LMTM 08

chapter – 08

“So basically, Selena is saying yellow suits Grace better than blue, right? Since different skin tones work better with different colors.”

Grace, who had looked hurt, glanced sideways at Selena. Selena, who had flinched for a second, lifted her chin and spoke coolly.

“That’s right.”

Why is she such a tsundere to her own sister? I wish Rochester were a bit tsundere too. He can be cold to me — I just want him to stop being so clingy.

“Yellow does suit Grace. It’s not an easy color to pull off. It can make your face look sallow. That’s something you’re just born with. I’m jealous.”

“…You do know a thing or two. When Grace wears yellow, she looks especially lovely. Sometimes she even looks like… human sunshine— ahem.”

Selena, who had been bragging excitedly about Grace, suddenly blushed and whipped her head away. At her words, Grace’s eyes widened. She asked back in a trembling voice:

“M-me?”

“…Of course. You still didn’t know? Honestly.”

Selena snapped at her, but Grace’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

You’re moved… by that? Seriously, is everyone here an F-type? Feeling awkward, I slipped in between the sisters overflowing with emotions.

“…But Grace’s opinion matters too. What color do you like?”

“A-actually… I like blue…”

Selena looked like she was about to say something, so I grabbed her hand. This is one of those times when you absolutely do not need to open your mouth. Got it? While Selena was distracted by my hand, Grace went on.

“…But I’ll go with yellow.”

This time, Selena’s eyes widened. She forgot all about the hand I was holding.

“Could you… choose for me, big sister? I don’t really know anything about dresses. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the countryside.”

“Ahem! Oh honestly. Who knows everything from the start? I didn’t, when I was young.”

Soft smiles appeared on both Selena’s and Grace’s faces.

You two are really easy.

Who on earth ever tore you apart?

＊ ＊ ＊

It had been a while since he’d seen Reina. Strictly speaking, Reina was inside the dress shop, and Cesar had simply come across her while patrolling with his fellow knights.

Cesar’s gaze drifted toward Reina without him even realizing it.

Since leaving the Highbold estate, he hadn’t met her at all. Their meetings had always happened because Reina forced them to. But still — he’d seen her at least every two or three days. Not seeing her felt… strange.

At this point, Cesar had to admit it.

So she meant it.

Reina no longer liked Cesar. The Reina who had poured all her time and feelings into him was now starting to reclaim her own life.

She was smiling brightly, chatting with others. It had been a long time since he’d seen her spend time with girls her age. Maybe the first time since she’d fallen for him.

At that moment, he remembered a conversation among the senior knights.

“She might have found someone else. Girls that age are like that. My sister changes crushes every week. Recently she liked Lord Regifield.”

But Reina wasn’t like that. She’d liked Cesar for a very, very long time. Whenever he turned around, she was always there.

“Why do you like me? Lady Regifield, you could meet someone far better than I.”

“How am I supposed to explain that? It was like gravity pulling me in. I started noticing Your Highness’s eyes, your kindness, and then… Your Highness yourself came into my heart. How can I define that with one word? If I can’t see you, it feels like my heart rips into a thousand pieces and I’ll die. Do you think I enjoy this awful feeling? Still… Your Highness — I love you.”

Even though he’d shut himself away like a wall, she had always whispered love to him.

Could something like that really change so suddenly?

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t something Cesar needed to worry about. He should’ve been glad. He was finally free from the chain called Reina.

So he shouldn’t be giving her a second glance like this.

“What are you staring at like that?”

At his fellow knight Heymon’s question, Cesar answered,

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

He turned away. But Heymon was quicker. He followed Cesar’s gaze and said:

“Oh — Lady Highbold? I heard Lady Regifield and Lady Highbold have gotten close lately. Guess pretty people just gravitate together.”

He nudged Cesar jokingly. Cesar muttered quietly:

“…Pretty person? Lady Regifield is pretty?”

“What — so you’re saying you hogged all that affection and didn’t even notice? Then who is pretty? Why do you think Lord Regifield goes crazy over anything involving his sister? If my sister were that pretty, I’d do the same.”

Heymon snickered.

Cesar looked back into the dress shop. Reina was staring seriously at something. Her pale platinum hair rippled down her back. Beneath her long lashes gleamed clear, violet-tinged eyes. A dainty nose, soft pink lips.

A face he’d seen so often he’d grown sick of it.

Yet suddenly, he was seeing it differently. He had never thought of her that way. To him, Reina had just been Rochester’s sister — a troublesome nuisance.

“…Is she… pretty?”

He murmured it.

“You really don’t know how lucky you are. Your Highness, we should get going. We’ll be late.”

Pushed along by Heymon, Cesar chewed over the thought again — Reina, and the words she’d once said.

“So, to you too, Lady Regifield looks pretty?”

Heymon laughed as if it were obvious.

“If I were you, I’d have married her already. You don’t know how many of the guys envied you. If Lady Highbold is like a goddess, Lady Regifield is more like… a fairy.”

Cesar grabbed Heymon’s shoulder, growling:

“So she looks pretty… to you too?”

“I said yes! What is with you?”

Cesar sighed and let go, running an irritated hand through his hair.

Yeah. Why was he even bothered?

＊ ＊ ＊

I chose Selena’s birthday present with Rochester. When I asked him to go out shopping with me, he got ridiculously emotional.

“Reina… do you know how long it’s been since you asked me to go out with you like this? Three hundred and fifty-five days. My dream was to shop for a friend’s gift with you.”

Ugh. Stalker vibes. If anyone here deserves the nickname “Misery,” it’s Rochester — though no one here would ever call him that.

Anyway, thanks to him, we went around the city and managed to order something nicer than I could have on my own.

Selena’s birthday party was being held in the hall of the Highbold estate. A ball for a birthday… I don’t think I’ve even blown out candles on a cake before.

Rochester was on duty today and said he’d come late. Mother and Father had gone down to the territory on business. So I arrived alone.

Ugh. I don’t know a single person here. Should I go talk to someone?

Maybe Grace? Where’s Selena, anyway? Still getting ready, since she’s the guest of honor?

I slipped along the wall, hugging it. Wow — Reina really has no close friends. Her entire life revolved around Cesar.