PLML 44

CHAPTER 44…..

After a commotion, peaceful everyday life returned. The repairs on the half-destroyed castle were completed, and Jaina got her room back.

“Peaceful.”

Jaina took a sip of milk tea filled with plenty of honey and gazed out the window. The once green forest had turned into a colorful tapestry. The cloudless sky was so clear it was almost dazzling.

They say autumn is the season of appetite.

Jaina’s craving for food had noticeably increased.

Eating excellent meals and freshly prepared sweet desserts every day, Jaina had grown like the autumn fruits.

Lost in thought, staring blankly at the sky, Jaina suddenly sat up. The hand that had just been reaching for a cookie moved toward her stomach. Between her fingers, she felt the soft flesh of a baby’s cheek.

“Whoa.”

Surprised by the plumpness that had filled her once flat stomach, Jaina hurried to the mirror.

She stretched the chubby flesh on her cheek. The white skin stretched out like sticky rice cake.

“Am I crazy? When did I get this fat?”

A protagonist is supposed to be the type who never gains weight no matter how much they eat, yet Jaina was flustered seeing her noticeably fuller figure.

“Why on earth?”

Jaina recalled her recent routine.

Eat breakfast, take a nap, eat dessert, lie down on the bed… Even the walks with the monsters she usually did had been lazily left to Ellie these past few days. It was a lifestyle pattern that could only lead to weight gain.

“It’s, it’s okay. From now on, I’ll eat less and start exercising little by little. Besides, it’s autumn now—perfect season for exercise, right?”

Having finally decided to diet, Jaina looked at the few remaining cookies and milk tea. She couldn’t bear to leave behind the luxurious cookies rich with butter aroma and the milk tea scented with deep black tea.

“Leaving this would be disrespectful to Ellie who prepared the desserts for me.”

Rationalizing to herself, Jaina ended up finishing all the remaining snacks.

With a full stomach, her senses returned.

“I shouldn’t have eaten that.”

Jaina despaired as she calculated the calories of the sweet dessert she had just devoured.

“No!”

Jaina, who had been feeling down, suddenly jumped up.

Serious about dieting, she headed to Theoris’s office. Forgetting to knock, she flung open the door.

“What is it, Jaina?”

Theoris greeted her calmly as if used to her behavior.

“Theo, I’m going to learn horseback riding.”

Though used to Jaina’s sudden remarks, Theoris was taken aback by her unexpected declaration.

“Wh-what did you say you want to learn?”

“Horseback riding!”

“Why suddenly horseback riding?”

“D-diet…”

Jaina stopped herself from saying it outright. She wanted to show perfect results rather than talk about dieting.

“Let me think of a proper excuse…”

After some thought, she came up with a plausible answer.

“They say horseback riding is the flower of nobility. If you’re a grand duchess, shouldn’t you be able to ride a horse?”

Where she picked that up, no one knew. Theoris hid his amusement behind a strained expression.

Although she had never ridden a horse alone, Jaina was somewhat confident. Compared to riding the huge Poppy, riding a horse wouldn’t be a big deal.

There was a reason why she chose horseback riding as a means to diet.

The most important reason was that horseback riding is an exercise you do while sitting down.

Jaina disliked moving her body. But to diet, she had no choice but to move. So she wanted at least an activity that could be done sitting.

“Like a spin bike…”

In this world, horseback riding was the closest thing to a spin bike.

Jaina imagined herself riding a horse, her pink hair fluttering as she ran through the forest. Even she thought it looked very cool.

“Jaina, horseback riding isn’t easy.”

As if reading her thoughts, Theoris said.

“Theo, you know my personality. If I decide to do something, I do it!”

Theoris sighed briefly and nodded.

Less than two days after Jaina expressed her desire to learn horseback riding, a horse was prepared for her.

“Wow…!”

A glossy white mane. A sleek body and sturdy thighs. Looking at the beautiful white horse that seemed straight out of a fairy tale, Jaina couldn’t help but admire it.

“It’s so pretty. Thank you, Theo!”

Jaina reached out carefully. The horse closed its eyes and nudged her hand with its head. Stroking its soft, shiny coat made her smile naturally.

“Your name will be Uni from now on.”

Named Uni because it resembled a unicorn. Unlike Cotton Candy, Poppy, or the Black Dragon, Uni could go anywhere, even crowded places. Jaina’s heart fluttered just thinking about riding Uni.

“Theo, who will teach me to ride?”

“Isn’t it me?”

Jaina looked around but didn’t see anyone who looked like an instructor.

“Wait. Are you my riding instructor?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

‘What, isn’t this just a date?’

Theoris reached out his hand, wearing leather gloves. His long fingers fiddled with Jaina’s hand as he helped her put on gloves.

He knelt on one knee in front of Jaina. The way he put on her knee guards made her heart flutter strangely. Her face blushed hotter than usual, and she fanned herself with her hands.

“It’s hot. Hot.”

Even though the weather was cool with a breeze, Jaina’s face was as hot as asphalt on a midsummer day. Today, Theoris’s face seemed especially radiant.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t really gone on a proper date with Theo lately because I’ve been enjoying my freedom.’

After dieting, Jaina burned with motivation to visit Theoris’s bedroom wearing pajamas custom-made by Angelie.

“Well then, let’s start by getting you onto the horse.”

Theoris lightly tapped Uni’s back after putting on protective gear firmly. Jaina confidently approached Uni.

“Be careful getting on. It’s dangerous.”

‘It’s just getting on the saddle. Theo worries too much.’

The moment Jaina stepped into the stirrup to get on, the horse flinched. Jaina, awkwardly hanging on with one foot, tilted dangerously.

“Ah!”

Just before she fell backward, Theoris quickly caught her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine…”

Jaina answered without thinking but realized his hand was touching her side. She suddenly sat up straight and naturally brushed his hand away.

She ignored the puzzled expression on Theoris’s face.

“Not now.”

Theoris would love Jaina no matter how she looked. But Jaina was very embarrassed to have him touch the plump flesh on her side. The skinship with him, after a long time, didn’t feel entirely sweet.

“Jaina, I’ll help you get on…”

Theoris reached out again as Jaina struggled to get on. Startled, she shouted.

“I can do it myself!”

Jaina put all her strength into climbing onto the horse.

She didn’t see the unstable look in Theoris’s eyes as he watched her avoid his hand.

Avoiding Theoris’s touch, she couldn’t properly learn horseback riding. Unable to endure the awkward atmosphere, Jaina eventually demanded a real riding instructor.

“Understood.”

Theoris answered curtly, uncharacteristically sharp, then left immediately.

Left alone, Jaina sat down weakly.

‘I should have taken better care of my body earlier.’

She felt sorry for Theoris, but it was unavoidable. She believed if she lost weight in a week and then explained, Theoris would understand.

‘Wait for me, Theo. I’ll return as the beautiful Jaina you knew.’

Knock knock—

Theoris came to Jaina’s room where she had been lying in bed, skipping meals.

“What is it, Theo?”

“Are you feeling any better?”

Theoris asked cautiously. Seeing him watch her so carefully, Jaina felt guilty.

“If I did something wrong, please tell me. I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know what I did to upset you.”

“Theo, it’s not like that.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

When Theoris stepped closer, Jaina instinctively stepped back. Her silver eyes trembled with uncertainty.

“Is it because I disposed of all the invitations sent to you?”

Jaina, thinking up an excuse, was taken aback by Theoris’s sudden remark.

“Theo, what are you talking about?”

Not knowing anything, Jaina’s answer made Theoris visibly flustered.

“Wasn’t that the reason…?”

“No, that’s not the important part. Why did you dispose of the invitations I received without telling me?”

“Jaina, well…”

“You threw them all away?”

“I didn’t throw them away.”

“Then bring them all here.”

As soon as Jaina finished speaking, Theoris left the room.

‘Why is Theoris disposing of my invitations!’

Normally she wouldn’t be this angry, but now it was like lighting a bomb fuse.

Jaina calmly took deep breaths to soothe herself.

‘Right, Theoris is possessive by nature. Maybe he didn’t like me socializing with others.’

‘But still…’

‘How could he do that without telling me?’

‘Even if he’s possessive, isn’t this going too far?’

While Jaina’s anger grew by degrees, Theoris returned with a box full of envelopes.

“…Could this be all of them…?”

Theoris bit his lip and nodded.

“Huh.”

It was more than what could pile up in a day or two. Jaina let out a bitter laugh as she sifted through the envelopes.