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“I tried to change my mind several times not to love you.”
He said to Dorothea, clearing his voice as much as possible, the tears had not completely dried up.
It was Ethan who didn’t want to love Dorothea most desperately.
‘When she loved Theon, when she broke down because of him, and whenever she didn’t look at me after the return, I wish I didn’t love her.’
‘I wish I knew why I loved her, so I could remove that reason and not love her.’
“If you tell me how not to love you, I will gladly follow.”
Ethan said and looked at Dorothea.
At that, Dorothea’s face was red and hot, and her eyes were lowered.
‘He must really love me.’
‘The word “love” was unfamiliar to me and it was hard to handle it with that face.’
The heat didn’t cool down no matter how hard she tried, so Dorothea fanned her face with her hands.
Ethan watched her in silence.
‘Someone who is not used to being loved.’
He already knew How strange she feels that she is loved by someone. How uncomfortable she is with compliments or affectionate actions.
He hoped that Dorothea would be loved more. Until she gets used to being loved.
“The princess deserves to be loved.”
“Well, that’s enough. Ethan.”
“So you can be a little more confident.”
Don’t doubt the word “I love you” and don’t feel uncomfortable. It’s okay to accept it as it is.
At that, Dorothea lowered her head and muttered a little.
“Thank you
”
‘Someone who deserves to be loved.’
The words were a little touching, and Dorothea engraved them in her heart.
Then Ethan cautiously opened his mouth again.
“Princess, you said you wouldn’t become emperor.”
He asked seriously, without saying anything more that Dorothea would be ashamed of.
Dorothea nodded her head.
“So, what are you going to do in this life?” Ethan asked.
He was curious. What is her dream, if not to become the emperor and a new desire that will not be called greed.
Then Dorothea hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened her mouth
“I
.”
Her lips pursed for a moment as if shy.
“I want to be a good

 person.”
Dorothea said that and lowered her head in shame.
‘Even though I had promised and thought about it many times, it was still embarrassing to spit it out.’
Unsurprisingly, Ethan blinked once, as if he had not expected it at all.
“Good
?”
“Mmm, that’s what I’m trying to do for now. I don’t know if it’s going well
.”
Dorothea’s voice trailed off.
She took a sip of the tea to soothe her dry throat.
Being good is a good thing, so why does it feel so strange? Is it because it’s such an overly idealistic and unrealistic word?
‘I want to be good, I’m not claiming that I’m good.’
“Everyone has suffered because of me in the first life. So, I want to live as a good person now.”
Dorothea added the reason as an excuse.
Ethan glanced at her and smiled slightly.
That smile stabbed her in the chest.
“Funny, right?”
Dorothea was hit by his smile.
It was probably even funnier to Ethan, who remembered Dorothea before the return.
“Not at all.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Isn’t it funny?”
“No, because that’s what the princess wants to do.”
He had no intention of laughing at Dorothea’s wish.
If he had laughed at her wish to live a good life, he would probably have laughed at Dorothea’s wish before the return.
How unrealistic it was for the despised princess to dream of becoming emperor.
Dorothea did what everyone laughed at as nonsense.
“The princess can do it.”
Ethan trusted Dorothea.
Dorothea’s heart pounded at his confident eyes.
‘Even I’m not sure, he believes without a doubt.’
That made Dorothea feel a little more courageous than before.
“Come to think of it, that’s why the princess donated every month.”
Ethan remembered from Cerritian that Dorothea had been donating a million blancs each month somewhere.
Donating medicine to a village where an epidemic spreads, helping Joy and Po, setting up a support center for the disabled, etc.
Unbeknownst to him, she was already on her way.
‘Good’ he thought.
“Oh
 And there’s something I wanted to give you, too. a spirit stone, I think it would be inconvenient to carry around.”
“That’s right, I’ve always had a hard time hiding it.”
As Ethan said, it was very inconvenient to carry a spirit stone.
If they found out about it, they would most likely find out about Ethan’s powers, and someone may try to steal the Spirit Stone.
For this reason, Dorothea always had the Spirit Stone on her body, but she had to use all sorts of methods to avoid being noticed by others.
The spirit stone is the size of a small pebble that can fit in a fist, but it was difficult to use as a ring or necklace because it was too large.
In addition, it was not easy to hide the spirit stone that shines softly on its own.
Dorothea would put the Spirit Stone in a small black pocket to prevent light from leaking out, and then tuck it inside a ribbon around her waist or tuck it inside a frilly sleeve.
“I brought this in case it would be helpful.”
Ethan took out the brooch he had been fiddling with from his pocket.
The gold brooch, with a centerpiece that could be opened and closed, but the inside was empty.
“If you put it here, it will be easier for the princess to carry it.”
It’s fine to wear a brooch as an accessory, and it’s easy to hide it by pinning it inside her clothes.
Even if she forgot and left it on the desk, Clara wouldn’t have any doubts.
“Can you give me the Spirit Stone for a moment?”
At Ethan’s words, Dorothea took out the black pocket she was wearing around her waist and released it.
The spirit stone showed off its existence by shining even in the sunlight.
Ethan held out his hand, and Dorothea placed the Spirit Stone on his hand.
At that moment Dorothea felt strange because her fingertips were a little warm.
“I was thinking about leaving it to my subordinate, but I’m glad I can give it to you myself.”
Ethan put the Spirit Stone inside the brooch.
The spirit stone fit perfectly into the empty space of the brooch as if it had been custom-made.
Ethan bent the little metal clasp in the brooch to secure the spirit stone.
Dorothea watched Ethan quietly.
Except for the clicking sound due to the brooch work, the room was quiet.
to the point where you can even hear the other person’s breathing.
In the silence, Dorothea observed Ethan.
The long, white fingers she has always seen, the eyes with long eyelashes down, and the silver hair that shines transparently in the sunlight.
“It’s done.”
Ethan smiled and looked up.
When the outer part of the work was closed, the lock engaged and the spirit stone was hidden.
Because of the tight fit, the light of the spirit stone did not even leak out.
It felt like he was paying attention to that.
“Brooch, do you mind if I put it up for you?”
Dorothea hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
After receiving permission, Ethan got up and knelt down on one knee in front of her.
He pinned the brooch with the spirit stone to Dorothea’s collar.
As his hand touched her chest, Dorothea subconsciously held her breath and made no sound.
“Don’t worry, you won’t get stabbed with a pin.”
Ethan smiled as he looked at Dorothea, who was tense.
‘It’s not because I’m worried about the pin.’
Dorothea lifted her head not to look at Ethan and looked at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Soon, she heard a small click and felt Ethan’s hand straighten her collar.
“It’s done, Princess.”
At that, Dorothea lowered her head again, and her eyes met Ethan, who was kneeling.
For a moment, Dorothea’s heart pounded wildly.
What’s wrong with me? Is it because I know Ethan likes me?’
‘Sometimes I felt tense at him, who was too handsome, but my heart Had never raced like this.’
Dorothea could not bear to look into his golden eyes as calmly as before.
“hmm
, thank you, Ethan.”
Dorothea straightened her back and distanced herself from him.
“It’s always been my job.”
‘Taking care of her. helping her by her side.’
He got up and went back to his seat and sat down.
Dorothea then took a close look at the brooch on her collar.
The brooch was lavishly crafted based on a lily pattern. The lily pattern was one of Dorothea’s favorite patterns, a pattern often used to decorate the handle of a sword.
Ethan knew her taste very well.
“We’re on good terms now that I can present the brooch to the Empress.”
Dorothea flinched at that. She remembered the old days.
“We just met. I think it’s better to give this to someone close and precious.”
While in Cerritian, Ethan presented a jewel-encrusted pendant on his first visit to the detached palace.
At that time, Dorothea had returned his gift, feeling burdened.
“You still remember
”
‘Come to think of it, I remember being quite surprised that the pendant also matched her taste well.’
‘I never even imagined that it was because he returned.’
Perhaps he intended to give Dorothea a jewel because Dorothea Milanaire enjoyed luxury in her first life.
‘If it had been before the return, I would have accepted such a jewel as a gift.’
“Thank you for accepting the brooch.”
Ethan smiled at Dorothea, who was belatedly aware.
* * *
After Ethan had left, Clara immediately noticed the strange brooch on Dorothea’s collar.
“You got a gift!”
“Ah
yes.”
Dorothea had no excuses.
“Master Ethan has good taste. The brooch suits you well!”
“Really?”
‘I’ll be wearing it often in the future, so I’m glad it fits well.’
“But!”
Clara looked at Dorothea with determined eyes.
“Even Master Ethan, you have to be careful! Because Master Ethan likes the princess!”
“uhuk, uhuk!”
“Oh my, Princess! you’re suddenly coughing
!”