“Did you really say that over there?”
Michelle’s voice was filled with shock. I deliberately ignored her and rolled the raw egg around on my wrist. The strength in her hand was so strong that the wrist Lady Rose had grabbed had turned a deep shade of red.
When I told Michelle about what had happened at the Marquis’ house, her pupils shook as if there had been an earthquake. It seemed like she was sensing that something was going wrong.
I let out a deep sigh.
“I had no choice. She was so relentless. If I had said anything else, I probably wouldn’t have made it back today.”
“Still, you can’t say things that aren’t true like that!”
It was a conversation that felt completely off-kilter. I looked up at Michelle.
“Not true?”
“Miss…”
Michelle seemed to want to say something but faltered, her lips quivering. There was a clear look of concern on her face.
Was it that obvious? Even Michelle had noticed.
Funny, it seemed like everyone, except me, knew I liked Armin.
I turned over, pretending as if nothing was wrong.
“Well, he’s the heir to the Duke. Plus, he’s one of the most handsome men in the empire. Just like the Duke and Duchess, a beauty would suit Armin.”
“What’s wrong with you, Miss?”
“The truth is, shoes always come in pairs. A pair of heels doesn’t match with slippers.”
When I compared myself to slippers, my mood became even gloomier.
I could feel Michelle’s eyes on me, filled with pity.
“So, are you going to help Lady Rose with her request?”
“I guess so. I already said I would.”
“Ahh!”
“Ah! Why are you suddenly shouting like that?”
I turned over in shock from the loud, monstrous cry behind me, only to see Michelle pounding her chest, looking frustrated.
At that moment, my door suddenly swung open.
“You went to the Marquis Rose’s house today, didn’t you?”
It was Sasha. Rumors sure spread quickly. How does someone so caught up in their own business know everything about mine?
“Yeah, I went.”
“Young master! You think it was just a visit? This is a huge problem!”
Michelle’s overreaction made Sasha’s eyebrows twitch.
“What happened this time?”
Michelle started spilling everything I had told her. From how I had been intimidated and criticized by Lady Rose’s group to how I had agreed to help her arrange a meeting with Armin.
“Is that all? You also told the ladies that you think of Armin just as a friend, right?”
“Haha. You’re kidding, right?”
At Sasha’s words, I buried my head under my pillow.
“Wait… are you serious? Why did you do that?”
Sasha’s question made tears well up in my eyes. But showing tears in front of a family member was absolutely not going to happen. I gathered my voice and tried to act like it was nothing.
“What’s wrong with all of you? What is it with those eyes? Lady Rose, the most beautiful woman in this country, likes Armin, and yet…”
Ah, my throat is tightening again.
“So… what you’re saying is, you think someone else is a better match for Armin than you?”
To my surprise, Sasha’s voice was cold. I had expected him to take my side. But then again, even if my brother stood by me or not, I already felt like I was falling apart.
Sasha quietly patted me on the back as I nodded under the pillow.
“Yeah, you’ve thought it through well.”
“Young master!”
Michelle stomped her feet, anxious and restless.
“No, it’s actually a good thing. Something needs to change for this frustrating situation to be resolved, right?”
Sasha’s voice, muttering quietly, felt distant.
“I’m tired. Everyone, please leave.”
“Alright. Rest well and think about how to introduce Lady Rose to Armin.”
Sasha smiled and supported me. When my brother smiles like that, his mood usually means “you’re in for the worst”. His face was filled with irritation and venom.
After that, I received several letters from the Duchess. They were all asking why I hadn’t visited the Duke’s house lately. But because of my promise to help Lady Rose and Armin meet, my mood was at rock bottom. I didn’t want to see anyone like this.
A week passed. During that time, I received more than ten letters from Lady Rose. All of them were pressuring me about when I would fulfill my promise.
Even though I was angry at being pressured for something I hadn’t even agreed to, whenever I thought of her pretty face, I couldn’t help but feel small and melancholy.
But I couldn’t just avoid the situation forever.
In the end, I sent a letter to Armin. It was my first letter since our awkward parting. The letter asked if he’d like to visit a weapons shop together, if his schedule permitted.
The weapons shop was the place where Armin and I first went out together. I remembered buying leather cordss there to make scabbard straps, and my heart ached.
I hoped for a reply saying he was too busy. Or maybe, I wished he would forget to reply. But Armin’s response came back almost immediately. He said he was available anytime. The word “anytime” reminded me of how he would always drop everything to be with me, and it made me even more melancholic.
The thought of Armin smiling at another woman made my heart uncomfortable. I then sent a letter to Lady Rose, telling her to meet me at the agreed time and place to meet Armin.
* * *
His face, looking at me, seemed even more radiant than usual, probably because we hadn’t seen each other in a while. As soon as I met him, a bright smile filled Armin’s face. After such a long time, I was reminded again of how handsome he was.
His platinum blonde hair, rarer and more beautiful than golden, and his violet eyes. It was as if every detail was carefully crafted by the gods themselves, beautiful in every way.
‘Yeah, they say even straw sandals have their match, so beautiful shoes should meet beautiful shoes, and straw sandals should meet straw sandals.’
The thought hurt my heart, but it was the way of the world.
“Vivi, you don’t look well.”
“I guess I’m just tired since I haven’t been outside in a while.”
Please don’t be nice to me. Though his kindness was no different from usual, it only made me suffer more.
“Tired? Should we go back home?”
“No, it’s fine. Let’s go to the weapons shop quickly.”
Ignoring Armin, who was worried about my condition, I walked ahead with large steps. Armin, following behind me, seemed to be in a good mood.
“Do you remember? The day we first came here, you said you’d spend your allowance to buy me a weapon.”
“Ah, I remember.”
My heart ached with the thought. Back then, I had only seen him as a scary man. I never imagined I’d end up liking the man I had been so afraid of.
“Vivi, should we go back? Your face doesn’t look good.”
As soon as we arrived at the weapon shop, Armin observed my face and spoke with determination.
Just then, a voice, as bright as a flower, reached our ears.
“Oh my.”
Amidst the shabby iron weapons in the weapon shop, Lady Rose was like a star shining by herself. As if it were an incredible coincidence, Lady Rose opened her eyes wide and came toward us.
Her gaze didn’t look at me at all. Her eyes were fixed solely on Armin, filled with her true emotions.
“Lady Rose.”
Armin’s face stiffened.
“Isn’t it Lord Armin? I never expected to meet you here.”
“Indeed. What brings you here?”
“I just stopped by to buy a riding whip. By the way, Lord Armin, you’re quite skilled at horseback riding, aren’t you?”
Her crescent-shaped, beautiful smile was like a painting. Lady Rose, who knew exactly how to smile beautifully, tilted her head and asked Armin.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you help me pick out a riding whip?”
“I’m sorry, Lady Rose, but I’m here with someone.”
Hearing this, I quickly stepped back. As I saw Armin looking at me with a puzzled expression, I forced a smile and responded.
“Now that I think about it, I really don’t feel well. Armin, I’m sorry, but I’ll head back first.”
“Wait, I’ll take you home.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s like fate to run into each other like this, why don’t you help Lady Rose?”
I desperately tried not to make it awkward, forcing a smile as I looked at Armin.
“Help Lady Rose with her shopping, Armin. I’ll borrow the carriage for a while. Is that alright?”
Armin, who was alternating his gaze between me and Lady Rose, seemed to have figured something out. He then politely spoke to Lady Rose.
“I’ll talk to my companion for a moment. Excuse me.”
Then, he grabbed my hand and led me down an alley next to the weapon shop.
“What is this?”
I would have preferred if he had gotten angry instead. But Armin, perhaps thinking that I wasn’t feeling well, didn’t even raise his voice.
“You told me before, didn’t you? If there’s a good woman, I should introduce her to you…”
“So the woman you picked is Lady Rose?”
“Yes.”
I felt like if I spoke any more, tears would start to fall. I pulled my arm out of Armin’s grip. Although his strength couldn’t even compete with Lady Rose’s, Armin let go of my hand, afraid I might get hurt. Even in this small moment, I felt his consideration.
In a voice choked with emotion, I spoke to him.
“…I’ll go first, Armin. Please be kind to Lady Rose.”
With that, I began walking toward the carriage on my own, leaving Armin behind. He didn’t follow me.
It was only then that the tears began to flow freely from my eyes.
I wiped them away with my sleeve, trying to hide my tears. It would be obvious to anyone that my eyes were red from crying. If the duke’s coachman saw me, I was sure the news would reach Armin.
In the end, I didn’t make it back to the carriage.
As I aimlessly wandered, not knowing where to go, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist. A large man’s hand, but with a delicate touch, as smooth as a woman’s and without a single callus.
“You shouldn’t go there. It’s dangerous.”
In the midst of this sudden situation, I forgot about my tears and turned my head toward the person who had grabbed my wrist.
A man with black hair was frowning as he looked at me.
