Villainous Lady, The Obsession Begins

【Chapter 17】

 

“Really?”

When Minuelle’s gaze met his, Esadien nodded his head slightly.

“I’m full… but okay, I got it.”

Compared to the plate of Ramande, Minuelle’s dish looked like a new dish with hardly any decrease in quantity. Esadien empathized deeply with the feelings of Lady Juella, who was the mistress of the house.

‘Eating like that, every time we meet, you seem to get thinner.’

At home, it seemed like she ate less than at the Imperial Palace. While Minuelle struggled with the meatballs that never seemed to diminish in quantity, Esadien quietly told her about a café located in Kaduren Square. Nevertheless, Minuelle managed to finish half of her “meat and cheese sandwich.”

💧

It was a happy time. Having Esadien and Ramande by my side, two people who are precious to me, felt like a dream, and it increased my appetite slightly. With that strength, I ate as much as I could, but…

“Ah, more than this is impossible…”

As she put her hands on her almost bursting stomach and leaned back against the chair, Ramande smiled a little.

“Then give it to me. You still ate a lot compared to usual.”

Ramande took my plate skillfully as if it were familiar to him. It was quite delightful to see him cutting the remaining food into large pieces and putting them in his mouth.

‘It’s amazing that it all fits in.’

It was amazing that despite eating so much, not only did all of it seem to fit inside Ramande’s stomach, but his stomach was still flat no matter how much he ate. It was truly the mystery of the human body.

“Cough.”

While watching Ramande’s eating show, I heard a faint sound of Esadien clearing his throat. From the angle where only one eyebrow was slightly raised, it was clear that he was feeling uncomfortable. However, even after thinking about it for a while, I could not figure out the reason.

“Why are you doing that?”

Did I stare too much? Esadien noticed my gaze and looked over in this direction.

“Esadien, would you like one more plate?”

His plate was clean long ago.

“It’s okay.”

“Hmm… Was it not to your taste?”

Is it a similar psychology to saying, “There’s nothing to eat at this place” on the way out after eating to one’s heart’s content at a buffet?

“Oh… no, it’s not that.”

But if it wasn’t that, then what was it? In those situations, it was best to ask directly.

“Because you look like you’re not feeling well.”

At my words, Esadien paused for a moment and stared at me softly before slightly lowering his head.

“I wouldn’t say that.”

I asked because I thought there might be a reason.

As I continued to observe him, whose facial expressions were not very diverse, I also developed a sort of sensitivity to Esadien’s unique expressions. But as his previously raised eyebrows gradually relaxed and softened, I decided to let it go for now.

💧

After a while, Ramande put down the utensils, indicating that the meal was over, but I didn’t want to part ways with Esadien just yet.

‘I don’t want to say goodbye to Esadien so soon after finally meeting him!’

Given his personality, it was unlikely that Esadien wanted to visit today. It was also clear that he intended to leave now that the meal was over.

“Would you like to come and see the library at our mansion?”

I suggested a topic that he couldn’t refuse, as he loves books. At least we could be together while reading one book.

“Library?”

Surprisingly, Esadien nodded his head, as if he was interested. Oh, yes! I silently cheered to myself.

‘Future me, I’m counting on you to take care of the pilled-up work!’

Our family members were very fond of books. The mansion in the north was even more of a library, with the entire first floor and basement of the annex dedicated to it.

“I see why you said library.”

Looking around the vast space that was far too large to be called a study, Esadien exclaimed in admiration.

“It might be more modest than the imperial library.”

“Even though the imperial library is much larger, it’s always crowded there. This place is more peaceful and quiet, which is nice.”

The smile on Esadien’s face was beautiful. If only I could see that expression again, I couldn’t do anything else.

“Please feel free to come and visit whenever you’re comfortable.”

As I spoke with a big smile, Esadien hesitated a bit and asked.

“Thank you, but… Do I not need to ask for permission from the Duke first?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

The answer came from a person with pink hair like mine. He is my father, the husband of Grand Duchess Karinen, who gave me that hair.

“Dad!”

“Yeah, sweetheart.”

My father also had a couple of books already tucked under his arm.

“Nice to see you again, Your Highness.”

“Sorry for visiting abruptly without any contact.”

“Not at all. The doors of the Grand Duchess’s residence are always open to His Highness. Reading books is a way to gain life when there is someone who reads them for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, have a good time.”

After smiling softly, Father left and vacated his seat. I waited for Esadien to pick a book, and then led him to a window seat hidden inside. It was as if it was concealed. Usually, we kept the wooden shutters closed to block the strong sunlight, but I opened them and pressed myself tightly against Esadien.

“Hehe.”

I felt a sensation of happiness overflowing from my toes. Unable to resist the ticklish feeling, I burst out laughing, and Esadien looked at me as if wondering why I was acting that way.

“It’s like we’re on a date.”

Putting my hand on my lips, I whispered softly, which made Esadien’s ears turn red.

“Uh… are you feeling embarrassed?”

It’s not even my first time doing this.

When I asked with a grin, he hurriedly denied it.

“Oh, no.”

“But your ears turned red.”

“Uh.”

The sight of Esadien rubbing his forehead in bewilderment was truly the cutest thing in the world.

“Esadien.”

When I called out to him with a big smile, he covered his eyes and let out a sigh before answering.

“What…. is it?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“…..”

For a moment, Esadien’s body stiffened. Then, a few seconds later, he lowered his hand and shouted in a low voice, clearly upset.

“You really are…..!”

But I am a Karainen who doesn’t miss opportunities. As soon as the obstacle of the arm disappeared, I boldly planted a kiss on Esadien’s cheek.

Chu.

The second kiss had already happened. The feeling of the lips pressing against the taut yet soft skin was enjoyable. Plus, watching his face gradually turn red was also fun. For a moment, Esadien looked dazed as he held onto my shoulder tightly and then pushed me away.

“Read, read a book.”

I laughed out loud at the intermittent voice.

“Are you feeling embarrassed again?”

“Minuelle.”

However, Esadien quickly regained his usual attitude. As he spoke my name firmly, I decided to stop playing around.

“Okay, I won’t disturb you anymore….”

At that moment, I felt a chill rising up from my back to my forehead, and my body trembled with cold.

“Oh my god!”

Seeing my unexpected reaction, Esadien also seemed surprised and closed the book. He then grabbed my shoulder and urgently touched my forehead and cheeks with his hand.

“Minuelle, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing… I just suddenly felt ominous….”

My instinct was screaming that Lafeesch was nearby! My voice was trembling involuntarily.

“Feeling ominous….”

After being a little surprised, Esadien murmured and then a delicate melody followed like a harp.

“Oh, Miss Minuelle. You’re here. I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

Ah, as expected. My back stiffened and froze.

“La-lady Celeste, how did you come all the way here…”

I managed to say hello with a creak. But somehow, there was no response to come back.

Say things like, ‘That outfit you’re wearing looks really good on you today!’ or ‘I brought this for you to try.’

Instead of saying those kinds of things, Lafesch was murmuring absentmindedly as if her soul had been taken away.

“Wow.”

The unfocused eyes, yet a fixed gaze on Esadien’s face, a blushing face, and an excited smile—I could tell at a glance that Lafesch had fallen for Esadien. It reminded me of how I probably looked when I first met Esadien.

‘Why? Lafesch should be with Theodore, but why…’

In the original work, there was a period when Lafesch became very close to Esadien, but it was because Lafesch was mentally struggling due to her relationship with Theodore and Esadien made a mistake while under the influence of alcohol.

‘Please, no. Not Esadien.’

I nervously bit my lips and reflexively turned to look at Esadien. He was staring at Lafesch with a strange expression, not cold or stiff, but rather unfamiliar. Until now, Esadien had never looked at anyone so stubbornly. Not even at me, who had been persistently fixated on him.

“……”

I was overwhelmed with emotion and couldn’t utter a word. All I could do was breathe heavily. My heart literally felt like it had dropped to the ground and was beating erratically.

It felt like all the books lining the walls collapsed onto my head as I spun around in circles.

The protagonist is the center of the story, the owner of the story.

‘If Lafesch wants Esadien, can I win?’

I… didn’t have any confidence. Because the very idea of not falling in love with the male protagonist was something that I didn’t want to follow as my fate to fight against the female protagonist.

The original story had already proven that even if I dedicated all the happiness surrounding me, I could not beat the main character of the story, Lafesch. That’s why I avoided it, so why did things turn out like this?

“….elle, Minulle.”

“Ah yes? Yes!”

“Are you okay? Your face looked pale.”

Suddenly, Esadien slightly stooped his upper body and examined my condition.

“……”

When I met his sea-blue eyes that seemed to look deep into the depths of my soul, I regained a little bit of my senses.

“Ah, yes. I think I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

I took a deep breath and made up a smiling face.

“Esadien, this is Lady Lafesch Celeste. She came to help prepare for my sister’s wedding.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Lafesch slightly bent her knees and held the hem of her skirt.

“Lady Celeste, this is my fiancé, Prince Esadien Roquette.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Esadien slightly lowered his head, but Lafesch’s face was rather surprised, and the look she had when she first fell in love with him seemed to have disappeared.

“Uh, fiancé…?”

“…Well, yes.”

“Minuelle is engaged?”

Her clear golden eyes wandered restlessly between Esadien and me.

“Besides, Esa… No, with Prince Esadien?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

Asking the same question several times made Esadien feel a little strange, so he replied in a blunt tone.

“Is there a problem?”

“No… no, there isn’t. I’ll excuse myself now.”

With trembling eyes, Lafesch looked back and forth between Esadien and me before lowering her head and then withdrew.

‘What should I do?’

Lafesch also fell for Esadien. My breath caught in my throat. I clutched our intertwined fingers and tore at them. I had been so intoxicated by Esadien’s growing acceptance of me that I had forgotten that anyone could fall for him, just as I had.

💧

Thank you for reading!