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Chapter 36
“Today, I’ll wear this just for today. From next time, this won’t happen again.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Holding the heavy dress that almost blinded me, I sat on the chair where Nana was waiting. I noticed Nana’s pupils shaking violently as she looked at the dress and accessories I was wearing, but I deliberately ignored it and spoke.
“Can you do my makeup so it looks extravagant enough to match this dress?”
“E-Extravagantly… understood.”
Sorry, Nana. I’m putting you through a trial. But if you endure this, you’ll reach a higher level.
Unable to bear watching my face become excessively glamorous, I entrusted everything to her and closed my eyes.
A moment later, when she said she was done, I opened my eyes and couldn’t help but frown.
“Nana.”
“Yes.”
Seeing my angry expression, Nana answered in a tense voice. Ignoring her concern, I kept my gaze on the mirror and spoke in a rigid tone.
“Make it even more extravagant. More than this! Don’t make me pretty like this!”
“…Understood.”
Knowing her skills couldn’t be hidden, I made a difficult request, giving her specific instructions while Nana turned me into a glamorous, haughty beauty. After some time, Nana slightly turned her head, unable to bear looking at my face.
I silently cried inside as I looked at the awkward reflection in the mirror. She had applied jewel-like red glitter around my eyes along with heavy blush, and my deep, dark red lips drew an unnatural curve, as if they were bleeding.
I barely resisted the urge to rub it off and patted Nana on the shoulder.
“Sorry for asking something difficult. Nana, you’ve worked hard.”
Nana, for the first time in her life, finally shed tears over the worst creation she had ever made.
Finally, it was Darin’s turn. She was in charge of my hair. She shuddered when she saw me, but her chic personality prevented it from showing on her face.
Without a word, I handed Darin a jeweled hairpin—a large emerald matching the necklace and the ribbon on my dress. Darin bit her lip tightly, a rare sight, and began fixing my hair.
“I really like this. Thank you.”
I smiled. Darin, understanding my intentions perfectly, pinned every strand of my orange hair with the emerald hairpin. Though she had the skill to style my hair into a natural goddess-like updo, she didn’t use it.
Looking at my hair tied back honestly in a simple updo, she smiled faintly.
It was complete: a sparkling emerald pin like a crown on my head, an emerald necklace around my neck, and emerald embellishments on my chest ribbon—a.k.a., a gaudy matchy-matchy look.
Vera and Darin averted their eyes or lowered their heads, unable to look at me. Tears still welled up in Nana’s eyes.
Understanding their feelings, I didn’t look at them, only staring at the unfamiliar woman in the mirror.
Anyone, even Cardin, might faint in shock if they saw this.
“So, Harna, are you leaving now?”
Adopting the cute, coquettish tone I used only with Cardin, I straightened my shoulders and walked out.
Cardin adjusted his outfit one more time. Since this was a rare outing, he lingered in front of the mirror for a while. Today was the day he was going on a date with Harna.
“I guess I can check if this will work.”
Cardin fiddled with the ring on his finger, recalling the retired high priest he met after Trin’s desperate efforts.
The old priest had told Cardin that he was under a powerful curse, one that even his divine power could not lift. While not a high-ranking priest himself, Cardin had enough power to weaken it slightly. The priest had given him a ring imbued with divine energy for that purpose.
The reason he asked Harna out today was to see if the curse had weakened.
But why am I so nervous?
He had already changed his clothes twice and styled his hair up and down, unsatisfied each time. He kept checking the mirror, amused at his unusual behavior.
“Maybe it’s better with my hair up?”
Only a few minutes after washing and drying it, he quickly pushed his bangs up and checked his face from different angles. He sensed someone behind him.
“What’s that?”
Seeing Trin standing there with his mouth agape, he glared and subtly lowered his hands from adjusting his hair.
“I-I came to tell you the time is up.”
“I see.”
Though flustered like being caught stealing, he kept his usual expressionless look and passed by Trin casually.
Watching this, Trin pondered seriously, knowing Cardin had meticulously prepared various events for Harna under the pretense of testing the ring’s effect.
What if she talks about my goddess even though the curse has weakened?
Putting Trin’s worries aside, Cardin arrived at the meeting spot thirty minutes early. The upscale restaurant he rented for the day had staff and decor fitting for nobility.
Lost in thought, he nervously messed up his hair and tried to focus on the purpose of the date rather than the date itself.
Then he heard the sound of women’s shoes in the distance. Straightening his messy hair, he instinctively touched the ring on his finger—finally, Harna had arrived.
“Have you been waiting long, Your Grace?”
Hearing that familiar voice, Cardin clenched his fists, hoping for the ring’s effect. His eyes focused on Harna’s entrance.
The first thing he noticed was the green shimmer of her hair, neck, and chest like an insect. Then the dazzling dress encrusted with jewels made him squint. Finally, her overdone red cheeks, dark lips, and eyes that looked bruised yet smiling brightly caught his gaze.
Seeing Cardin’s stiff face, I smiled triumphantly. If he still complained about my “goddess act,” he would surely be mocking me.
I sat down casually at the front.
“You seemed surprised that the duke wanted to meet first, Harna?”
“……”
“The duke?”
Cardin, who had been staring at me, lowered his head suddenly, making me anxious. Was he angry? I watched carefully as he slowly raised his head.
“Harna.”
“Yes.”
“Did you dress up like this for me?”
“Of course. Harna always wants to look good for you. How do I look? Pretty?”
Relieved by his usual tone, I continued my act, twisting my body slightly.
“……”
Seeing Cardin remain silent, I internally waved the flag of victory—but it was immediately taken by him.
“I can’t believe you went through so much effort to look good for me… sniff.”
Wait, is Cardin crying? I must be seeing things.
Unaware of my smudging makeup, I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Seeing Cardin tear up, my face went cold.
He’s completely insane!
After a while, Cardin composed himself and said with an embarrassed expression,
“I’m sorry for showing you me crying.”
“Harna is fine.”
Yes. I couldn’t stop now. If even this fashion disaster didn’t work, I would continue my usual charming act. There was nothing to lose, so my performance remained steady.
“You have no idea how long Harna has waited to meet you, Your Grace! Hmph, it’s really unfair!”
Barely a minute after Cardin stopped crying from being touched that I had dressed up for him, I pouted adorably and inflated my cheeks. I expected him to react as if I had gone crazy.
“My love, Harna, my shining goddess. Will you punish me for making you wait?”
In a Romeo-esque cheesy tone, Cardin responded.
I couldn’t back down. Biting my inner cheek, I braced myself.
I had to counterattack!
“What kind of punishment should I give? Hmm… how about a kiss?”
How’s that, Cardin? Too much?
I puckered my blood-red lips and blinked adorably. Cardin leaped forward and approached me.
“If that is what you desire, my humble lips to your noble ones…”
Seeing his lips offered shamelessly, I instinctively pushed them away.
“J-Just kidding. This will do as your punishment.”
Watching Cardin return to his spot with a disappointed expression, I gritted my teeth. But unaware of my burning anger, he smiled happily and raised his hand. Two men carrying trays of food approached us and greeted.
Watching them place the appetizers on the table, I re-planned my strategy.
How can I shatter that smiling face?
As I schemed, I felt a lingering gaze from the front. Determined not to lose, I asked with a neutral expression,
“Your Grace, is there something on Harna’s face?”
“Yes.”
I nodded, about to check with a clean spoon, when Cardin continued,
“It’s a deadly beauty that could steal Cardin’s heart.”
“Uh…?”
What did I just hear?
Frozen by him calling himself by name, I weakly asked with stiff lips. Cardin raised his hand over the table, framing it like a flower, and with a mischievous smile said,
“Cardin also likes Harna.”
Clang! At his first-person cuteness, I dropped the spoon I was holding.
