“Hup.”
I quickly shut my mouth and awkwardly shrugged.
“Oh dear, I'm sorry. I'm just so tired...”
My legs, shoulders—my whole body ached. It seemed I'd overdone it yesterday.
After all, I'd run for thirty straight minutes in Airel's frail body.
'I'm so sleepy I could die.'
Groaning, “Ughhh...” I repeatedly slapped my cheeks to keep myself awake.
Then the Grand Duke spoke again.
“What kind of new ritual is that?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
He tapped his own cheek and looked down at me with his chin raised.
“It isn't pleasant to look at, so refrain from doing it. Don't hit your face. Yawn more quietly. And stop making those strange noises.”
Geez, why are there so many things I'm not allowed to do?
For a moment I felt a little sulky, but I soon smiled brightly and nodded.
“Okay. I'll be careful.”
After all, I was the one who needed something from him.
If he told me to jump, I'd have to jump. Sob.
Lisid could leave this place whenever he wanted.
So I had to do everything I could to win his favor.
“Then, Your Grace, I'm about to get ready to head out. Is there anything you need?”
I clasped my hands together like an attentive servant.
“Head out?”
“Yes. I'm going to visit the doll shop I mentioned yesterday. I heard it's in the nearby shopping district.”
Hearing my cheerful reply, the Grand Duke lowered his head as though thinking for a moment.
Then he spoke expressionlessly.
“When does the maid usually clean this room?”
“Oh, once around noon, and once in the evening...”
“Will that maid from yesterday come in here as well?”
“Janice? Hmm... I asked her to do something, so she probably will.”
Come to think of it, that wouldn't do.
“I'll make sure no one comes in!”
“There's no need to go that far. More importantly, is there any chance the Duke or Duchess might come in?”
“That... I'm not sure.”
I gave an awkward smile and rolled my eyes.
The Grand Duke's question was strangely sharp.
I wondered if I'd done something wrong when he suddenly curled one corner of his lips upward.
“My lady, yesterday you clearly said that if I disappeared even for a moment, you'd become anxious.”
“I... did.”
“You'd be sad, depressed, and lose all your energy.”
“...Yes?”
What's gotten into him?
Just yesterday he'd told me to stop talking nonsense and turn out the lights.
Tilting my head in confusion, I watched as Lisid smiled faintly.
“Then why don't we go together?”
“...What did you say?!”
I cried out in surprise.
The Grand Duke frowned as though my voice was too loud.
“What's with that reaction? Don't tell me you dislike the idea.”
“N-No! I'm just... really happy!”
I shook my head vigorously and clasped my hands together.
My heart pounded wildly.
'Why does he suddenly want to come with me? He never mentioned this yesterday.'
Whatever the reason, I had a bad feeling about it.
I wanted to keep Lisid locked safely inside my room!
We hadn't built enough trust yet. He could suddenly run away, or someone might discover that he'd been shrunk to the size of a doll.
I had to stop him.
“Well... I'm honestly a little worried. What if I accidentally drop you while carrying you...?”
“I'm not made of glass.”
“E-Even if you don't shatter, you'll still get hurt! Look at the difference in our heights. Besides, what if a cat or a crow carries you away...?”
“In your eyes, do I really look incapable of dealing with a mere animal?”
Well...
Judging by his size alone, it did seem a little dangerous...
When I narrowed my eyes doubtfully, Lisid sighed.
“Ha.”
His crimson eyes swept across my bedroom.
“I suppose that's understandable. You've spent your whole life in this peaceful capital.”
He paused.
“But you should know that the smallest monster I killed during this latest subjugation was about the size of your bedroom.”
Gasp.
I'd completely overlooked the Grand Duke's strength.
This was the man who had defeated the monsters that appeared in the western region with nothing more than the Knights of Ephenterion.
“B-But still...! I can't exactly carry Your Grace around in my arms, can I?”
“Then what about that?”
“Hm?”
I turned my head to where the Grand Duke pointed with his sword.
It was the pouch I'd used to bring him here yesterday.
“Don't tell me you want me to put you in my pocket?”
“You're surprised now? Yesterday you stuffed me into it without asking for my permission. You've already done it once, so what's the problem?”
This is really not how this is supposed to go...
Just as I hurriedly shook my head—
Knock. Knock.
“Airel Blandiche.”
Along with the knock came the elegant voice of the Duchess.
“What brings you here, Mother?”
The door to Airel's room creaked open only after quite some time had passed since the knock.
Standing outside was Briana, Duchess Blandiche.
She frowned.
“Move aside. Stop standing there like an idiot and blocking the way.”
Briana shoved Airel's shoulder aside and strode straight into the room without waiting for permission.
Stopping in the middle of the room, she slowly looked around.
Airel's bedroom was now filled with luxurious decorations she had never seen before.
'What is she plotting this time?'
Briana narrowed her eyes.
For the past few days, rumors had been circulating among the maids who served Airel.
"The young lady has changed."
But Briana had dismissed it as nothing more than the servants' imagination.
After all, people didn't completely change overnight without any reason.
Yet yesterday...
Even Edwin, who had accompanied the new Saintess to the Grand Temple as her escort, had brought back a strange report.
“I met the High Priest. He said Airel personally apologized to him and asked for his forgiveness.”
Airel Blandiche...
Apologizing?
Those words simply didn't belong together.
Airel, the only stain on House Blandiche, had never been the type to bow her head to anyone.
Briana looked suspiciously at Airel, who wasn't related to her by blood.
“How strange. I was certain someone else was in here.”
At Briana's murmur, Airel tilted her head.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought I heard another voice from outside the door.”
“Oh.”
Airel smiled as though she finally understood the misunderstanding.
She walked over to the desk and picked up a thick book.
“I was actually reading poetry aloud.”
“At this hour? You?”
Briana frowned.
“A daughter of House Blandiche reading books? Even the passing maids would laugh.”
“I've recently developed an interest in them. I never realized how many wonderful poetry collections there were on my bookshelf.”
Airel's violet eyes curved into a bright smile.
It was a clear, innocent smile.
Nothing like the usual Airel, whose arrogant face was always twisted into a mocking grin.
And Briana found that deeply unpleasant.
'So the rumors about the vicious young lady changing were true?'
She clicked her tongue.
'Still, perhaps she's only acting this way in front of me. A personality like hers can't change overnight. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause next? I'd better keep an eye on her for a while.'
With that thought, she answered with an elegant smile.
“So you've developed an interest in books. That's delightful to hear.”
Walking over to the properly seated Airel, Briana took the book from her hands.
“But you're holding it upside down, my dear.”
Airel's shoulders stiffened as if she'd had no idea.
After giving her a brief glance, Briana smiled with satisfaction and turned to leave.
“Well then, I'll be going. A designer will be coming this afternoon, so keep that in mind.”
“Huh? A designer?”
“Yes. You need a new dress for the Imperial banquet, don't you?”
Stopping at the doorway, Briana turned back toward Airel with a smile.
“You haven't forgotten, have you, Airel?”
“The welcoming banquet for the Grand Duke of Ephenterion—the one you foolishly dream of marrying despite being completely out of your league.”
Crack.
At that moment, the sound of something breaking echoed from somewhere.
