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Chapter 49
“Something else might suit you better.”
“…I like this.”
Aletheia bent down and met Mio’s gaze as he sat on the bed. When Mio looked back with stubborn eyes, Aletheia let out a faint sigh and said,
“It’s making my head hurt. Every time I look at it, it’s a real throbbing pain.”
“Oh my, really?”
Mio’s eyes widened. He wondered if it was because it was a relic that carried some kind of feeling. Aletheia nodded with a serious expression. Mio, his expression instantly softening with sympathy, muttered,
“Then you should have told me from the beginning…”
Ah, but even if she had told him from the start, it wouldn’t have worked anyway, so there was nothing he could do.
Mio stopped mid-sentence and looked at Aletheia awkwardly. From his earlier muttering, it was clear he had been eagerly anticipating this. Avoiding her gaze, he spoke quietly:
“Still, there’s nothing we can do. I promised myself I’d wear it after returning from the palace.”
“Then just try it on.”
Hmm, she wants it that badly, so it should be fine just to try it on once. Mio, feeling a little weak-hearted, nodded slightly, and Aletheia, as if she had been waiting for this moment, took out an anklet from the pile of jewels.
“Give me your foot.”
Of all things, why did it have to be an anklet? If it had been an ordinary necklace, he would have offered his neck without hesitation. But having to extend his foot felt embarrassing.
“Hurry.”
He couldn’t contradict her now, so he timidly extended his leg, but Aletheia’s sharp voice immediately rang out:
“The other one.”
“But… this one already has a—no, another anklet on it.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
No. It does matter to me.
Still, Mio had no choice but to extend the foot with the Taralia anklet. She was staring at his ankle without even blinking.
‘Sigh. Thinking she’s doing this because it hurts… I can’t even say anything.’
Mio resolved to become a person with poor taste, decorated with dangling ornaments on one ankle.
Aletheia carefully wrapped the delicate gold chain around his ankle. It was a very pretty piece, adorned with tiny, colorful gems. Just as it seemed she was about to release it…
“Rete?”
Suddenly, the one holding Taralia froze. Mio tilted his head in confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Just… this ornament seemed incredibly sturdy.”
“Well, it’s metal, so of course. Anyway, it’s done now, right?”
Mio used the moment when Aletheia’s attention wavered to quickly pull his ankle back under the skirt. He could handle two, but three would really make it look like he had a shackle on just one ankle.
While Aletheia gazed at it with lingering affection, a knock came from outside the door.
“Your Grace. A messenger has arrived from the palace. Shall I let them in?”
It was Jamie’s voice. Excited, Mio said to Aletheia:
“The Emperor must have sent another invitation!”
Aletheia nodded and went outside. As expected, the palace messenger delivered two ceremonial outfits and an invitation with the exact date and then left.
One outfit was for Aletheia, the other for Mio.
“So they sent the clothes to make it hard to refuse.”
Muttering to herself while looking at the box, Aletheia said,
“But your dress…”
Mio opened the box and couldn’t help but marvel. He had seen countless dresses, but nothing that sparkled like this.
The purple dress, decorated with immense pearls and gold-thread lace, radiated an extraordinary elegance that made him think, ‘Surely this is palace-made.’
‘Such a beautiful purple… Why has no one ever thought to make a dress in this color?’
It was astonishingly gorgeous.
Aletheia, standing beside him, quietly closed the box lid and said,
“You shouldn’t wear that dress.”
“Why not all of a sudden?”
“…Because of the color, and this was sent to make your life difficult.”
“The color?” Mio asked, puzzled. Aletheia explained further:
“It’s the color that symbolizes the temple, and it’s embroidered with gold thread.”
Ah, so that’s why no one had ever made a ceremonial outfit themed in purple.
“They probably intend to use it to expose your weaknesses and challenge the royal family.”
But hearing that made him want to wear the purple dress even more.
“Rete. Were the names of the people attending the Emperor’s invitation included?”
“No. But the gathering is meant to introduce you, so it’s likely other royals will attend.”
The most likely royal attendee Mio could think of was the Duchess. After being disappointed about the adoption, she had wanted to visit the Emperor. If the Duchess attended, Caleb might come too.
‘So this dress is perfect for being treated as the villain?’
He had been worried because the usual “villain pattern” hadn’t appeared recently. Perhaps all the dormant villainous patterns would activate at once at that gathering.
‘It’s a bit annoying thinking about being unfairly blamed.’
There’s nothing he could do. This was just part of the process to get to the exit point. With a serene smile, Mio answered:
“That’s even better. I don’t plan on avoiding anyone who wants to trouble me.”
Meanwhile, the world continued as if Mio’s absence was no problem at all. Caleb couldn’t understand this. How could time flow normally when someone who should be there had disappeared?
‘I’d repeat time entirely if I could.’
But he had no strength left. He had already expended too much just to get this far. Especially to complete the last chapter, he couldn’t afford any more waste. For the first time since arriving here, Caleb felt completely powerless.
‘I let my guard down, thinking the end was in sight…’
He never imagined Mio would escape like this.
At that moment, Wyden entered. Caleb lowered his head and muttered to himself.
‘…I didn’t even realize I had mistaken the person.’
Wyden, unaware of Caleb’s thoughts, strode forward and spoke:
“Caleb. Get up. How long do you plan to stay cooped up in this room?”
He perched on the edge of Caleb’s bed, looking at her with concern. Ever since he heard that her attempt at poison failed, he had been this worried.
‘Even now, Mio Northam must be happily preparing for the wedding.’
Thinking this made Wyden furious. If there’s an order to marriage, shouldn’t he and Caleb marry before the Grand Duke, who hasn’t even known her long?
‘And here’s someone sitting around like this, while someone else is living it up.’
Wyden hoped Caleb would get up and accept his proposal. Carefully, he continued:
“Caleb. My mother said the Emperor arranged a dinner, and Mio Northam is expected to attend.”
“…What?”
“You haven’t been attending banquets lately because she’s not there. Why let yourself care for someone like that… Anyway, wouldn’t it feel good to embarrass her in front of the Emperor?”
“…I don’t hate Mio.”
“Yes, yes. I understand, Caleb. You don’t have to do anything. I’ll handle everything.”
“I just don’t like that man…”
“You mean the Grand Duke? Okay, I understand that too.”
Seeing Caleb’s expression improve slightly, Wyden smiled and added:
“So once that problem is settled, we can start preparing for our wedding. It doesn’t make sense for Mio Northam to marry before us. Got it?”
Caleb lowered her head and quietly murmured:
“…Right. Once Mio’s marriage is completely broken off…”
