Chapter 9: Will you come to my room tonight?
This guy…
How long has it been since he figured it out, I wonder. Is it from the start?
Usually, the prince looks easygoing, but it seems he’s unexpectedly perceptive. Is it the qualities of a man who stands above others that make you that way? Despite being gentle-natured, he’s pretty cunning.
Realizing the jig was up, Yulie looked away and pouted in intense embarrassment.
“Hoho. I’ve upset you again, hmm?”
“I-I’m not really upset.”
“Right. Are your feet okay?”
“Juuust fine. But why did you give me these all of the sudden?”
This conversation wasn’t in the story.
However, the only belongings Yulie had since she came to this world were the clothes she was wearing at the time. Other things, like the dress she was wearing now, were stuff Alex’s younger sister had left behind when she got married a few years ago. Yulie wasn’t terribly interested in fashion, let alone women’s clothing, so she chose four items at random to mix and match.
Since they were convenient, the shoes she wore were the flats she’d been wearing since she came here. They were comfy and she liked them, but surprisingly, did the prince think they were hideous?
Alex tilted his head as if he’d been asked a strange question.
“Huh? Do I need a reason to give you a present?”
“Ah, well… normally, there would be, right?”
“I see. It’s just that I noticed your shoes while we were at the parlor earlier…”
That was the other day when she tripped over her skirt and ended up head-butting him. Normally, she wears a long dress that covers the tips of her feet so no one can see her shoes. That must have been the first time he noticed them.
“I see,” Yulie said. Alex tilted his head skeptically.
“If you want a reason, let’s just say it’s a thank you gift because it was fun hanging out with you. How is that?”
“Fun?”
“Of course. I’ve never met a person as amusing as you, Yulie.”
Amusing…
It feels like I’m being treated like some kind of rare beast. But since I was worried it was about time he got sick of me, who hasn’t even an ounce of sweetness, I felt relieved for now.
“By any chance, Alex, is this some strange hobby of yours?”
“Haha. It’s just like you to say that to me. Maybe it’s because you came from a distant country, but it’s rare for someone around here to say something like that to me as you would. I haven’t once seen you act humbly before the royal family. I think it’s amazing.”
“When I acted humbly in front of you, you said it was fine to act normally.”
With an expression that asked “Did I say that?”, Alex looked away and played dumb. Regaining his composure, he once again propped himself up on his side with his head resting in his hand and gazed at Yulie.
Even though a smile floated across his face, you could see that there was a hint of seriousness as well.
“If you don’t want to come to the dinner party, you don’t have to. But if you’re refusing because of me, I prefer you don’t. No matter what clothes or shoes you wear, you would never embarrass me. So you should decide for yourself what to do.”
“Even the shoes? Didn’t you give me these because you didn’t like the ones I was wearing before?”
“Not at all. I just thought you might want to try wearing those. My sister used to like those shoes. But if you don’t want to wear them, you don’t have to. Do what you want.”
Being told to do as she liked, Yulie was bewildered. Why is everyone saying that?
“…Do I look like I’m not doing what I want?”
It seems like he’s forgetting the fact that she’s sprawled out on the floor right now. The prince tilted his head and laughed.
“Right…Although you speak candidly, when push comes to shove, because you tend to put the feelings of others before yourself, you get anxious. You don’t need to worry about me. It’s okay to do what you want to do, not just the things you have to do.”
Strangely, Alex’s quiet voice and words reached deep into Yulie’s heart.
I put others before me. She hadn’t realized that herself yet, but wasn’t that something Aika had also told her before?
What I want to do…
Saying that out of the blue, nothing came to mind. But, why did his emerald eyes look so beautiful? It was the first time Yulie noticed that.
Ah. That’s right. This guy is the male lead.
His eyes have the glint of unwavering will that look straight ahead no matter what and a strong gleam that sucks you in. They were very beautiful.
“Do you know?”
With a sound like a whisper, she finally came back to her senses.
“Ah…aah, yeah.”
The truth was, she was so captivated by those gorgeous eyes, she couldn’t think of anything. But Yulie couldn’t believe she was being so enthralled by a man’s eyes, and feigned calmness.
“The etiquette matters from before as well, it’s okay if you don’t want to.”
“Aah…no, I want to. I think.”
Alex raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
He probably thought she was worrying about him again. Yulie continued to explain hurriedly.
“I want to give it a try. Since I’ve come this far, it would be good to have the opportunity to learn about that… this country.”
She figured knowing women’s etiquette, which she’d had an incomplete understanding of until now, and the culture of this country would be important to become the heroine.
Besides, more than anything, she wanted to try on the shoes Alex had gifted her. It wasn’t a calculated move just because he was the male lead, she simply wanted to.
Maybe it’s because she was frugal by nature, but, if she couldn’t wear these heels, they would be useless. That would be a bit of a waste.
“That’s good. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Smiling delightedly, Alex stood up, lightly brushed off his clothes, and pushed back his hair.
“Sorry for keeping you so long. Well, it’s about time I take my leave.”
“Ok. Ah, the shoes. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Quickly straightening himself out, the prince then headed toward the door. Placing his hand on the knob, he turned around once more as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right. Will you come to my room tonight?”
“What? Ah…sure.” She replied without much thought.
The prince then promptly left the room.
The door closed and silence quickly filled the room. Yulie, who was staring vacantly at the ceiling, suddenly regained her wits.
Huh? …Was there a scene like getting summoned to his room at night in this story?
This is a completely foreign development. What the hell is this?
With her feelings in turmoil and thinking she would find out once night falls, she casually tossed away the heel dangling from the tip of her toe.