The prince, who had been following me since the first day, made me feel sick and exhausted after asking for my schedule.
He said that there was dust on my face and that he would gently touch my cheek to remove it, or he would try to hold my hand saying it was cold.
But it was midsummer then!
âYurgen, I still get goosebumps whenever I think of him.â
âWell, to be honest, I felt relieved, too. But you were reckless.â
I couldnât hide my disappointment at Yurgenâs words.
âIâm not siding with that Prince. Isnât Erita hiding her identity? If the prince had tried to argue, you could have been caught.â
However, the disappointment also melted away with the worries of Yurgen that followed.
Because I couldnât think of anything to complain about from someone who was only concerned for my situation.
âOkay. Iâll be careful from now on.â I answered without hesitation.
âDonât be too sad⦠Prince must be in tears by now.â
Yurgen, who drank the tea in a modest gesture, lowered the teacup onto the table slowly.
âHuh? What do you mean?â
âWell, I just added one clause to the contract. Of course, that clause was agreed to by the prince himself.â
âWhatâ¦?â
âThatâs all you need to know. Itâs not something big enough for you to care about.â
In response, Yurgen raised one corner of his lips and smiled softly. It was a refreshing smile, not like him who always looks nervous.
As I was about to ask what clause he had added, I quietly swallowed the question again with a smile.
Yurgen was a do-it-yourself guy, and usually when he smiles like that, bad things happen to the other person.
ââ¦What you donât know is sometimes a medicine.â
I offer unparalleled consolation to the tiger-like prince who must be cursing Yurgen by now.
Of course, itâs not a sincere consolation.
â¾
âThen Yurgen, Iâll go now.â
âAre you going straight to the mansion?â
âUhmâ¦â
I pondered for a moment at Yurgenâs question. Itâs a little sad to go home like thisâ¦
âIâm not going to work on the artifact today anyway.â
My mind slowly leaned to other thoughts.
âOh, thatâs right. I told Mary that I came out to buy something.â
Having made a quick decision, I snapped my fingers. Then, my long-forgotten hair was dyed in a hot beige color in an instant.
âSince Iâm out, Iâll go around outside for a bit.â
âDo you usually go out like this?â
âHuh? Why whatâs wrong with this?â
After looking at me for a while, Yurgen sighed and approached the closet on one side of the room.
I smiled and picked up the mirror that was on the table in front of the sofa.
âIs there something weird? That canât beâ¦â
I looked in the mirror, but I only looked normal as always.
âIâm just fine.â
Unable to find the strange part, I shrugged and put down the mirror.
âNo, thatâs not it. I mean clothes.â
âItâs cool today, but I thought youâd feel cold in that outfit.â
Yurgen pulled out a black coat from the closet and held it to me.
âOh, thank you!â
I accepted his coat with a bashful smile at his indifferent, friendly words. I came out wearing a thick dress, but thereâs nothing wrong with wearing one more layer of clothes.
Wearing a black robe, Yurgenâs characteristic thick grassy smell hit the tip of my nose.
When I folded my slightly long sleeves twice, the length became appropriate.
âIâll wash your clothes neatly and return them to you next time I come.â
âYou can just give it to me.â
I squinted at Yurgenâs answer and glanced at him. Yurgen liked being neat enough that I sometimes wonder if he had mysophobia.
Knowing that, I dismissed his words as a joke and refused with a playful smile.
âHow can I do that? Donât worry about it. Iâll bring it to you in a dry state.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
â⦠Itâs true.â
âNo, itâs fine. Itâs not like I donât know Yurgen.â
As I tapped the floor with the toe of my shoe, I paused as I was about to leave, feeling uneasy for some reason.
âI feel like Iâve forgotten somethingâ¦â
âAh, Thane!â
After contemplating for a while, I shouted at the face that quickly came to mind.
How can you forget about Thane?
âYurgen, whereâs Thane? Did he receive a request? Thereâs no such words in the letter.â
âHe went out a week ago, he said he has a place to visit for a while. Itâs not a request, but I think itâs for personal business.â
âDid you hear when heâs coming back?â
âHe said it would take about a week, so I think heâll return today or tomorrow. I thought Thane sent a letter, but he didnât.â
Despite my sudden and quick words, Yurgen responded calmly each time. Then I nodded as reassured.
âReally⦠When Thane returns, tell him that Iâm worried. I bought something for him, but I canât give it to him today.â
âIâll tell him.â
âThank you, Yurgen. Then Iâll leave. See you next time with Thane.â
âDonât go home too late.â
At Yurgenâs answer, I sighed and waved my hand.
âYes, I got it.â
After leaving my farewells, I snapped my fingers once again, just like I did when I came here.
Immediately, a familiar light wrapped around my body, and in an instant, Yurgenâs appearance faded.