[If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize. I just…….]
Theor looked flustered by my words.
“No, no. I have no reason to be uncomfortable at all. Why would I be? I’m not.”
[……Is that so? Then I am relieved.]
“Rather than that, I’m a bit perplexed by what you said earlier—that you were happy about the rumors.”
[Please do not misunderstand; I have no ulterior motives.]
“The rumor is that I am ‘your princess,’ and you’re saying you’re happy about it, not bothered by it?”
[What is there to be bothered about?]
“Well…….”
[I am very interested in your abilities, my lady. I would also like to build a closer relationship with you. Therefore, a rumor that I am quite close to you is actually beneficial to me.]
Theor explained that since the rumors were already circulating, it wouldn’t be strange for us to meet frequently. By meeting often, he would surely learn more about my dark magic, making it a very advantageous situation for him.
Now that I heard it, that made sense.
I nodded, agreeing with him.
“Well, I’m fine with meeting occasionally to teach you about my ability, which we’ve labeled as dark magic. In fact, I’m also curious to see how similar the darkness attribute is to my dark magic.”
Since things had turned out this way, I suggested that we really should meet occasionally to solidify the newspaper articles as fact and learn about each other’s abilities, and Theor readily agreed.
He really must be very interested in my dark magic. After all, he didn’t point out the part about making the newspaper articles a ‘fait accompli’ at all.
‘Hmm.’
Judging by Pere’s attitude toward Theor, he doesn’t seem like he’d be her second-best option anyway, so I might as well tie him to me to keep other women from eyeing him.
I thought that whenever I met him, I should also instill a good impression of Caroline in Theor so that if she ever came sniffing around Lloyd, I could push Theor toward her.
Since he likely wouldn’t be a viable option for Pere, my brilliant plan was to use Theor as a shield for other women, ensuring her potential suitors wouldn’t be swayed by others.
Now, even before the debutante, no young lady would dare approach Theor, who was now linked to me in the papers. After all, high society in this world is a rather scary place where rumors can devour a person.
[Then, my business here is finished, so I will…….]
Just then, Theor tried to end the call, and I found myself calling out to him without realizing it.
“Theor! ……No, Your Grace, I mean, Grand Duke.”
And I had even called him by his name. My brain kept defaulting to his name, so it seemed my head and my mouth were acting independently.
Theor’s eyes widened for a moment at my shout and urgency, but he soon gave me a look that was, in some way, softer.
[Please, call me by my name, my lady. And give me the honor of calling you by yours.]
No, he could call me by my name all he wanted, but “the honor” was a bit much. Besides, he was already calling me by my name to begin with.
“P-please do. And that just now was a mistake…….”
[Call me by my name, Ellinea.]
Since I had already done it, I couldn’t exactly say it was awkward to call him by his name now; it was my own undoing, so I just nodded.
“A-actually, there was something I wanted to ask of you, which is why I asked Pere for the Grand Duke’s—no, for Theor’s—contact information.”
[It might be better to drop the title. Publicly, I am Ellinea Brensia’s prince, after all.]
It was undeniably a bit cheesy, but seeing him say such things with that face, it was only dashing, so I didn’t feel much resistance.
“Anyway, that’s it, Theor.”
[What is it you wish to ask? I will grant you whatever I can, so tell me.]
I nodded at his words and asked him.
“Could you try smiling for me?”
Perhaps because my question was entirely unexpected, a flash of bewilderment crossed Theor’s face.
[……Pardon?]
“I said smile, like this.”
As I pointed at my lips with both index fingers and flashed a grin, Theor’s gaze shifted subtly.
“It’s because of the rumor that no one has ever seen Theor smile, that’s why. So, just try smiling once.”
[Smiling isn’t something one can just do at will…….]
“You just have to lift the corners of your lips like I’m doing? Is it that hard?”
At my words, Theor parted his lips with a troubled expression. It seems he’s just not the type of person who can smile easily. Well, I suppose there’s a reason for every rumor like that.
I let out a short, involuntary sigh and said to Theor,
“It can’t be helped. I’ll make you laugh every time we meet.”
[Pardon……?]
“First of all, when should we meet? It’s difficult for a while because I have many tea parties to attend, so, hmm…… how about this weekend?”
[I am free whenever.]
“Great, then let’s meet this weekend. Let’s decide on the location by contacting each other the day before.”
[Yes, let’s do that.]
I set up an appointment to see Theor’s smile and ended the call.
For now, the important thing was to solidify Pere’s position at the tea party starting this very afternoon. One way or another, today’s newspaper article would surely be a help, because all the young ladies’ interest would be focused on me and Pere.
I resolved to use this opportunity as a stepping stone to purposefully appeal to the young ladies about Pere’s kind nature.
“Becky! Dress me up like someone incredibly sincere!”
I stood up and shouted, looking for Becky.
* * *
I had definitely ordered Becky to dress me up like someone sincere enough to be fully trusted in everything I said.
“Oh my, Lady Brensia is so cute.”
“Doesn’t it look like a little chick is walking toward us?”
“Yellow suits you very well, my lady.”
“It would be so delightful to have a younger sister like you.”
But every young lady I met treated me like a chick. Honestly, I’m not unaware of why they are doing this. I was dressed head-to-toe in bright yellow, so it was to be expected.
Becky had said that since I have black hair and black eyes, wearing bright, cheerful yellow would make me appear sincere. She also added that young ladies are more likely to perceive a lighthearted, bright, and bubbly look as more sincere than mature and stuffy formal attire.
I wondered what kind of nonsense that was, but since Becky has lived longer than me and has spent a long time in high society where she has to read the room, I just trusted her and left it to her.
However.
“Ellie, you look just like a chick that came up from the countryside with a yellow flower on its head.”
Even Pere said that when she saw me, so I felt my sin of entrusting it to Becky was great. I looked down at my already ruined dress and shoes and let out a long sigh.
“You’re cute, Ellie.”
But hearing my favorite sister call me cute was a bit of a consolation, and I thought that for today, I would just push forward with a cute image rather than a sincere one.
“If I had known, I would have made my dress code a yellow flower, too.”
Pere said it with a hint of regret, so I looked at her with sparkling eyes and said,
“Then, shall we wear dresses decorated with red flowers tomorrow?”
It was a thought that came to me because of what Pere just said; I thought it would be much better in many ways if we went to the tea party with matching dress codes. After all, since I’m attending the tea party to spread Pere’s false virtues, wearing matching dresses with her would surely leave a stronger impression.
Of course, my selfish desire to dress similarly to my sister was the biggest reason, but either way, there were no downsides, only benefits, so I wanted to match our dress code while I had the chance.
“Good idea. Then let’s go to the ducal residence when we return. While we’re at it, wouldn’t it be better to match the dress style, too?”
“Gasp! Really?”
“You know my personal designer has great skills, and she’s very fast with her hands, so making two dresses in a day will be easy. So, let’s leave the dresses we’ll wear to tomorrow’s tea party to my designer……”
“Oh my goodness! You’re lending me your personal designer?! Not for a festival or an anniversary, but just to have a dress made for a tea party?!”
I intentionally shouted at the top of my lungs. Pere looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, *What on earth is wrong with you?*, while the other young ladies stared in our direction with curious eyes.
Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I grabbed both of Pere’s hands and exclaimed,
“Unni, you’re like an angel! To think you’d lend me the ducal household’s designer for someone as insignificant as me!”
My loud voice echoed across the outdoor tea party venue.