I couldn’t help but smile throughout reading the reply that was twice as long as the letter I sent.
The reply contained both Ian’s serene and affectionate nature at the same time.
After reading Ian’s reply, I calculated how many days were left until this Friday. 3 days.
There were 3 days left until I would meet Ian after a long time. Already looking forward to it, I didn’t think my smile would fade. While I was fiddling with the corner of the letter that smelled of Ian, I heard a knock from outside the door.
“Lady.”
It was Isabella.
“Yes?”
“His Majesty requests your presence in his office momentarily.”
“His Majesty?”
I unconsciously repeated and slowly rose from my seat. I thought I wouldn’t see Ruth for a while after dinner last night.
Yet, to be called over again the very next day. I wondered what it was about as I moved my steps.
***
Upon arriving at Ruth’ office with Isabella, Wilson, who had been waiting, opened the door for us, saying we could go right in.
I was inwardly surprised by the welcoming sight as if they had been waiting, and then a low bass voice resonated from inside the office.
“What are you doing not coming in?”
Only then did I realize I had been standing dumbfounded in front of the open door and hurriedly entered.
Then, a scene that felt familiar at first glance unfolded. The strong scent of black tea, the scratching sound of a fountain pen, and the lazy sunlight pouring in.
The one thing that had changed since before was that Ruth’ gaze was not on his documents.
Seeing Ruth watching me intently, I slightly lifted the corners of my mouth.
“I heard you called for me, Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
With a nod, Ruth briefly replied and took off the glasses he was wearing, pressing the corners of his eyes firmly. Seeing his face full of tiredness, it seemed he had been working non-stop again.
What if he collapses again because of this?
As I was pressing down the worry that surged like a tide, Ruth said,
“I called you because there seems to be something I wanted to say yesterday but couldn’t.”
“Something you couldn’t say yesterday?”
I tilted my head.
We had already shared many things yesterday, but there was more?
Ruth glanced at me, slowly rising from his chair to sit on the desk.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but about ten magicians from the Mage Tower are supposed to come to our empire.”
The Mage Tower was an independent institution belonging to no empire, much like a temple. However, unlike temples, it did not establish any branches, which contributed to its more mysterious and secretive aura.
Anyway, the Mage Tower, maintaining a neutral position, only sent magicians to the empire when there was a significant issue that required their assistance. I heard that they send as few as one or two, and up to a dozen magicians.
But the fact that the mage tower sent as many as ten magicians implies that a serious issue has arisen within the empire, one that could even endanger the mage tower itself.
What could it be?
If magicians are needed, it can’t be a simple accident. I listened intently to Ruth’s words as I pondered deeply.
“So, in order to welcome the magicians on our part, we’re planning to hold a ball, and I thought you should know.”
“I see. When is the ball then?”
“It should be next Thursday.”
Next Thursday, huh?
There was less time to prepare for the ball than expected. Noticing my concern about the remaining time, Ruth added,
“Ah. Don’t worry about the dress or accessories. I’ve already contacted Elleana’s dress shop.”
“That’s a relief.”
The fact that he had already contacted the dress shop was reassuring, and even more so because it was Elleana’s.
I had a comfortable experience with her after getting through a crunch time before.
“It’s going to be a significant event. There will be as many nobles as there were at our engagement party, and there will be magicians from the mage tower as well.”
“I must not make a mistake.”
“Right.”
As I immediately understood what he wanted to say, Ruth’s lips formed a tight line.
“There’s something I wish you would do in that situation.”
“What is it?”
“Do not get agitated no matter what. Regardless of what the nobles might blabber about, let it go in one ear and out the other, and pretend not to see whatever you see.”
“Excuse me?”
When I asked back, not understanding why Ruth would make such a request, he shrugged as if he had expected it.
“The nobles there will probably do their utmost to tear you down. They will either try to introduce their daughters to me or spread unpleasant rumors about you.”
“…I see.”
“So, you must act as the dignified fiancee of the emperor in a way that does not expose any vulnerabilities to such people.”
The dignified emperor’s fiancee. I mulled over the expression that came out of his mouth.
Since I was already pretending to be my sister, adding one more role as the dignified emperor’s fiancee didn’t seem to be a big problem.
However, I felt a slight sadness because being the emperor’s fiancee was not just an act.
No matter the engagement was contractual, an engagement was still an engagement.
Therefore, I wasn’t just pretending to be Ruth’s fiancee; I was his fiancee.
Because it was such a minor thing, I didn’t feel the need to correct Ruth’s expression and just moved on.
“I will do so, Your Majesty.”
When I readily agreed, he smiled contentedly. It was a smile completely devoid of emotion, so plain and simple.
I was quietly observing it when I suddenly remembered my encounter with Helen and started to speak.
“Right. Speaking of which, when I went to the tea party of Lady Abyss the other day…”
“Ah, that time.”
“Lady Abyss told me she wanted to become friends with me.”
“Hmm?”
Ruth’s eyebrows twitched, perhaps surprised by the unexpected story. Despite appearing to be a trivial story, his attentive listening indicated he was aware too.
He must have known that a lady as intelligent as Helen, who fully inherited the nature of the Abyss family, wouldn’t want to become friends without having a particular reason.
After being lost in thought for a moment, staring at the ground and rubbing his chin, Ruth looked at me.
“What do you think?”
“I think Lady Abyss wants to establish a relationship with me because she definitely wants to gain something from it.”
“Is that so.”
Seeing that Ruth agreed without much objection to my guess, it seems he was of the same mind.
“It’s too early to be certain now, so let’s hold off on this discussion and revisit it if something more happens with Lady Abyss of the Duke’s family.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
I agreed on that part as well.
Ruth, without any complaints, took his eyes off me, organized the documents, and murmured.
“I hope we can figure out Lady Abyss’s true intentions soon. You’d want to get rid of this contract as quickly as possible, too.”
“……”
I didn’t respond to Ruth’s murmuring.
No, I couldn’t respond.
Different from him, I wished this contract would last forever, yet I also hoped it would end soon.
My desire to not be separated from Ruth for even an inch clashed with my wish to return to my true self as soon as possible.
So, I responded with silence. My heart felt a pang, but I endured it.
Ruth, watching me, let out a chuckle, then stood up from the desk.
“I have a cabinet meeting soon, so I must go. You should leave too.”
“……Yes.”
A locked voice popped out between barely opened lips. It was such a poor voice that I wanted to swallow it back, but I regretted that I couldn’t.
I turned my gaze once again to Ruth, who was focusing on signing documents, then quietly turned around and left the office.
It was clear that Ruth’s guard towards me had softened than before.
But why? It felt as though the wall between us had become even more solid.
After briefly pondering, I eventually let out a sigh filled with a faint sense of despair.
The reason I finally realized our wall had become even more solid was,
“We have now become perfect strangers.”
It was because Ruth had been treating me much more as a stranger than before.
***
As I was heading to my bedroom with feeble steps, Isabella came running from somewhere.
“Lady!”
Seemingly having run a long distance, Isabella was panting heavily as she suddenly showed me an envelope.
“I’ve brought the letter from Lady Abyss right away, just as you’ve instructed before!”
“Um?”
I frowned at the envelope suddenly presented before my eyes. Then, I remembered instructing Isabella to bring any letters from Helen immediately after the day I attended Helen’s tea party, and I sighed.
Could this be a letter from Helen, I murmured, examining the red envelope when a soft but distinct rose scent brushed my nose.
I was certain that this letter was indeed sent by Helen due to the familiar fragrance.
“…….”
However, why was it that despite eagerly awaiting Helen’s letter, my hand refused to move as if it had turned stiff?
I eventually shifted my gaze away from the letter, merely twitching my fingers uselessly.
Today, I just felt too drained and wanted to rest.
Therefore, I decided to read Helen’s letter later.
“I’ll read it later.”
“Yes, then I’ll keep it safe!”
As I waved my hand and replied that I would see it later, Isabella, with an indifferent face, put the letter into her bosom.
I blankly watched as the red letter disappeared into Isabella’s embrace when, out of nowhere, a question I had never considered before slowly crept up on me.
When I heard the maids talking at the sponsorship, they said that there was no particular response to the rumor that I was Ruth’s first love.
But the only ones who know that I didn’t respond in any particular way are Isabella, with whom I spoke, and me.
“!”
Chills ran through my body all of a sudden.
ooooh!