Chapter 40
“…So they’re dating now?”
“Yes.”
Two days had passed since that happened. I happened to have free time, so I came to visit Abel’s room and told her what had happened a few days ago.
Abel stared at me blankly for a moment, then slammed the table.
“Do protagonists like that really exist?! An entire volume of the story just vanished!”
“Well, it’s better if it goes peacefully, I guess.”
I said that, avoiding Abel’s gaze.
Two days ago, Odin, encouraged by my words, had immediately run to Deriksha, and things seemed to have gone very well.
That evening, when Deriksha came to tell me with a happy face that she and Odin had decided to date, I was even a little stunned.
Abel seemed at a loss for words, her mouth moving slightly before she finally spoke.
“So what about us? In the original story, the ending is that they date. We reached the ending years earlier!”
“Now live as Abel, not just as a possessor.”
“I’ve lived thinking about the original story for eleven years, so suddenly saying that…”
Abel sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead.
Was it like burnout? Abel looked so empty and worn out that I felt a little sorry for her.
Unlike me, who only cared that Deriksha was happy, Abel seemed obsessed with the original story. Even though it ended well, she felt empty knowing the story she had waited for her whole life ended so suddenly.
“Abel, give me the next volume.”
In the middle of this, Lu opened the door and came in, holding a book.
“It’s on the shelf, take it…”
Abel said in a weak voice. I glanced at Lu.
“What book is it?”
“…A romance novel.”
She said she didn’t want to borrow books, but maybe she got interested. Well, it was normal—teenagers were often interested in love stories.
Lu saw my expression and explained as if making an excuse.
“I’m reading because I’m bored.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Lu looked a little embarrassed by my dry comment and quietly took the next volume from the shelf.
As she was about to leave the room, Lu suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working now?”
Ah, so it wasn’t going to go smoothly.
I groaned and got up. I wasn’t really doing anything anyway. A little free time wouldn’t hurt.
Lu only opened the door after seeing me follow.
“There’s nothing to do even if you come along.”
“You could just read a book next to me.”
Even if I stayed near Lu, she didn’t give me work. Partly because I always finished my tasks early on my own. But Lu couldn’t just let me rest, so she kept me beside her.
If she gave me work, it would at least be less boring. But being next to her meant just chatting or reading books.
I didn’t know if I was a maid or a nanny.
Grumbling, I headed to Lu’s room, and at the end of the hallway, I saw a familiar face.
“Mr. Lu! Lily!”
Damian ran toward us with a bright expression. After standing in front of us, he spoke.
“I was actually looking for you!”
“Why?”
Damian smiled awkwardly at Lu’s question.
“I don’t have a tailcoat to wear for the palace ball… If it’s okay, could I borrow one? I’ll pay for it, of course!”
Chris wouldn’t let him go home, so Damian had to stay at the duke’s house until the ball.
He hadn’t prepared clothes for the ball, since he just came by to see me briefly.
Getting new clothes would cost a lot, so borrowing was the best option for him.
Lu thought for a moment, then said,
“…You don’t need to pay. My old clothes have shrunk too, so I need to make new ones anyway.”
“Ah…”
Damian’s eyebrows drooped. Lu hadn’t attended a ball since last year, so the clothes were small.
He bit his thumb nervously, lost in thought. I had never seen him look so serious. Money worries seemed to trouble him.
The palace ball would last several days, so he would need several suits. Tailcoats were expensive.
“Tch.”
I smacked Damian’s hand, which was biting his nail. Surprised, he quickly pulled it away.
“Why not borrow from Young Master Odin? He’s probably similar in size.”
“I… haven’t even talked to him before…”
Damian mumbled. He had stayed at the duke’s house for a while, so I thought they had already greeted each other. Chris must have kept Damian from meeting Odin.
I clicked my tongue quietly.
“Should I go ask him?”
Damian nodded, his face brightening. I didn’t want him to worry about money and feel uncomfortable during the ball. I’d rather he spend money on something fun, not clothes.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be quick.”
I refused Lu’s offer and headed to Odin’s room. I wasn’t awkward with Odin anymore, so going alone was fine. We had grown somewhat close.
I quickly arrived at Odin’s room, knocked, and opened the door.
“Hello….”
“Hi, Lily!”
A hurried voice ignored my greeting.
I frowned and looked at the scene.
Odin was sitting awkwardly on his chair, and Deriksha was far away from him for some reason.
Her hair was messy—she must have stepped back quickly when I came in.
Both had red faces and forced smiles.
“…Did you guys kiss?”
Were they really dating now and already flirting during work hours? Odin shook his hand.
“No, not that far yet…”
“That far? So it was before that?”
My sharp voice made Odin flinch. I kept glaring at him.
I had set them up, but why did I find Odin so annoying?
After enduring my gaze for a while, Odin still smiled awkwardly and asked,
“So, uh, why did you come?”
Trying to change the subject, I sighed quietly.
Yes, I’ll just let it go…
I told Odin my purpose.
“Damian, a friend of Lu, will stay at the duke’s house until the ball. He wants to borrow clothes for the palace ball from you…”
“Oh, of course. There are many new ones, take anything you like.”
Odin’s words were kind. Maybe he wanted to impress me as Deriksha’s boyfriend’s friend. It was a little sad seeing him try so hard.
You’re still a minor duke… why let love make you give clothes to a commoner…
I gave Odin a disapproving look, then bowed and opened the door. Just before it closed, our eyes met.
I held up two fingers in front of my eyes, then pointed them at Odin.
Behave properly while I’m watching.
Odin understood and smiled, making the awkwardness even deeper.
I knew he was a good person.
But thinking of him as Deriksha’s boyfriend made me feel strange.
I stared at the closed door for a while, then returned to Lu’s room.
“Can you fire that person already?”
“Later.”
Lu ignored me again today.
I should probably carry a resignation letter in my pocket.
I thought there would be less work at the palace ball than at the duke’s house.
But there was even more work.
Cleaning the duke’s house, packing luggage…
Preparing the stuff for the Leofrum family staying out for a few days was exhausting.
I even started missing the duke’s house ball.
“I want to go home…”
Abel, sitting beside me, seemed to feel the same. She said sadly,
“Even though the palace has a lot to see, there’s one terrible thing, so I don’t want to go.”
“What is it?”
Abel answered simply,
“The crown princess.”
“….”
I felt like she had naturally committed a crime against the royal family, but it was just the three of us in the carriage, so I let it go.
“She’s going to be the emperor soon, so what if you don’t like her?”
“I don’t know… it’s just terrible…”
Abel fell onto my lap, pouting.
I stroked her hair while watching Lu.
“…You don’t get along with the crown princess?”
“No?”
Lu answered quickly.
“She just doesn’t like Abel.”
I didn’t understand why Abel disliked her, even though she was loved by the princess.
Wouldn’t it be good to be favored by the future emperor?
Before I could ask more, the carriage stopped. Our eyes went outside.
“Wow…”
We naturally gasped at the view.
The duke’s house was big and luxurious, but the palace felt enormous and magnificent by comparison.
I opened my mouth in amazement at the scenery, but Lu and Abel looked unimpressed.
I felt a little embarrassed but kept looking at the palace.
We would have to stay here for over a week.
I wondered if we could explore even one whole building while staying here.
