept outdoors for a while, and rushed here without a moment's rest. It was touching.
He came with his aide. I told him to wait in the reception room.
“If you mean a Prince, is it His Highness the Third Prince? Is today the day he comes to manage the Ratan?”
“No. Miss, wasn’t the guest the Prince?”
I left the chattering maids behind and calmed my mind.
Let's stay calm.
It is a welcome face I haven't seen in a year, but today's meeting is for work.
Don't lose your mind just because he's handsome, don't tremble, let's stay calm. Stay calm...
***
...What are you talking about!
When I opened the drawing room door and went in.
The moment I stood up and faced Nike, looking at me, all the words I had prepared flew away.
It looked like it had no choice but to be that way.
Slightly shorter hair. Facial features that have become more masculine in just a year. Unchangingly handsome eyes, nose, and mouth.
Just as Nike Valencier was when he was twenty, the one I fell in love with at first sight.
It felt like time had stopped.
Seeing that he, too, is frozen and not moving, just like me...
'Huh? Did it really stop?'
The moment I blinked, Nike moved too. He turned his gaze away from me and spoke.
“...It’s been a long time.”
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