The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Of course, it was easy to buy the boutique with the dukes wealth.

Everything is too much.

Citrina skillfully suppressed her doubts as usual.

Now was the time to express gratitude before doubt. There were plenty of ways to dispel doubt.

Thanks, Del. Then Ill just pick my favorite design because I have to match your clothes.

Desian picked up the craft paper and handed it to Citrina. She was thinking of wearing a beautifully designed dress in a shade of azure that would go well with a bracelet, so she shouldnt cover her wrists completely. She had to wear a necklace, so she shouldnt cover her neck. There werent as many options as she thought.

Which one would be better, Foges?

Yes, yes, devil, no, lady?

Foges looked up in a hurry as if he were on fire. Ack! It looked like he said something.

Citrina frowned slightly. Citrina could sense Foges overexcited mood directed towards her. It felt somewhat odd.

It seems like youre demonizing me.

It was a surprisingly accurate guess. However, Citrina let go of her unpleasant feelings for the moment.

Choose a design and send it to me through the duke.

Yes! Ill do my best in choosing the greatest design.

Um you dont have to put your heart and soul into it.

Oh, no! If about a hundred tailors work together to get all of the dresses ready for you, we will have them finished sooner or later.

Ah, yes.

All of this will be kept strictly confidential.

The constantly sweating Foges said he would send all of the attendants to start working on the dresses and start delivering them to the townhouse. He had a tremor in his hand and looked terribly serious.

It feels like Im bullying this person.

It felt strange no matter how you looked at it.

Foges was excessively complaint compared to a while ago. Then, Desian spoke to Citrina.

Shall we go then?

He held out his hand to Citrina.

Yeah, lets go.

Citrina put her hat with the dark black hat again so that if anyone saw her face, they wouldnt recognize her.

Citrina became more confused.

That was because

Citrina and Desian left Foges Boutique and went back into the carriage. Recalling how she had fallen asleep on Desians shoulder earlier, Citrina felt embarrassed.

Can we go to a bookstore?

Bookstore?

Ah, Im curious if party etiquette has changed, so I want to get a book about the subject

Four years was not enough time to change the rivers and mountains. However, it was certainly enough time for memories to fade and for people to change.

Citrina constantly recalled the original work. Therefore, the original was seared into her memory.

But manners about how one conducts themselves was a different matter. She had once served as an assistant teaching etiquette to the upper nobility, but her knowledge had faded due to the long time she had spent studying under the dwarf.

Citrina had never been to a party. She hadnt even had her debutante.

I have to make up for that if she didnt want Desian to lose face.

Whether he knew of Citrinas determination or not, Desian asked lightly.

Okay. Ill help you.

When asking to go to the bookstore, the answer didnt exactly fit the question. Nevertheless, it was a positive and satisfactory answer, so Citrina nodded.

Yeah. Id appreciate it if you did.

Then lets head to where you want to go.

Yes, she should have noticed the phrase where you want to go.

The day was so long that her mind was a blur.

In other words,

Citrina never dreamed that the place they would ride to would be Duke Pietros estate.

In fact, for the first few minutes after getting out of the carriage, Citrina thought ,Why is this bookstore so fancy?. It was a very unexpected destination.

Why are we at the dukes..

I sent for a teacher to come here.

Wow, really?

Together with Desian, Citrina walked inside the ducal estate. They passed a fountain that a person could easily swim in and a lush green forest before reaching the dukes mansion.

Along the way, Citrina mysteriously did not encounter any employees.

However, there was something even more amazing. It was that everything they passed matched her memories perfectly.

Nothings changed.

Because I didnt want it to change.

Did you use magic?

She wasnt sure if he was joking or not.

But Citrina thought it was the former and laughed.

Shall we start with dinner?

Yeah, I just so happen to be hungry.

Citrina really enjoyed the food.

Everything was neatly arranged with Desian sat elegantly at the center of the dining table. The servants began to slowly serve the appetizer.

He couldnt taste the food very well. To be honest, everything always tasted dull.

Del, its delicious.

But she had a happy face even though it was only a light salad.

Citrina was nonchalant, but Desian always paid close attention to her. He looked at the way her expression changed along with her thoughts.

Lets learn etiquette together.

Ah, alright. I guess-

Desian licked his lips at her tongue-tied response.

Im nervous.

Citrina said to herself. He was now beginning to feel thirsty in a different sense. It was time for the wine.

Youll do well.

Thanks. Im sure it hasnt changed much.

She was absolutely lovely when she winked.

If it doesnt work, we can change the etiquette.

Desian said softly.

Love involves hundreds of emotions. So it was only natural that he felt like the emotions that had been sealed away were thawing out one by one.

Change the etiquette?

Citrinas eyes widened as she looked at him.

Im kidding.

Whoops.

Citrina laughed forcefully at Desians words.

Seeing her smile, Desian thought.

Youre always pretty.

If you knew what Im feeling right now, you

Del.

If you call me by my name

Desian looked at her face in an unaffected and reasonable way.

Like four years ago, he was seeping into her.

The emotion she was feeling was both familiar and pleasant.

Citrina had yet to name this sentiment.

She asked carefully.

How are you going to teach me etiquette?

Shall we go to the study?

There was no one on the way to the study either. It even seemed as if the employees had been deliberately removed.

Walking along the cold marble, Citrina looked around the inside of the ducal manor curiously.

Citrina had lived in the annex the whole time. So today was the first time seeing the interior of the ducal manor.

As Citrina entered the study, she let out a small gasp.

Interesting.

What is?

Its just, its amazing that youre next to me right now. Where is the person who will be teaching etiquette?

Over there.

Citrina followed Desians gaze. In the middle of the bookshelves stood a stiff, chilly-looking man.

I am Loenni, who will be teaching you etiquette.

Nice to meet you, Loenni.

Citrina spoke energetically, but Loenni just pouted. He handed her a book from a nearby bookshelf. It was a thin book titled .

Its the perfect book for me.

Ask me if you dont know anything.

Okay, ask you?

Yeah.

Citrina glanced at Loenni who was standing beside her. It seemed likethere was an invisible man standing next to her.

Citrina, who answered simply, settled down at the desk to study. Desian, sitting opposite from her, tapped the desk and thought.

Desian saw the curious desire in her eyes today as well.

When she said she was leaving.

When looking at jewels.

When reading an etiquette book.

Her desires leaked out like the air she was breathing.

Often, Desian suffered from the bizarre desire to read Citrinas thoughts swirling around in her head.

Its getting difficult. Is it true that the first princess will be there?

Yes.

Im curious. What kind of person is she?

Just normal.

I heard she likes romance novels and dreams of marriage.

Is that so?

Yeah.

She answered quietly. Desian liked the sound of Citrinas voice.

Ah! The day is the day when noble ladies gather together, right?

Right.

On that day there would be many people who wanted to talk to the princess. Citrina, a barons daughter, was allotted one minute.

But one minute was enough.

Citrina smiled faintly.

The last night of the party

Well go together, Rina.

Yeah.

Hearing the word we, Citrina smiled. It was not uncommon for well-known noble families to sponsor mages and spiritists.

Desian smiled curiously.

Citrina fixed her gaze back on her book. It had only been four years, but it was amazing how much manners had changed. While she hadnt been looking, the world had changed completely.

I cant raise my head until the imperial princess speaks.

The gentry are a merchant class between aristocrats and commoners, have grown rapidly around the capital. The emperor changed royal etiquette to strengthen imperial power. Examples are included. [T.L. Note: Theres no examples written in the Korean text.]

Citrina read aloud, muttering, as she went through the book. Still, it was a thin book, so she was able to read through all of it.

An hour of absorbing etiquette lessons passed quickly. For a short time,Citrina occasionally asked Desian about etiquette she was not familiar with. Desian answered with a friendly and graceful smile like always.

Today he was friendly.

There were no oddities or deficiencies whatsoever. He looked the same as before she had left.

Indeed, what did people think of Desian?

The question settled deeper in her mind and her thoughts swayed like a leaf in the wind.