𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭
“I’m glad the tea party went off without a hitch.”
ㅤ
When I returned from Caroline’s room, I felt a sudden sense of relief.
ㅤ
The tea party was a great success. Being in a private space, we both felt more relaxed than usual, and I became friends with Caroline.
Caroline’s home was like a merchant’s, with lots of delicious food served. The sweets made by Caroline’s servant were really good. They were so delicious that I kept saying so, and Caroline even packed some as a gift for me.
ㅤ
“Yeah, it’s really thanks to you, Alice.”
ㅤ
Roa-sama smiled as if relieved. It was unusual to see him leaning back on the sofa where we were seated side by side, and I couldn’t help but stare. However, Roa-sama didn’t get angry.
Inside the room, just the two of us, it felt like when we were chatting after dinner in the Fourth Knight Order.
ㅤ
“Caroline is well-informed. That’s why she probably talked to Tianne, hoping to get some information. Thanks to you becoming friends with Caroline, we’re making slow but steady progress.”
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
“You’ve always been helping me, Alice.”
ㅤ
Roa-sama, turning his face toward me, is beautiful when he smiles. Men might not like being thought of as ‘beautiful,’ but I feel like Roa-sama’s face reflects everything he has built up so far.
Considering all that, I think he’s beautiful.
ㅤ
“Ever since the time in the Fourth Knight Order, you’ve always been a light in the darkness, providing hope. You are my. . .”
ㅤ
Roa-sama cut off his words there and said no more.
ㅤ
What should I do now?
I have a feeling Roa-sama is looking at me with a slightly feverish gaze, and I, for my part, feel that looking away first would be disrespectful, so our eyes remain locked.
ㅤ
“You’ve grown quite handsome, Roa-sama.”
ㅤ
Roa-sama laughed as if amused.
ㅤ
“You looked disappointed when I returned to my original form. Did you prefer the way I was before?”
“The previous you was easier to get along with.”
“What about me now?”
“To be honest, I’m glad you’ve become physically larger. I was worried seeing you train so much with such a slim body.”
ㅤ
I certainly can’t say to his face, “I’m glad you’re not a loner anymore.”
ㅤ
“Then, shall we eat something? You need to eat a lot to grow.”
“How old are you, Roa-sama?”
ㅤ
I’m certain he’s older than me, but I wonder if he’s at an age where he can still grow.
ㅤ
“I’m 22. . .Finally, you asked.”
ㅤ
Roa-sama smiled happily, so I returned the smile in silence.
After all, it’s not easy to casually ask someone’s age, especially someone using an alias.
ㅤ
“You can eat by yourself now, you know. The sweets we had at the tea party were so good, but I was too embarrassed to fully enjoy them when being fed.”
ㅤ
I arrange the sweets that Caroline had packed as gifts on the table and happily pour tea.
ㅤ
“You must have been embarrassed to feed me, Roa-sama?”
“Not at all.”
ㅤ
As expected of an upper-class noble, he seems used to being taken care of.
ㅤ
I select a roll cake adorned with fresh cream and decoratively cut fruit, and take a bite. The rich yet light cream, the fluffy sponge, and the tanginess of the fruit are just right.
ㅤ
“It’s really delicious. That servant knows what he’s doing.”
“Ah, every flavor is well thought out.”
ㅤ
As the two enjoy sweets, they also snack on sandwiches along the way. Eating something salty after something sweet is the gateway to an endless loop.
ㅤ
“. . .That servant must be someone whose fate was changed by Alice.”
“Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”
“It’s not an exaggeration. In our country, to stabilize women’s employment, the food and beverage industry is mostly women. While many women are happy about it, it’s tough for men who enjoy cooking. We want to resolve this, but it’s easier said than done. Usually, when a servant’s food appears at a tea party, people tend to demean it. But Alice praised it as delicious and called him an excellent patissier. The look in that servant’s eyes at that time. . . He will probably never forget Alice for the rest of his life.”
“I hadn’t noticed that, but if Caroline is in charge, it should go well.”
ㅤ
For a while, we quietly eat our sweets. Roa-sama is silent, and it’s unnerving, making one wonder if something wrong was said.
Roa-sama finally puts down his fork.
ㅤ
“It’s not Alice’s fault. I’m the narrow-minded one.”
ㅤ
At last, Roa-sama looks at me and narrows his eyes.
A large hand gently reaches out and picks up a strand of my hair.
ㅤ
“. . .Alice, you did something wonderful.”
“T, Thank you.”
ㅤ
I was flustered and gave a vague reply.
Roa-sama is acting strangely today. The way he looks at me, the way he touches me—it feels somewhat unsettling.
ㅤ
If Roa-sama had been a lower-class noble or a commoner and I had no memories of my previous life, I was confused by the atmosphere, which might have been nice.
However, Roa-sama is an upper-class noble, a person of such importance that Dyson pursues. On the other hand, I am a lower-class noble who absolutely does not want to marry Roa-sama, regardless of how I feel about them.
There is no way it will work out.
ㅤ
“. . .I’m a bit tired. Let’s rest until someone returns.”
“Okay.”
ㅤ
The large, warm hand withdraws. I’m surprised to find that I miss it a little.
Roa-sama leans back on the sofa and closes his eyes. I decided to rest as well. Playing the unfamiliar role of a lady is tiring.
After a while, Roa-sama’s head rests on my shoulder. The refreshing scent of citrus and the gentle weight are there.
I was startled, but while pretending to sleep and wondering what to do next, I drifted off into the world of sleep.
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