DSFL | Chapter 08

~Chapter 08~

It was clear that my grandfather had made this decision on his own.

I grabbed my head in frustration, but soon Emily started dressing me.

Ricardo, that guy, was probably more impressive than I had imagined, but Emily’s touch was more intense than usual.

“I don’t like this smell…”

Emily, who was applying the perfume, said firmly.

“It’s a popular scent among young ladies these days. They say it’s a pheromone (Attractant) perfume that can attract men.”

“Am I some kind of beast?”

“Well, humans are also considered beasts in some ways.”

The perfume was just the beginning.

“Miss, please help me!”

“…I’ve already given you everything.”

“Just a little more!”

The corset was so tight I could barely breathe.

“Should I just take out a rib?”

“Miss, please don’t say such frightening things!”

Emily laughed, thinking I was joking.

…But I was serious.

After much struggle, I finished getting ready and headed for the reception room.

Ricardo, sitting with a graceful posture and drinking tea in the reception room, spotted me and let out a dry laugh.

But I felt the same way.

…Why is this guy, who has so much money, dressed like that?

Ricardo’s outfit, just a robe, had no sign of proper decorum.

Not knowing what I was thinking, he asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Are you on your way to a ball or something?”

“Why don’t you go explore the back alleys instead?”

“Similar. I’m going to tour the village.”

…A village tour?

Ricardo bent down, making eye contact with me.

“We’re going to the village, not the banquet hall.”

Why didn’t you tell me what to wear today?

You really…

I gritted my teeth and left the reception room.

Damn!

---

I changed into a fancy dress.

Why didn’t anyone tell me we were going to a village?

…Was it on purpose?

After the exhausting time, I left for the village with Ricardo, feeling drained.

Just loosing a bit the corset made the world feel so much more beautiful. I felt much lighter.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go in the village?”

Ricardo asked quietly.

“No.”

Why would I want to go anywhere with you?

“You must have wanted to go somewhere since you made the effort to meet me.”

What!

No, I didn’t!

I’m not the type to ask for favors!

Maybe grandfather asked him for this.

I suppressed the urge to shout and forced a smile.

“I didn’t ask my grandfather for anything like this.”

But Ricardo had a look on his face that said, “Don’t lie.”

“I was dragged along too.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

You don’t believe me at all, do you?

I sighed inwardly and decided to make a suggestion he might like.

“Let’s just spend time here and go back home.”

“I’d like to do that too.”

Ricardo glanced toward the alley. A man who made eye contact with me quickly hid his camera.

…What’s that?

“A reporter is following us. I think they’re from the Marquis family. Do you know anything about it?”

Oh, maybe my grandfather knows that Ricardo likes Idette?

But he didn’t show any signs of that.

I recalled the picture of Ricardo and Idette in the newspaper.

To put those rumors to rest by posting our pictures together?

Whatever the reason, it was none of my business.

“Is there anything to do?”

My ribs were aching, probably from the corset. I just wanted to go home as soon as possible.

“Well, we could just take a picture and go our separate ways.”

As soon as I turned to walk toward the reporter, Ricardo grabbed me.

When I looked at him with confusion, he responded defensively.

“You’re not acting like yourself today.”

“This is how I usually am.”

Ricardo tilted his head at my words.

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“…?”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

My ribs hurt, but I didn’t feel like being honest. If I said the truth, he’d probably mock me for wearing a ball gown that I wasn’t asked to wear.

“I’m fine. I’m just tired from being suddenly dragged outside.”

“Then I guess the cause is me.”

His words weren’t entirely wrong, but…

When I didn’t respond, Ricardo’s hand fell away from me.

Then, a sharp laugh escaped his lips.

“I, too, had a sudden schedule, yet I still came out here to be polite and do my best. It’s still part of my work.”

Who said anything?

“I understand. That’s why I suggested we just go our separate ways. It seems like both of us are wasting time with this schedule.”

“…Wasting time?”

Ricardo’s smile stiffened.

“I don’t have another way to say it. I appreciate the consideration you’ve shown me. That’s why I was thinking of showing you the same minimal respect.”

“…If you were going to be considerate, it would’ve been better if you took action before my grandfather contacted me.”

“I didn’t think your grandfather would contact you.”

“Well, my grandfather seems to think you still have feelings for me.”

I was sure I mentioned this before.

I suddenly realized, Ricardo really doesn’t listen to what I say.

Without thinking, I took a step closer to him.

“I already explained that. The Roygin family’s situation wasn’t good, and I couldn’t tell my grandfather.”

“Everything you say just sounds like an excuse to me.”

“Well, then that means you’re the one who’s tangled up in all of this.”

Maybe that annoyed him. Ricardo also stepped closer to me.

“I’m tangled up? You want me to believe you when we’re getting engaged after ten years of not seeing each other?”

“Are you still stuck in the past?”

“The past?”

“Yes. The ‘past’ you’re thinking of.”

Ricardo tilted his head at my words.

“Bringing up our past like it’s nothing, don’t you think that’s a bit inconsiderate?”

I was referring to Bianca liking him, but Ricardo seemed to interpret it differently.

The past where Bianca bothered Ricardo.

That past.

I thought about apologizing for the mistake I made, but Ricardo was quicker.

“Fine, maybe the past doesn’t matter. But ten years have passed since you’re talking about. There’s more than enough time to tell your grandfather how you feel.”

Ricardo’s words made my intention to apologize crumble like a sandcastle.

“I had forgotten! I thought of it as a silly old love, and I never imagined my grandfather would remember it!”

Ricardo chuckled.

“Seems like I was mistaken. Bianca, you haven’t changed a bit.”

“Then, you go tell the late Duke. Our engagement was a promise between the Duke and the Marquess families.”

At my words, Ricardo quickly turned his head to the side, trying to calm himself. His broad chest rose and fell rapidly.

“Let’s just go our separate ways. You can go to Idette—”

“Why is Idette’s name coming up here? I came to see you, not her.”

“Spending time with her would be better than going through a schedule we never planned.”

Ricardo gritted his teeth.

“Fine. I’d rather spend time with Idette than be with someone who doesn’t understand me.”

At that moment, someone threw an arm around my shoulders and shouted.

“Bianca!”

The man who called my name so warmly made Ricardo’s face stiffen.

No way.

“…Leon, Oppa?”

“Yeah! It’s me, Leon.”

Leon gave me his usual cheerful smile.

“I missed you.”

When Leon was still a boy, we had parted ways. Since I stayed in that memory, seeing how different he had become felt strange.

The chubby-cheeked boy was completely gone, replaced by a sharp jawline.

He had grown even taller than before, to the point where I couldn’t compare him to back then. It looked like he had gained some muscles too…

“Oh.”

Then, Leon noticed Ricardo standing in front of me. He narrowed his eyes and seemed to recognize him, exclaiming in surprise.

“Wait, Ricardo?”