For the person I cherished to be family. I quickly erased the worst-case scenario from my mind. Noticing my worried expression, one of the maids who was applying oil tried to cheer me up.
"Your Highness, the Duchess. A new design of slip has arrived. Would you like to see it?"
The maid held out the slip with a bright smile.
"Made by Lady Sharon, the royal designer... Oh!"
But her smile didn't last long. The slip slipped from her hand, drenched in oil, and fell into the bathtub. The bathroom fell silent. Everyone stared at the new slip floating in the water. The maid, pale with fear, trembled and prostrated herself on the floor.
"Please, Your Highness, spare me!"
The atmosphere instantly turned cold. The head maid, who had sighed, helped me into a robe she had brought as a backup.
"I'll retrain that girl."
"It's fine. It wasn't intentional, so don't worry about it."
At times like this, when things don't go smoothly, I often think of Rebecca. But with Rebecca, things always matched well, so I never had such troubles.
'I want to rest.'
Usually, I would have waited for the slip to be brought, but today I was so tired that I wanted to return to my bedroom quickly.
"Is it time for the guards to patrol the bedroom floor now?"
"No, they probably just finished a little while ago."
"Alright. I'll go to the bedroom and rest. Please clean up and bring the slip."
I ignored the head maid's attempt to argue and left the bathroom, returning to my bedroom. Once alone, I took a deep breath and sprawled out on the bed.
'So much happened today.'
Fortunately, the small fire was extinguished by the guards and attendants who accompanied me, so there were no casualties. When Terdeo arrived, the temple was empty, so Dodelea must have escaped.
'But did the countess manage to escape safely?'
I saw her run away, but I didn't confirm it properly. I should send a letter tomorrow morning. Anyway, since I survived today, I won't be sacrificed as an offering. I imagined the scenario in my head: I would denounce Dodelea as the leader of the heretics to the royal court and put her on trial. If I accused her of sacrificing slaves and commoners from the defeated nation to tarnish the royal dignity, even a loving emperor wouldn't be able to do anything. The countess of Verdikt would be the only witness to that bizarre trial. There would be nothing to protect Dodelea, who would be exiled to the frontier. Then, if I could threaten or persuade her to find a way to lift the curse on the Laphireon family, it would be perfect.
'I should send a letter to the countess of Verdikt as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.'
Just as I nodded in satisfaction, the bedroom door opened. I assumed it was the maids who had finished cleaning up.
"Did you bring the slip?"
As I asked, looking away, a heavy voice replied.
"Slip?"
I was startled and quickly sat up from the bed. Terdeo, wearing a robe and still damp, entered with a glass of wine in his hand.
"Ah..."
I hastily pulled the robe tighter around me, and Terdeo turned his head away. An awkward silence filled the room, much like the first night we spent together.
"I... The slip got wet."
"......Yeah."
His low, heavy voice made my heart race.
"I'm just too tired today. I wanted to come to the bedroom and rest."
"......You've had a lot to deal with today."
Terdeo nodded in agreement and cleared his throat. As the conversation paused, an oppressive silence settled in. Terdeo took a light sip of his wine and spoke softly.
"Don't worry too much about what Fortun said earlier."
"......What?"
"There are many who have vowed to take revenge on me. It's not something you need to worry about."
While he was drinking, he suddenly frowned, perhaps remembering what had happened.
"......But it seems he has grown quite attached to you."
"Is that so? I didn't really notice."
"I understand. ...I do too."
"......What?"
Terdeo muttered to himself and fell silent. Despite telling me not to worry, he seemed quite concerned about Aedus. I smiled and spoke more calmly than usual.
"......Aedus was probably just more forceful because he was worried about me getting hurt."
Terdeo doesn't know that Aedus's mother and sister were killed. He wouldn't think that the person Aedus cherished could be family. Before he could delve deeper into the conversation, I changed the subject.
"......! Right. You said you almost got stabbed in the chest with a sword."
Sure enough, Terdeo rushed over to me with a look of alarm, setting down his wine glass.
"Let me see. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
"......What?"
Where am I supposed to look! I was startled and pulled the robe tighter around me, shaking my head. Terdeo, running his hand through his damp hair irritably, blamed himself.
"......I should have been there faster. No, I shouldn't have involved you in this at all."
"If I had a choice, I would have gone to the temple on my own. Don't misunderstand, Theo. You can offer me options, but you can't force me. I would have gone even if you were there. It was my choice."
"What if you had gotten hurt?"
Terdeo clenched his fists tightly.
"That's true. I'm always late. I just talk a good game, but I can't even protect you properly."
"......You can't always be by my side. That's obvious."
"But if you get hurt, I—"
He covered his eyes with his hand, unable to finish his sentence, as if scolding himself.
"Our contract is for you to protect me from harm and death. ...I'm sorry."
I gently patted his hand. As our hands touched, Terdeo shuddered. He rubbed his tired face with his other hand.
"......I lost control earlier. I made you worry."
"I wasn't worried, but... I did wonder if you could handle it on your own."
"No, actually, I'm grateful you stopped me."
Terdeo lowered his gaze calmly.
"......If you hadn't grabbed my hand, I would have killed him."
"I thought you might."
"......And I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."
"I thought so too."
Terdeo laughed weakly at my agreement.
"You really understand me."
"......You think too much about others. When you're struggling, it's because you want to do something but can't. If you had no desires, you wouldn't struggle at all."
"......"
"......You say you can't control your desires and that you don't know what to do. But that's just an excuse. You know the answer."
Terdeo frowned as if I had hit a nerve.
"Theo, do what you want. It's not a problem to live... There's no set answer. Life is about daily struggles and choices."
Stop overthinking. Terdeo, who always gave up what he wanted because of the curse, shouldn't take it for granted anymore. I let go of his hand, and he licked his dry lips. He asked in a low, hoarse voice.
"Then, I have a question. ...Are you unhappy because of me?"
"Theo, do you think I look unhappy to you?"
"Others seem to think I make you unhappy."
What others? Did someone else besides Aedus say something similar to Terdeo today? I narrowed my eyes, lost in thought.
"Did Lady Ackman say something like that yesterday?"
"......! How did you...?"
Indeed. Given the insults she threw at me today, she might have said even worse things to Terdeo.
'I should have at least pulled her hair. I should have overturned that table onto her face!'
I clenched my fists in regret. I vowed to pull her hair if I ever met her again.
"Everyone seems so concerned about my happiness."
"......"
"Since so many people are wishing for my happiness, I guess I'll be really happy."
Terdeo fell silent. He seemed to desperately want a drink, staring at the wine glass he had set down.
"Actually, I met Lady Ackman today."
"What?"
"After you and I parted ways, she told me to leave you and abandon Selpi."
Terdeo's red eyes burned with anger. He squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, as if he had heard something shocking. Then, he let out a bitter laugh.
"Well, if you found out, there's nothing I can do. Everyone involved in this curse meets the same end. There's no happy ending for us together."
"......"
"......What do you think now that you've seen it with your own eyes? Does it finally feel real?"
You always, always...
"I told you from the beginning. It would end up like this."
"......"
"So, Fereshati, you... If you want to leave, just say so. I'll protect you, regardless of the contract, even if you leave."
"Hmm."
I pretended to think, stroking my chin. Terdeo's Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he spoke nonchalantly. Why did he ask if he was going to be so nervous?
"But I don't want to leave."
"......!"
Terdeo's eyes widened in surprise. He clearly expected me to say I would run away. What a fool.
"Even though we're just in a contractual relationship, we've been through a lot. And Selpi is my son."
"Even after seeing what happened to the lady... Even after hearing her story..."
"I thought I should comfort you because you always take on the role of the villain."
I reached out and gently pulled Terdeo's head into my embrace. He fell into my arms weakly.
"Don't be the villain, Theo. You don't need to be hated by others."
"......!"
"Don't care what others think. Live your life as you want. Don't hold back."
"......Live as I want? ...Don't hold back?"
"Yes. You can be selfish too. Indulge in your desires."
As soon as I finished speaking, Terdeo lifted his head from my embrace.
"Really?"
He grabbed my waist roughly and pushed me back. Losing my balance, I fell onto the bed without a sound. Terdeo, now on top of me, caressed my cheek and kissed me passionately and boldly.