Chapter 33
“How is welfare provided for the citizens of the Kingdom of Dayrid?”
He looked a bit offended that I wouldn’t let him touch me, but at least Adrian still answered properly.
“If you let me use your arm as a pillow.”
“You said you’d stop if I didn’t allow it.”
“I did stop. Just let me do this much.”
“Why?”
Never in my life did I think I’d end up sharing a bed with so many men. But now, there have already been four! All of them ridiculously handsome, with good builds, smooth voices, and even nice chests!
“I suppose you really did lose your memories.”
“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”
“You used to have nightmares. Unless you were in someone’s arms, you couldn’t sleep properly.”
“Is that why I kept calling for Joshua?”
I saw him frown. Hm… even when he frowned, he was annoyingly good-looking. But I wasn’t foolish enough to waste feelings on something that wasn’t mine.
“Yeah.”
“And what did you do?”
“Didn’t you hear? The bed-slave and I usually came together.”
“Oh, right. That’s true.”
“You haven’t called for him lately, so he stopped coming.”
I didn’t resist when he naturally slid his arm under my neck. Joshua had done that often, so the feeling was familiar—unlike Francis.
“Now tell me. I let you use my arm as a pillow.”
He lifted his free hand and brushed his fingers across my forehead, then along my nose bridge, and tapped the tip. When his fingers touched my eyelashes, my eyes closed reflexively.
“What are you doing?”
“There was something I wanted to ask before, but now I can’t anymore.”
“And what’s that?”
“…”
He went silent. His face moved close enough that I could feel his breath. His scent was strong—clean and refreshing.
“I would’ve stayed by your side no matter how you looked, no matter how disfigured you were. I just wondered… why couldn’t you trust me?”
“That’s funny. You’re the one who tried to run away when you saw my bare face.”
“I wasn’t running away. I was just surprised.”
That reminded me of the time I got beaten senseless by my sister’s four lackeys.
Just thinking about my sister made me smile.
I can’t wait to start that reverse curse and make her (censored) someday!
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because you’re finally going to tell me! About the citizens of Dayrid!”
I steered the topic back before he could get suspicious.
“You’ve changed. You used to be terrified that I’d leave you.”
“Stop saying useless things.”
The way he looked at me—hurt and wistful—made me uncomfortable. If it weren’t for the quest, I wouldn’t be here at all. This felt like unpaid overtime.
“You know I manage the judiciary, right?”
“Yeah.”
“There are many complaints filed by the citizens of Dayrid. Most have no one to represent them, so they rarely get fair rulings.”
I shifted slightly because his arm was uncomfortable, and he patted my head. His warm palm brushed along my temple again.
“So?”
“So, I plan to create a free defense institution—only for those from Dayrid.”
“Nothing more practical?”
“I’m also planning a relief program. After the Bergen incident, it’s been hard for Dayrid citizens to find work.”
“That explosion was probably sabotage.”
“I think so too.”
His finger trailed from my cheek to my lips. It tickled, so I slapped his hand away. He just smiled slyly. God, he’s annoyingly pretty.
“What kind of relief work?”
“I’ll enlist them for reconstruction projects.”
“Not bad. And I want to open a school under my name.”
“To teach slaves how to read, perhaps?”
“Yeah.”
His fingers were teasing my lips again, so I bit them. Hard. But he didn’t even flinch, just looked at me calmly. So I bit harder.
“What are you doing?”
“E awr yawr ah ahh.”
“You’re threatening to bite off my finger?”
“Yeah.”
I’d bitten with all my strength, but it was like chewing on rubber.
“How strange. I want your memories to return, but at the same time, I don’t.”
I let go before I drooled.
“Nonsense.”
“After you nearly drowned, you seem like a completely different person.”
Oh no, this guy’s intuition is too good! I can’t let him find out I’m a changeling or something!
“I’ve always been like this. You just didn’t notice.”
“Maybe so.”
He wiped the bit of saliva on my lips and pulled me closer. I tried to push his chest away, but it was useless.
“This is the first time I’ve gone to sleep with you without doing anything.”
“You mean you used to, every night?”
“Almost every night. Several times a night, until you passed out.”
“…Your stamina’s something else.”
“You said that was one of my strengths.”
Ugh. I really didn’t want to know that.
“So you kept chasing Joshua away? It was always just the two of us?”
“Toys should be discarded once they’ve served their purpose.”
“Did you throw him out, or did I?”
“You did.”
Tch. There goes my tiny hope that he was just a decent guy. Rational garbage, that Princess Gracie.
“So now you’re taking interest in your toy again out of pity?”
“Responsibility. And guilt. And compassion, maybe. I plan to treat Joshua as an equal from now on.”
Not exactly my feelings, but since I’m playing Princess Gracie, I’ll act the part until the quest’s cleared.
“Go to sleep. I’m tired.”
“Alright.”
I turned my back to avoid being hugged, but he pulled me tighter instead. I pretended to sleep… and then actually fell asleep, dreamlessly.
〈Quest Complete! 〉
“The Heartless You II”
Reward: Adrian Russell’s trust toward Kiira Fletcher (Gabriella Bastian) will gradually decline over time!
“Have you reconciled with Duke Russell?”
The gentle question caught me off guard, so I just smiled. We’d gotten used to having tea together almost every afternoon; it felt routine now.
“It’s not reconciliation exactly, but… I’ll need him until I become Emperor. So, for now, yes.”
Francis was staring again. When I met his eyes, he frowned and looked away. Not sure what’s wrong with him this morning—he hasn’t said a single word.
“Any news from your sister?”
The Emperor scowled, then forced a smile when our eyes met, smoothing his brow.
“No idea. Don’t care either. She’s just like her mother—always pretending to be sick. It’s tiresome.”
Why does the Emperor hate the Empress so much?
And yet… why does he adore Princess Gracie so fiercely?
“When you’re crowned Crown Princess and start ruling in my stead, I might marry you off and send you away.”
“That sounds nice.”
He’s the same man who jumped into the water to save her life, who cried thinking she’d killed herself, who grants her every wish like a magic lamp genie.
And he’s always smiling—except with anyone but Gracie. Toward others, he’s cold, sharp, terrifyingly efficient.
Yet for some reason… he’s careful around me.
What made him love this spoiled, insane princess so much?
“Why do you love me, Father?”
“Because I just do. You’re the only reason this weary man keeps holding onto the throne.”
He really was like a furnace—his warmth melted people. His words always made my chest ache and my resolve soften.
“I plan to help reform the Dayrid citizens—so they can adapt to life in the Bastien Empire.”
“I see. I read Duke Russell’s report. He said your opinions were strongly reflected in it.”
“They were. So please, help me.”
“You don’t need to ask. Whatever you do, I—your father—will do my utmost for you.”
He set down his teacup, and I saw his hand rise again—of course, to ruffle my hair.
“Your hair’s a mess today.”
“Then why touch it?”
“To smooth it down, of course.”
We carried our tea and pastries through the garden toward the audience chamber. We’d originally planned to drink in the palace, but he’d insisted on showing me the lovely rear gardens, so now we had a long walk back.
“Is your back alright? Your neck? Your legs? I heard your foot was injured—can you walk?”
“You already asked all that when we came here. I’m fine. My foot stings a little, but I can walk.”
“Even with Russell accompanying you, you got hurt. Unacceptable.”
“What?”
“Write a report about it.”
“Hahaha.”
For a second, I wondered if he’d hug me if I threw a tantrum. But no, I wasn’t about to act spoiled.
Then, when I glanced sideways, I locked eyes with Francis again. He instantly looked away.
Seriously, what’s his problem today? Is it because I didn’t let him in last night?
“P-Please spare me! Spare me!”
The familiar voice made everyone turn toward it at once.
“Help me, Your Highness!”
