BTMLP 15

Chapter 15

Anyway, Bella and I weren’t the type to quarrel over something like this. Besides, Bella would soon realize that Clements wouldn’t be interested in a plain, ordinary woman like Hanmi.

“The lady spoke to me, so it’s only polite to remember.”

“Is that all? Since when did Your Highness start observing such courtesy toward a lady?”

“Countess…!”

Oh yes.

Cassis, unable to bear it any longer, intervened, and at the far end of the dining hall, Bella and Clements’ eyes locked, sparks practically flying between them.

This was my moment! I opened all my senses to detect the temperature between their clashing gazes. This was the most serious moment since I had turned into a chick.

Scanning emotional temperature. 3, 2, 1…

Huh. It wasn’t even lukewarm—it was cool. Cooler than before.

What’s going on? Bella seems jealous, doesn’t she? Could it be because she hasn’t realized her own feelings yet?

Oh dear—looks like I need to graduate from my cursed state as quickly as possible and return to the position of the love-advising maid!

“See, even now, you’re overprotectively shielding that maid.”

“Overprotective?”

Bella snorted.

“Shielding? I cherish her? Ridiculous. You speak as if she’s fabricating stories. I don’t cherish her. I actually dislike her. She’s an unbearable nuisance. If only she were a removable blemish…”

I had hoped Bella would acknowledge and express a variety of emotions, but feelings like fondness or care were still far off.

Whenever I said I cared for her and hoped she’d care for me, she would usually snap, “I hate you!” and turn away. So, this was nothing new.

“Do you go searching for someone you dislike? If you truly disliked a maid, you could’ve just replaced her.”

“Replaced her? Ophelia… with another girl?”

Spark. Again, a blue flame ignited in Bella’s eyes.

“The girl who’s been by my side for eight years?”

“Has it been that long?”

“Of course. From our first awkward meeting, all the time we’ve spent together… it’s been so long…”

And again, my story became the topic.

You two! How long are you going to keep talking about me?

Starting with a topic you both know is a good conversation tactic, but when will you actually talk about each other? As a supporting character and reader, I’m burning up here…

Clements should have said something like, “I’m more curious about you than your maid,” or, “I want to hear more about you instead.” Don’t just listen silently!

As I glared resentfully, he finally spoke. But it was far colder than I had hoped.

“So, you’ve come to talk endlessly about your maid?”

“…You’ve wasted time with boring chatter in front of a noble. Let’s stop talking about her.”

After a brief silence, Bella finally emerged from her odd chick-like state, as if remembering what she had originally intended to say. She looked at him, slowly curling the corners of her lips upward—a truly captivating expression. A look that could enthrall anyone.

Wait, my heart is racing. I might fall for her before Clements does.

“Since meeting yesterday, Your Highness hasn’t left my thoughts. I came because I want to know you better.”

What!!?

It felt like I had been in purgatory moments ago and was suddenly lifted straight into heaven. Our Bella! Saying something like this to Clements! She’s so forward! Amazing!

Now they’re truly getting closer. I wiped my eyes with my wings.

“What would you like to know?”

“Everything. Since it may not be easy for you to answer, I’ll start with the important things. What matters to you?”

‘…!’

Bella’s voice carried a strange depth, as if resonating from deep underground through the mist.

It was a phrase from a novel, but upon hearing it, I realized the sentence was describing this very resonance. It was a voice that sent shivers down your spine.

My goodness, Bella!

The novel said that when Bella felt strong emotions for Clements, her voice naturally took on this tone.

Clements’ reaction to hearing this unfamiliar, mysterious voice would normally take at least five lines to describe.

It was irresistibly attractive to anyone listening—but what about a woman he liked? He’d fall in love instantly.

Yet when I glanced at Clements, he was unexpectedly expressionless.

Hmm. Even if he looks this way, he must have a lot going through his mind. Surely.

Although a little delayed by unexpected events, his feelings should finally be starting to move as originally intended. Without a doubt, he must be feeling Bella’s charm at this moment.

In Bella’s beautiful blue eyes, sparks now flickered. Her red lips moved to form words. What on earth would she say!

“Do you care about this chick?”

Ah, it’s me again! Do you really have to talk about a chick in this deadly atmosphere? Right when things were going well, the discussion keeps coming back to me—Ophelia (the chick).

Is it because I keep lingering on the table? Oh, I see! Of course, it can’t help but draw attention. I need to disappear.

I flapped my wings toward the corner like a film crew member realizing they were caught in the camera.

“Beep! (Hey, save me.)”

Kind Cassis reached out happily. But before he could, a hand suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed me. Clements, what are you doing?

“Yes. This girl is important to me.”

The embroidery on his collar was still a mess. I pecked his hand in protest, but he didn’t flinch.

From the corner of my vision, I saw Cassis awkwardly lower his hand.

Bella continued confidently.

“Forgive me for acting so suddenly. You may not believe me, but I feel a sense of fate toward Your Highness.”

“Fate, huh.”

“It’s a feeling that we can’t be entirely unrelated.”

She feels destiny toward you. She wants something important to you. How honest and romantic!

If what she asks for were a universally valuable thing—belief, honor, life, or heart—how perfect would that be? But…

Bella extended her eerily white, perfectly shaped hand.

“So I ask again. Will you give me the chick? I must have it.”

Like an ill-fitting garnish, the chick was abruptly brought up just when things seemed to be going well.

My sin is great…

The sigh I tried to release was naturally drowned out by Clements’ scoff.

“Ridiculous. Lady, I told you she’s precious to me, important. I also clearly reminded you how to treat a royal during the banquet. And now you want my chick?”

What followed was shocking.

“You intended to kill this girl, didn’t you?”

What?

Blinking my tiny eyes, I looked at Bella. Her picturesque expression hadn’t changed. She calmly nodded.

Thud. I collapsed onto Clements’ palm.

During the banquet, Bella asked him for the chick to calm herself until the maid returned. The next moment, Clements had angrily reacted, and the dinner ended inconclusively.

Was this why he was mad back then?

At the time, I just thought it was a good idea. I had hoped Clements would hand me over to Bella. But…

Why?

Could this be why he had looked at me so coldly, like a glacier from the North? I had never received such a look while living as her maid. It was so unfamiliar, it made my whole body tremble.

“That little bird has a sufficient reason to die. The reason you want something important from me is not to return it—it’s to destroy it forever.”

“Why?”

“It may sound impious, but what Your Highness desires has nothing to do with me. I wish for everything you desire to crumble instead.”

“Why, Lady? You, who were always so composed, suddenly speak like this?”

Cassis couldn’t bear it and intervened. Bella glanced at him indifferently and finished her sentence.

“I do not know why.”

“Interesting.”

Interesting. This line was originally the male lead’s signature line.

It was meant for the heroine. He would be so captivated by her unusual behavior and personality that he would wholeheartedly devote himself to finding her intriguing—and that intrigue would eventually turn into love.

That Clements said it to Bella should have been a delightful thing…

Why doesn’t it feel pleasant at all?

The reason was immediately clear. What Clements meant by “interesting” was just that—pure curiosity.

How many women had claimed to feel destiny toward the prince, wanting to know him? Yet no one had ever confessed they wanted everything he desired to fail.

That audacity and unique aura were enough to pique the icy Crown Prince’s interest. Yet somehow, it seemed impossible to expect that interest to naturally turn into love.

Was it because I couldn’t detect any warmth in his voice? Is that why I feel so anxious and scared?

“Your Highness’ bird… resembles Ophelia. That’s why it must be destroyed.”

A memory from the novel surfaced in my dazed mind.

The nobles, seeing Bella at the palace as a candidate for Crown Princess, sent her gifts—precious spices, medicinal herbs, furniture, clothing, jewelry, and accessories.

Bella gathered the amethyst items and threw them into the basin. She disliked seeing things that resembled Clements’ eyes scattered in the world. The violet brilliance should exist only in his eyes.