I stared at him as if I had lost all words, then let out a soft, resigned laugh.
“You’re too honest.”
Somehow, it felt like I’d taken a hit, and I discreetly placed my hand over my heart. Meanwhile, Ian, now quite used to such moments, extended his hand.
When I gently placed mine in his, he lightly squeezed and said,
“I criticized the outfit, not your beauty.”
…Wait, what?
Before I could fully process what that meant, he softly tugged me along.
“Let’s go.”
Kyle, who had been watching this whole scene, looked completely horrified.
Then, without a sound, he mouthed, He’s lost his mind…
Thankfully, Ian seemed too focused on me to notice Kyle’s reaction.
‘Either Kyle is amazing, or Ian is just oblivious.’
Probably both, to be honest.
Since I couldn’t entirely blame Kyle for his reaction, I gave him an awkward smile before following Ian outside the lobby.
When we stood atop the teleportation circle Kyle had prepared, Kyle, now having regained his senses, came over and handed both of us a necklace.
“Here, it’s what you requested, Your Grace.”
Ian accepted the necklace but then looked between Kyle and me with a puzzled expression.
I raised my eyebrows and explained.
“Yesterday, before I could even ask, you gave your approval so readily that I didn’t get a chance to explain. The person we’re meeting today is the eldest son of the Merry Marquis family.”
“The one who ran away five years ago?”
“Yes, you’re familiar with him, I see.”
“The whole capital was buzzing about it. Even His Majesty was troubled.”
“Yes, it was quite an unprecedented event.”
I nodded in agreement. What other noble family’s child would burn their own family records and disappear?
I quickly gave the explanation I hadn’t been able to yesterday.
When Mary Merry heard that I was heading to Biblos Academy, she came to me with a request to deliver her eldest son’s portfolio to the academy.
“…So, you’re going all the way to Marisen just to meet this runaway?”
“Well, I’m vouching for his work in my own name. I’ve heard a lot about his art, but I’ve never heard anything about him as a person.”
“So, you’re planning to use this necklace to disguise your identity.”
“Exactly, doesn’t it sound fun?”
I smiled brightly as I asked, and Ian’s expression showed that he was debating whether to scold me or accept it.
‘I can see that inner conflict, you know.’
He stayed silent for quite a while, probably engaged in an intense internal battle.
But in the end, it seemed that his upbringing, with its emphasis on respecting my wishes, won out, and he nodded.
“As long as it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
He glanced at the necklace in his hand and asked,
“So, what’s the role for this particular performance?”
His tone suggested that by now, he was no longer surprised by such things.
I placed my hands confidently on my hips.
“This time, I’m playing the part of a spoiled rich girl. I’ve heard about this street artist ‘Ryan’ and plan to storm in, declaring, ‘I’ll buy all your paintings! Now paint one just for me!’”
Ian’s eyes narrowed.
There it was again, the are you out of your mind look.
I shrugged.
“Unfortunately, I’m dead serious. I did a bit of research in the library on the philosophy of Biblos Academy, you know.”
I raised my finger and gave a haughty little nod.
“The academy doesn’t discriminate based on status, but it does have certain criteria. It values people with a burning passion for learning, those who seek knowledge over wealth, and those who remain humble before the vastness of knowledge.”
“And so?”
“Well, this young man had the guts to leave his family just to pursue his art. But it’s better to judge him in person, right? A little thoroughness never hurts.”
Since it’s hard to know if he’s truly passionate or just being rebellious until we meet him in person.
When I gave a sweet smile, Ian, who had been observing me closely, finally spoke.
“That’s the official reason. But aren’t you just curious about him?”
Why was he always so sharp only in moments like this, while being completely indifferent the rest of the time?
“…I can’t deny that. But! It’s also a good chance for an outing, don’t you think? It’s not often we get to go outside the capital.”
I gave his hand a gentle swing, and Ian’s gaze shifted to it.
“…I suppose it’s not a bad idea.”
He tightened his grip slightly.
“So, you’re playing the spoiled rich girl. And what’s my role?”
“Ian? Hmm…”
I paused, looking around for a moment. I had only thought of him as a companion.
But his gaze was too intense for me to brush it off.
“…A chaperone?”
What else could go better with a rich young lady than a protector?
I raised my finger and answered brightly. Ian’s expression became rather complicated.
He looked down at me, then at the necklace, and let out a sigh.
“…You may not know this, but the Marquis’s eldest son is about your age.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s just say we’re married.”
His sudden decision left me dumbfounded.
Was he… being territorial?
Without another word, Ian firmly readjusted his grip on my hand.
Kyle, who had been watching all this, made another silent expression of exasperation.
Brushing off his robe as if dusting something away, Kyle asked,
“Are you two done talking?”
“Yeah, mostly.”
“In any case, once you’re holding the necklace, twist the central gem to the right twice, and it’ll change your appearance. Turn it the other way, and you’ll return to normal. You asked me to make you look like a nouveau riche, but I wasn’t sure exactly what you had in mind. So, it’s set to change you into whatever image you picture.”
“Oh?”
Imagining the perfect image, I clasped the necklace around my neck and gave it a firm grip.
“Alright, let’s see… What would an entitled young lady look like?”
I pictured the image in my head and turned the jewel on the necklace two times to the right. I felt a small vibration, followed by a sensation of my body changing. As the light surrounding me faded, I lifted my head with a snap.
“Hmm, did it work? How do I look?”
As I raised my hand to sweep back my hair, I noticed that the previously ash-brown strands were gone, replaced by smooth golden locks that flowed through my fingers like honey.
Kyle, who had been staring at me blankly, began to clap from across the room.
“Wow, you really do look like a spoiled, clueless rich girl.”
Was that an insult or a compliment?
Feeling strangely unsettled by his reaction, I gave him a once-over. When our eyes met, he cheekily whistled and looked away. Ignoring him, I turned my gaze to Ian.
“Alright, your turn.”
Ian, unlike me, was staring at the necklace with a reluctant expression. He raised his head and asked,
“Do I really have to?”
“Of course, you do.”
I grinned widely.
“You just said earlier that as long as I’m happy, it’s fine.”
Quoting his own words back to him made him quietly rub his forehead.
“Haa…”
Without further response, he halfheartedly twisted the necklace’s jewel twice. In an instant, his familiar silver hair and purple eyes were gone, replaced by short auburn hair and brown eyes.
…That’s it?
I looked at him with a doubtful expression and asked,
“…Is that seriously all?”
“Changing hair and eye color should be enough.”
“I put in my best effort, though.”
“You’ve gone all out, so I can afford to keep it simple.”
He spoke as if this was the most he could compromise on.
‘Well, knowing Ian’s personality, this is already a big concession.’
“Alright, fine. I suppose it’s better than completely ignoring the task.”
I threw out a pointed remark, and he glanced at me before speaking.
“You taught me, remember? Instead of stopping someone from doing something foolish, you prefer it if they join in and make sure it’s not too embarrassing.”
That was what I’d told him during our trip to the private villa.
“So, you somehow remembered that… Wait, are you saying this is foolish?”
I finally caught on to the hidden meaning of his words, and he raised an eyebrow.
Even without him answering, I knew he was agreeing.
I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or flattered, so I simply scrunched my nose in response.
At that moment, Kyle cut in between us.
“Alright, lovebirds, let’s cut the bickering. Are both of you ready?”
“Yeah, I guess we are.”
I snorted and answered Kyle. He glanced at Ian, then sighed dramatically while squinting.
“My lord, I get that you adore her, but could you stop staring at the Duchess for a moment? At this rate, you’re going to bore a hole through her.”
Huh?
I turned to look at Ian, only to see him nonchalantly turn his head as if he hadn’t been watching me at all.
‘What…?’
Feeling my ears heat up, I bit down on my lip to stifle any further reaction.
“…Ah, my life. If you’re both ready, I’ll transport us now.”
Kyle, watching us with a mix of exasperation and pity, began to draw a magical circle.
As he traced sigils into the air, a bright light enveloped us. I felt my body lift, and the unfamiliar scent of a new place reached my nose.
When the light faded, I looked around and gasped in awe.
“Wow.”
We had arrived in the art city of Marisen.
♧♧♧
Support my translation for more and faster updates 🐳
