IRMDH 21

Chapter  21

“How is it, Your Highness?”

“I think it’s fine. I was worried I might have gained weight in the meantime, but fortunately not.”

The Golden Valley Festival was now just a day away.

Since that night when I stopped Blake and opened up to him, our relationship had gotten considerably better.

He stayed in the bedroom longer, awake enough to listen to me chatter in the mornings or evenings.

He would tell me if he was going to be late.

Well… we still ate separately.

When I asked if just sleeping beside him was really okay for his body, Blake only nodded.

And then, confusingly, he said something strange like: “You’re getting too excited, so stop being so sweet.”

Aside from Lily making lewd faces while imagining things between me and Blake, I was satisfied with everything.

As for Ian—whether it was because he had been thoroughly scolded by Marquis Harmel, he no longer caused trouble or tried to see me.

There had been a huge rumor that Ian had sent me tons of dresses.

Thankfully, it also somehow spread that I had rejected them and personally visited a boutique.

Rumors always spread quickly if they were negative or intriguing, so I didn’t expect much.

I just considered it fortunate that I at least had the opportunity to deny the accusations.

Right now, I was wearing the beautiful dress crafted by Madame Audrey. If I were to go to the Golden Valley Festival in this dress and ask Blake to dance…

Wouldn’t that finally erase the stigma of being a Crown Princess who couldn’t forget her former fiancé?

“You almost look thinner, actually. I think I could tighten the corset more.”

“No, let’s not do that. And these earrings are too big—I think something smaller would be better…”

“Hmm, then sapphire ones to match this tiara would be perfect.”

With a serious face, Lily held up various earrings with blue gemstones to my ears.

Perhaps she enjoyed dressing me up.

Even though she was the only maid I had, her passion showed no sign of waning.

But honestly…

Seeing Lily’s delighted expression over something so trivial made me think it was better to indulge her than to brush her off.

“His Highness the Crown Prince will be accompanying you at the festival this time, won’t he?”

“…Probably?”

He hadn’t explicitly said so, but I assumed he would.

In the past, attending the festival would have only earned me ridicule.

But recently Blake seemed to be building his influence faster than the original novel’s storyline.

He dodged every trap set by the Empress and Prince Alec as if he knew about them in advance.

He rapidly gained allies.

Strangely though, the division of Orion Territory—something he was supposed to share with Prince Alec—was progressing more slowly than in the novel.

When I casually asked him about it, Blake teasingly replied: “Well, you acted like you’d help me, but when exactly are you planning to?”

I had no idea what he was thinking. Flustered, I could only mutter sulkily: “Just wait a little longer.”

“If His Highness attends as your partner, then wouldn’t it be lovely if he pinned this brooch on you, to match the earrings?”

“…I’ll try.”

Since I would be the one asking him to dance anyway, asking him to fasten a brooch for me would be no more than playful affection.

With a mischievous grin, Lily handed me the brooch. It was crafted from the same fabric as the festival dress, adorned with the same stones as the earrings.

Of course, it looked so much like a couple’s item that I felt embarrassed to give it to him.

“All done! What do you think, Your Highness?”

Beaming, Lily guided me to the mirror.

Indeed, the reflection staring back at me was breathtakingly beautiful—just as she had enjoyed dressing me up.

I hardly ever dressed so lavishly, so I looked almost like a stranger.

Since my hair was light pink, I worried the blue might not suit me, but thankfully, the dress wasn’t too deep in tone—it looked perfect.

The shoulders were tastefully bare without being overly revealing. The sleeves and hem had just enough puff for volume.

The intricate lace only peeked out subtly from the folds of the skirt, giving off a mysterious yet pure impression.

This was just the day before the ball, so I had only tried the dress on. Tomorrow Lily would fuss over every detail, makeup and all.

Still, the blue dress shimmered faintly as though sprinkled with powdered gemstones, catching the light with every movement. It made me think of Blake’s eyes.

Yes, he’d surely recognize I had chosen this to match his eye color.

I smiled at my reflection, buoyed by excitement—when suddenly there was a commotion outside.

Thudding footsteps, someone fleeing in panic, startled screams.

“…Your Highness?”

“Kyahhh! Blood, blood… are you alright?”

“…Where?”

The disturbance grew louder, clearly drawing closer.

Even from a distance, it sounded serious enough to unsettle me.

Alarmed, I gestured for Lily to step out and check.

The voices of the palace staff were filled with fear, as though they dreaded someone’s arrival—yet couldn’t interfere.

Lily quickly opened the dressing room door to investigate.

The moment she did, a metallic stench of blood wafted in.

Then, seeing someone in the corridor, she gasped in horror.

“Oh my god, what is this…? Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

The Crown Prince?

Had something happened to Blake?

Lily’s face was etched with unease as she stepped aside hesitantly, lowering her head.

And then someone entered the dressing room—

“…Your Highness!”

It was Blake.

Covered head to toe in blood.

He held a dripping sword in one hand, and in the other—two helmets.

I rushed toward him in shock.

Was he hurt?

If anyone discovered the weakness of his imperfect body, what would happen?

Bright red liquid dripped from him with every step.

His immaculate clothes were soaked in blood.

But strangely, his handsome face was completely clean, untouched.

Staring at him, I realized—he didn’t look injured at all.

So had he attacked someone else?

But why would he come to me like this, in such a state?

Was it truly so urgent?

Worrying over countless possibilities, I pressed him anxiously:

“What happened? You’re not hurt, are you? Whose blood is this?”

“Ariel.”

The moment he spoke my name, I felt something strange.

Just saying my name—yet it was filled with such tenderness that my thoughts froze.

No sly “Master,” no deliberate “Wife” for Lily’s sake.

Just Ariel. Warm, intimate.

It was unfamiliar.

“Ah, I meant to come see you in a cleaner state.

But on the way here, I ran into meddlesome pests—and those useless knights who couldn’t even protect you. Before I knew it… this happened.

Do I look too unsightly?”

With a carefree tone, Blake tossed the helmets behind him.

They hit the ground with a heavy thunk.

Bloodied helmets… they looked familiar.

Where had I seen them?

…Ah. The palace knights’ helmets. The very same as the ones my escort had worn when I went to the boutique.

If those helmets were drenched in blood…

Had he really killed imperial knights?

I froze, staring up at him.

Blake smiled—the same eerie, too-bright smile I had once seen, like some strange ghost.

His eyes flickered like surging blue flames.

It all felt unreal, an illusion rather than truth.

Despite being drenched in blood, his clean face looked warm, even tender.

Still smiling gently at me, Blake let his gaze drift to my dress. He stared silently, then murmured:

“That’s the dress you’ll wear to the festival tomorrow? It’s beautiful, Ariel.”

“But… it’s not red…”