Chapter 38
For a while, Blake remained silent, his body seeming to stiffen from shock.
Is my appearance really that bad right now?
I looked at Blake, dazed, and cautiously spoke.
“Why, Your Highness?”
“…….”
“First, you should come in… Is it this outfit that’s so terrible?”
It seemed Blake finally came to his senses.
However, his expression still didn’t look good, and he didn’t answer.
Blake slowly stepped inside at my words, but his lips remained sealed.
I wondered why he was acting this way and glanced down at my dress, but I couldn’t see anything wrong.
“Nothing seems to be stained… Is something the matter?”
“…No.”
After asking several times, I finally got an answer, which made me tilt my head in confusion.
Blake didn’t seem to be in a good state.
Would it be okay to go to the festival?
It would be disappointing if we couldn’t go, but it wasn’t like I would drag someone who was unwell.
“Your Highness, if you’re not feeling well, should we not go out?”
“…Why?”
Why? Because you don’t look well, of course.
I frowned and looked at Blake, and he turned his gaze away as if avoiding mine.
After hesitating for a long while, he finally spoke.
“Th-that dress is…”
“This one? I found it in the dressing room; it seems it was a dress I cherished. No, it was a cherished dress.”
Get a grip! I’m Ariel right now.
Even though I don’t know if that’s really true, the fact that I treasured it among all those extravagant dresses proves that I did care about it.
However, that answer didn’t seem to be what Blake was waiting for.
He shut his mouth again.
And then he looked at me quietly, with a strange expression mixing disappointment and helplessness.
Wait, is this dress really that bad?
It was the first time Blake had reacted so strongly to my outfit, and I didn’t know what to do.
“Should I change into something else now? If you wait outside for a moment…”
“No need. You said it’s your favorite dress.”
Blake replied in a calm voice.
It was so calm that it felt cold, as if there was no trace of emotion at all.
When was that?
It felt just like back then, in the carriage to the temple, when Ian had said, “I would never love you,” and Blake had responded.
It made me feel awkward, as if he were being unnecessarily cold. I nervously fiddled with the hem of my dress.
Blake’s reaction, seeing my outfit and being shocked… how should I describe it?
It was as if he were facing the burial clothes of someone he loved.
Of course, that was totally impossible, and I couldn’t even imagine Blake mourning, but…
“Th-then… shall we… go?”
I could feel my voice trembling.
Normally, Blake would tease me with a chuckle, saying, “Why are you scared?” But at my words, he simply extended his hand to me.
His hand was cold when it touched mine.
I knew it was normally cold, but it still felt colder than usual.
And from the time we got on the humble carriage, leaving the palace, until we reached the streets of Tesh, Blake said nothing.
He seemed lost in deep thought.
Of course, he didn’t break his promise to not avoid me.
The escort was escorting, and the hands were… hands.
Once he held my hand, he never let go—this trait of his stubborn heroism shone through even here.
“Don’t let go of my hand; there are many people.”
“Am I a child or something?”
I grumbled, yet held his hand firmly.
I couldn’t understand why, but his gloomy atmosphere made me cautious.
Once we arrived in the streets of Tesh, the lively festival began to lift my spirits.
I looked around, amazed by all the sights, and when I saw something intriguing, I stared in wonder.
Blake, seeing me like this, muttered as if frustrated.
“If you want a closer look, we can do that. No need to watch from far away.”
“Really?”
“We came here for that, didn’t we?”
Even though I thought his real goal was just an inspection, I couldn’t help but smile.
Gradually, I grew more excited, pointing out things here and there, and Blake pulled me along without a hint of annoyance.
Sometimes, he looked at me as if I were a child playing with toys, but he never spoke a word about it!
I didn’t care!
“Ah! Look! That’s the famous chicken skewers! They’re really good. It must be even better when eaten hot like this. Wow, but the line is so long—should we wait?”
“Take your time. I won’t eat you.”
“Oh, and the baked potatoes with butter smell amazing too!”
Driven by the appetizing smell, I went wild.
I had been worrying about Blake’s mood just a moment ago, but now…
I was drooling, eyes sparkling, and Blake looked at me with a slightly startled expression and asked,
“Has the mistress been starving while walking around? Is the food at the Crown Princess’ palace really that bad?”
“Even if Your Highness eats luxurious and rare foods every day, don’t you sometimes want street food too?”
His tastes weren’t particularly refined, after all. He even enjoyed sandwiches.
In the novel, Blake sometimes secretly left the palace to watch people and eat street food.
He had a similar taste to mine, yet he scolded me!
“Since I was resurrected, I haven’t been able to enjoy such little indulgences for a while.”
Hearing him speak so softly made me feel embarrassed.
He couldn’t enjoy food alone with his resurrected body, so even small pleasures had disappeared.
After hesitating, I scratched my cheek and said,
“But today, since I’m with you, we can enjoy it together. Or next time, you can let me join your little escapades too.”
“……With the mistress?”
Blake’s expression looked like, “That’s not bad,” which surprised me.
I didn’t know why, but did that mean he wasn’t upset with me after all?
Following the excitement of the festival, Blake gradually seemed to lighten up as well.
No matter how much the novel portrayed him as a hero navigating conspiracies and strategies, Blake was still only twenty-four.
I liked it when he showed his age-appropriate side, not just the heavy hero or Crown Prince.
And when I could occasionally show him that side, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Yes, this is why I cheered for you—I thought.
As a reader, I had imagined the protagonist so fervently.
“Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?”
“You didn’t answer when I asked if Your Highness had anything on your outfit. So I’m not answering either.”
Blake seemed lost for words at that, his narrowed eyes giving away, “Trying to act tough only now, huh.” I laughed.
Pretending not to notice, I turned my head and reached for something else.
“Let’s go there this time.”
Seeing flowers lit up all over the night market streets made me think of the ritual I had been most looking forward to.
It was a ritual where magic was infused into flowers to make the sky sparkle, as people prayed for prosperity.
We approached a cart filled with flowers, hearts racing.
“Too late, unfortunately. It’s a pity.”
“It’s already cold, making flowers hard to get. If the festival held at the palace had been canceled, we could’ve done it during that period.”
I looked at the cart full of flowers with a puzzled expression.
They looked lifeless.
Had all the flowers died?
I hurriedly called to the people pulling the cart.
“Excuse me! Are the flowers not used for the ritual this time?”
“The Prosperity Ritual? Yes. All the flowers have withered and died this time.”
“Oh…”
“Seems you came to enjoy the festival with your lover. Too bad, miss.”
With that, the man drove the rattling cart away.
Watching his retreating figure, Blake looked down at me and spoke.
“You’re that disappointed?”
“I was really looking forward to it. It’s disappointing.”
“Shall I get some for you when we return to the palace?”
I slowly lifted my head to him.
At moments like this, he was the romantic and gentle husband himself.
“No, I wanted to see the flowers scatter their magic with the festival here. It can’t be helped.”
“The cold weather must be the reason. Since the flowers have withered, they can’t be revived.”
His calm voice, comforting me, suddenly made a thought strike me.
If the flowers can’t be revived… that’s fine! I’m a necromancer!
