“I’ve been doing nothing but drinking and sleeping these past few days, so my body’s grown dull,” he replied. “I’m getting dressed to go on a ride with Helios.”
“Ugh… Ditto. I’ve only been dressing up and having tea parties these days.”
Because Layla often called for me, I spent my days eating snacks and drinking tea with her.
“You should rest,” Mr. Julius said. “Maybe you have to go out for tea parties, but you shouldn’t leave this room for anything else.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “I’m not injured or anything. You worry too much.”
Ever since that battle, he was overly anxious about me. I’d been unconscious for a few days, and it seemed he was worried sick during that time. Because of that, even if I insisted that I was all right, he kept ordering me to rest, stay put, or stay in bed.
But I think he’s realized that I’ve gotten better. He hasn’t nagged at me as often these days.
While dressed in his black robe and his Ariadne Mantle, I looked up at him and smiled, conveying that I was just fine. He remained as quiet as ever and gazed down at me while furrowing his brows.
“Um, my dress today isn’t as flashy,” I said. “I don’t think it looks too bad on me… Does it? Oh, but I’m a beautiful young maiden. I could make any dress work; I’ll have you know!”
I hastily tried to cover up my question. It sounded like I wanted him to call me cute. I stood tall and proud, acting as though I looked lovely in anything, for I was a beautiful young maiden. Urgh, I’m embarrassing myself! It seemed awkward for me to ask a timid question before quickly acting haughty. My face slowly grew red and warm as the silence continued.
“I haven’t said anything,” Mr. Julius finally said.
“I know…” I replied.
“So where exactly did you grow embarrassed? Is it because you called yourself a beautiful young maiden?”
“Well, I’m speaking the truth there, so I have nothing to be ashamed about.”
Well, that’s not totally true, I guess. If anyone seriously took my self-praise at face value, it would have made me feel sheepish. For example, if Mr. Julius called me a beautiful young maiden wearily, I was fine, but if King Faisal said the same words kindly, it made me feel very embarrassed. It wasn’t romantic or anything, but I just felt awkward about it all. I was complicated in my own weird way.
“That dress…” Mr. Julius started.
“Y-Yes?” I asked.
He knows, doesn’t he? He senses that I want to be called cute or that it suits me, right? Usually, I was able to ask him outright and go, “Why don’t you shower me with praise? I’m in a dress looking beautiful.” But today was no good. Since I was already feeling bashful, I couldn’t say a word.
What will he say to me? “It doesn’t look sexy on you,” maybe? That sounds like something he’d say.
“Is very revealing,” he finished.
“Huh? Yeah, um, I guess so. A bit more than usual,” I stammered.
“So, don’t walk around outside.”
“Huh?”
“Did you not hear me? It’s revealing. It’s unpleasant to think that other men can see you walking around in that attire. So, don’t walk around outside.”
“Huh? Uh, wait, what?!”
He crossed his arms, looking most unpleased, but he spoke clearly and firmly. I obviously didn’t expect this response and let out a pathetic gasp of surprise.
“Wh-What do you mean by that?” I managed to eke out.
“Exactly what I said,” he replied.
“Did you eat something funny?”
“Is that what you think?”
He reached out and touched my hand before his large hand grasped mine. He pulled my waist close to him.
“Mr. Julius, what are you…” I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.
Suddenly, my vision grew blurry as his silky blond locks brushed against my cheeks, tickling my face. Our lips touched abruptly, but it was inexplicably gentle, before he started kissing me deeply. What’s going on?! Why is he suddenly…
My heart was banging against my chest, my temperature skyrocketing. He tightly embraced my body, which had lost its strength, and my tidy hair and dress became disheveled in his embrace. He laid me on the bed as he removed his Ariadne Mantle that he’d just put on. Wh-What is he… What’s he going to do?!
I was absolutely confused by this situation as he lay down beside me, the upper half of his body naked.
“I guess you can’t go outside like that,” he said.
“Huh? I, uh…” I gasped.
Just as he’d said, the chest area of my dress had shifted. Because there weren’t any straps on my shoulders, if my dress became askew, I’d end up revealing quite a bit of my body. I hastily fixed my messy dress, tugging on it and hoping it’d straighten out. But I only succeeded in messing it up further. I was just glad that I hadn’t torn it.
“I’ll sleep in our room today,” Mr. Julius said. “I don’t want to do this to Helios, but I’m guessing you’ll walk around like that if I leave you to your own devices.”
“I might be an airheaded idiot, but even I won’t walk around like this,” I insisted.
“Tell Layla not to send over such revealing dresses for you to wear.”
“This one wasn’t good either, I take it? I thought I’d be praised for sure today.”
“You’re a bit dense.”
“Wh-What do you mean by that?!”
He gave a weary sigh and started to sleep once more, like he’d completely lost interest in me. I remained in my dress as I lay down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling for a while. Is this…jealousy? It can’t be, right? Or is it? I felt like something exploded in my head as my cheeks grew red. I covered my face with both of my hands as his hoarse whisper reached my ears.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Mr. Julius murmured. “It seems I’m the type to get jealous easily.”