Seeing us face to face at a close distance made me feel strange. It was because his sharp and long eyes were pretty but also manly.
I shouldnât call him a kid. After all, he was the male lead who would become the crown prince in a few years, overturn the nobles, and lead the imperial army. If it went like the original, these hands would blow my head off.
âDo this? What did I do?â
A subtle sense of anticipation rose within me. I wondered if this kid, no, Redian, could also see that I was doing my best to take care of him.
âDo you ask because you donât know?â
Then, Redian, who was looking at his hand caught by me, replied. âYou keep touchingâŠâ
Huh?
âGave strange candy.â
What?
âThen suddenly appears at night.â
Who? Me? I tried to ask him, but I was discouraged when I looked into his eyes.
I felt like I knew why the author was obsessed with describing him using the words âsubtly innocent impression.â Before, I wondered what kind of innocence could be in someone who would become a murderer in the future, but now that I see it⊠Uh? I felt like Iâd done the evilest thing in the world.
Wait a minute. But then, how did he know that I visited him at night?
âWere you awake then?â I asked in bewilderment. I was sure that he was sleeping deeply while I applied the ointment.
I checked that he was sleeping deeply while applying the ointment.
ââŠOf course.â
In an instant, Redianâs expression became strange.
âWere you asleep?â
Oh my goodness. It crossed my mind that I had patted his hair. Did he pretend to be asleep while knowing everything? With that temper?
âPrincess.â
Then Redian called me.
âDo you know what the people imprisoned here have done?â
âPardon?â
âWhat have I done to deserve to be locked up here?â
ââŠâ
âThat night, what would have happened if I hadnât put up with it?â
He talked with a dull tone which made it feel eerie.
âYou canât imagine it.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âWhat if I suddenly want to strangle Princess?â
ââŠâ
âAre you still going to come into my room?â
âAh.â
Of course, I knew. Right now, if Redian made up his mind, he could kill me within 5 minutes. Not only Redian but all Norma were like that.
I was always in a life-threatening situation, so there was nothing to be afraid of. However, until now, I could use my status as a weapon⊠But it was an exception for Norma, who moved solely on their power and instincts. My father is also good at killing someone, so killing someone like me shouldnât be a big deal.
No matter what blood I was born with, I would be nothing more than a doll wrapped in lace. With Sianiâs body, no matter how much I improved, I would be pushed back by their strength. I need another way to transcend power and status. Or else, at this rate, neither mice nor birds would know if I disappeared.
âDo you know what Iâve done since this morning?â
ââŠâ
âI couldnât help it. Iâve been in a very bad mood since morning.â I stared into Redianâs eyes and smiled.
It was an ordinary morning when the maid prepared the rose water after cleaning up the meals and desserts the maid brought to my bed. But what does he know?
âThink about it.â
I lowered my voice to his ears as if whispering a secret. âWhy am I called a Red Witch who cursed Felicite?â
âWhat elseââ
âShh, youâll get hurt if you know.â
Redianâs straight brows were distorted.
âIâll leave it to your imagination. Whatever it is, itâs beyond your imagination.â
ââŠâ
His reaction was unexpected every time, so it was new to me.
This poor nickname will be quite helpful in the future. No matter how much I was dying as a side character, I never forgot what I had learned in my N lives. If someone says that Iâm crazy, I have to live up to their expectations.
âBesides, you could have killed me that night, but you didnât.â
ââŠâ
âYou wonât have any problem if I enter your room, donât you think so?â
There was a moment of silence.
âBecause I can bear it,â replied Redian.
Canât bear it? What? It seemed to mean that he couldnât control his power. Or perhaps it meant that even if I cursed him, he could still defeat me.
âBut the others are different.â
He added.
âThey donât talk, donât make eye contact, donât touch me or stroke my hair like you do.â
âItâs all about sharing wordsââ
âNo. Itâs dangerous.â
It was weird to hear this from the most dangerous guy in this world.
âThe more familiar someone is with the garbage dump, the more they will never forget the warmth they felt once. Thatâs whyâŠâ
With a faint smile on his face, Redian mumbled. âI will chase my master even to hell. Itâs the nature and instinct of a dog like me.â
<I will follow you to hell, Siani Felicite.>
Huh? Has this line already come out? No, this line shouldnât come out in this life.
âAnyway, I donât care whether other Norma ends up in a dump or goes to hell.â
I skillfully put on a fake smile on my face.
âItâs inevitable that they would take an interest in me.â
ââŠâ
Redianâs gaze became sharp at my response. Once again, I wondered what dissatisfaction could have caused such a reaction.
âThen, shall we go up now? The tailor will be waiting.â
As I tried to lead Redian, I realized something. Iâve been holding it. Only then did I realize that I kept holding his hand. And that Redian didnât push my hand away.
âThe more familiar someone is with the garbage dump, the more they will never forget the warmth they felt once.â
Suddenly, those words came to my mind. It has nothing to do with me⊠right?
* * *
âOh my, Lady. W-who is this person?â
Daisyâs eyes seemed to pop out when she saw Redian standing behind me.
âIâm training him by myself, so please know that. Donât make a fuss about it.â
âGasp. Oh my god. T-then, N-NormaâŠâ
Of course, you will be surprised. Redian, who stood under the chandelier, out of the darkness of the basement, wasnât like a monster in the rumor. Rather, his whole body was screaming that he was the male lead of this novel.
He put on the hood, but he still looked like that. Even though he wore a hood to cover his face, it couldnât hide his presence. What would he look like later when he wore the uniform for the prince in the future? I should stay alive to see it.
âWhat about the tailor?â
âAh, ah, sheâs waiting in the dressing room over there.â
Daisy glanced at Redian, curious about his face under the hood. I should quickly get rid of this crystal-like human, or else Daisy might forget how to breathe.
âRedian, letâs go to the dressing room.â
ââŠâ
His gaze was strange as he obediently followed me. It was difficult to figure out what his blue eyes, half covered by the hood, were thinking.
âPrincess, itâs an honor to serve you. Huh?â
As I entered the dressing room, the tailor who greeted me stiffened.
âOho, from what family is the person next to you coming?â
âUm, heâs the one who will be my escort knight. I would like to fit one training glove for him.â
ââŠYes? Knight?â
The face of the tailor sharpened. âEii, Princess. Even if you wrap it in a black envelope, the diamond is bound to stand out.â
The tailor whispered so that only I could hear it. âIâve seen all the young masters in the capital, but I donât think this person is an ordinary person.â
Like the tailor said, he still stands out no matter how many robes he puts on.
âWho is he? Please be honest with me.â
The crown prince. It was the most honest answer, but I couldnât say that.
âHeâs an escort knight who will be by my side. Of course, I have a taste, so I couldnât keep just anyone next to me.â
âHmm, stillââ
âIf he was truly impressive enough to earn your admiration, why donât you do your job?â
I deliberately replied firmly, not wanting to entertain any unnecessary tail-chasing.
âAh, of course. Itâs an honor.â
The tailor, who took out the tape measure, approached Redian excitedly.
âSince Iâve brought the catalog, Princess, feel free to take a look and relax. Iâll proceed with measuring his hand size.â
Leaning on the soft sofa, I opened the catalog. Finally, I could take a breather. Well, thatâs what Iâm saying. My eyes were fixed on the catalog, but my head began to organize my thoughts. Thinking about the letter, the emperor seemed to attend Ashâs welcoming ceremony.
[Letâs have a close conversation, Landlord.]
Besides, he thought that I would go to that ceremony⊠The question arose here.
1.  Why would the emperor personally come to the grand princeâs welcoming ceremony, who wasnât even the grand duke?
2.  If the guest list was listed by the grand dukeâs family, how come the emperor didnât know I wouldnât be attending?
Could it be that the grand dukeâs family put me on the list of guests who would attend? And the emperor agreed to attend it after seeing that list?