Goodness, to see such a dejected appearance. Is this really Adeus standing in front of me? Could it be someone else wearing Adeus's mask?
'At least it's better than always contradicting and being noisy.'
I tried to hide my surprise and tapped my fingers, which were crossed over my arms. If he's this perceptive, it means he knows he's done something wrong. It's a good attitude.
"Well, you're not wrong. It must be unpleasant to look at."
"……!"
There's no way Terdeo would try to meet Adeus to seek revenge. He even returned the medicine I sent last time, saying he was angry. Adeus's shoulders drooped as if he had lost all hope at my indifferent response. He looked like a dog drenched in the rain.
'Adeus must have really wanted to reconcile with Theo.'
Seeing him so dejected made me feel a bit sorry for him.
"If you want to apologize, you should have sent a proper gift. You sent the wrong things. You need to send something that will make the recipient feel better."
"Huh?"
Adeus blinked his large eyes. Then, he stammered and said awkwardly,
"Um, I'm sorry. It's my first time sending a gift to someone... If you could tell me what was wrong..."
"The size is off."
At my firm voice, Adeus tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
"Was the size too big?"
"What? What are you talking about? It's too small."
Adeus glanced at me briefly and immediately apologized.
"I must have made a mistake by estimating the size by eye. I'm sorry. ...If you could tell me the correct measurements, I'll send a new one."
He really is obedient. Still, measurements? I don't even know Terdeo's exact measurements... I recalled the embrace of Terdeo and his large hands that caressed me, narrowing my eyes.
"Um, the shirt size should be about three times larger than what you sent, and a bigger sword would be better. Shoes... "
"Wait a moment."
"Hmm?"
Adeus, who was listening to me seriously as if taking notes, tilted his head with a puzzled expression. He then glanced at me cautiously and asked,
"Your Highness, the Duchess."
"Hmm?"
"I'm not judging by appearance, but something seems wrong."
"Um... "
I stroked my chin, lost in thought as I recalled Terdeo's appearance. Maybe I said the size was too small.
"Um... then, should I make it one size larger than what you said?"
"Huh? You're not reducing the size, but making it bigger?"
Does Adeus really see Terdeo as that small? Even vaguely, he's not a small person. I said firmly to Adeus,
"Adeus, I don't know what you see, but Terdeo is not small."
"......Yes?"
"Terdeo's hands are more than two and a half sizes larger than mine, and his body is huge. When Terdeo holds me, I fit into his embrace..."
Oops. I didn't need to say that much. I cleared my throat and continued, looking at Adeus's furrowed brow.
"I thought you were sending these as an apology to Terdeo."
"......I clearly asked you to pass them to the Duchess."
"I thought you were embarrassed to send them to Terdeo directly, so you asked me to do it."
"Didn't I clearly say I was approaching His Highness to seek revenge?"
Adeus tilted his head and muttered, "Did I dream it?"
"......Didn't you decide to stop that?"
Adeus avoided my gaze instead of answering. I frowned and spoke the reality to him.
"The order came from the royal family. Terdeo was just following the emperor's command to go to war."
"......I know that much."
"If you want revenge, it should be on the royal family, not Terdeo."
"I am preparing for that as well."
...Preparing? I was shocked by the idea of Adeus preparing to take revenge on the royal family. Does he understand what he's saying?
"You... "
"But I can't forget that day. Of course, I know everything. I know everything, but I can't forget the calm expression of His Highness."
"Calming expression... Adeus, did you see Terdeo before he went to war?"
Adeus smiled bitterly, as if hurt.
"......His Highness wouldn't have cried or laughed."
Adeus, who seemed to be muttering to himself, placed the gift he brought on my lap, then smiled and said in a feigned voice,
"Thinking about it, it's understandable that you might have misunderstood. The gifts I sent were plain and unremarkable, with no pretty patterns or fragrant flowers."
I looked down at the black hair tie on my lap. Unremarkable gifts that wouldn't catch anyone's attention.
"Did you throw away the gifts I sent?"
"Except for the medicine, I kept them."
I kept them, thinking they were for Terdeo. Hoping the two of you would reconcile...
Adeus let out a sigh of relief, brushing his hand over his chest.
"I was worried you might have thrown them away. ...The gifts I sent are for the Duchess's safety in the future."
"My safety?"
"If the Duchess is happy without using my gifts, I have no more to ask for."
Adeus's unwavering, straight gaze was directed at me.
"But if the Duchess ever thinks of leaving the Laphreon family..."
"......What?"
"...I prepared them in advance to help you. You can't do it alone."
Adeus stood up from his seat and knelt in front of me. He then picked up the hair tie he had placed on his knee and gently stroked the ends of my hair.
"Instead of a dress, wear comfortable clothes that fit your body. Instead of high heels, wear shoes that are easy to run in. Wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands from thorns."
Adeus gently braided the ends of my hair and tied them with the black hair tie.
"I prepared this so that your long hair won't obstruct your vision."
"......I never wanted... "
"Of course, I know you don't plan to run away. I didn't give you these gifts to make you run away."
Adeus placed his hand on his chest, as if swearing like a knight.
"Even if the rumors about the Laphreon family are terrible, I know how warm and pure they are. I hope you never have to use these gifts. I don't want to force the Duchess to make a choice."
"......"
"But it's not a bad thing to be prepared for the worst."
Adeus's face, speaking firmly, was filled with concern for me. I know what Adeus is worried about. I also know how vicious the rumors about the Laphreon family are. I looked down at Adeus and stroked the hair tie he had tied.
"Do you know that I don't want it?"
"Of course."
"You're really... "
I smiled faintly and untied the hair tie he had tied.
"You always choose to do things that will make you hated."
My untied hair fluttered. Adeus maintained his usual smile, even as he watched.
"If you had given them to me without saying anything, I might have accepted them."
"I know. But I wanted the Duchess to know and use them."
"Adeus."
I forced the hair tie into his hand and said in a strong voice.
"I'm not as weak as you think. No one can harm me. Not even the Laphreon family."
"......Then, just one thing, please accept the sword. I don't ask for anything else."
Adeus pleaded earnestly as he took the hair tie.
"The sword is not for running away but for protecting the Duchess. Not from the Laphreon family, but in case the Duchess is in danger. When I'm not around, and even when His Highness is not around."
"......"
"Please use it when such a dangerous moment comes."
A means to protect myself. Suddenly, Dodea came to mind. So far, she hasn't done anything, but things could change tomorrow. Adeus is right. I need a means to protect myself.
"But... I'm sorry."
Adeus's face darkened at my apology.
"I really appreciate your concern, Adeus, but Terdeo won't like it."
"......Does His Highness value his own feelings more than the Duchess's safety?"
"No, that's not it. I value Terdeo's feelings. I don't want to worry him."
If I need a sword, I can get one myself or receive one as a gift from Terdeo.
"But I understand what you mean. I'll get a sword and always carry it with me."
I feel bad, considering Adeus's sincerity. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to take care of others while hurting my own person, Terdeo. Adeus nodded with a bitter expression.
"Yes, as long as the Duchess's safety comes first, that's enough. I only failed to protect someone I care about once."
Adeus muttered, looking lost. His empty voice made my heart ache. The carriage fell silent. Adeus, trying to change the mood, spoke in a higher tone than usual.
"By the way, the Duchess really seems to be slow when it comes to her own matters. How could you mistake them for gifts for His Highness?"
"It's because you confused me."
"You also mistook me for Rebecca when I asked you out before."
That's right, I did. Mentioning Rebecca's name made me feel uneasy again. I looked at Adeus with a stiff expression.
"Adeus,"
"Yes, Your Highness, the Duchess."
"Did you know that Rebecca was deceiving me?"
Even though the carriage window was clearly closed, I felt a cold wind.