“Does Bernadette never answer in one go?”
His voice wasn’t cold, nor was it blunt, yet I reflexively shrank back.
Could it be because of memories from long ago lingering in my body?
“To be honest, it’s not that enjoyable, but it’s not entirely boring either.”
Gerlach raised an eyebrow in an odd manner, seemingly intrigued by my answer.
Then he glanced at my ashen dress and continued speaking.
“Judging by how hard you prepared, it seems you had some expectations.”
“Are you teasing me right now?”
I almost glared at him but managed to hold back.
Ugh, whose fault is all this anyway!
Phew, dying and coming back to life multiple times has only increased my patience.
“No, I was just wondering what you were thinking when you chose that dress.”
So, you want to ask why I came looking like a beggar, right?
I could answer that as much as I wanted.
Because I don’t want to catch your eye.
It was meant to tell you to go to your destined partner, not me.
Of course, that’s something I could never say in front of those cold eyes.
“That’s why it’s interesting.”
“……”
“Because you’re someone whose thoughts I can never figure out.”
Gerlach said something that I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or an insult.
“Please don’t find it interesting.”
I spoke with as little emotion as possible.
Then, for a while, we stood on the balcony, looking down at the garden without saying a word.
I couldn’t find anything to say, and it seemed Gerlach was the same.
“Bernadette.”
His low voice cut through the suffocating silence.
“I hoped to meet you with a more relaxed face today.”
At Gerlach’s words, I withdrew my gaze from him.
He seemed dissatisfied with my expression, but this was the best I could do for now.
Besides, with my mind so complicated right now, how could I put on a relaxed and comfortable expression?
“I, I have… some personal issues.”
“Personal issues?”
“Yes, you could say it’s personal matters.”
I thought I could just brush it off as personal matters.
“Tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
This male lead has such a strong problem-solving instinct that it’s troublesome.
“Oh, no.”
“Then should I find out myself?”
“What? Find out what?”
“The things that happened to you.”
“No, absolutely not. Please don’t!”
I waved my hands frantically, but Gerlach just smiled brightly, oblivious to my frustration!
Ah, I should have worn a knotted bracelet.
I should have done something to ward off misfortune or avoid fate!
At times like this, leaving is the best option.
“Oh, come to think of it, I’ve been away for too long. Lady Almaz is waiting for me.”
I threw in a word while watching Gerlach’s reaction, and his expression wasn’t bad.
Oh, should I subtly bring it up now?
I decided to bring up Leonie’s story at this point.
“Lady Almaz is someone who never complains even if she waits for me this long.”
“……”
“She has a heart as pure as silk.”
I continued speaking while subtly watching Gerlach’s reaction.
“But her face is as beautiful as her kind heart.”
Our Leonie is such a kind, gentle, angelic child.
She was born and raised in a good family, received plenty of love, and shines like sunlight.
Could it be that my efforts, my efforts to appeal for Leonie, have worked even a little?
“Was Lady Almaz the one with blonde hair?”
I quickly answered Gerlach’s question, feeling a sense of triumph inside.
‘I knew it! He must have fallen for Leonie when he saw her in the banquet hall earlier!’
I clenched and unclenched my fist subtly and continued speaking.
“Yes, that’s right. Her blonde hair is bright and radiant like light in the darkness.”
“A blue dress?”
“Yes, yes, that’s correct.”
“With a red ribbon?”
“Oh, yes, that’s right. You’re very accurate!”
Wait, when did he observe her so closely?
Men are all the same in front of a pretty woman, after all.
Well, our Leonie is quite pretty. Hehe!
At this rate, I might not have to try too hard to bring them together?
While I was chuckling to myself thinking this…
“Is that her over there?”
“Yes, that’s… What?”
I turned my head in the direction Gerlach was pointing.
Oh my goodness, it really is Leonie!
“Huh? Why is Leonie over there?”
I leaned over the balcony as if I might fall off, looking down at Leonie.
She was strolling in the garden with someone, looking very happy.
My goodness, what’s going on?
As I turned my head following her movements with a bewildered face, Gerlach said.
“Your friend doesn’t seem to be particularly waiting for you?”
“……”
Ah, what on earth is this?
Well, it’s natural to mingle with people at a ball.
“But the man with Lady Almaz.”
“……”
“It’s the man I saw at your house.”
It was none other than Adrian.
I was so shocked that I was at a loss for words.
The person visible in the distance was clearly blonde Leonie, and the one enjoying a walk beside her was Adrian.
‘Why is Leonie with that person?’
I hoped my eyes were mistaken, or that I was seeing the wrong person.
But that hair, so brilliant and beautiful it seemed to shine even in the darkness, was definitely Leonie’s.
“……”
Even though they were quite far away, I could sense Leonie’s emotions.
Her fluttering walk, her somehow lively steps, the way her delicate fingertips hid her smile, all of it.
Leonie looks happy right now.
“I suppose there’s no need to go to your friend now?”
I was completely speechless.
No, Leonie. This isn’t the time for you to be all giggly with Adrian!
Somehow, my escape route had disappeared, and because of Leonie’s happy appearance(?), I didn’t know what to do.
“I have something I want to ask.”
Gerlach leaned against the balcony, staring at me.
What does he suddenly want to ask me?
I swallowed hard once and looked at the distant mountains-
“Did you not like the dress?”
Hahaha.
The inevitable has come.
It was something I had vaguely anticipated from the moment I wore this dress.
That he might ask why I didn’t show up wearing the dress he gifted.
That a moment like this might come.
So I should just calmly say what I had prepared.
But as I’ve said before, I have a very straightforward personality and can’t hide my true feelings.
I’m the type who gets caught lying nine times out of ten!
Moreover, what I had in mind to say was too rude, and it would take quite a bit of courage to say it out loud.
Being rude to someone, that is, becoming a bad person, is really difficult.
Much more than I thought.
“Yes, it was a bit far from my taste.”
I spoke as curtly as possible and turned my head.
I pretended to be nonchalant, but in truth, my legs were trembling inside the dress.
Gerlach is not a generous person.
How I handled the gift after receiving it was up to me, but to be rude like this…!
His calm brow began to twitch at my words.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, well. It looked expensive, but it’s not really the trendy type these days.”
But since I’ve drawn the sword, I must cut something.
Since he’s showing a strange obsession, making him lose interest is the best method!
But it would be troublesome if he gets so put off that he decides to behead me.
As expected, when I glanced at him sideways, Gerlach’s face had changed as if he were chewing on gravel.
I was momentarily scared and almost waved my hands to say it was a joke, but I held back.
Get a grip. Did you forget you need to be disliked?
“In that case, I should look for another aide.”
From talking about the dress to suddenly mentioning an aide?
“Why are you suddenly talking about the aide?”
“That dress. I chose it myself.”
“……”
“I’ve never bought a woman’s dress before, so I asked for opinions from Sir Orie.”
As the image of the gentle-faced Sir Milen Orie flashed through my mind.
“When I asked if it was the most beautiful dress, he answered without hesitation that it was.”
“……”
“I need someone who can do their job properly.”
“Uh, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
But Gerlach, as if he didn’t hear my voice, spoke again.
“I heard he got married last year. Soon, he’ll have a child too.”
“……”
“I hope he finds a job that suits him this time.”
“Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
Gerlach slowly straightened his body, which had been lazily leaning against the balcony, and cut off my words.
“I almost forgot.”
I held my breath, wondering what he was going to say this time-
“I should punish someone.”
“What? Punish who?”
“The one who lied to me that the design was the most fashionable.”
Wow, he talks about firing and punishing someone so nonchalantly?
Is he really crazy?
“Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke. Please don’t.”
“My gift didn’t bring you joy, so someone must take responsibility.”
“No, no, Your Highness the Grand Duke. So, that is…”
Should I now say that everything I said was actually a lie?
I had mustered up the courage to say harsh words(?), but now I can’t just say it was all a lie and apologize. Oh, really!
You, you, hey. Why are you doing this to me!
“Wait, Your Highness the Grand Duke!”
Yes, fate and all that is important, but.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch the aide become unemployed right now.
I never imagined that not wearing the dress would lead to such a fallout.
How did the conversation end up like this?
“The dress you sent. It was actually pretty.”
Even though he got married last year and is expecting a child.
Wow, just thinking about it makes me break out in a cold sweat.
Thinking that a peaceful and happy family would be shattered and the breadwinner would lose his job because of me, I had no choice but to drop the act.
I must at least protect the aide’s job!
“Really. It was pretty. But.”
I was pushed to say it was pretty, but now what excuse should I make?
It was pretty, but I just didn’t wear it.
No, I can’t say it like that!
From my experience, Gerlach is not an easy person.
He’s not someone who would just let it go if I said it was pretty but I didn’t wear it.
He would definitely press me until I found a convincing reason, cornering me until I was so exhausted I couldn’t breathe, and then he would leisurely smile and extend his hand.
I hate that I know this pattern so well.
“But?”
I was genuinely flustered and sweating profusely when suddenly, thoughts of leisurely eating cake and sweet things popped into my head.
Wow, when stress is extreme, I start thinking of sweets.
The very things my father and brother advised me to cut down on for my health.
At that moment, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
This is it.
“It was a bit small.”
Gerlach raised an eyebrow, seemingly not expecting my words, and asked again.
“Small?”
“Yes, so. It was a bit small for me.”
After saying that, I glanced up at him, and Gerlach was wearing an expression I had never seen before.
That’s right.
He was extremely embarrassed.
He was flustered, very flustered, and blaming himself.
He sent a dress as a gift, but it didn’t fit. And worse, he sent one that was too small.
Wow, imagining the situation where she tried on the dress, realized it was too small, became dejected, put it aside, and came to the ball wearing any other dress!
…I guess that’s roughly what he thought?
Of course, I didn’t say it exactly like that.
‘Alright, when they’re flustered, push a little more.’
I can’t miss such a good opportunity.
“I was going to try to lose a bit of weight to wear it.”
If nothing else, I could say this smoothly because my old memories came flooding back.
Who knew that not being free from the war with weight would be so helpful.
“Your Highness, not wearing the dress wasn’t because it was out of fashion, or because I didn’t like it.”
Then I slightly bowed my head.
“The aide’s eye was accurate, and the dress shop manager’s choice was excellent. The problem is me. It’s my body.”
“…What body?”
“Ah, no. My body.”
After saying that, I lowered my head slightly.
Surely he’ll let it go after hearing this much?
But there was a somewhat unexpected response.
For a moment, Gerlach seemed lost in thought and said nothing, then-
“I’m sorry.”
He dropped a short but powerful word in front of me.
I hadn’t expected him to say he was sorry at all.
I just thought he would understand my excuse and let it go.
In truth, Gerlach wasn’t a person with expressive features. He was someone who looked down on everyone with his characteristically lofty and dry gaze.
But what I faced now was an expression I had truly never seen before.
“I didn’t know the dress I sent would be too small. I apologize.”
What was contained in those large eyes was clearly self-reproach.
“I thought I knew you well and had it made, but it was my judgment that was poor. I’m sorry.”
No, if you blame yourself that much, I feel like real trash, and bad, and I don’t know what to do.
So, without realizing it, I opened my mouth.
“No, Your Highness doesn’t need to be sorry. Actually, my food intake has increased lately. Hehe, I’ll adjust properly so I can wear the beautiful dress.”
“No, there’s no need to…”
“No, please don’t stop me!”
“You’re already sufficiently…”
“No, I fully understand how Your Highness thinks of me, and for not living up to expectations, I really want to die and feel so dejected.”
“But that dress, I specially…”
If I give him a chance to speak here, he’ll stop me.
I need to push when I can.
“You probably didn’t know how much side fat I have hidden in this voluminous dress, sob. Actually, I folded it up and hid it.”
“Folded what?”
“Anyway, I’ll lose it. Yes, I’ll lose it.”
I closed my eyes tightly and made a gesture of blocking the front with both hands.
I started with an excuse to defend myself, but once I started talking, I couldn’t stop.
“So I’ll definitely wear it the next time I see you.”
I showed my determination by clenching my fist.
“You don’t have to go that far…”
“No, I’m telling you! I will. I’ll definitely have a body that fits the most beautiful dress in the world!”
“……”
“So please don’t fire the aide. Okay?”
When I said that far, Gerlach finally looked at me and smiled.
It seems my act worked a bit, haha!
“I won’t do that.”
Even then, I really didn’t know.
How hard I had stepped on my own foot.
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