Chapter 52 ….
Meeting people and having to put on an act with Theodor was, unsurprisingly, a burden.
[Dorothy, fighting!]
Maybe she could tell how nervous I was.
I couldn’t help but smile at Agatha’s voice as she cheered me on.
[Thank you, Lady Agatha.]
[I’m sorry I can’t be there with you. Still, Theodor feels a lot gentler than before, you know? I think it’ll be fine!]
[Yes!]
I stood in front of the mirror one last time to check my appearance, then picked up my bag and parasol.
“I’m heading out.”
I said this to the priest outside and turned to leave.
‘Still… Theodor really did come to pick me up without any fuss.’
Thinking back on how enjoyable our last conversation had been, it felt natural—but his change in attitude was still unfamiliar.
“Shall we go?”
“Ah, yes. Saintess…”
The moment I stepped out the door, the priest stared at me blankly.
What’s with that look? Is this too much after all?
Tilting my head, I called to him again.
“Father?”
“Ah. My apologies, Saintess. You look truly beautiful today.”
There wasn’t even a Blessing of Beauty involved… Sure, I looked nice, but not enough to be admired like that. It was probably just courtesy toward the Saintess.
“Thank you.”
I brushed it off and kept walking.
After the priest finished escorting me and left, Becky and I headed to the back door where Theodor was waiting.
And standing there was an extremely ornate carriage.
But even more surprising than that—
‘He really went all out…’
Theodor stood there in a perfectly tailored green suit. Bathed in sunlight, he looked so beautiful it was almost otherworldly.
‘I barely even register next to him.’
If I had the Blessing of Beauty, maybe I could compete, but…
Well, today was about showing the nature of my relationship with Theodor. It wouldn’t be a problem if he stood out a little more.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, you’re—”
Theodor turned his head at my call. For an instant, his eyes widened. He looked startled.
He quickly turned his gaze away.
“…You’ve arrived, Saintess.”
“Um. Is it too much again today? I must have surprised you. Somehow, it turned out like this.”
Even I thought I looked pretty, but to someone like Theodor—who had no interest in women at all—it might just look excessive, so excuses slipped out on their own.
It was a little funny, considering he himself was dressed far more extravagantly than usual, yet I was the one making excuses.
Still… did he really need to avert his eyes like that?
“Oh my, really. I told you—you look beautiful, Saintess. Absolutely perfect!”
Becky, utterly oblivious, gave me a double thumbs-up.
“She’s right, Saintess! You look stunning!”
Isaac, Theodor’s chief aide, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and joined in with a thumbs-up of his own. Their synchronized praise made me a little embarrassed.
“Haha, thank you, Becky.”
“Have a wonderful time, Saintess!”
Becky smiled brightly as she saw me off.
Theodor simply nodded, wearing an oddly unreadable expression.
“Wait.”
I was about to climb into the carriage when I turned at his call. He was holding out his hand toward me.
“…Won’t it be difficult for you to get in?”
“Ah.”
True enough—today’s dress was exceptionally cumbersome. Smiling, I placed my hand atop his.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
His palm was as stiff and rough as ever. And yet—
‘Strangely… it feels soft. Did he put on some cream?’
Theodor didn’t respond.
Why does he keep making that strange expression? Does it really look that excessive? Maybe I should’ve taken off the hat. As I was lost in thought, both of us climbed into the carriage.
It was said to take about forty minutes by carriage to reach Webbing Lake. Located southeast of the capital, it was a vast lake with beautiful scenery and a popular spot for outings.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
“…It’s fine.”
“I’m a little nervous since it’s meant to build rapport, but it’s my first time boating, so I’m looking forward to it. What are noble boating outings like?”
“They’re… dull, usually. You ride the boat, listen to a small ensemble perform, drink fruit wine, eat, and exchange trivial updates.”
That sounds… incredibly fun?
“That sounds great!”
I’d be seeing a scene straight out of a movie.
Wasn’t this exactly the kind of thing you’d read in a romance novel? The thought of experiencing something new filled me with excitement.
“You look excited.”
“Yes. I know a lot of people find it tiring, but trying something new is fun. I used to be a commoner, after all.”
Theodor stared at me for a moment, then silently nodded and looked out the carriage window again—as if avoiding my gaze.
He’s really acting strange today… I thought we’d grown closer, but now he keeps looking away.
‘Was I imagining things?’
I watched the man who kept puzzling me, then turned my own gaze to the window.
The carriage rolled on in silence.
After a long, dull stretch, the road grew rough—and soon—
“We’ve arrived.”
Webbing Lake came into view outside the window.
“Wow…!”
A gasp escaped me without thinking. Could a lake be any bluer or clearer? Sunlight shimmered across its surface.
The dense trees surrounding it only enhanced its mystical atmosphere.
I opened the door myself and started to rise before anyone outside could help. I wanted to see it up close as soon as possible.
“Wait, Saintess.”
Theodor lightly caught my hand to stop me. I was startled.
His eyes were on me. After avoiding my gaze so often—
More than the lake…
They were blue. Deep. Beautiful. That was the only way to describe them.
“Saintess?”
Theodor called out to my frozen self.
“…Ah. Yes! Yes.”
“Today, you seem particularly impatient. What is our purpose today?”
“Our purpose…?”
“Yes. Think carefully.”
His voice was unexpectedly gentle as he waited for my answer.
‘Why… is he like this?’
Did the acting already start?
Thinking that the hand holding mine felt warm, I looked at him quietly.
“Saintess?”
“Ah, yes!”
‘What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep spacing out?’
This was all Theodor’s fault for being so uncharacteristically kind. With that face, kindness was downright unfair. I’d rather he be cold and sharp—it’d be easier to handle.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
“…Are you unwell?”
His voice turned oddly cold at my strange behavior, snapping me back to reality.
Right. He was better off being like that.
“Our purpose today.”
“Yes. The reason I’m accompanying you.”
“Today, um… the goal is to appease the High Priest. Not lovers, necessarily, but to look like we have… something going on.”
He seemed satisfied with my answer. Releasing my hand, he leaned back. As his warmth faded, my wrist felt cool again. He really did seem to have a high body temperature.
“Yes. That’s the goal. But wouldn’t it be a problem if you got down first? Today, I’m your escort.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. I was just so excited.”
Theodor let out a small chuckle.
“You apologize far too often.”
“Well, that’s because I do so many things to apologize for.”
I replied a bit defiantly, as if being scolded.
“That’s not really true.”
He looked at me with an indifferent expression.
‘He’s really strange today.’
Theodor, not criticizing me?
Before I could untangle my thoughts, he spoke again.
“I’ll get down first.”
Right. There were other things to focus on. I needed to stay sharp.
Like the well-mannered emperor he was, Theodor waited until Isaac came to open the door.
After stepping down, he turned and held out his hand for me, waiting. The sight was so elegant it felt like the pinnacle of chivalry.
“Thank you.”
I took his rough yet oddly gentle hand and stepped down from the carriage.
“Saintess!”
As expected, the moment Theodor and I walked side by side toward the group, voices of welcome poured out.
“Oh my. You came together—Your Majesty?!”
“H-Huh?!”
“His Majesty is here?!”
We hadn’t told them in advance that the Emperor would be coming. The High Priest had wanted his appearance to have maximum impact.
I smiled awkwardly.
“I’m sorry for the suddenness. We ended up coming together… I mentioned the boating outing, and His Majesty said he wanted to come.”
I lied smoothly and glanced at Theodor.
For a moment, his expression seemed to crumple—but he immediately put on a statesman’s smile and spoke in a gentle voice.
“It’s good to see you. There are many familiar faces.”
“How could this be…! We’re terribly sorry. We didn’t prepare anything worthy—”
A light social boating gathering among nobles instantly transformed into an event hosting the Emperor.
It was only natural that everyone turned pale.
“Don’t be so uncomfortable. I’m not that strict of a person.”
Theodor and I walked toward them. The picnic blankets laid out on the ground were brightly colored.
“Oh my. They’re so pretty.”
From the perfectly prepared refreshments to the fruit wine—
It looked like a scene straight out of a famous painting.
“Your Majesty, would it be all right if you sat here…?”
As everyone stood at a loss, Theodor casually plopped down onto the blanket.
“It’s truly fine. I didn’t come to disrupt your time. I merely—”
His gaze turned toward me.
This was the timing. He was supposed to say “Dorothy.” Showtime. Pull yourself together.
But Theodor hesitated.
“Your Majesty! Saintess!”
At that moment, Alex—the third son of Count Gordon’s family and the host of today’s gathering—stepped forward to greet him.
“To have you attend the boating outing I organized is a great honor for my family!”
Alex, a rather handsome young man, greeted Theodor with proper decorum. He carried himself with elegance.
I watched the scene with quiet satisfaction.
And then Theodor—
“…So the host is Alex Gordon. You.”
He murmured in a low voice that sounded distinctly… uncomfortable.
