I went back to the waiting room of the castle where I asked Zack to escort me, I lied down a little, and had dinner ahead of time.
I took a bath and prepared for the ball with the maids brought along from the Duke house.
This time, they didn't do a vertical roll. Halfway during the hairstyling, I comforted the maids who had dissatisfied faces. My hair was originally straight.
It is amazing how the maids used to make a vertical roll every day.
(The image of the villainess Julia is collapsing!)
I was afraid of a future where I would die, and I was fired up. The reason Luke treated me kindly, was it because he only wanted information? That is what I ended up thinking.
Of course, I was worried about the kind of relation I would have with Chris and Thomas from now on.
But I cannot say that it was an update of the original work and choose to run away and discard everything too.
"I did it. What beautiful hair. This appearance is fitting for a future Duchess"
The appearance moving in front of the mirror didn't look like a villainess from an otome game. A moss green dress with a trapeze neckline. It was a plain color for a ball. But the elegant diamond necklace was standing out.
"Thank you. It’s like it isn't me, it is beautiful"
"No. Julisama is beautiful whatever she wears"
The girls were always waiting for me to return in my room after the coming of age ceremony. They heard I was going to be a Duchess from the maids of the castle.
They knew Chris and my stepmother were leaving the mansion and seemed delighted.
They told me "please find a good gentleman", and were fired up preparing me.
"Excuse me. Zack is here"
One of the maids notified that Zack was in my reception room.
Zack will be my escort tonight as well.
"How beautiful. Julia looks good with straight hair. Just imagining you with a black veil to be removed on the sheets, my body gets hot"
"……"
(Eh? Who is this guy?)
I wonder if the capturable characters were already in the R18 mode of the sequel.
Zack was not wearing the knight uniform tonight. He had a black tuxedo, with buttons undone on his collar. Seeing Zack wearing a tuxedo for the first time, he was a handsome man.
"Zack. Let's take a walk in the garden before going to the ceremonial hall"
"!! Y, yes! Of, of course"
The steps of Zack were irregular while he was escorting me. My heart was heavy considering what I had tell him now.
Departing in the garden, a soft spring breeze passed by our feet.
Although I came many times in the garden during the evening, I was always impressed by its beautiful changes.
I sat down on a gazebo bench in the middle of the garden. Following me, Zack sat next to me. Yet we were both sitting at the extremes of the bench. Both of us were silent since leaving the room.
"Zack"
"Ye. Yes!"
Even if sitting, I was looking up at Zack.
"I am sorry. I cannot see Zack as a fiancé, no, a romantic interest"
"…. !! That, that is"
"Please, listen till the end"
"Yes…"
"I cannot even if I am thankful to Zack. If I had not met Zack, I wouldn't have had the chance to see him. No, that is wrong, I was scared to meet him.
Only Zack apologized to me. And, and then, proposed to me.
I was happy"
"Then, then it is…"
The hopeless Zack was now expecting something.
(My chest is painful.)
"I like Zack as a person. I think as a friend. B, but, every time I remember about the incident from that time, I also hate Zack.
Therefore, I will never marry you in this life"
"!!"
The area was wrapped in silence. I wondered how long has passed. It may have been several seconds or minutes.
I could only look at Zack's cute face, in a state of conflict. I couldn’t take my eyes off him now.
"I got it… I knew it. I knew Julia didn't see me as someone from the opposite sex. I also knew you were attracted to his Highness Luke.
But, perhaps, I thought that if we had more time to spend together in the future, you would have noticed the best parts of me"
"Zack…… I know a lot of your good points……"
"Why did I? Why did I have no eye for people! I remember the sight of the blood flowing from Julia's head many times. Every time, I thought I had to make Julia happy as much as I hurt you……
I am not given the opportunity to make amends for that……
I am sure my punishment for making you suffer is to lose the opportunity to see me as a lover for the rest of your life……"
I didn't know what to say to Zack. The signs of the night started to drift around.
"Zack, there is surely a good person suited for Zack. All right! Let's go to the ball and find a good person for Zack! If there is someone you like, tell me. I will cooperate.
Don't worry about skipping escorting me on the way"
I am the worst to make fun of the serious him.
"…… Ahahah - -. As expected! Julia! You are too cruel!"
Huh? Is that a point to praise?
Well, Zack is a M man.
"All right! Let's look for S Queen-sam -"
"……S Queen-sama?"
While smirking to Zack who heard my mutter, we entered the ballroom.