MFTR 53

Chapter 53

“I think I might like Your Grace”:

“…You’re saying I made the maid uncomfortable?”

At Anette’s words, Cardin tilted his head in confusion.

Seeing his genuinely puzzled expression, Anette’s face hardened.

“You asked her just now, didn’t you? To teach you how to tie hair.”

“Yes. But how is that a problem?”

“You really don’t see it…?”

“That’s not fair, Princess! You only give that maid the chance to touch your hair!”

Cardin, who had been holding it in, finally burst out.

Anette blinked in surprise.

“…What?”

“I can do a good job too! I’ve never done it before, but I’m naturally good at anything the first time. And I’ll get even better if I learn!”

I’m sure I can tie it up much prettier than that maid…!

His voice, full of injustice and frustration, was so pitiful that Anette had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing.

She nearly burst out laughing in front of someone who looked like he was on the verge of heartbreak.

“I-I see.”

“Yes. So please give me a chance too.”

Cardin’s eyes lit up with fierce determination, and Anette nodded as she brushed her lips with her fingers.

As soon as he got her approval, Cardin looked triumphant and vowed not to disappoint her.

Watching him, Anette had to bite the inside of her cheek just to stop herself from smiling.

She thought she had a good grasp on Cardin by now—but clearly, she was wrong. She still had a long way to go.

No, maybe… if he hadn’t hesitated the moment his gaze met Larisa’s, she might’ve figured out his true intentions.

Anette sighed softly, embarrassed at herself for feeling jealous over a maid six years younger than her.

Noticing this, Cardin glanced at her anxiously.

To be honest, he’d felt a little hurt when she told him not to make things difficult for the maid—but in the end, he still managed to get a chance to style Anette’s hair.

More than anything, a maid who could create such a cute hairstyle… perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to keep her around, just a little.

Suppressing his jealousy, Cardin asked with an innocent tone,

“But Princess, what exactly do you like so much about that maid?”

What had she done to win the Princess over so quickly, to the point of becoming more relied upon than him in just one day?

“Larisa?”

Anette blinked, still feeling guilty toward the girl.

What did she like about her…? There were so many things.

She was cheerful and polite, quick-witted, and did her job well. Most importantly, she didn’t fear or avoid Anette—she chattered nonstop at her side…

“She’s cute.”

“…Pardon?”

“She’s really cute. Like a little sister.”

Though she had a real half-sister, Brigitte, Anette had never once thought of her that way.

Suddenly, the words sounded funny even to herself. Unsure how Cardin would take it, Anette scratched her cheek awkwardly.

Cardin, however, wasn’t thinking of her family at all.

‘She’s calling someone cute… but she’s the cutest person in the world herself!’

And she was currently in the form of an 8-year-old child!

The fact that Anette thought a much older maid was cute made her even more adorable in his eyes.

Still, since Cardin didn’t find Larisa cute in the slightest, he became lost in thought trying to figure out what exactly Anette saw in her.

‘Her face is average, nothing special…’

Surely that scatterbrained way of speaking wasn’t what she found cute?

He decided he’d observe carefully while learning how to tie hair—just in case he could earn some of that “cute” affection for himself.

Just then, Anette spoke again.

“But Your Grace, didn’t you have something to tell me?”

At her words, Cardin finally remembered the reason he had invited her to the parlor.

“Um… should we eat cake first before we talk?”

In a moment of rare cowardice, he tried to stall for time.

But Anette shook her head.

“Please say it first.”

In the end, pressured by her insistence, Cardin straightened his posture.

He let out a short breath and said,

“Princess, I’d like you to see what’s under my mask.”

Anette held her breath for a moment.

It was clearly a surprising statement—but it didn’t register right away.

She turned it over and over in her mind before her eyes widened in realization.

‘He wants me to see his face under the mask…?’

So… he’s saying he’s going to take off his mask in front of me?

She couldn’t believe it.

She had hoped for a chance to share dinner tonight, but had also prepared to back out if the mood soured, fearing she’d hurt him.

She never expected him to make such a request first.

“Were you very surprised?”

“…A little.”

Anette nodded honestly.

“But I want to see it. I’ve been curious ever since our engagement was confirmed. Please show me.”

“…Ha.”

Cardin hadn’t expected her to respond so enthusiastically.

He hadn’t thought she would want to see a face so widely rumored to be hideous.

Slowly, he brought both hands up to the mask.

His princess really had a talent for keeping him on edge.

Hearing his sigh of joy and worry mixed together, Anette hesitated.

“If it’s too much, you don’t have to—”

“No, I brought it up first. I can’t take it back.”

Cardin quickly shook his head, and Anette let out a relieved smile.

She had been surprised, sure—but now that she thought about it, she was grateful.

When she accepted this marriage, she had worried that the duke might treat her coldly—or even despise her.

But he had been so kind, so caring. Almost too good for her.

Even if his face were the most grotesque in the world, it wouldn’t matter to her.

If anything… she felt sorry, and…

“I’m sorry.”

If he hadn’t lost his beauty, she thought, she would never have had a chance to meet someone this kind. That selfish thought made her feel ashamed.

And so, she made up her mind again.

Don’t be surprised. Don’t flinch. Don’t recoil.

No matter what he looked like, she would remain composed and calm.

Not wanting to hurt him even the slightest, Anette lifted her head, her expression and heart steeled.

“Then… I’ll take it off now.”

Just then, Cardin seemed to have made his decision too. Slowly, he brought his hands to his mask—and gently removed it.

“…?”

Blink. Blink.

Thankfully, just as she promised herself, Anette didn’t flinch or show any hesitation. But—

‘…Is this right?’

She blinked in confusion.

She had tried so hard not to be surprised, but the sight before her caught her completely off guard.

Not because he was hideous.

If he had been, she wouldn’t have been surprised.

He didn’t look like someone disfigured by the blood of monsters.

Instead—

‘Why is he… sparkling?’

Anette slowly lifted a hand to rub her eyes, trying to keep her expression neutral.

“…”

Nope. Still the same.

Finally, she came to a conclusion—this must be a dream.

Yes. That would make sense.

After all, him taking off his mask and showing her his face—that made no sense from the start.

‘Just how curious about his face am I, to dream this up…?’

Anette blushed without realizing it.

She hadn’t known she wanted to see his face this badly.

“Princess?”

Then came his voice—low, smooth, like music.

Cardin, worried by her lack of response, had finally spoken.

Anette lifted her head at the sound and met his eyes—clearer than even the autumn sky—and froze in shock.

To be honest, she had many handsome men around her: her brother Franz, who was so beautiful he reminded her of a lily, and Zeon Millard, the kingdom’s most sought-after bachelor and a perfect knight.

But she had never seen anyone this beautiful before.

Even the Emperor, Lucius—Cardin’s brother—was a refined man, but not nearly as stunning.

Though golden hair and vivid blue eyes were common among royalty…

His smooth ivory skin, sharp jawline, and features perfectly balanced in symmetry and delicacy… everything about him was flawless.

Especially the way his lips naturally curled at the corners, as if smiling—it was captivating.

Even the most exquisite sculpture, crafted with utmost care, couldn’t compare.

But then she realized—there was no way she could’ve dreamed up a face like this.

Something so impossibly, divinely beautiful.

“Wait… so this isn’t a dream…?”

So it’s real?

Overwhelmed, Anette’s face twisted in confusion and panic.

〈“Audrey sparkles from head to toe!”〉
〈“T-That’s just because you’re blinded by love for His Highness!”〉

She recalled how Mikhail once gushed about Audrey, saying if this was love’s delusion, he’d gladly be fooled forever.

“…Ah.”

Sunlight streamed through the window—but the light radiating from Cardin easily outshone it.

And Anette finally realized something.

As her expression turned to one of distress, Cardin’s also darkened.

“Princess, did I deceive you…”

“What do I do, Your Grace.”

They both spoke at once and looked at each other in surprise.

Cardin, seeing her eyes glistening as if she might cry, asked anxiously,

“Why are you upset, Princess?”

Anette, flustered and unsure of what to do, answered with a quivering voice.

“I think I might like you, Your Grace.”