Chapter 25
For a moment, I was thinking it might be better if they just scolded me.
“Bastard…”
One of the maids suddenly cursed under her breath, grinding her teeth.
Startled, my shoulders shook.
Another maid quickly nudged her with an elbow,
and only then did she realize what she had said and covered her mouth.
“I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t talking about His Highness.
I just suddenly remembered my ex-boyfriend!”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
How badly did they break up
for a curse to come out just from remembering him?
“You’ll definitely meet someone better.”
“No. I don’t need anyone better.
I think I’ll just live alone until I die.”
“That’s fine too!
There must be one or two other people around you who made the same decision.
Wouldn’t it be fun to all live together?”
The maid, who had never thought of that before, widened her eyes,
then soon smiled brightly.
“That’s a really good idea!”
As we laughed and chatted together,
a knocking sound came from the door.
Only then did the maids realize they were working.
They quickly stood and stepped back.
But one of them—the red-haired maid who had left the strong impression with her curse—
whispered quietly to me:
“Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll be your eyes and ears!”
Ah… no. I appreciate the thought,
but the reason I came here is because of those eyes and ears…
Before I could stop her, the maids left completely,
and Lionel entered the reception room in slightly more comfortable clothes than usual.
I stood and greeted him politely.
“Greetings to the Second Prince, Your Highness.”
“…Cecil?”
Perhaps my formality felt unfamiliar.
He paused for a moment, then approached and escorted me back to my seat.
He sat across from me and spoke immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
“…What? Why are you apologizing?”
I’m the one who should apologize.
“I still haven’t solved the homework you gave me yesterday.”
“Homework? …Ah, that?”
I remembered the notebook he had written in so seriously—
and the blue bird that had run across it with ink-stained feet.
Yes. That blue bird.
Did he still not discover it?
His expression looked normal,
but that meant nothing, because his face always looked the same.
What emotions were hidden behind that face?
I had no way to know.
After hesitating, I said:
“You don’t need to worry about that.
It’s not something you should apologize for.”
“I do worry.
Why were you angry?”
His voice was firm—
so firm that it almost sounded like he was angry.
“Why does it matter to you?”
“So I won’t make you angry next time.”
Ah… that was the reason?
Now I feel like the terrible one for being petty…
Why do I keep shrinking in front of this man?
Why is he so sincere that it embarrasses me?
Twisting my hair with my fingers,
I glanced at his neat face.
“…Should I be completely honest?”
“Yes. That will help.”
“Then… you can’t tease me for being childish, okay?”
“I won’t.”
This was so embarrassing.
But I answered anyway.
“There are many flowers that mean ‘beautiful.’
But you gave me one that means ‘gratitude’ and ‘kindness.’
So I wondered… am I not pretty?
I just sulked by myself.”
I carefully watched his reaction.
“Childish, right?”
“It’s not childish.”
Lionel shook his head and looked straight into my eyes.
“Cecil, you are beautiful.”
“W-what?!”
So suddenly?
“I gave you a flower meaning gratitude and kindness
because it was more important to convey how I felt about you
than to state the obvious fact that you are beautiful.”
Oh my…
He says my beauty is obvious…
I hear that often—
my family tells me every few days—
but hearing it from someone who would never lie
felt incredibly good.
My pride almost shot into the sky.
I cleared my throat and said:
“Of course that’s obvious,
but I still like being told I’m pretty.”
“I understand.”
“But if you say it too often, it’ll lose meaning.
So only tell me I’m pretty
when I look especially pretty that day.”
“I understand.”
Somehow… I believed him.
This man truly thinks I’m pretty all the time—
and will praise me sincerely
when I look especially beautiful.
If you receive something, you should give something back.
Looking at his calm face, I said coyly:
“Your Highness is handsome too.”
“I see.”
He nodded without much reaction,
as if it wasn’t important,
then changed the subject.
“Why did your way of addressing me change earlier?”
“…Ah.”
Because—
I feel guilty…!
Like speaking politely to your parents
when you know you did something wrong.
I looked around,
then sent everyone in the room outside.
“I need to discuss something important privately with His Highness.”
“Yes, understood.”
The attendants hesitated, curious,
but Eunice quickly answered and left,
so the others followed.
Now alone with Lionel,
I took a deep breath.
“I’ll tell you now.
Actually… I have a confession.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“Well…”
Now that the moment came,
the words wouldn’t come out.
I fidgeted with my fingers and asked carefully:
“Did you… pick up anything in your bedroom this morning?”
“Pick up?”
“…A magic tool.”
“A magic tool?”
Was he truly unaware,
or pretending?
I gave up hinting and said it directly.
“You know the blue bird that flew into your bedroom?
Its magic probably ran out and turned into a stone…”
“Ah.”
Only then did he understand.
He took something from his pocket.
“Do you mean this?”
“Yes… that’s right—
wait?”
The magic tool in his hand
still looked like a blue bird,
not a plain carved stone.
Why? Didn’t the magic power run out?
Did he realize it was a magic stone and recharge it…?
Either way,
he should know it’s not a real bird.
Then why is he so calm?
“May I ask one thing first?”
“Yes.”
“The ribbon tied around the bird’s neck—what is it?”
It was definitely my magic tool,
but the purple lace ribbon was unfamiliar.
“My nanny made it for me when I was young.
She used magic thread so it wouldn’t wear out.”
“I see…
But why tie it on?”
“No special reason.
Just… one last time…”
His voice trailed off.
He gently touched the bird’s still beak,
looking strangely lonely.
I think I touched another painful memory…
“I’m sorry.
I committed a terrible sin.”
“What do you mean suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden…
That magic tool is mine.”
“I see.”
He wasn’t surprised—
he must have guessed already.
I expected questions:
What magic is on it? Why send it to my bedroom?
But instead—
“It’s not moving now.
Were you the one who moved the bird, Cecil?”
“…Yes. I was.”
“How?
Were you near my bedroom last night?”
“No. I was in my own room.
Actually… this magic tool sends real-time video and sound.”
“…What?”
Before he could label me a spy,
I blurted it out.
Yes—better this way!
“The truth is…
I wanted to watch and see
if Your Highness had another woman!”
And just like that—
I became the obsessive heroine.
