âI hope there will be another meeting next time.â
âAbsolutely.â
âOh, I loved what Mary said about the poem.â
âWhat are you talking about?â
Demimore, who was quietly listening next to us, suddenly intervened. At the words, Lausanne gave me a quick look. Her eyes were pleading for approval. I vigorously shook my head. I felt embarrassed. As if she understood, Lausanne winked one eye.
âOh, itâs a secret between the ladies.â
âSister, wonât you please tell me?â
âDo you really want me to tell you?â
Lausanne looked at Demimore and put her index finger on her chin. She looked like she was really worried. Youâre not really trying to tell him, are you? No, you winked at me earlier, princess. Do we only have this much trust between us? Lausanne smiled knowingly at my embarrassed face. Demimoreâs expression was filled with anticipation. Thatâs why blood is thicker than water. You siblings are scammers.
âBut itâs difficult to tell because itâs just between the ladies.â
âHa, I was fooled again.â
Lausanne seemed surprisingly playful. Demimore raised his hands to indicate surrender. Lausanne peeped out her tongue in a cute way. I felt guilty for briefly having my doubts about her. Lausanne grinned broadly, regardless of whether Demimore appeared to be deceived.
Looking at it, I wondered if this is what Lausanne is really like because she is so bright. Astina, our official heroine, occasionally displayed sadness, which was unavoidable. People who received love from a young age donât seem to experience sadness.
âOh, so. Mary.â
âWhat?â
âThereâs a story I really want Mary to read.â
Come to think of it, Lausanne had a lump of parchment in her hand. I received the parchment in Lausanneâs hand in a daze. I spoke in a worried tone after noticing the letters on the parchment.
âOf course, I will read it as it is a request from the princess. But Iâm worried, Iâm not familiar with the Imperial language yet, so I might not be able to understand the whole story.â
âDonât worry, there wonât be any difficult content. Itâs embarrassing to have a young friend read this, but after hearing Maryâs thoughts on the poem, I wanted you to read it as well.â
âAhâ¦â
âThe Grand Duke has given me permission to take a little of Lady Maryâs time, so donât worry about the time, Iâve just checked.â
It was a little burdensome. I believe Lausanne is overestimating me, but I donât consider myself to be particularly knowledgeable about literature. I do, however, think a little bit differently from the people around me. Nonetheless, I barely understood the topics and themes discussed in class.
âPlease?â
Lausanne asked with her hands clasped together as if in prayer as I continued to hesitate and fumble with the parchment in my hand. I believed it was impolite to keep my distance while being so adamantly asked.
âFirst l⦠Iâll read it!â
âMary!â
When I finally reached a decision, Lausanne gave me a bear hug while beaming with joy. She let me go after that and looked serious while saying something that sounded like a request.
âIâd like you to be honest with me.â
I nodded my head seriously, too. Is it similar to the poem we just read? I donât think it fits the definition of a poem. Does it resemble an epic poem? However, it differs from what I had anticipated.
âIs this a romance novel?â
âYes!â
Lausanne smiled and nodded. Although her earlier attitude of grace and dignity was admirable, her upbeat demeanor was also very endearing. Naturally, Lausanne is made up of the two of them.
I began to read seriously. The book reminded me of the romantic fantasy books I used to read when I was Ha Sohee. Although, itâs just a romance here, not a fantasy. This setting is real here. However, as I read it, I discovered that the male protagonist is a Dragon. The sudden appearance of an extraterrestrial being caused me to try and control my facial expression.
Contrary to my expectations, the novel was more fascinating. The mysterious dragon who played the male lead was a feisty but passably attractive. Although he is cold to everyone he is friendly to the female lead.
âItâs so much fun! The male lead is really charming, too.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âItâs a little childish, though.â
I honestly blurted out my thoughts. Lausanne listened to my thoughts with her eyes closed. by the way,
âI have the impression that the female protagonist is overly cautious.â
âHmm.â
Lausanne gently opened her closed eyes when I mentioned the female lead.
âSheâs a little passive; I know being Godâs daughter is difficult, but sheâs charming and cool enough to get away from it, which is unfortunate.â
It was true. I felt bad for the Main character, who appeared to be buried in that circumstance. She was lucky enough to be attractive, but whenever she was given an opportunity, she mistakenly believed that it was because she was Godâs daughter. So even if the Dragon loved her, she didnât believe it, and she was too insecure about herself.
But am I in a position to say this?
As Lausanne listened to me, she grinned and said.
âWell, it projected me.â
âWhat?â
âWhy?â
âDid the princess, by any chance, write this?â
âYes, thatâs right.â
I was so surprised at what she said that I covered my mouth. Iâve been fumbling through what Iâve said so far in my head. My mind turned white and I couldnât remember what kind of review I had. Ha, didnât I say it was childish? Why is the female protagonist who projected the princess so timid? To protect herself ? I swiftly dipped my head.
âMary, what are you doing?â
âIâm sorry if I said anything presumptuous.â
âNo! Oh, Mary. I was the one who asked you to be honest.â
âYou scared Mary.â
The siblings were at a loss next to me. It should be me who is at a loss here. I lifted my head in stealth.
âWhen I heard Mary talking about the poem earlier, I thought youâd give me a good review. So I wanted you to be honest with me. And I got really good advice.â
âIf so, thatâs good then.â
âTo be honest, Iâm a little surprised. I didnât know that you would tell me all the things that I was worrying about while writing this.â
What is the limit of Lausanneâs tolerance? A gentle and broad minded Lausanne would be good. No, she is already good. But in the original, they didnât mention that Lausanne likes to write and that she has a talent for it. What a pity she didnât use it in setting. Is the writer a fool?
âIâm so sorry.â
âOh, Iâm fine. Iâm even more sorry about this.â
âNo, because I thought the princess didnât feel sad.â
There was silence among me and Lausanne and Demimore. Their gaze at me again surprised me so I lowered my head and fiddled with my fingers. But I gathered my courage and raised my head again.
I judged them as I pleased. Everyone has sadness, and there is always a dark abyss. While it is rude to ignore a personâs strengths, it is equally rude to ignore their weaknesses. Looking at the main character of the novel that Lausanne based on herself, I felt what Lausanne was thinking about her position. She was afraid that if she wasnât a princess, she would become nothing. I cannot ignore the fact that just because she grew up with love, she cannot be hated.
Can there be such lovely vulnerability?
âWhat I said about the female character earlier, I mean it. Sheâs strong enough even if sheâs not the daughter of God.â
Lausanne smiled at my words. It certainly resembled the smile I had earlier seen, but it felt different. I decided not to gauge what kind of person Lausanne really was. As I said before, everything makes up Lausanne.
âIf I finish writing later, can I see you again?â
âIâd like to ask you to do that.â
Demimore sat down beside me and began to leaf through the parchments, feeling that there was something between me and Lausanne.
âI like the main character, but I wonder if the dragon will later set the village on fire.â
Demimore looked pretty grumpy. Perhaps angry at her younger brotherâs insincere attitude, Lausanne just smiled benevolently.
âIs the main character okay?â
âYes, I like her.â
âThatâs understandable.â
ââ¦..â
âBecause thatâs me.â
âSister, will you stop there?â
âDemimore likes me.â
With a mellow expression, Lausanne said. I was surprised, the original wasnât like this.