Whether it was because of his whispering voice or the touch of his hand still stroking my hair, a tickling sensation ran down my spine.
...Could you let go of this first?
Words I could not bring myself to spit out welled up in my mouth.
Even though he said that, my suspicion grew deeper because it was clear he wouldn't grant my request to be sent back to Ashtad.
'Besides, even if he grants my request, it feels really unsettling.'
Especially since it was obvious that asking for money would only lead to an investigation into where I would spend it, I was firmly convinced that it would be better not to say anything rather than create a pointless pretext.
"...Then, would it be possible to contact the family I mentioned earlier?"
After thinking for a long time, I opened my mouth with a fresh perspective. It was a relief that he was the first to mention the bet we made during the hunting festival.
“Contact your family?”
Thierry's face stiffened slightly. He looked as if he had heard something he didn't want to hear.
He kept his gaze fixed on the ends of my hair as if avoiding my eyes, then slowly withdrew his hand.
Just then, a strong wind blew, making the bushes sway with a whoosh.
As the ends of my hair, finally freed from him, swept back in the wind, I gently held and secured only the brim of the hood, which was swaying more faintly than before.
As I opened my eyes, which I had squeezed shut for a moment to avoid the wind blowing directly at me, I saw Thierry with a regretful look on his face through the spreading light.
Regret? What on earth? I closed and opened my eyes to see if I was seeing correctly.
'Why is he making that face?'
I hadn't seen it wrong. In just a moment, a look of anxiety had crossed his face for some reason.
“Do you want to contact them?”
After a brief pause, he spoke hesitantly. Although the atmosphere was tense, he had brought up the bet while telling me to say what I wanted, and since it was something that needed to be said at some point, I mustered up the courage and cautiously opened my mouth.
"I figured they would be worried, so I thought it would be good to at least say hello."
He wasn't a teenage boy, and I didn't want to create a situation where I could handle his overly dynamic emotional changes.
I prayed that my words would sound soft and gentle.
"..."
I felt the silence filling the air.
'If you're going to hate it that much, what do you expect me to say about what I want? Seriously, what am I supposed to do about that fickleness...'
I nervously glanced around, worried about his fickle personality in addition to his character. The atmosphere wasn't exactly quiet, so there was no reason to be stubborn; should I just say no first? I was contemplating this and was about to open my mouth when...
"...!"
Suddenly, Thierry grabbed my fingertips like someone desperate. His grip was awkward—neither holding on tight nor letting go—and as precarious as his aura.
"If you want to contact them, go ahead. But I can't send you to them."
...Suddenly?
You weren't this nervous because you thought I was going to ask to be sent back to Ashtad right now, were you?
I swallowed a sigh, feeling somewhat conflicted. Well, the reaction was excessive, but from Thierry's perspective, he saw several opportunities to use me, so he likely didn't want to create a situation where he would have to send me away.
'I wasn't even planning on asking you to send me away. Anyway, stop overreacting...'
I had no intention of forcing my way back to the Kingdom of Ashtad anyway. Of course, I only wanted to leave Podia because of the life-threatening situation; otherwise, I wouldn't have cared if I stayed in Podia.
Actually, Podia is a place I am more familiar with than Ashtad.
I had only lived in Podia for a mere six years... yet my memories of Korea, where I had lived for a long time in a past life, were already fading. It was to the point that even when I tried to recall my family's faces, they were now blurry.
When I first realized this, I felt deeply saddened and missed my family.
But I was dead anyway. Even if I clung to the memories of my past life and lived on, it was only I who suffered.
Focusing on my life with Thierry was also a deliberate attempt to forget that past life. Of course, thanks to that, I was able to gradually let go of my family from my heart. Now, all that remains is the wish that my family is happy.
'...That’s random. Why am I suddenly thinking this?'
I familiarized myself with the rumination of my past life that I was fumbling with for the first time in a long while. Then, smiling awkwardly, I opened my mouth toward Thierry, who was waiting a little longer for my answer.
"I understand my position. I will not do anything that displeases Your Majesty."
At my low words, Thierry's mouth gradually closed. He parted his lips with a barely perceptible sullen expression, but for some reason, it felt like he was watching my reaction.
As a moment of silence passed, I could feel Rood, who had been rubbing against my leg, looking around cautiously. Rood lay down on the floor as if to say he would wait patiently, and wagged his tail.
Strangely enough, I kept seeing Rood and Thierry overlapping, to the point where it was becoming difficult.
I don't know the reason why this is happening either, so as I furrowed my brow slightly, a very small sigh escaped from Thierry.
“It’s not like that..."
He, who had been muttering to himself, soon lowered his gaze as if taking a step back, as if resigned to the situation.
"...I'll let you contact them."
"Thank you!"
Before I knew it, a bright smile spread across my lips. It seemed that I had been secretly bothered by it.
Come to think of it, I’ll have to keep using this body, so it’s a relief that we can at least exchange greetings. Even though I’m possessed, I still have to fulfill my responsibilities.
"I'll let Wagen know."
A hint of bitterness crossed Thierry's eyes as he rose from the floor.
"Come to think of it, how are the preparations for the debutante going?"
"Ah... Rather than preparing something separate, the dress you gave me before was sufficient, so I was in the process of choosing from those."
That bitterness felt almost like resentment, so just as I was about to examine it closely, the topic changed. As I quickly responded to the new subject, Thierry spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Tell Wagen if you need anything. No, I'll take care of it and send it to you myself."
"What? You don't have to go that far!"
“...Why don’t you want to receive it?”
In an instant, he sneered coldly. The sharp aura I had forgotten amidst the affectionate atmosphere cast its shadow once again.
"No, it's not like that..."
"Accept it even if you don't want to. I'm the Princess's partner that day."
“Your Majesty?”
My laughter slowly faded away.
"Yes. You'll be with me."
It was a resolute voice. His dark red eyes, which had sunk to a look that left no room for doubt, gleamed for a moment.
I looked up at him with a bewildered expression and met his deep, inscrutable eyes. And our intertwined gazes did not break for a while.
***
I started spending busy days preparing for my debutante. And in between, I met Maud several times.
We didn't really say much. We just greeted each other when we met and talked about small things in our daily lives. But even just that made me feel like the distance between me and Maud was narrowing.
It really wasn't just me; that face, which used to look prickly and brusque, started smiling quite often while looking at me.
Whenever Maud occasionally wore a wistful expression, as if sensing nostalgia for her childhood days from me, I felt a strong urge to blurt out that I was Lari, which really put me in a difficult position.
"Princess, Dress Designer Valentina has arrived."
"Yeah. Tell them to come in."
Valentina, who figured out the client's taste by showing measurements and various types of dresses, brought the finished product in just three days.
"Greetings, Princess."
"Welcome. It must have been tough with the tight schedule; thank you for your hard work."
Valentina appeared gaunt-cheeked after just a few days, as if she had clearly gnawed at her body. However, contrary to my concern, she smiled with relief and a determined glint in her eyes.
"Not at all. I worked so happily that I lost track of time! If not now, when would I ever get the chance to make a dress for my muse!"
That's right. The moment Valentina saw me at our first meeting, she literally wore an ecstatic expression. She said I was the very Princess she had dreamed of her whole life.
Valentina happily remarked that the more she looked at it, the more it seemed like the model she had imagined had come to life, saying that her creative drive was burning for the first time in a long while.
I heard from Marie that Valentina was the most famous designer in the Empire, and that even if nobles wanted to book her, she could not be guaranteed a spot. Consequently, it was only natural that her fiercely contested dresses became the object of envy for girls about to make their debut.
'It is nice to wear a pretty dress, but since this is all because of Thierry's influence, the rumors about me will only get worse... I’ll be attracting more and more attention...?'
For me, as someone who has to live cautiously, it was the worst possible situation.
'Me. Am I okay like this...?'
I wore a gentle smile on the outside while shedding tears on the inside.
"Princess, I’ve even prepared accessories to match your dress! Please take your time looking around."
"Oh. Really? Wasn't it just dresses?"
"It is true that I only handle dresses, but there are occasional exceptions. That is when I get to serve someone special, like the Princess!"
Valentina clasped her hands together and, with a dreamy expression, spoke incessantly. I didn't even have a chance to answer.
"Actually, before leaving the palace last time, I had an audience with His Majesty and requested that I be in charge of the Princess's grooming. He readily agreed, saying that I have a good eye!"
What? That sounds a bit strange. Did Thierry really say that?
"And while saying that, he encouraged me so much, telling me not to worry about the budget and to do whatever I wanted! Oh ho ho... His Majesty must really cherish the Princess. It is truly so lovely to see!"
"Um... Madam Valentina. It seems there is some misunderstanding. His Majesty and I are not in that kind of close relationship."
I waved my hands wildly, looking terrified that someone might hear me. However, Valentina winked at my reaction as if she understood everything, then let out a nasal laugh.
"Don't worry! I, Valentina, have the heaviest lips in the Empire! Enough to hang the dresses I poured my heart and soul into!"
"No, that's really not the case."
"Ugh... I know everything."
...I don’t think you know anything?
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