Sister’s expression, which froze from my greeting, melted in an instant.
“Have you all heard that? Anastasia and I are this close. You’re probably envious. No worries, you can do that to your heart’s content.”
But no one was envious. On the contrary, they showered me with pity looks.
“Cheer up, Anastasia.”
“If you get about 100 pimples on your face, Lady Bliss might stop paying attention to you.”
“I’ve had an ominous premonition since last time, but the life of a matchless beauty is really hard…”
Sister glared at them.
“What’s with this reaction?”
(t/n: I love Anastasia’s lady friends so much skskshajs they don’t know how to hold back, do they?)
The lady, who seemed afraid that it’s going to backfire on her, tried to fix it.
“B-but Anastasia still has Lord Magnus!”
Her intentions were overshadowed by her direct rebuttal.
“But there was a time when Lady Bliss was very mean to Lord Magnus, too. Lord Magnus was so generous that he ended up shrugging it off as a light happening, but it was still too much to interrupt the Thanksgiving competition that the Emperor watched.”
“And, Lord Magnus won the game, didn’t he?”
“I heard that the sword he used weighed more than 50 kilograms….”
The ladies’ eyes were drawn to Ash, who returned at this timing.
Ash didn’t open the door and spoke in sarcasm.
“It seems that I caught you gossiping about someone who’s not present.”
The cute-looking Lady spoke deftly.
“No way. We were just saying goodbye to Anastasia because she’s going back.”
“Yes, she’s ill and shouldn’t stand long. Why don’t Ash say goodbye to Lady Anastasia as well?”
“Why should I…”
At this point, Ash was a bit pitiful. It was already unfair that he’s being compared to Adele all the time, plus, he also lost an arm wrestle with me, and now he’s suffering from a subtle sarcasm.
I threw a carrot.*
(t/n: gave a treat, in this sense, he saved Ash by greeting him first.)
“Have fun, Ash.”
Ash crumpled his face when I greeted him lightly.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Is that what you think so?”
I laughed briefly.
Oh, his face turned red again.
I Ash clicked his tongue and went out again without saying anything.
Since he is a man of high self-esteem, I think he would just return home.
Maybe it’s because he’s not a villain yet, but he’s a bit naive. Even if the ladies were teasing him, he’s just being quiet.
Well, it wasn’t that those young ladies hated Ash even though they looked down on him.
They also enjoyed a similar relationship with Ash.
In the first place, Ash said earlier that he wasn’t happy with the idea of being only with one person.
“Then my* lovely ladies, we’ll get going.”
(t/n: she called them *uri which can be translated as our, or my, typically used as an endearment)
I also said goodbye to the young ladies then they all sucked a breath.
“Hyuk, Anastasia just said ‘my!'”
“Anastasia, don’t forget to draw my portrait!”
(t/n: these ladies are simping for Anastasia I mean, same.)
I tried to pretend I didn’t hear Lynette’s cry. Sister, if I really drew your face with my art style, you really won’t let me go for dirtying your eyes!
Coming out of the party, I climbed into the carriage holding Adele’s hand again this time. I got used to Adele’s escort earlier and naturally accepted his hand.
The horseman drove at a tremendous speed. Even though the background outside the window was changing rapidly, the rattling of the carriage was not that hard at all.
Count Sinclair’s horseman always had a sort of mission to get me to the mansion quickly and safely. I’ll ask my father to raise his salary when he gets back.
I opened my mouth because I thought I’d really arrive at the mansion if I don’t speak for a while longer.
“You know, Adele.”
“Yes, Anastasia.”
A honeyed voice penetrated my ears. I slightly clenched my fist. I tried not to be nervous.
“Thank you for escorting me today. I’m glad you said you’d treat me sincerely if I wanted to. But as you know, I am… my illness is…”
Adele figured out what I was going to say.
“You kept my words in mind.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. You were right. I’m going to die anyway, so I won’t ask for anything anymore.”
After a week of thinking, and conflicting with myself, I realized for sure.
I wanted to remain a good memory for Adele, not to be his terrible grief.
“I didn’t want you to give up, Anastasia. Don’t give up hope and put your life first.”
“You’re saying that again.”
Adele said the same thing the first day we met. I murmured with a face that looks unsure whether I should laugh or cry. But Adele did not laugh.
“You just have to say that you want to live. Then I’ll take care of the rest.”
I glanced at Adele.
“What do you mean? For what?”
I had a bad feeling about this. Then, the conversation I had with Adele before suddenly passed through my head.
“What if it’s not my life? What if you use someone else’s life? Is it okay to sacrifice someone who’s never even encountered, Anastasia?”
I frowned.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I absolutely oppose living sacrifices.”
“It’s not too late to atone for that once you survive.”
He said that so confidently and brazenly, I couldn’t help but answer in a wild way because I was so shocked.
“Do you want me to hold you by the collar again?!”
“Well… There may be some other way.”
Adele quietly looked down and avoided my gaze. I was hot.
“Adele, you don’t seem to agree with me at all.”
He sighed languidly and started talking calmly.
“I’ve already given you formal words of consolation and encouragement, but it’s still no wonder that you’re having a hard time and exhausted. Nevertheless, you endured it very well. Even on the day, we went to the sky lantern festival, you were worried about me even though you’re the one who’s feeling sick. It was also me who got insulted by Lord Claude, but you were angry like you’re the one who got insulted. Wouldn’t one or two people be willing to give their lives because Anastasia has such a noble character?”
“Do you think I will be convinced if you talk nonsense bullshit like that?!”
I screamed but Adele only casually ignored my outbursts.
“I just said it. Your reaction is funny.”
This bastard!
Before I knew it, I even forgot what I was going to say and huffed. Adele tilted his head at an angle.
“Unfortunately, it will be hard to come to see Anastasia tomorrow. I’m still under restriction so I’m not allowed to go out. I’d be more than happy if you could come and visit me at the Duke’s estate.”
“I’m not going to be greedy,”
I retorted. My head throbbed.
Adele acted as if he was trying to blow up my reason.
“What if I do something bad while you’re not watching?”
“Yah!”
I jumped to my feet in tears. Adele was so calm.
“You don’t have to choose right now. I know it’s a tough decision for you. But can’t you stay as my friend until then? Anastasia, I need you. You made me selfish like this.”
As soon as I looked into Adele’s bright eyes, I regretted doing so. I couldn’t avoid his red eyes that were looking with determination and attraction at me.
Adele, looking down, had the power to shake my self-control.
It was made in such a perfect shape I wanted to touch it with my lips over and over again but I held all my senses.
Why does Adele keep looking sexy?
What kind of optical illusion is this?
I have to say no. I should’ve kept pushing hard.
“I might only hurt you. So I have to ask. Can you accept my death?”
My mouth ignored my thoughts and moved as it pleased. Adele denied it.
“No, but I’ll follow anything you say.”
“Really?”
I was so nervous that my voice cracked. The carriage rattled around the corner making me stumble, but Adele carefully grabbed me by the arm and sat me down.
“Why not? You may try it out.”
I watched my male protagonist, who had only revealed his true intentions right now.
Despite the confusion, Adele thought that he was actually trying to be considerate of me so that he could be by my side without feeling guilty.
He wanted me to act selfishly. But he also wanted to make me realize how much influence I had on himself while being clearly aware of the reality. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said that he would follow whatever I want.
“I’ll believe you for now.”
The carriage stopped when I answered. Adele replied with a smile.
“Good night, Anastasia.”
He left me with a choice.
Will he continue to be a noble and good male lead as he has been, or will he reveal his nature that may be more vicious than I can imagine?
But I wasn’t afraid of Adele at all. Rather, I only find it a bit mean, worrisome, and a little cute. I think I’m going crazy…
Anyway, I certainly can’t leave Adele like this.
He said something scary like sacrificing a living person for the sake of curing my illness. He said he’ll do whatever I ask of him but there’s still no guarantee that he wouldn’t do it.
It was obvious how the Duke would react if that really happened. I have to stop him.
And the most important thing.
How dare he make me feel like I’m only falling on my own!
Of course, he had his reason for doing that but I still feel unfair! The petty and childish vengeance inside me is wriggling!
I’m glad I didn’t have to break up with Adele, and I’m glad to hear that Adele also had feelings for me. But this and that are two different matters! I feel resentful of all the time I cried for a week!
“Be careful on your way, Adele,”
I smiled prettily and made up my mind.
You said I can test it, right? Now that it’s like this, I’ll see you tomorrow.
It was a sunny day. I wore a light purple dress with my hair tied together after a long time.
I still feel a bit tired, but I was going to stay for a while in the duke’s estate today. I have to meet the Duke…
Duke Magnus did most of his work in the mansion. If I had known nothing like before, I would have thought that he simply hated the chaotic palace, but now, I think that it’s so he could keep an eye on Adele.
In any case, it was not a good sign that the Duke began to restrict Adele’s behavior in earnest.
Sister’s expression, which froze from my greeting, melted in an instant.
“Have you all heard that? Anastasia and I are this close. You’re probably envious. No worries, you can do that to your heart’s content.”
But no one was envious. On the contrary, they showered me with pity looks.
“Cheer up, Anastasia.”
“If you get about 100 pimples on your face, Lady Bliss might stop paying attention to you.”
“I’ve had an ominous premonition since last time, but the life of a matchless beauty is really hard…”
Sister glared at them.
“What’s with this reaction?”
(t/n: I love Anastasia’s lady friends so much skskshajs they don’t know how to hold back, do they?)
The lady, who seemed afraid that it’s going to backfire on her, tried to fix it.
“B-but Anastasia still has Lord Magnus!”
Her intentions were overshadowed by her direct rebuttal.
“But there was a time when Lady Bliss was very mean to Lord Magnus, too. Lord Magnus was so generous that he ended up shrugging it off as a light happening, but it was still too much to interrupt the Thanksgiving competition that the Emperor watched.”
“And, Lord Magnus won the game, didn’t he?”
“I heard that the sword he used weighed more than 50 kilograms….”
The ladies’ eyes were drawn to Ash, who returned at this timing.
Ash didn’t open the door and spoke in sarcasm.
“It seems that I caught you gossiping about someone who’s not present.”
The cute-looking Lady spoke deftly.
“No way. We were just saying goodbye to Anastasia because she’s going back.”
“Yes, she’s ill and shouldn’t stand long. Why don’t Ash say goodbye to Lady Anastasia as well?”
“Why should I…”
At this point, Ash was a bit pitiful. It was already unfair that he’s being compared to Adele all the time, plus, he also lost an arm wrestle with me, and now he’s suffering from a subtle sarcasm.
I threw a carrot.*
(t/n: gave a treat, in this sense, he saved Ash by greeting him first.)
“Have fun, Ash.”
Ash crumpled his face when I greeted him lightly.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Is that what you think so?”
I laughed briefly.
Oh, his face turned red again.
I Ash clicked his tongue and went out again without saying anything.
Since he is a man of high self-esteem, I think he would just return home.
Maybe it’s because he’s not a villain yet, but he’s a bit naive. Even if the ladies were teasing him, he’s just being quiet.
Well, it wasn’t that those young ladies hated Ash even though they looked down on him.
They also enjoyed a similar relationship with Ash.
In the first place, Ash said earlier that he wasn’t happy with the idea of being only with one person.
“Then my* lovely ladies, we’ll get going.”
(t/n: she called them *uri which can be translated as our, or my, typically used as an endearment)
I also said goodbye to the young ladies then they all sucked a breath.
“Hyuk, Anastasia just said ‘my!'”
“Anastasia, don’t forget to draw my portrait!”
(t/n: these ladies are simping for Anastasia I mean, same.)
I tried to pretend I didn’t hear Lynette’s cry. Sister, if I really drew your face with my art style, you really won’t let me go for dirtying your eyes!
Coming out of the party, I climbed into the carriage holding Adele’s hand again this time. I got used to Adele’s escort earlier and naturally accepted his hand.
The horseman drove at a tremendous speed. Even though the background outside the window was changing rapidly, the rattling of the carriage was not that hard at all.
Count Sinclair’s horseman always had a sort of mission to get me to the mansion quickly and safely. I’ll ask my father to raise his salary when he gets back.
I opened my mouth because I thought I’d really arrive at the mansion if I don’t speak for a while longer.
“You know, Adele.”
“Yes, Anastasia.”
A honeyed voice penetrated my ears. I slightly clenched my fist. I tried not to be nervous.
“Thank you for escorting me today. I’m glad you said you’d treat me sincerely if I wanted to. But as you know, I am… my illness is…”
Adele figured out what I was going to say.
“You kept my words in mind.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. You were right. I’m going to die anyway, so I won’t ask for anything anymore.”
After a week of thinking, and conflicting with myself, I realized for sure.
I wanted to remain a good memory for Adele, not to be his terrible grief.
“I didn’t want you to give up, Anastasia. Don’t give up hope and put your life first.”
“You’re saying that again.”
Adele said the same thing the first day we met. I murmured with a face that looks unsure whether I should laugh or cry. But Adele did not laugh.
“You just have to say that you want to live. Then I’ll take care of the rest.”
I glanced at Adele.
“What do you mean? For what?”
I had a bad feeling about this. Then, the conversation I had with Adele before suddenly passed through my head.
“What if it’s not my life? What if you use someone else’s life? Is it okay to sacrifice someone who’s never even encountered, Anastasia?”
I frowned.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I absolutely oppose living sacrifices.”
“It’s not too late to atone for that once you survive.”
He said that so confidently and brazenly, I couldn’t help but answer in a wild way because I was so shocked.
“Do you want me to hold you by the collar again?!”
“Well… There may be some other way.”
Adele quietly looked down and avoided my gaze. I was hot.
“Adele, you don’t seem to agree with me at all.”
He sighed languidly and started talking calmly.
“I’ve already given you formal words of consolation and encouragement, but it’s still no wonder that you’re having a hard time and exhausted. Nevertheless, you endured it very well. Even on the day, we went to the sky lantern festival, you were worried about me even though you’re the one who’s feeling sick. It was also me who got insulted by Lord Claude, but you were angry like you’re the one who got insulted. Wouldn’t one or two people be willing to give their lives because Anastasia has such a noble character?”
“Do you think I will be convinced if you talk nonsense bullshit like that?!”
I screamed but Adele only casually ignored my outbursts.
“I just said it. Your reaction is funny.”
This bastard!
Before I knew it, I even forgot what I was going to say and huffed. Adele tilted his head at an angle.
“Unfortunately, it will be hard to come to see Anastasia tomorrow. I’m still under restriction so I’m not allowed to go out. I’d be more than happy if you could come and visit me at the Duke’s estate.”
“I’m not going to be greedy,”
I retorted. My head throbbed.
Adele acted as if he was trying to blow up my reason.
“What if I do something bad while you’re not watching?”
“Yah!”
I jumped to my feet in tears. Adele was so calm.
“You don’t have to choose right now. I know it’s a tough decision for you. But can’t you stay as my friend until then? Anastasia, I need you. You made me selfish like this.”
As soon as I looked into Adele’s bright eyes, I regretted doing so. I couldn’t avoid his red eyes that were looking with determination and attraction at me.
Adele, looking down, had the power to shake my self-control.
It was made in such a perfect shape I wanted to touch it with my lips over and over again but I held all my senses.
Why does Adele keep looking sexy?
What kind of optical illusion is this?
I have to say no. I should’ve kept pushing hard.
“I might only hurt you. So I have to ask. Can you accept my death?”
My mouth ignored my thoughts and moved as it pleased. Adele denied it.
“No, but I’ll follow anything you say.”
“Really?”
I was so nervous that my voice cracked. The carriage rattled around the corner making me stumble, but Adele carefully grabbed me by the arm and sat me down.
“Why not? You may try it out.”
I watched my male protagonist, who had only revealed his true intentions right now.
Despite the confusion, Adele thought that he was actually trying to be considerate of me so that he could be by my side without feeling guilty.
He wanted me to act selfishly. But he also wanted to make me realize how much influence I had on himself while being clearly aware of the reality. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said that he would follow whatever I want.
“I’ll believe you for now.”
The carriage stopped when I answered. Adele replied with a smile.
“Good night, Anastasia.”
He left me with a choice.
Will he continue to be a noble and good male lead as he has been, or will he reveal his nature that may be more vicious than I can imagine?
But I wasn’t afraid of Adele at all. Rather, I only find it a bit mean, worrisome, and a little cute. I think I’m going crazy…
Anyway, I certainly can’t leave Adele like this.
He said something scary like sacrificing a living person for the sake of curing my illness. He said he’ll do whatever I ask of him but there’s still no guarantee that he wouldn’t do it.
It was obvious how the Duke would react if that really happened. I have to stop him.
And the most important thing.
How dare he make me feel like I’m only falling on my own!
Of course, he had his reason for doing that but I still feel unfair! The petty and childish vengeance inside me is wriggling!
I’m glad I didn’t have to break up with Adele, and I’m glad to hear that Adele also had feelings for me. But this and that are two different matters! I feel resentful of all the time I cried for a week!
“Be careful on your way, Adele,”
I smiled prettily and made up my mind.
You said I can test it, right? Now that it’s like this, I’ll see you tomorrow.
It was a sunny day. I wore a light purple dress with my hair tied together after a long time.
I still feel a bit tired, but I was going to stay for a while in the duke’s estate today. I have to meet the Duke…
Duke Magnus did most of his work in the mansion. If I had known nothing like before, I would have thought that he simply hated the chaotic palace, but now, I think that it’s so he could keep an eye on Adele.
In any case, it was not a good sign that the Duke began to restrict Adele’s behavior in earnest.
