「It’s always been that way, hasn’t it, Marsha?」
“What’s the matter now?” said Myra-sama.
「Even you, Myra-sama…」
「Oh, you used to get all flustered with me when I was a little girl. You were trying so hard to put on a good face, but your eyes were flashing like an old man’s.」
「Ugh…」
I am aware that I was ridiculously deleterious to Myra-sama when she was a little girl, but I had no idea that it was so obvious. But I am definitely not a pervert. I just like cute things, not just children a little bit, and furthermore, Myra-sama was just exceptionally cute.
「It was 30% more expensive when Myra-sama and I lined up in a row. How I miss it!」
“You were thrilled to see how far your nose would go,” Mary laughed nostalgically.
「…Augh.」
I was depressed by Mary’s words. Because Mary’s childhood form was as cute as Myra-sama’s. You could have collapsed your facial muscles with those two adorables, couldn't you?? Still, I should be commended for trying my best to keep it within the bounds of a lady.
「Then… about this… kuku!」
I glance up at Ryniel-sama, who is unable to hold back his laughter, and he quickly turns his face away. If you want to laugh so much, you can laugh. It’s responses like that that increase my shame, ugh! If it were Douglas-sama, I could stomp his feet without hesitation, but Ryniel-sama will never allow me to do it.
「It’s a very funny episode, so you don’t have to be so upset about it.」
「Excuse me. I’m not offended.」
「Oh, my, your cheeks seem to be puffed out without your mind?」
「I don’t like it, Ryniel-sama. I am too tired for optical illusions!」
Hmph, and when I snort back, Ryniel-sama blows up again.
「Kuku. Well, I think such a pouty face is cute.」
「…Wha—!?」
I could feel the heat gathering in my face. Was it shame, anger, or both?
Ever since the day he gave me the hair ornament, I have been pushed around by Ryniel-sama, who speaks sweetly to me whenever he sees an opportunity. I understand that I’m supposed to get used to being hit on. I also understand that Ryniel-sama may consider it part of his duties to do so.
Thanks to this, the members of the 2nd Unit were surprised at first, but in just a few days they got used to this scene. I, on the other hand, showed no sign of getting used to it!
I was trying to reason with my ears, and I heard,「Well!」and「Oh dear!」I hear the amused voices of Myra-sama and Mary. I’m already desperate because I will be ridiculed even more if I show my ugliness here.
「Ugh…」
When I muttered in a small voice, I couldn’t stand the warm looks that came from many people. I really want them to give me a break.
「I really mean it, you know?」
I was annoyed that Ryniel-sama went out of his way to bend down to look into my face.
「Well, thank you very much!」
When I responded with a fake smile, as if to say, “I can’t believe I’m doing this again,” what I got in return was an indescribable smile.
「…This is still not enough.」
And furthermore, this is a no-no.
I say to myself, “I’m sorry,” but on the surface I smile and smirk.
「Not that you are, but… hey.」
Sigh, a mysterious follow-up. I don’t understand this!
While I was moping around, I noticed that Myra-sama and Mary had started reading picture books to the children at a little distance from the area. The Kingsguard knights, except for Ryniel-sama, are also moving their positions accordingly.
「By the way, Marsha-dono.」
I stop making up a smile with a huff at the sound of Ryniel-sama’s usual voice.
「About this time…」
I guess he must have heard it from Douglas-sama. I nodded my head, understanding what Ryniel-sama was trying to say.
「Yeah, it got a little messy.」
If the loss of the jewelry from the Princess’ Palace was intended from the start to entrap me, it would inevitably be synonymous with entrapment of Myra-sama. What’s more, if it was done in order to take advantage of this important time before the new pillow ceremony?
「I hope I’m overthinking things but…」
「Something else on your mind?」
I nodded cockily.
「In a word, it’s eerie.」
「Eerie, huh…?」
Ryniel-sama responds to my words.
「I feel bad from this point on that Raul has made a gift to me. What is he doing now? And the question of the timing is also raised.」
I wondered what Raul, who had been ignoring me for the past ten years, had in mind when he decided to give me the necklace.
Of course, that’s not all.
「Theft of jewelry and loss of a gift to me at the Princess’ Palace. Request for repairs to the Anemone Jewelers brought by the Countess of Bauer. And the false accusation against me in the 4th unit runaway. Above all, the presence of the『Noble』is eerie.」
I took a breath.
「Considering Brace, the most natural course of action would be to say that the Princess is the『Noble』…」
「The Princess has no reason to antagonize Myra-sama.」
That’s right. Douglas-sama said it was unlikely, and I later recalled that he was right.
Certainly my relationship with Princess Priscilla is not a good one. However, the relationship between Myra-sama and the Princess is not bad, if not good.
If the Princess were the『Noble』and plotted against Their Majesties, it wouldn’t be to her benefit.
「The flow of things up to now has been, how shall I put it… I’m not sure I can explain it…」
Looking back, I think it started out as a whim of Priscilla, the Royal Princess. If Raul and I had never been alone together at that time, I wonder if I would have noticed that the necklace was missing. And would it have developed into the discovery of the loss of jewelry at the Princess’ Palace? In the first place, I wondered if the loss of jewelry is the same as the loss of the present from Raul, even though it’s the loss of jewelry at the Princess’ Palace.
「If this is someone’s agenda, it just doesn’t seem to make sense.」
I can’t say for sure what it is, I keep feeling this sick feeling.
