Chapter : 59
When Sirineau heard that Selene had left the house, he got ready and boarded the carriage.
As they passed through the busy streets, Sirineau, who had been staring out the window absentmindedly, suddenly reacted. It wasn’t the sharp pain like when encountering a monster, but a tingling, almost ticklish sensation. If a monster had appeared in the middle of such a crowded area, it wouldn’t have been this peaceful.
Sirineau stopped the carriage. He could sense it instinctively. Something was here, and it was exactly what he needed.
“Just as I thought.”
From the second-floor terrace, he saw the face he had been searching for. The moment their eyes met, Selene quickly lowered her gaze, clearly trying to avoid him.
Without hesitation, Sirineau moved forward.
As he entered the café, people who recognized him began murmuring. A neatly dressed manager approached to speak, but Sirineau didn’t slow his pace.
On reaching the second floor, Sirineau paused for a moment before stepping inside. From the stairs came the faint sound of a door closing.
A small smirk formed on Sirineau’s lips. He strode up the stairs and stopped in front of a door that looked like a storage room. Now he was sure.
His eyes confirmed it—Selene was behind that door.
Without hesitation, Sirineau grabbed the doorknob.
Before he could even pull it, the door creaked open.
Selene carefully revealed herself from inside the storage room.
Seeing Sirineau, she first looked startled, then stared at him intently before blushing. All of these reactions were exactly how Sirineau knew her to be, which strangely put him at ease.
Sirineau struggled to keep his gaze from drifting toward her lips, then finally spoke.
“How can I escape…? Rush and run?”
I paused, seriously considering it, but then I wondered why I should even run like this.
“I didn’t… commit any crime…”
Well, actually, I did.
Feeling my gaze inching toward Sirineau’s lips, I closed my eyes and prepared to dash at him. Surely he wouldn’t just stay still.
Taking a deep breath, Sirineau’s lips parted.
“Meeting you is harder than I expected.”
“…Huh?”
Meeting? I never said I wanted to meet him—what is he talking about?
I rolled my eyes and glanced at Sirineau, who continued.
“The party? You’re not planning to skip it, are you?”
“Ah… no. Well.”
It was the emperor’s party; skipping it wasn’t really an option. I nodded reluctantly.
Even then, I tried to look for a way to escape, but Sirineau’s large frame blocked the doorway completely.
“Have you already chosen a dance partner? Surely not—you couldn’t have been too busy to decline a meeting, could you?”
The words “dance partner” made my eyes widen.
Wait a minute. Dance? Me? Why?
I shook my head while looking into Sirineau’s scrutinizing eyes.
“I haven’t decided yet…”
“Then you can dance with me.”
…What?
Did I hear that correctly? Why would he offer me as a dance partner here?
When I didn’t respond, Sirineau tilted his head.
“Why no answer? Don’t like it? We danced once before, remember?”
I bit my lip, recalling that moment.
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then I’ll see how much you’ve improved.”
“….”
Sirineau studied my expression, then turned away.
“Then I’ll assume that’s agreed.”
I hurriedly stopped him.
“Wait!”
At a party I already didn’t want to attend, dancing with Sirineau would naturally draw attention.
“Why?”
“It’s… a little sudden.”
I hesitated, and Sirineau stopped and turned toward me.
“You mean you don’t want to be my partner?”
Frowning, he stepped forward again.
“Don’t want to?”
I was helpless against Sirineau’s angry expression. Not that I was strong against any expression, really…
Lowering his voice, he said:
“Do you… or don’t you?”
“I will.”
As if hypnotized, I answered. Sirineau smiled with satisfaction.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
He smiled? Have I ever seen him smile like that before? Even if I had, I’d never seen him with such playful, innocent charm.
It was maddeningly cute.
God… why bless such a handsome man with such a beautiful smile? It’s so unfair… truly, thank you…
I stared blankly at Sirineau, and he asked again, looking straight at me:
“You said yes?”
“Yes… I do.”
Sirineau’s grin widened.
I nearly collapsed but managed to steady myself. This is what happiness feels like.
Dance? Fine, I’ll dance. With him smiling like this, I could even pop and lock if I wanted…
While I savored Sirineau’s smile, he lightly lifted my hand, kissed the back of it, and left.
I froze, hand raised in the air.
“Insane…”
What do I do? What should I do? I need to preserve my hand immediately! Permanently…! Do I cut it off? Put it in a transparent case and freeze it?
Half-lost in these thoughts, I noticed Viviana and Eloi coming to find me.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Ah, really?”
They seemed to be talking to me, but I couldn’t hear them.
‘Why did he do that all of a sudden? He never… did that before.’
“Would you like more tea? Or perhaps some shopping?”
“…Yes.”
Exchanging a glance, Eloi and Viviana each linked arms with me.
‘The feeling on my hand… so… so…’
Lost in thought, I was snapped out by Eloi grabbing my hand.
“Ah!”
I had just been imagining ways to preserve my hand forever, and now I screamed loudly.
‘Was that too loud? But…’
When would I get a chance like this again…!
Feeling a pang of regret, I immediately felt sorry for Eloi.
But Eloi wasn’t so easy to fluster.
“Oh my, are you really this happy? Of course, I’m happy too!”
Smiling brightly, Eloi clasped my hand in both of hers and began rubbing it, commenting on how soft it was.
‘Should I be glad my wrist is safe… or cry?’
Finally regaining some composure, I was led out to the street.
The afternoon was sunny, and the streets were crowded.
As the daughter of a marquis, Viviana had not only a guard but also attendants to clear the way.
Thanks to them, we moved easily through the crowd. I glanced around and remarked:
“There are a lot of people.”
I really meant I wanted to go home immediately, but Viviana replied, looking at me:
“Because the monsters have disappeared. People who were intimidated now feel safe to come out.”
“I see… But where are we going now?”
“Miss Selene has a child she must meet.”
I widened my eyes.
‘A sudden meeting is a bit… difficult.’
Thinking that, I opened my mouth in awe at the scene before me.
“This is…?”
An attendant opened the door to a shop.
My eyes widened as I looked inside.
“A jewelry store?”
“Yes. I have all my jewelry made here.”
Shiny jewels and accessories sparkled in display cases.
‘Just looking at jewelry can make a person happy…’
As I approached the display, the shop owner ran out.
“Miss Viviana!”
Apparently a regular customer, she was treated with utmost courtesy.
The plump shop owner greeted Viviana politely and wiped her brow with a handkerchief.
Inside, staff were moving quickly.
“Hurry and prepare the VIP room!”
“Yes!”
Smiling kindly, the owner said:
“If you had contacted us in advance, we could have made your visit more comfortable.”
“I’m fine, take your time.”
“Please look around, and we’ll guide you inside soon.”
Viviana nodded and stepped inside. Eloi was already examining the jewelry in the showcase.
As I scanned the store, I noticed a commotion.
“So, you’re not ready yet?”
“Apologies.”
A lady and a clerk were standing there. The lady looked angry, the clerk kept bowing.
“We reserved here because they said they’d arrive soon…!”
“Ma’am, unfortunately, all shops are in the same situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“With the monsters gone, demand exploded, making supplies harder to manage. Merchants are struggling with staff shortages.”
The lady waved her hand irritably.
“I don’t care about that! The party is next week—what will you do?”
“We’ll be ready by then. As a gesture of apology, please accept this…”
A small box was handed over, and the lady left with her expression softened.
‘So that’s one of the effects of the monsters disappearing.’
While I pondered this, the clerk approached to speak.
