~Chapter 12~
Leon waved a handkerchief lightly with a face full of amusement.
“…Leonhardt, it’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while? Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“….”
“You’re a heartless guy. Is there anything else you do at night besides curse people?”
I thought to myself:
Leon didn’t go to hunt monsters; he came back learning how to beat people with words!
Cedric sighed softly.
“Looks like you haven’t left behind your ignorance, even in the knight’s order. You’ve probably forgotten how to talk to people while catching monsters in the mountains. Oh wait, you never knew how to begin with. My mistake.”
It was obvious that Leon was getting angry. While I was just watching them, Cedric’s gaze briefly shifted to the handkerchief.
“…You still have that habit of stealing from others, huh?”
“Stealing? Hah, when did you start treating Bianca like a sister?”
But Cedric, as if Leon were invisible, ignored his words casually.
“This one’s for my brother here…”
I, in a daze, quickly pulled out another handkerchief. Seeing this, Leon mocked me.
“Why, trying to play family games? Now of all times?”
“Leonhardt. I warned you before, didn’t I? Don’t act out of line.”
“You’re the one overstepping. I’m just taking back what’s mine. And you call me a thief? Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair? They weren’t lying when they said reading too many books messes with your head. That’s exactly what happened to you.”
I was so used to ladies’ indirect remarks that I had trouble focusing on the direct conversation between Leon and Cedric.
“Of course, without anything in your head, you easily believe nonsense. No matter how much I spin around, I’m still better than you, who smells like a beast.”
“Please! Both of you, stop!”
I yelled with an exhausted face.
Both of them were like mosquitoes sucking the life out of me.
“Alright, here’s Leon brother’s handkerchief. And here’s Cedric brother’s handkerchief. Are we done now? Okay, now go your separate ways.”
At that moment, the sound of a horn blew. The hunting competition was about to start, and the participants were being called.
Cedric frowned for a moment before walking off.
Ah, finally, I can take a breath.
As I stared at Cedric’s retreating figure, Leon whispered seriously to me.
“By the way, you don’t really have my curse doll in your basement, do you?”
…Would I?
***
‘Is she sick?’
Ricardo’s gaze landed on Bianca. Her face, usually full of disdain, now looked pale—more so than usual. She looked so weak it was a miracle she was still walking.
It was strange that no one had stopped her yet.
Without realizing it, Ricardo followed behind her.
Just then.
Thud.
Something fell from her pocket. Ricardo, almost as if hypnotized, picked up what she dropped.
It was chocolate. Ricardo let out a dry laugh.
The woman, unaware she had dropped her snack, continued walking busily.
…What’s she, a child?
Ricardo sighed inwardly as he picked up her precious snacks one by one, continuing to follow her.
Just as he had almost caught up to her,
Leonhardt?
Gone was the disheveled appearance from earlier, replaced by a woman with a healthy glow, standing alongside a fierce-looking Leon.
…Wait, just talking to Leonhardt made her look this much better?
Ricardo’s eyes locked on Bianca, who was smiling brightly. Waves slowly spread in his gaze.
“Brother, I really appreciated the advice you gave me before.”
“Oh, the one about sending a letter?”
“Yes.”
His footsteps suddenly stopped.
‘…A letter?’
***
At my words, Leon laughed casually as if it was no big deal.
“I didn’t do anything. You were the one who wrote the letter.”
“Well, yes, but if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have thought to write it.”
“So? Do you feel a little relieved now?”
…Relieved, you say.
Well, honestly, I’m not sure. After all, the letter I sent wasn’t meant to ask for Ricardo’s forgiveness.
If anything, it should be Ricardo who feels relieved first.
But telling the truth to Leon, who gave me advice, felt a little awkward. So I forced a smile and nodded. Leon followed my lead, pulling the corners of his mouth into a grin.
He seemed like he had something to say as he absentmindedly played with my hair.
“…I wish you luck.”
“At your command, my lady.”
Leon kissed my hair lightly and then walked away.
Now, it’s time to find Peril.
I stretched my stiff body, but then I froze when I saw Ricardo standing behind me.
“Ah! You startled me!”
Oh no, I didn’t just swear, did I?
I didn’t, right?
Good job, Bianca. You’re really becoming a lady now!
“W-Why are you here…?”
Still holding my racing heart, I asked Ricardo, but he remained silent.
“Duke?”
“…”
“…Duke?”
“…”
“Hey, Ricardo.”
Honestly, at this point, just answer me.
It’s only polite, you know!
Still no answer. I shook my head in frustration and noticed the chocolate in his hand.
Why is this here…
I quickly searched my pockets. My hand slipped into a big hole I hadn’t noticed before.
Ricardo stared at my fingers peeking out from the hole.
This is insane.
If my toes were greeting him through the hole in my socks, it wouldn’t be as embarrassing as this.
I cleared my throat and pulled my hand out of my pocket. Ricardo smirked as he observed me.
“I guess the Marquis’ family finances aren’t doing too well.”
That mouth!
Honestly, I’d love to slap him upside the head right now.
“I just don’t wear my pants properly.”
It was incredibly awkward. I had fitted my outfit several times before the hunting competition, so there’s no way Emily didn’t notice such a big hole.
…This is crazy.
“More importantly, what are you doing here?”
This is already my second question, don’t you think it’s time to answer?
Honestly, it felt strange. It was our first time meeting after sending the letter, and I was curious about what he was thinking. Was he starting to believe my words, or at least trust me a little?
I thought sending him a heartfelt letter might change things, but for some reason, his cold attitude was still the same.
“…”
Right. My bad for wanting an answer.
Out of words, I absentmindedly tapped the floor with the tip of my shoe.
Should I tell him where Idette is?
Now that I think about it, I heard Idette was going to be embarrassed at the tea party today…
Wow, how did I just remember that?
I hurriedly looked around, but Idette was nowhere near.
Ricardo, who had been staring at me, spoke quietly.
“Are you looking for young Baron Owen?”
Why is Leonhardt’s name coming up here?
“That’s not it.”
“You two seemed quite close, so I just asked.”
For some reason, Ricardo’s tone was suddenly stiff.
“The letter you sent—”
He stopped abruptly, as if realizing something.
The letter…?
Ricardo, tired-looking, pressed his fingers to his eyes and then quietly spoke.
“…I thought it was proper to meet with my fiancée before the competition started.”
That wasn’t an unexpected answer.
Proper, huh? It was the same thing I’d heard last time.
After all, Ricardo valued promises a lot. Though his actions when showing up at the meeting place didn’t reflect any politeness, he probably thought simply showing up was enough to fulfill his sense of politeness.
Ricardo’s throat tensed for a moment, then he quickly turned his head.
“You didn’t look well earlier, but you seem fine now.”
He must have seen me looking like a sick person.
For someone like Ricardo to say something like this, I guess my makeup job was worse than I thought.
I expressed my regret at my rusty skills for a moment.
“Thanks for your concern. But it’s not that I’m sick…”
I motioned toward the royal tent lightly, lowering my voice.
“I just didn’t want to attend the tea party, so I did my makeup a little differently.”
Ricardo raised his eyebrows at my words.
“I heard Idette didn’t want to attend either, so I passed on my technique to her.”
See? I’m being nice, right?
I really don’t plan on tormenting Idette like in the original. After all the effort I’ve put in, can’t you trust me just a little?
Ricardo’s expression became unreadable, but then, for a brief moment, the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile.
