Published at 27th of December 2020 03:38:26 PM
When I’m once again standing in front of the huge doors out in the hallway, I let out a huge sigh of relief . I was finally able to get out of that suffocating room .
Now I would like nothing more than to hurry up and go home and gorge myself on a healthy helping of macarons . So, with that thought forefront in mind, I start walking back through the palace, trying to retrace my steps .
I wonder if I’ll be able to successfully find the way out on my own though? Since I’d been following the maid the whole time when I came in, my memory is a bit hazy . I really hadn’t been paying attention to where I was going… . .
… . . Did we come down this hallway? It doesn’t look familiar… Hm, and I don’t remember passing by that large vase either…
I glance over at the portraits that hang on the wall hoping they might jog my memory . One depicts a young boy with sky blue hair and deep, ocean blue eyes… . which I’m thinking must be of the king from when he was a young . It seems that back then, his hair was a shade lighter than it is now .
And standing next to that boy in the portrait is a kind looking man that I think might be his father, the previous king? Hm, that’s odd . The longer I look, the more I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before… . .
Though, if I had met him, I’m sure I would remember, so maybe it’s just my imagination .
“Alicia?” I hear Duke-Sama call out to me .
I slowly turn in the direction of his voice . He’s standing a couple meters away right next to a huge window with light streaming in . It illuminates his hair and I notice a faint glittering near his earlobe .
Is that… . an earring? When we’d been sitting at the table together, I hadn’t noticed it .
Duke-Sama stands there for a moment, seeming to be waiting for something, but when I don’t say anything or make a move to draw closer, he takes the initiative to walk over to me . As he draws near, I strain my eyes to get a better look at his earring .
It’s made of a radiant blue jewel… . most likely a magic gemstone . It’s something that can only be made once you reach level 100 . Which means that Duke-Sama must have already acquired level 100 magical abilities, right? That makes him one of the top magic users in the whole world… . .
Come to think of it… . I do feel like rather than the heroine, Duke-Sama was the one who reached level 100 faster during the game . But was it really this fast?
“What are you doing here?” Duke-Sama murmurs to me gently, stopping just a few inches away .
I would prefer it if you wouldn’t address me from this distance . You’re much too close .
… . . As for that question, it would be bad for a villainess to admit that she’s lost, wouldn’t it?
“I was just doing a bit of exploring,” I say, trying to hide my embarrassment behind a quick smile .
But Duke-Sama’s eyes seem to see right through me . Even before he asked, he probably already knew that I was lost .
Ah, those eyes . I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t stare at me with that sexy gaze .
“Shall I accompany you to the front gates?” Duke-Sama suggests, letting a faint smile slip onto his face .
This sort of treatment… . is precisely how you’d treat a precious little sister, isn’t it? I should be fine as long as I’m getting the sibling treatment, right?
Though, it’s still a mystery how Duke-Sama came to like me in the first place . During the game, I thought he absolutely detested Alicia… .
Could it be… . that all this time he’s been acting fond of me in order to make it easier to get rid of me later? His affectionate attitude was actually just a guise to cover up his resentment for me… .
Yeah, that seems rather far fetched . Even for me . And, ever since Henry-Oniisama told me his true thoughts about Liz-san, I’ve started to doubt how much of the game has carried over into reality .
“Alicia?” Duke-Sama says, scrutinizing my expression . He leans into me, bringing his face even closer to mine .
Gulp .
… . This is bad .
Please step back a bit . I don’t think my heart can take much more of this proximity . At this distance, I can even smell Duke-Sama’s delicious scent drifting towards me . He smells so unbelievably good . It makes all the fatigue from the ordeal earlier just melt entirely away .
But at the same time, it makes my heart beat faster . I just know that my face must be turning red right now as well .
…How deplorable . As a villainess, I shouldn’t be allowing my feelings to be showing on my face like this .
Duke-Sama’s tender gaze pierces me as he lets out a little laugh .
“You’re face is bright red . ”
I know! I know, so there’s no need for you to point it out! Is he… . teasing me right now?
I’m slowly becoming more and more certain that he is . Though, with that certainty I’m realizing just how much of a mystery Duke-Sama is to me .
When I saw him on the screen, I always thought of him as the cool and collected type, the sort of person that tends to keep people an arm’s breadth away… . but after interacting with him, that doesn’t really seem to fit . For one thing, he never acts distant . He always closes the distance between us right away and somehow always seems to see right through me… . And with looking at him now, I would say he might have a bit of a mean streak as well .
“Duke-Sama, just what sort of person are you really?”
At my question, Duke-Sama stiffens and draws back a fraction . He blinks a couple of times and stares at me hard .
Was my question really that surprising?
“I can’t seem to get a read on you . ”
“Get a read on me?”
“Yes . Do you enjoy teasing me like this?”
Duke-Sama’s eyes fly open and his expression looks startled for a moment, but almost immediately after it softens again into a tender smile .
“I certainly don’t hate teasing you,” he tells me with a smirk, roughly ruffling my hair .
… . Saying that line with that expression!? That’s cheating . All of your fans will swoon, you know . In truth, if I hadn’t been aiming to become a villainess, I’m sure I would be swooning too, or at the very least I’d be having a nosebleed right about now .
See? I definitely can’t comprehend this man’s intentions after all . One second his smile is so sweet, and then the next he makes that sort of rakish grin while tousling my hair… . To be able to pull off a stunt like that so smoothly, he really is just like a prince charming . And he’s way too charming for his own good .
“Come on, let’s go,” Duke-Sama says, and without waiting for my answer, he starts walking away .
At a time like this, would it be best for me to follow behind him? Or maybe I’m supposed to walk beside him? I just don’t know . Though, what I do know is that whenever Duke-Sama gets too close to me, my image as a villainess ends up in shambles . So it’s probably best for me if I keep at least a little bit of distance between us, huh?
So, staying just a few steps behind, I follow him towards the front entrance .
And for Duke-Sama’s part, he doesn’t argue or question the distance, he just kindly matches his pace to mine as he silently leads the way .