CH 86

Episode 86

“Sigh, what should I do?”

In the carriage, I breathed roughly and clasped my hands.

“I’m so nervous…”

I took a hand mirror out of my pocket and looked around my face.

I don’t usually look in the mirror, but for today, everything had to be perfect.

‘Well, good.’

My face was as perfect as usual, and her dress looked neat without being overly flashy.

‘Is the carriage all right?’

Since it was such an important day, the carriage was decorated in splendour.

Not only are ribbons hung from the ceiling and seats, but also fluffy cushions and blankets with jewels are prepared.

‘Okay, I got a present prepared, right?’

After confirming that the heart-shaped box lay neatly beside me, I nodded satisfactorily.

‘Yes, I think this is enough.’

I relaxed slightly and leaned against the back of the chair.

“Oh, by the way, I shouldn’t have my hair messed up.”

With those words out, I straightened my back again.

‘I can’t wait to meet her.…….’

How much I’ve been looking forward to today.

I even bought a luxurious carriage and decorated it finest.

Even the best horses in the stable were picked and fed only expensive and healthy food.

It wasn’t just that.

I have everyone finished cleaning the entire mansion and decorated some parts on my own.

Some beds replaced mattresses with new ones and left A-class feather pillows that the craftsman had made.

I heard someone can fall asleep in a second if they sleep on it.

Even before Cassius came, I did not make such a fuss, so the butler once asked with a face that he was very curious.

“Excuse me, Duke, are you planning to get married………?”

I said no, but he said with an incomprehensible look.

“I thought you were going on a honeymoon when I saw your carriage. Anyway, I don’t mind if you don’t, but….”

What’s important is that I even made such efforts for today.

Right now, for today, when Erica was invited to my mansion.

‘Finally, we meet, finally!’

Even during the semester, I had a plan to invite Erica to the mansion earlier, and Erica happily accepted it.

But suddenly, I was promoted to a Housekeeper member and my schedule was full, making me leave the Academy without a specific date.

I was on the verge of explosion because of the withdrawal from seeing Erica for about a month, the annoyance of Iker and the failure at the Housekeepers conference.

‘I can’t take it anymore. I can only endure by looking at her photo for a day or two!’

When I really felt like I was going to die, I endured like a day by looking at Erica’s picture, but there was a limit.

‘I have money and a house. Does it make sense that I can’t meet Erica when I have both?’

Eventually, I went mad and began to write a letter to Erica without thinking.

Erica sent me a reply shortly, and that’s why she’ll be staying in my castle for 15 days.

“Yay!”

As soon as I got a reply, I cleared my entire schedule for 15 days.

And I worked an all-night vigil for four days and worked a miracle to handle all of the 15 days documents.

After finishing all the work, I fell on the bed and didn’t wake up for about two days.

Cassius said he had no idea how long he had checked if I was breathing and alive.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now.”

For the next 15 days, all I had to think about was Erica and ‘haha hoho’ together.

‘What do I say when I meet her? How are you doing?’

I always greet her without hesitation, but after not seeing her face for more than a month, I was even worried about what to say.

‘How are you? I feel like I’m talking to my ex-boyfriend.”

Should I just say hello?

That’s too hard.

I lamented in a frustrated heart and struck my knees with both fists.

“I should have thought of some nice greetings in advance!”

I looked out the window and found myself in a familiar neighbourhood.

I really thought I was going to arrive at the place I promised Erica to meet soon.

‘I don’t have much time left……!’

What should I say?

All kinds of greetings I’ve heard so far passed through my head.

‘I missed you, buddy! No, this is too old-fashioned.’

I still couldn’t think of a comment, but the carriage was slowing down.

In the end, I couldn’t decide on a greeting until the carriage stopped completely.

“Oh, my God.”

And to make matters worse, Erica was seen through the window of the stopped carriage.

Like Erica, who does not break the appointment time, she was standing exactly where I told her, staring at the carriage with her great eyes.

Standing with her pink hair fluttering in the wind, she was wearing a cute green dress.

“Crazy, a fairy! Oh no, I don’t know who’s the flower if I take you to the garden!”

Unknowingly, the silly comment came out of my mouth first.

The joy of seeing her after a long time made me crazy.

It was only after several futile touches that I could open the carriage door, and I, who was in a state of over-excitement, opened my mouth first without thinking.

“Hello, baby! How are you, my kitty baby?”

As soon as I spoke out, Erica closed her mouth with both hands, with a shocked face.

‘Ah.’

It wasn’t until about three seconds later that I realized what I had done, and for a while, Erica didn’t move from the spot without saying anything.

***

“Thank you for coming to pick me up in person, Yerine.”

Erica revealed her white teeth and spoke with a big smile.

“Oh, no. I’m a little sore to see you as soon as soon as possible.”

Then Erica happily raised her lips and clapped her hands.

“Really? So did I!”

Her dazzling appearance blinded me.

‘It’s holy, it’s really……..’

I thought to myself, feeling my facial muscles evoking a benevolent smile on their own.

“But the carriage is so pretty! Did Yerine decorate it yourself?”

At Erica’s words of ‘pretty’, I tried very hard not to flare up my nostrils.

I was worried that it might be too much, but hearing that, I really thought I could break down the ceiling of the carriage with my bare hands and fly away.

“Yes, I did all the decorations.”

“Amazing! You’re so dexterous with your hands.”

Erica said, twinkling her eyes.

“Well, is it natural that Yerine is good at everything?”

Seeing Erica smiling like that made my heartache.

‘No, get used to it. You’ll see that smile for the next 15 days.’

I held my mind and took out a heart-shaped box that I had hidden next to me and put it on her lap.

“This is a present, Erica. You eat all of this.”

“Huh? What, you don’t have to prepare this…….”

I shook my head at Erica, who looked at me with an apologetic look and swept my nose with my fingers.

“Oh, I’m giving it to you because I want to.”

“Can I really take it?”

I nodded furiously at the remark.

“Yes, it’s a present for you.”

Only then did Erica, who took the present I had given, said with a flush on her face.

“Thank you very, very much. I’ll never really forget today.”

“Ay, no. I’m going to give you a lot of this in the future.”

“No, don’t. I’m sorry I didn’t give you anything.”

I swept my hair off her words and spoke with a low voice.

“Your very existence is a gift to me.”

Looking back now, I don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I said such a crazy line.

If I had been Erica, I would have hit myself right in front of me.

“Oh, my God, Yerine…….”

For some reason, however, Erica looked thrilled at the time, and even shed tears.

“You’re such a good friend……… I’ll keep your gift and make it as a family heirloom.”

The remark surprised me.

“Huh? You can’t take it as a family heirloom. It’s a chocolate cookie and it melts.”

“Oh, then I’ll just take the box as the family heirloom.”

There was no need to say that, but Erica seemed to be very happy, so I let her.

“But, Yerine, it seems like the atmosphere has changed a bit between vacations.”

Erica tilted her head and talked.

‘Ugh, it’s not good for the heart.’

It’s like a small and precious Pomeranian tilting his head.

I asked with a business smile, holding back my desire to be silly.

“Well, the atmosphere? How did it change?”

“Oh, something…….”

Erica thought about the answer with her finger in her mouth, and I waited for her answer, with my favourite silly comment in my heart.

“You’ve become cool. You’ve always been cool.”

“Really?”

I’m sure this is the best day of my life.

You were always cool, but now you’re even cooler! Absolutely, she will say a line like this.

“Yes.”

Erica nodded back.

“What should I say, a feeling like butter?”

Her words brought me to a complete standstill.

Butter? Butter?

“Butter?”

I could only say that the language function was broken.

“Yes! Butter!”

Looking at Erica smiling brightly, I tasted despair.

‘That means it’s very greasy.…!’

But Erica, who couldn’t know my mixed feelings, raised her finger and began to chatter.

“It was like this too before. When you said ‘my kitty baby’.”

To be honest, I can’t remember how I got back to the mansion since then.

What is certain is that I cried in the bathroom that day when I renewed my dark history in front of my favourite heroine.

***

“Erica, watch out for the stairs!”

“Yes, I got it.”

The sun was already setting when we arrived at the Dukedom.

I sent Erica’s luggage up and got out of the carriage.

Upon arriving at the front door, the rest of the user opened the door to greet us.

They smiled warmly at us, and everything at the entrance was in the best condition, including the central staircase, portraits and chandeliers.

‘Well, that’s good, that’s good.’

I turned my head toward Erica, expressing my gratitude to the butler and maids for maintaining this supreme condition.

“Wow, this is what the castle looks like.”

Erica said, twinkling her eyes like stars.

“It’s like where the princess and the prince live.”

It wasn’t very wrong.

Now that the second prince, Cassius, was living here.

“I’ll let you know where Erica is going to sleep first. Then let’s have dinner together.”

“Yes, good!”

Erica shouted, holding my hand with a look of anticipation.

‘I won’t wash my hands today.’

Having such a pleasant chat, we climbed the central stairs and arrived on the second floor.

And as soon as we arrived on the second floor, someone’s giant shadow greeted us at the entrance.

“Ah, Cassius.”

“Hi, Yerine, and…”

Cassius said, rolling his golden eyes.

“Blothea. You’re early, aren’t you?”

I had a glimpse of Erica, but fortunately, she was smiling broadly.

I have already told Erica that Cassius is living here.

Still, it was true that I was worried that there would be frequent fights.

“Yes, well, I am.”

“Yes. You’re going to go after this, aren’t you?”

Cassius was smiling too, but it was clear that he was picking a fight.

“Oh, well yes. I’ll be going after 15 days.”

“You’re going to stay for 15 days? Isn’t that too long?”

Then Erica burst out laughing.

Her voice was as clear as the jade beads rolled and her face was as fine as a forest fairy.

Why does it feel so cool?

“Ah-ha-ha, 15 days is long. But wouldn’t it be better than the prince who has stuck here all summer vacation? I really don’t want to bother Yerine because I’m different from anyone.”

The two were laughing desperately, but apparently, they were attacking each other.

‘It’s all right…..is it?’

I hoped in my heart that those two would not fight in the future.

—————