Chapter 80
“Come in.”
Without asking who it was, I immediately replied for them to come in.
The butler, with that same red box in front of him, entered the room.
When I gestured as if to ask what it was, the butler came closer to the window where I was and held the box out to me.
“This is a gift sent to you by His Grace, Duke Luhanes.”
…A gift? A confession yesterday and a gift today?
“What the….”
I frowned openly as I glared at the box. It felt like he was trying to force his feelings on me through a gift, which made me uncomfortable and annoyed.
I didn’t even touch the box, so the butler opened it for me and explained.
“It’s an artifact protected by magic, so His Grace asked that you wear it at all times.”
Inside the box was an artifact in the shape of a bracelet.
It was a gold ring-shaped bracelet matching my hair color, embedded with several tiarets. Tiarets are magic stones often used in artifacts because they’re easy to infuse with magical power.
Ah.
I realized I had misunderstood and relaxed my expression.
“Did he have this artifact made specifically because of yesterday? He knew there might be people targeting me, and since he’s assigned to protect me, he can’t always be by my side 24/7.”
Thinking that, I felt sorry for assuming he was trying to force his feelings on me with a gift. It seemed my judgment had been clouded because his confession the day before came so suddenly.
Even though Rixion Luhanes wasn’t in front of me now, I felt embarrassed and scratched my cheek awkwardly.
Yesterday, he had confessed he liked me and immediately apologized afterward. I knew he wasn’t the type to force his feelings.
I felt ashamed for instinctively being defensive and sarcastic.
So, I couldn’t bring myself to touch the artifact he had sent. I asked the butler to place it on the nearby table instead.
Once the butler left, I shuffled toward the red box.
‘These magic stones are supposed to be really expensive…’
Staring at the tiarets, which were hard to obtain even with money these days, I couldn’t help but sigh.
After a moment’s hesitation, I reached in and took the bracelet out, slipping it onto my left wrist.
The fit was perfect, as if made just for me. I stared at it awkwardly, feeling a little shy, and lowered my hand.
‘He’s usually so busy visiting me all the time. Why didn’t he come personally and had someone else bring it?’
Was he deliberately avoiding me so I wouldn’t feel pressured? Or was he just that busy?
I wondered which it was as I trudged over to the bed and collapsed onto it.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, I lifted my hands to cover my face. I felt an unusual weight on my left wrist.
‘What should I do now?’
Should I continue avoiding him like before? That was the easiest thought, but it no longer felt comfortable.
I remembered the apologetic expression on his face when he confessed. After seeing that, the thought of avoiding him entirely felt wrong.
Then should I go to him first and reject him? But thinking about it, he hadn’t demanded anything from me.
He didn’t ask me to date him; he only confessed his feelings.
And yet, going to him and telling him not to like me would be… even for me, that felt a bit much.
It gave me a headache. I couldn’t just be happy that Rixion Luhanes liked me while thinking only of what I’d been worried about.
The situation had twisted completely differently from my expectations.
Originally, I worried that Rixion Luhanes would approach me out of curiosity and end up labeled as a former lover.
I was afraid that if Ziheon appeared, that man, blinded by love, might try to harm innocent me.
But now… what’s going on? Ziheon likes the original male lead, but Rixion Luhanes became interested in me instead of the original heroine, and I ended up being sort of friends with the original heroine.
Is this one of those love triangles everyone talks about? This chaotic turn was beyond anything I could have imagined, and I tore at my hair.
“No, they should just fall in love at first sight and be lovey-dovey like in the original story. Why involve me and give me a headache?”
The problem was clearly Rixion Luhanes’ side.
Ziheon’s timeline and arrival were slightly off, but otherwise, she was following the original story.
Even Michael, the side male lead, ended up not being used and discarded, which was a small relief.
Yes, everything else was fine… it’s just that Rixion Luhanes suddenly went crazy over me.
The only hope was that, according to the original story, the emperor had assigned him to protect Ziheon.
If they stayed close together, who knew what could happen to his feelings?
It would be natural for him to notice such a beautiful girl and develop feelings.
All that needed to happen was for Rixion Luhanes to regain his senses and like Ziheon again.
…I wanted to hope, but ominous thoughts kept creeping in.
What if Rixion Luhanes kept liking me and ignored Ziheon? And what about Ziheon? What should I do about her…
From the looks of things, Ziheon wanted me to act as a bridge between her and Rixion Luhanes.
Even though we were just friends now, I was certain that was her ultimate wish.
That made my headache worse. I’d already firmly said I had no connection with Rixion Luhanes, but what if later I found out he liked me?
If that pretty girl cried in front of me… I might cry with her.
I calmly folded my hands over my face and placed them over my chest in a prayerful manner.
With all my heart, I prayed.
“Oh, God who brought me into this world, are you watching?”
Since coming to this world, I had always done my best with what I could.
“If you have any sense of conscience, please hear my wish now.”
And what I could do in this situation…
“Please, let Rixion Luhanes fall for Ziheon.”
It was a heartfelt prayer.
“Just once, okay? If you let me go out one more time today, I won’t ask again.”
“……”
“They said today’s the last day of the festival! There’s a play based on the continental war, and there will be fireworks at the end of the festival!”
“……”
“Then how about this? I’ll just go out for the fireworks and come right back! Okay?”
Ziheon stomped her feet as she insisted her point.
Even though Rixion ignored her like a dog barking in the distance, Ziheon didn’t give up.
It was her garden walk time in the imperial palace, a routine she had naturally claimed. Knights who stayed with her 24/7 took turns, but at this time, Rixion was by her side.
He seemed to be simply fulfilling his duty as her protector under the emperor’s orders, but Ziheon felt as if she was on a proper date with him.
Naturally, it was the most anticipated part of her day.
Ziheon had heard from the other knights that today was the last day of the festival in the capital, two days after she had previously been allowed to attend. She wanted to join the festival once more.
Back then, Rixion had disappeared with Lady Christener in the middle of the event, leaving much unfinished.
She persistently pleaded, but it felt harder than last time.
“Saintess.”
Despite ignoring her, Rixion’s expression briefly showed annoyance as Ziheon didn’t give up and whined.
The cold voice made Ziheon flinch instinctively.
“You cannot say anything. I clearly told you that was your last chance to see the festival.”
Rixion’s reaction was worse than she had expected.
Seeing his reluctance and annoyance, Ziheon’s eyes drooped.
With a pitiful expression, she lowered her gaze and silently grumbled to herself about Rixion.
He left me alone for a long time yesterday… I should at least be allowed this. I know I got permission from the emperor, but shouldn’t he still stay with me?
He has to watch over me. He shouldn’t leave me.
And now… he could at least be a little kinder.
‘He didn’t act like this with Lady Christener.’
Ziheon still vividly remembered how Rixion had worried about Lady Christener, even getting angry when he saw a scar on her cheek.
