CH 34

“Outing? Would it be okay?”

“Well… It’s possible only if the Archduke gives permission, but now that you’re not a doll, but a human body, wouldn’t it at least be okay to go out?”

“Right?!”

Yul struggled to calm his pounding heart and responded.

Come to think of it, he’s never been free to go out since he came into this mansion.

He had been to the Imperial Palace with Mikael and the Duke Esirene, but it was boring and not worth calling it an outing.

But going out was different. Buying and eating the delicious dessert he just ate, or going out for a walk in the downtown area, that was greatly welcomed. Yul smiled brightly, vowing to get permission to go out when Mikael came back.

***

“Mikael, Mikael!”

As soon as Mikael arrived, Yul almost clung to his side. Mikael felt strange about Yul’s attitude and frowned, but there was no way for Yul, whose eyes were squinting1, to know.

“What’s going on?”

“I have a request! No, but wash up first. I can wait. However long!”

Mikael burst out laughing at Yul’s words, which showed a strong sign of saying something he didn’t want to say. He could almost see the pointy ears drooping through the pink hair.

“It’s okay, tell me. What do you want to ask me?”

“I want to go out!”

“No.”

“Hey, you’re too much!”

Yul was startled with a sad expression on his face. He was very shocked by the reply that came back instantaneously. Blue eyes trembled with resentment, as if they were brimming with tears.

He’s like a human without blood or tears. How could you refuse someone’s request so mercilessly?

“You can think about it! To refuse right away like that, it’s too much!”

“Who knows what trouble will happen again once you go out. No way.”

“What kind of trouble did I make? I never caused an issue!”

Yul protested as if it was unfair, but Mikael did not budge.

Yul didn’t seem to think that the various acts he had committed were trouble, but from Mikael’s point of view, just thinking about it again made his head throb.

“I want to look outside too! Is… Is-something, I want to buy that dessert, I want to visit the market, I want to go outside the mansion anyway.”

“You want to see the outside?”

“Yes! Not from the mansion! Not looking out the window from the carriage!”

Yul answered Mikael’s question as if he was waiting.

He just asked if he wanted to go outside, but Yul’s eyes were full of happiness as if he had already gone outside. His heart fluttered when he saw his eyes shining like the luster of the lake.

“Mikael, please. Please!”

Seeing Yul pleading, Mikael fell into thought.

Looking back on his memories, Yul used to hang out from the window every time he went out in the carriage, looking outside with his eyes twinkling. When he remembered that image, he thought that he must have been very wistful to go out.

“Fine.”

“Gasp, really?”

“Sure. Speaking of which, let’s go right away.”

“Awesome, awesome!”

He didn’t know exactly what “awesome” meant, but it was clear that it roughly meant good. Mikael looked at Yuri, who was elated, and smiled with satisfaction inwardly.

Of course, there are many eyes watching Mikael, so if he went out with Yuri, people would soon be curious about Yuri’s identity. He even knew there were going to be a lot of rumours.

However, he was not a doll, and it was impossible to hide Yuri, who became a human, forever.

In fact, he would be lying if he said he had no intention of doing so, but he couldn’t because Yuri didn’t seem to want it. All he could do was give him what he wanted.

Mikael picked up the coat he had taken off again. Then, seeing that, Yul tilted his head.

“Uh, by the way, is Mikael going too?”

“Then were you going to go alone?”

“Uh… At first I thought so…”

“Yuri, do you think I’m going to leave you alone?”

“No. I don’t think you will.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Yul’s excitement became slightly subdued at his answer, but soon he felt better again.

If he went out with that person, he wouldn’t be able to walk freely, but if he thought about it, he wouldn’t be able to move freely even if he went out alone because he didn’t know the way anyway.

Besides, he was penniless, so it would be much better to stick to Mikael’s side and rob his wallet little by little.

Thinking like this, his disappointment that he could not go out alone melted away.

Yul, who made up his mind at ease, walked along with Mikael.

When Yul arrived in front of the carriage, he couldn’t hide his expectations and smiled. The steps on the carriage were also light.

Orlov’s mansion itself was very wide, and the entryway was also long, so it was impossible to walk out of the mansion. Besides, it was quite a distance to downtown, so he decided to go out by horse-drawn carriage.

“Is… Ispahan? That’s right! Levi bought it and it was delicious. I will buy this too.”

“Alright.”

“What else is there? Ah, I heard there is an egg tart craftsman? You have to eat egg tarts there too!”

“Right.”

“Ah, there is a famous crepes store, too. They say that Ispahan place is close to the store. I want to eat that as well.”

“Do that.”

""

As soon as the carriage left, Yul lined up what he wanted to eat as if he had been waiting.

Mikael wasn’t particularly fond of sweets, but Yuri liked it so much so he agreed. Then, Yuri seemed to be more excited, and his voice rose even higher.

While the carriage was running towards the downtown area, Yuri constantly talked about what he wanted to do and what he wanted to eat.

Mikael didn’t listen very carefully, but he remembered every word he said. He himself was curious about this. It was a minor change, but it was definitely different from his usual appearance.

While Mikael was contemplating why, the carriage entered the beginning of the downtown area.

“Wear this.”

“But it’s not cold?”

“I’m not telling you to wear it for fear of being cold, don’t fuss.”

What Mikael brought out was a long robe that reached to his toes. Yul frowned as it looked cumbersome. Either way, Mikael just stared at Yul with indifferent eyes.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable!”

“It would be more uncomfortable not to wear it.”

“…Then I should wear it.”

Yul decided to stop rebelling against the intimidating tone. In fact, to call it rebellion, it would be more appropriate to look at it like a tantrum.

Yul wore the robe anyway.

He had expected it before putting it on, but it was really annoying because it reached down to his feet.

Meanwhile, Mikael put the hood on as well. Yul shook his head furiously like a cat in water.

“I don’t want to use it!”

“Did I ask if you wanted to use it?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

“Then wear it and be quiet.”

“Yes.”

Not only did Yul have to wear an unwanted robe, but he was also forced to wear a hood, thanks to Mikael who was no different from a bully. Naturally, Yul’s slender cheeks puffed up unsatisfactorily.

There was a good reason to wear a robe and hood, even though he knew Yul would hate it.

People may have never seen Yul before, but they knew Mikael’s face. If Archduke Orlov was walking around the streets with a man, word would quickly spread.

It would be nice if it was an ordinary rumour, but the possibility of being stained with a scandal was also high. The more it burns in people’s mouths, the more irritating the rumours are.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what scandal follows, but if there were bad rumours about Yuri, he couldn’t stand it. Because of that, he forced Yul to put on the robe and hood despite him disliking it.

Of course, Mikael also wore a robe. Half of his face was covered, as well as his black hair.

“Wow, that’s a lot of people.”

Yul sticks his tongue out, watching the bustling street.

The place where the two got off was Pokavon Street, which was the busiest place in the capital city as well as in the Wydefia Empire. There were a number of restaurants and dessert shops, as well as the famous salons.

Of course, the crowd was huge. If he got distracted for a bit, he would often step on the end of the robes of those walking in front of him.

While being careful not to step on the robes of the person in front of him, Yul held onto Mikael’s arm tightly so as not to lose Mikael.