A cold sweat ran down my spine. The expression on Dodolea's face, right in front of me, was truly chilling. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, she seemed ready to pour the steaming hot tea directly into my mouth.
"Why are you so frozen? Do you want to torment me?"
Dodolea scrutinized me as if I were prey right in front of her. I stiffened like a rabbit in front of a hunter. But soon, I composed myself and shook my head. This must be an affectionate attack aimed at Terdeo. I wanted to tell her to do as she pleased, but Terdeo and I were bound by a contract. Terdeo had entered into this contract to avoid marrying the Fourth Princess. So, I couldn't just let her linger around Terdeo.
'First, I need to get her out of this mansion.'
After all, it wouldn't work to just say, "Stay away from my husband!" Besides, if it had worked, she wouldn't have come here. I glanced around the table and then looked at the thick apple pie. As my gaze fell on the apple pie, Dodolea also looked at it.
"Shall we eat the apple pie?"
My sudden question made Dodolea sneer in disbelief. Ignoring her laughter, I stood up and neatly cut the apple pie with a knife. Dodolea, who had been sitting on the sofa, was now looking at me with a puzzled expression, as if wondering if I had really gone mad. One slice for my plate, one for Dodolea's.
"Is now the time to eat that?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Dodolea asked.
'Would I really share this with you and pretend to enjoy it?'
Swallowing the words that had risen to my throat, I handed Dodolea her plate. She quickly alternated her gaze between me and the apple pie plate.
"Aren't you going to eat? It should be delicious, you know."
"Why? Is it poisoned?"
I really wish it were.
"Am I a fool? If the princess were to die from poison in this sealed room, I would be the prime suspect. No poison will be used here."
I forced a wide smile. Dodolea looked at me with suspicion but, perhaps thinking I was right, she extended her hand to take the plate. Then, she turned to me.
"I smell."
"Finally realized, have you?"
"It's because of the apple pie and tea on my dress. I came here after washing up thoroughly..."
Dodolea glared at me, who was standing behind Terdeo.
"If not for this mess, we could have talked a bit more. I told you not to interfere, and you did something so cute."
Terdeo moved to shield me with his broad back.
"Stop looking at her so frighteningly. I'm leaving anyway. The sweet smell from my dress is giving me a headache."
"Since you're an uninvited guest, I won't see you off."
"You're so cold. Fine, it's okay. Anyway, I need you, and when the time comes, I'll naturally find you. After all, she has forgotten everything, so I'll just wait patiently."
Dodolea laughed loudly, sending shivers down my spine, and then turned to leave the parlor.
'Finally gone?'
The parlor carpet was a mess, as if a typhoon had swept through. I stared at the door Dodolea had left through, still in shock. Once I was sure she wasn't coming back, I relaxed and plopped down on the sofa. Terdeo, who had also turned his gaze from the door, looked at me.
"I came as soon as I received the letter from the butler. Are you really unharmed?"
I noticed his attire was different from usual. He must have rushed here during work.
"Really, I'm fine. There was no physical assault."
Terdeo, who had been examining me with narrowed eyes, knelt in front of me without hesitation and carefully inspected me. His muscles strained, making his clothes seem about to tear.
"I told you, the princess is a mad dog. Never meet her alone again."
"I was ready to fight if necessary! She's younger than me. She was even bedridden due to illness a while ago. I would definitely win in a physical fight."
"Of course."
"And didn't you see how she looked? It was my masterpiece."
"You didn't just attack her with bread and liquid, did you?"
Only after confirming that I was truly unharmed did Terdeo stand up.
"You have a talent for surprising people."
"Surprised?"
"Would you not be surprised with that princess as your opponent? If she had killed you here, the emperor would side with her."
True, it's his daughter who just recovered from illness. No wonder she's so arrogant.
"Don't provoke her. Try to avoid meeting her alone. If you must, wear mithril armor. I'll lend you mine."
"Mithril armor? Are we going to war?"
"No, just meet her with me if anything happens. I need to protect you. I can't just stand by and watch a member of the Laphreon family suffer. From now on, any meetings involving Princess Dodolea must be with me."
"I'm fine."
"What?"
I took a deep breath and felt better. I stood up from the sofa.
"Our contract started because you didn't want to marry the Fourth Princess. It's my duty to ensure you don't meet her."
"I don't want to see you die while fulfilling your duty."
"Hey, I won't die! ...Oh, by the way, Princess Dodolea said something strange."
"Strange?"
As I was about to leave the parlor, Terdeo followed me.
"She asked if I knew who she was."
That was odd. In this empire, who wouldn't know Princess Dodolea?
"And she said I had forgotten everything."
I haven't forgotten anything. My memory is intact. It might just be nonsense, but why did she say that? As I pondered, Terdeo, who had been following me, nodded casually.
"I heard the same thing."
"Really? You too?"
"Apparently, she also said similar things to others at the palace."
So, she said the same to two others besides me and Terdeo? It must be just nonsense.
"Everyone thinks she hasn't fully recovered."
"I agree. She doesn't seem to be in her right mind."
"Clearly not."
We walked side by side down the long corridor. Suddenly, I remembered what Dodolea had said earlier.
"Reina... my sister, is apparently serving as a maid in the palace for Princess Dodolea."
"..."
"I just found out a moment ago."
"It seems your family never misses an opportunity."
"Agreed. Moreover, she said she would help my ex-fiancé pass the Royal Knight Corps examination."
"My ex-fiancé, the man who caused a commotion at the mansion entrance?"
"Yes."
I don't want to see Shif strutting around after passing the examination. As I frowned, Terdeo spoke calmly, as if reading my mind.
"Don't worry. What difference would it make if he passes? I'm the one in charge of them. Let him pass if he wants."
"..."
"I'll make him realize where hell is. He probably won't last a month before he leaves on his own."
Seeing Terdeo's serious expression, I finally felt a bit relieved. I'm different now from who I was in the past. I won't let them take everything as they did before the regression. Absolutely not.