“When the hell did you come? I was surprised to see you standing without a sign.”
“You look very friendly.”
“Pardon?”
“I said you looked friendly with Lady Ladiana.”
When she asked why he was standing there staring at her, he seemed to be in pain because Ladiana and she looked friendly.
“Isn’t it only in the Duke’s eyes that we look like that?”
“Are you saying I was mistaken?”
“No, that’s not it…”
She was deeply disturbed by the Duke, who reacted more sharply than usual.
“I have something to tell you, so come with me.”
Having said that, the Duke lifted himself. He had something to say, so he told her not to talk there and follow him. She tilted her head and followed the Duke. He took her to his office. She didn’t say anything, so she went to the sofa and sat down, and he sat across from her.
“What do you mean?”
“After them.”
“Yes?”
“At that time, the magic tower master said he saw you.”
“That sound…”
“Yes. Let’s ask about the curse then.”
The joy of finally being able to lift the curse was short-lived. It was because she realized that the day she had to meet the head of the magic tower coincided with the child’s birthday.
“Do I have to go to the Magic Tower that day?”
“I guess so.”
“Would it be rude to ask the Mage Tower Lord to come here? If that doesn’t work, I hope we can adjust the date a bit.”
“Why?”
“It’s Deliam’s birthday in two days. It’s a special day, so I want to take care of it throughout the day.”
The Duke stared at her with strange eyes.
“…can’t I?”
“I can’t adjust the date so I’ll tell him to come here early in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“Then just leave.”
She stared blankly at the Duke for a moment. Were they done talking now?
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“Would you like more?”
“It’s not like that, but I think it’s something we don’t need to talk about here.”
“It’s in my mind.”
“…what?”
“It’s something I’m thinking about.”
Of course it’s her own mind, but why did the Duke look grumpy to her? After blinking for a moment, she got up from her seat.
“Well, okay. Then let’s go… Oh, that’s right. On Liam’s birthday. Could he skip class on that day?”
“You want he to drop out of class?”
“Yes. I want to spend time with Liam.”
“It doesn’t matter much, but I don’t feel the need to listen to you.”
“Really?
“What?”
“Are you saying you can take it out if it doesn’t matter too much?”
At her words, the Duke clicked his tongue lightly.
“Do you know that I’ve been very unruly lately?”
“The Duke made me like this.”
“Now I’m even trying to match.”
Even though his mouth was full of ridicule, he didn’t look angry. Feeling weird for no reason, she averted her gaze.
“If you’ve done what you said, leave now.”
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll go.”
She got up, bowed her head, and went outside. She originally intended to go to the room, but changed her mind and turned to the other side. Since she had nothing to do in her room anyway, she thought it would be better to read a book in the library. As soon as she reached the study, she went straight up the stairs. While standing on the second floor, picking up a book, she heard a knock.
[Elia. Are you inside?]
It’s Sarah’s voice. After coming down from the second floor, she headed straight for the door. When she opened the door, Sarah was standing in front of it.
“Yes. What happened?”
“Could you give me a minute now?”
“It doesn’t matter, why?”
“Follow me and I’ll explain later.”
“Is it so.”
Sara led her somewhere. The place she arrived at was the dressing room she had visited once before to prepare for a banquet. There were also several other maids inside.
“Then I’ll take measurements in a moment.”
“Why is the size suddenly?”
“It’s to make Elia’s dress.”
“…My dress?”
What kind of dress were they making? It’s not that she didn’t have clothes.
“The Duke told me to make several custom-made dresses for Miss Elia.”
“…The Duke?”
“That’s right.”
“Didn’t he say anything? It’s too sudden.”
“Yes. You weren’t there.”
What happened while she was gone? She blinked.
“Anyways, straighten yourself out. I’ll take measurements now.”
“Ah, yes.”
The ladies-in-waiting, including Sarah, busily measured her body.
“It’s the same size as when I measured it last week.”
“Is it so?”
“Yes.”
She thought nothing of it. Sarah, who was watching her hand closely, asked.
“Do you cut your nails separately or do you take care of them yourself?”
“No, no. But why?”
“The Duke has instructed me to do massages and other care.”
“…Massage and care?”
“Yes, but are you sure you don’t take care of your nails?”
“Yes. But why do you keep asking?”
“It seems that your fingernails haven’t grown at all since the banquet.”
She lowered her gaze. The nails that had been left unattended after being managed at the banquet caught her eye. The nails were still neat and straight.
“It looks like your toenails are the same length as the ones I took care of before.” said Sarah, looking down at her feet with her shoes off.
For a moment, her head tingled as if she had been hit with a blunt object. Why did she only realize it now? That she hadn’t trimmed her own fingernails or toenails since she possessed that body.
“Me, Miss Elia?”
“…yes?”
“Are you sick? You’re suddenly in a daze…”
“No. No. Looking back, I did organize it once a few days ago. It was during a dream, so I guess my memory was hazy for a while.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
She smiled and nodded her head. Fortunately, her excuse seemed to work, so Sarah passed on without incident.
“Now we have to go to get the care, so please follow us.”
She followed Sarah to a large bath, a place he had been to before.
“Take off your clothes and go into the bath.”
“Yes.”
When she undressed and went into the bathtub, the warm water covered her skin. Soon, her head slowly tilted back and a hand touched her neck. She could feel the slow but cool hand caressing her neck. She closed her eyes and completely entrusted herself to the ladies-in-waiting. Apart from the body being gradually released, the mind was still complicated. Hungry, sleepy, tired, and a series of perfectly natural physiological reactions followed, so she didn’t have time to notice anything else strange. Everything else was normal, but why weren’t her toenails and fingernails growing? No matter how much she thought about it, she was managed with a complicated mind throughout the question that could not be solved.
* * *
After these, Deliam’s birthday finally came. The cake had been made the day before and kept in the freezer. Of course, there was a gift hidden inside the cake. When the whole cake came out for dessert, it was meant to let the slicing process know that there was a box inside. She opened the middle door and went to the children’s room. The child was soundly asleep, hugging a large teddy bear.
“Baby, you have to get up now.”
She gently shook the child’s body. He opened his eyes with a small childish whimper.
“…Eh, Elia.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes…”
Deliam dozed off again.
“Nice. Let’s get up now.”
Instead of answering, the child nodded slowly. She went into the bathroom carrying the child with half-open eyes. After washing the child, he came out and handed it to Sarah. She stood in front of a full-length mirror, roughly adjusted his clothes, and then turned around. Before she knew it, the child who had changed his clothes was smiling brightly.
“Elia, what day is it today?”
“…huh? Today?”
“Don’t you know what day it is today?”
The corners of the child’s eyes began to droop.
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“…You really don’t know?”
“What day is it today?”
“…Um, it’s nothing.”
The child now hung his head in complete disappointment. She exchanged glances with Sarah without the child’s knowledge.
“Lord Deliam, shall we go down to eat now?”
“…Yes.”
“Let’s go, Ryan.”
“Yes…”
She left the room with the child with drooping shoulders. As the child made his way to the restaurant, he trudged along like a wet puppy in the rain. In the dining room, of course, the Duke was seated first. His brow furrowed as he raised his gaze. His eyes seemed to ask why the child’s condition was like that. She shrugged her shoulders and sat down. Most of the food on the table was through her hands. She put a decent amount of food on an empty plate and put it in front of the child.
“Come on. Eat.”
The child picked up the tableware and ate the food. She thought it would be okay to show her knowledge now, so she gave her word.
“Most of the food served today was made by me.”
“…By Elia?”
“Yes. I made it.”
“…why?”
“Why do you think it is?”
When she blinked her eyes slightly, the child’s face came to life.
“I’ll feed you. Now, ah.”
She stuffed the chicken into the child’s open mouth.
“It is delicious!”
She put the meat in the child’s mouth without stopping. Then, she felt a gaze. Even without seeing it, it was obvious that it was the Duke.
‘…Hmm, let’s play a little bit.’
“Can I put it in your mouth too?”
“It won’t be bad.”
Rather, she was taken aback by the unexpected reply.
“Even the Duke… It was a joke.”
“I was joking too.”
She was speechless at the clever answer. Why was this human doing this today? While she was in a daze, meat was pushed out near her mouth.
“Elia eats too.”
“…Uh, yes.”
She put the meat he held out into her mouth and chewed it. She made it, but it tastes good. She diligently ate the food and turned her head in curiosity.
“What do you think about the food I made, Duke? Does it suit your taste?”
“It’s not worse than last time.”
“…yes?”
“It’s better than last time. It’s worth eating this time.”
She looked at the child. It was because she couldn’t believe what she heard. She looked at him with round eyes, as if even the child was surprised. When she looked at the Duke again, he was staring at her with an expressionless face. Why did it sound good? Did anything good happen?
“…Then I’m glad.”
After taking her eyes off the Duke, she continued her meal. By the time she couldn’t go in anymore because her stomach was full, the ladies-in-waiting came in with dessert. It was a cake decorated with strawberries. The child looked at the cake and tilted his head.
“The cake isn’t cut.”
“I didn’t cut it on purpose so that you could cut and eat whatever you want. It’s what I made.”
“Elia made it?”
“Yeah. How is it?”
“It’s pretty!”
While looking at the overjoyed child, the lady-in-waiting brought something more. What? She asked for only cake for dessert. The maid, setting a plate down in front of the child, opened the lid on it. There was a heap of cookies in it.
“What cookie is it?”
“These are the cookies the Duke made.”
She immediately looked at the Duke at the lady-in-waiting’s words. The child must have been as surprised as she was, and he looked at the Duke.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR.
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Next will be released on August, 6.
Thank you very much for reading, I hope you found it cute or interesting at least ^^
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