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Episode 80: Lie Lie Lie
Only the sound of our quiet breathing could be heard in the narrow changing room.
In this space with only us, where there was no one else, I felt as if something that no one knew was about to happen.
Then, I suddenly felt a cool feeling on my hand.
“….…”
When I came to my senses, I realized the ice cream was melting.
Right, I held it in my hand for a long time.
“……Ah.”
It’s been a while since I squeaked in embarrassment. He had a wry smile as he looked at the ice cream I was holding.
“What kind of ice cream are you eating, like a kid?”
Then, with his eyelashes lowered, he brought his plump lips to the ice cream in my hand.
Chu—
A soft, hot touch came onto my fingers.
“!”
My heart shook, and I was surprised for a moment.
Because of Rixus licking the ice cream off my fingers, my body heated up to the point it turned red.
“……What are you doing…….”
When I barely asked, he raised his lowered eyes and stared at me as if piercing me.
“Kissing.”
“……Huh?”
“I’ve got to entice you to the wedding, and then eat you up right away.”
‘You’re flirting… So openly…!’
“Why, it doesn’t work?”
No, it was a problem because it worked, it was making my heart hammer.
“Look forward to it. I’m going to seduce you like crazy until the wedding.”
“…….”
“One can’t be in an unrequited love even after marriage.”
The words ‘marriage’ and ‘unrequited love’ certainly did not go together.
I thought, looking into his eyes, wriggling the hand that rested clumsily on his shoulder.
‘I want the wedding to go well too.’
I really wanted to do it safely. Even after a month, would such a day really come?
‘If it comes, will it come safely and be a day full of blessings?’
That was the first concern I had. Living a life exposed to countless risks only increased my worries.
When I looked into those eyes, I remembered what he said to me last time.
“You’re hiding something from me.”
‘I can’t keep pushing Rixius away.’
If I was going to do a good job at the wedding, I shouldn’t show that I’m intentionally pushing him away like how I had always been doing.
I had to conceal the fact that I have something to hide.
Because he would be suspicious. So it was time to change my attitude.
Now I had to pretend to know how to have eyes full of affection.
I slowly licked my closed lips.
“I like you too.”
Rixus’ eyebrows rose slightly.
“You just told me, you like me. You said that with your eyes.”
“….…”
“That’s why I answered… I like you too.”
It was my first time. To be so honest.
Although that was said to hide what I must hide…
After confessing, my heart raced so fast.
“…….”
Rixus’ eyes, that were looking at me steadily, trembled in an instant.
Then, the deep blue eyes became hot enough to burn.
He held my waist with one hand and brought his head closer.
He whispered at a distance where his lips could touch mine.
“…I’m going to seduce you. Why are you trying to seduce me instead?”
“…….”
“It’s getting hard to be patient.”
Every time our lips touched, my heart throbbed. It was so exciting.
The space was so small that I was embarrassed to hear my own heart beating.
Then, tok tok—
“Your Majesty… Are you inside?”
Patricia’s cautious voice was heard.
Rixus looked at the door with an expression of blatant annoyance that he had been disturbed.
“…….”
At that moment, the tension was released and I buried my head in his shoulder.
Then I blinked, making myself focus, and spoke to the outside.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
Rixus’ eyes flickered towards me as he let out a low sigh, as if his tension had been relieved too.
When our eyes met, we smiled lightly.
Like accomplices who committed minor misdeeds, we looked at each other secretly and smiled.
“It’s sad, but I’m afraid we’ll have to go out, my Queen. Else it’ll create another shocking rumor.”
“…Yes, we’d better leave soon.”
As we went outside, I saw Seryl, Laura, and Maribel standing with worried faces.
That was understandable.
Because I went to pick up the crown prince, who was dead silent in the changing room, yet I didn’t come out either.
“…I was trying to wake Rixus up from his sleep…”
“Ah! You must have slept really deeply.”
“Mhm.”
I quickly gazed at Rixus and asked,
“Right?”
“……”
Rixus only smirked as he gazed back at me.
With my eyes, I said, ‘Answer me quickly. Please agree.’ Then he nodded, shifted his cheeky eyes, and said,
“Something like that.”
After all, I’m only a liar. I can’t lie so awkwardly.
“Oh…”
Patricia smiled brightly, like she knew something happened as she stared at Rixus and I.
Seeing that smile, I felt even more self-conscious.
“Anyway, I decided on the wedding look.”
“Oh, you’ve made up your mind?”
Not only the maids, but also Patricia directed their curious eyes at me.
Pointing to the white tuxedo, which showed off his charm 100%, I said,
“I think this tuxedo is perfect.”
“Oh!”
“Your Majesty! We thought it was a pity too.”
“…Now it’s time to change the number 1 ranking!”
I didn’t even know why I changed my mind.
I just saw Rixus sleeping in that white tuxedo… and had a strong desire for him to appear at the ceremony in that outfit.
As the ‘Crown Princess’, I had to choose the first wedding look.
As ‘Berylia’, I wanted that tuxedo.
And this time, I decided to be honest.
“You have made a good decision, Your Majesty.”
Patricia looked genuinely excited. She was already busy moving a needle pin in the white tuxedo that Rixus was wearing.
“If I cut it to fit the shoulder line more closely, it will look even better!”
“…….”
“I will make the outfit perfect before the wedding!”
Seeing Patricia moving about and full of enthusiasm made me feel good too.
“Thank you. Please.”
Patricia smiled, showing her lovely dimples.
“I will make you the happiest bride, Your Majesty.”
I laughed.
‘Thanks for making me a little happier today, Patricia.’
We promised to pass Rixus’ body measurements as soon as possible, and we left the wedding dressing room.
Of course, I did not forget to take along the shiny gift box.
* * *
That night.
‘It’s been a long day…’
I reflected on the day in my bedroom.
It was a very busy day.
The cheers of the people and the shouts of hurrah… A thrill that brought tears to my eyes.
And… Even the fun times in the wedding dressing room.
Of course, there was also the encounter with Bernard, who I didn’t want to see, but looking back, it was mostly good memories that filled my mind.
“Long live Your Majesty the Queen! Long live Spinel!”
The welcome and hospitality kept ringing in my eyes and ears, making my heart pound.
“Get used to being happy.”
The warm words that Rixus had said kept coming to mind.
And my maids… The faces of very nice people kept glimmering.
People I never wanted to lose.
“….…”
Even though it was a really long day, a strong sense of purpose made me stay awake in the bedroom.
Today… It was the day I realized that I really didn’t want to die.
I switched on the light behind me and sat down on a chair.
Then I carefully laid a piece of paper in front of me.
“Huu.”
Okay, let’s summarize.
‘I’m going to write down the things that will happen in the future.’
‘Fear is intangible, and if I don’t know exactly what I’m afraid of, it gets even bigger like a balloon.’
So, I decided to organize this situation objectively, neatly, and bravely.
‘The standard, how much should I write?’
I couldn’t write down everything that would happen in the future.
Thus, things that could be of some ‘indicator’.
A few events before the damn ‘blue rose’ bloomed…
I decided to sort those things out.
Number one, the first event.
1. Fireworks Festival
This was really just around the corner.
Every year, Spinel and Aktoum would hold a ‘Fireworks Festival’.
However, the festival preparations were done by the festival committee of Breathbridge, and the date was random every year as a ‘setup’.
It would usually be announced to the people a week after all the preparations were completed.
The concept of the festival was that people would have a ‘flame-like excitement’ for a week until the fireworks festival took place.
‘But I do know when this year’s Fireworks Festival will take place.’
Perhaps the announcement would be made in three days.
‘So the fireworks festival will be held in 10 days.’
‘This year we will be having the Fireworks Festival in Aktoum.’
And the second event…
Let’s see… Yes, there’s no other one than this, right?
2. Spinel’s ‘Melphius’ invasion incident
This was an incident where the infamous pirates gang, ‘Melphius’, invaded the northern beach of Spinel.
‘This is also the reason why I coveted the Ghost Army of the Margrave.’
The Melphius were a vicious gang of pirates that was a mixture of humans and demons.
Many countries suffered severe damage from this pirate group, which was said to be invincible at sea.
‘Of course, I prepared Spinel well, but…’
However, each time, we did not completely avoid receiving severe damage.
It would end only when a subjugation squad was formed, and a painful battle was fought.
‘Thinking about this makes me nauseous.’
Feeling like a headache was coming, I put a hand on my forehead and tapped the paper with my pen.
And the third… The third was a bit troubling.
There were too many incidents that came to mind at the same time.
“……”
After much deliberation, I finally wrote down the third notable event.
Ame: So after tling 3 episodes back to back, I was mindlessly tling when I almost got a whiplash from our FL, who’s deluding herself into thinking she’s pretending to like him/show affection when she really does like him…
I can just feel it in my bones that shit’s going to happen during the wedding, isn’t what all this build up is for??!!
Dea: so far away~  but then again we are on chap 80 so not that far away. Berylia’s still in the first stage, denial, and I feel like acceptance is still far away, but it will happen! Maybe it would happen quicker if ppl would stop interrupting them every time there’s progress (yes i’m looking at you Patricia)