MLBR 28

chapter 28

Herace brushed back his hair and rose to face me. After lying down for a moment, his hair had become slightly tousled.

“You said you handle sudden situations well just now. But if you’re left speechless after saying that, what am I supposed to believe?”

Herace smiled, full of mischief. I organized my thoughts, which had turned pale and scattered, and parted my lips.

“Th- th-”

Even I, usually composed, was stammering. Surprised by myself, I paused, took a breath, and tried to calm my racing heart.

“Th-then. Yes. That’s right.”

Herace was correct—there was nothing wrong with what he said. My response to the situation just now had been lacking.

“I think we need to practice being a couple a little more for the party we’ll attend next. What do you think, my lady girlfriend?”

Before the day of the First Saint’s Prophecy, we were going to attend a party together. On that day, we would appear as partners to others and later use the opportunity after the prophecy to reveal our romantic relationship.

There were many things to discuss—our outfits, stimulating elements of the scenario like villains or antagonists—so while organizing my thoughts, I realized something important.

Although he had shown unexpected surprises when not in his right mind, Herace had never made a mistake as my partner.

At that moment, a desire to become a perfect partner surged within me, and my lips moved of their own accord.

“May I… kiss you?”

“Huh?”

Herace blinked with a small sound, avoiding my gaze and tilting his head.

Why? Didn’t he want to get used to physical contact?

“Nonsense—”

“It’s not nonsense. I said we can kiss, Herace. Let’s kiss, Herace. Right now, immediately.”

“What is….”

He froze as if to confirm my words were no illusion. I lifted my gaze and confidently extended my hand.

“We’ve held hands, and I’ve kissed the back of your hand. You’re used to holding hands, but you don’t seem so used to being kissed on the back of your hand.”

I nodded firmly, my eyes radiating determination.

“Kiss the back of my hand first. Let’s make this as natural as possible quickly, and then move to the next step. As you said, time is short.”

I decided not to wait idly for Herace, who seemed a little stunned. Grabbing his soft, warm hand, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Shall I start?”

Only then did Herace smile and take my hand. His lips, carrying a light, playful smile, touched the back of my hand.

It wasn’t unpleasant, but my lower abdomen tightened. Even though I suggested it, I felt relieved we hadn’t moved on to a full kiss just yet.

A little before the party, I received a letter from Whistler. It outlined, in a long and polite manner, some misdeeds that Herace would never have done, basically pointing out how foolish I was.

“Does Whistler have too much time on his hands? Why is he like this?”

I didn’t care much, as Whistler wasn’t particularly important to me. Yet, his persistence stirred a fleeting curiosity.

“Oh, so he’s trying to get me back just because Herace likes me.”

It was pure inferiority. The old saying about others’ possessions looking better had manifested in reality.

“We’ll use him as long as we can.”

I resolved, then moved to the next sheet—a record of conversations with Herace over the past few days.

“The dress should be red. Preferably similar to the one worn at the masquerade, but in a more luxurious design.”

I skimmed the elaborate description, retracing the scattered details in my mind.

At first, I didn’t understand at all.

Even if I wore a dress similar to that time, few would recognize me. Honestly, I still didn’t know how Herace figured out my identity back then. I concluded that recreating a similar impression would yield no tangible benefit.

When I asked about his intent, Herace simply said it was for his amusement. In the end, I agreed to wear a red dress in a design similar to the masquerade.

Next was the presence of a villain for the love story, and Herace did not disappoint.

“A villain who will interfere with us will surely appear. If necessary, we can create one later.”

Had someone else said that, I might have doubted them, but it was Herace. I set aside worry and focused solely on preparing for the party. The scenario just needed to be finalized.

A few days passed. I sent letters for feedback, but strangely, no reply came.

“Why no response?”

When I first sent the scenario, even if he prepared an unpredictable surprise, he would at least send a brief reply.

“…Maybe it didn’t arrive.”

Herace’s villa was isolated, so letters occasionally didn’t arrive on time. They also had to be sent secretly, and the forest was so maze-like it wasn’t surprising.

With the party tomorrow, I had to give up on getting a confirmation.

“Can’t be helped.”

Accepting reality, I tidied up and lay down. I felt more adaptable to changes in plans than before—perhaps a natural shift.

“I’m practicing, improving, and Herace is by my side.”

With such perfect teamwork, the plan was bound to succeed. This confidence came from surviving freeloading in college and years at a black company.

“Tomorrow will be busy.”

Tomorrow, when the curiosity of the nobles was focused on me, I also had to win their favor.

Of course, I had additional plans for the future. This was a novel, and I had been possessed into the story I had read.

“How do I look?”

“Perfect, unlike ordinary me, my lady.”

Clara, gazing at me after finishing preparations, spoke as if moved. She covered her lips and spoke in a trembling voice.

“My lady has evolved from a sloth to a koala… snf…ugh, ck…”

“A cute koala, right?”

“Yes, a cute koala.”

“…Are you crying?”

Approaching Clara, who had bowed her head, she raised a calm face as if nothing had happened.

“No. I just wet my eyes. Did it look like tears?”

“Yes, I thought they were tears.”

Clara wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“Good! I was testing whether it felt realistic.”

“Innovative. This might help me later, so keep experimenting.”

After the final check, I left the mansion.

In the hallway, the servants, unsure what to do, came into view. I heard exclamations and murmurs of astonishment.

“Herace must have arrived,” I thought.

I wondered if I had looked like that when Herace first surprised me.

And I muttered confidently: not anymore.

I felt a peculiar pride in knowing Herace better than they did. Crossing the threshold, a dazzling scene appeared.

A beautiful red sunset spread behind Herace like paint. Amid it, he waited for me in a sophisticated gray jacket.

“Have you come, Philena?”

Herace’s hair fluttered in the wind. A free and gentle soul reached out toward me.

“I’ve always been waiting. Even if this moment lasts just an instant, I wanted you to find me.”