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“I would like to escort you both to another drawing room. Would that be alright?”
It seemed Duchess Illyn had overcome her embarrassment and risen from the bed.
Since the treatment was finished just in time, Ivan and Valentin stood up almost simultaneously.
“Your Highness.”
“Yeah.”
“The recovery is slightly slower than I anticipated. You must be careful with your movements. Surely you won't be climbing castle walls just because you feel restless?”
“That's a pretty reasonable guess.”
As I glared at the sarcastic Ivan, Valentin suddenly blocked my view. Then, with complete nonchalance, as if it were a common occurrence, he took my hand and kissed the center of my palm.
“Please cherish your body a bit more. For my sake, if nothing else.”
“Good grief. How nauseating.”
My palm already felt like it was dying from an itch, and hearing Ivan click his tongue made me feel as if fluffy caterpillars were crawling all over my body.
See? It is nauseating, right? It's not just my foolish delusion? No matter how I look at it, Valentin has ulterior motives, just as I do, right?
Two hours passed in that single delusion.
Human imagination is truly magnificent. Simply by reviewing the suspicious behavior Valentin had shown me recently, my justified hopes and wishes had somehow turned into conviction.
‘There's no doubt. Even if it's not a grand emotion like love, he's clearly developed a romantic curiosity and interest in me.’
[Are you curious why I am proposing to Oksana?]
[I intended to give my life for Your Highness.]
[Keep this in mind, Your Highness. Whatever happens in the future, if you apologize to me just one more time... I will become a shameless man and kiss you.]
‘...If he spat those words out without any feeling, then Valentin is trash. But Valentin isn't trash, so he must be interested in me.’
Having reached that conclusion, I grew impatient. I wanted to grab Valentin right now and shout, ‘You! You like me, don't you? Right?!’...
Let's calm down.
Consider the timing, Larisa. As a princess of Ohala, I cannot do something so childish toward a man carrying the fate of the nation on his back during such a critical time as the eradication of the rebels.
‘...Still, maybe we could talk for just a moment?’
Since he said he would leave as soon as the sun rose, if I stayed awake until then, I might be able to meet Valentin, even if only briefly.
Coincidentally, I wasn't the only one fallen into such hope.
“Wh-when will the meeting end? You said you'd return to Makhachkala as soon as the sun rises... I-I wonder if there will be a chance to speak with Prince Ivan even once before then...”
The good thing about having a comrade by one's side is that it puts the mind at ease. It was extremely uncomfortable that this comrade was Valentin's betrothed and someone I, as a rival for affection, could never support, but...
“Once, well. It should be possible if you hold out without sleeping.”
For my own sake, I had to do the same.
“But that would make it too obvious that I l-like him... I'm a bit cautious that he might find it uncomfortable. He's a kind person, so he just doesn't show it, but he might find me unpleasant...”
“Unpleasant? You? That's unlikely.”
If anything, wouldn't he be incredibly mindful of her?
“But... how could someone like me... I'm not tall or slender like His Highness, nor am I healthy... and my refinement isn't that great. My foreign languages... I'm barely at a level where I can speak three... I-I'm a fool for putting myself down like this, aren't I?”
What is this girl talking about? I looked at Oksana with incomprehending eyes. Perhaps reading my gaze, her spirit slumped even further.
“My engagement fell through because of this personality. I heard the partner got drunk at a banquet and spoke ill of me. He said I stutter and am so timid that I don't feel like a woman. He worried if I could even have children... My mother, upon hearing that, immediately demanded the engagement be broken. It was already a busy time for her to worry about Theresa. I'm afraid the same thing will happen again...”
Afraid it will happen again, huh.
Did she develop this personality of voluntarily belittling herself because she was afraid? If it were me, I would have tormented that bastard until he cried and snotted all over himself in apology.
Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming to react to a situation like this. I am clumsy at comforting and embracing others.
Seeing me like this, Ivan used to be disgusted, saying, ‘You're a princess who grew up being pampered your whole life, so you're more selfish and less independent than others. It's inevitable since you only grew up in the Imperial Palace. But you shouldn't think everyone is like you, Lara. There's a limit to how much we can protect you, so you must make people of your own.’
I didn't pay much attention at the time, but now I think I understand in what sense he was nagging me.
And how did he advise me? When I have no way with words to comfort someone, but I feel a strong desire to do so... right.
“It's the same for me.”
He said empathy is the best.
Oksana, with surprised eyes, gave an awkward smile and nodded.
“T-thank you for the words, Your Highness...”
Anyone could see she had heard words that weren't sincere. It seemed there had been a bit of a misunderstanding.
“That's not it... I mean I also lose confidence in front of the person I like.”
Only then did genuine curiosity appear on Oksana's face.
“Ah! C-Count Valentin?”
At this point, it seemed unnecessary to be surprised at how she knew. Just how obvious had I been?
“I don't understand. What confidence are you lacking? You two looked very well-suited. I guarantee that you two would be the most beautiful couple in Ohala.”
A couple?
‘Wait... has Valentin not proposed to Oksana yet?’
If I thought of it that way, every situation was understood at once. The way she treated Valentin with indifference, as if he were a cow or a horse, and the boldness with which she expressed her feelings for Ivan in front of me!
Greatly relieved, I decided to take a slightly more courageous step since things had come to this.
“Listen, Oksana. Although we haven't known each other for long... what do you think Valentin thinks of me?”
“It's obvious that he's sincerely head-over-heels.”
“Really? As a woman, not as family?”
Oksana, who had reacted instantly with an excited voice, paused and her expression stiffened. Then, as if gauging the situation, she stroked her chin and spoke with eyes of disbelief.
“Princess Larisa.”
“Yes.”
“By any chance... despite showing such behavior and looks, has he not given Your Highness any certainty?”
“What certainty?”
Oksana cried out in horror.
“M-m-my goodness. Count Valentin was far more malicious than he looks! This won't do, Your Highness. I absolutely cannot stand by and watch Your Highness suffer in your heart like this. From now on, listen closely to my words and do exactly as I say! Without fail!”
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