18
A shudder ran through those who knew of Candice's
usual behavior.
To the extent that they checked her face to see if the
person here was truly Candice.
Arthur stood in
stunned silence with his eyes wide open.
Seeing his pink-purple eyes wavering, Candice tilted
her head, feeling it was a face she had seen somewhere before.
（This face looks like someone else……
Hmm, who was it, I wonder?）
While the surroundings were enveloped in silence, Arthur
timidly placed his small hand on Candice's palm.
「Eva, will you tell the chef to prepare a portion for Arthur
as well?」
「…………」
「Eva, are you listening?」
「Ah, y-yes!」
Eva hurriedly
headed toward Candice's dining room.
Candice grasped Arthur's
palm and pulled him up, but because she had never touched Arthur even once
before, she couldn't wipe away the feeling of discomfort.
Arthur was
staring at her with his large eyes, but Candice averted her gaze from Arthur.
（I am being kind to Arthur to
avoid death. I am being kind to Arthur to avoid death. I am being kind
to Arthur to avoid death, so……hk!）
Like a spell, she muttered it in her heart over and over
again as if to persuade herself.
The thin arms and legs of Arthur, who suddenly stood
up with a wobbly, unsteady gait, were so thin it was worrisome.
（……So him being hungry was true,
wasn't it.）
Come to think of it, Jeanne was also emaciated
compared to the other maids.
Having never been interested in the situation Arthur
was placed in and not knowing much about his circumstances, Candice
suddenly remembered being in the prison cell.
She had been driven into a corner to the point where she had
to stave off starvation with mold-covered bread.
Right now, she knows the agony of hunger better than anyone,
doesn't she.
（When you are hungry, it is best to
eat your fill of delicious things! I absolutely do not want to experience such
a painful feeling ever again.）
Losing the timing to let go of his hand, she began walking
toward Candice's private dining room while still holding hands with Arthur.
Looking at their retreating figures, Rose and Jeanne,
who had been unable to move due to their surprise at Candice's change,
gasped and chased after the two of them.
Looking at Arthur, who was glancing at her and
checking the situation despite being frightened, Candice ended up
glaring at him out of habit.
Seeing Arthur on the verge of crying, Candice
forcibly pulled up her lips to make a smile while speaking to Arthur.
「A-Arthur, what kind of food
do you like, I wonder?」
「Eh, a……, me?」
「That's right. I like sweet things.
What about Arthur?」
「I like…… anything.」
「Oh, is that so.」
Candice was
deeply moved that the conversation had continued.
（I-I properly communicated with Arthur!
I was able to talk to him! Does this mean Arthur and I are good friends
now?）
Because of her overly arrogant personality, Candice
didn't have a single friend.
Furthermore, rumors spread that if someone did something to
get on Candice's nerves, they would be killed, so no one would approach
her anymore.
Not knowing how to make friends, and having only ever spoken
one-sidedly to her maids and servants, even this trivial conversation with Arthur
was a huge step for Candice.
（If I had put my mind to it, couldn't
I have made plenty of friends too……!）
While thinking such things, she walked down the long, long
hallway of the palace, and Candice, who finally arrived at the dining
room, was exhausted for the first time in a while.
Because, child as she was, it felt like she had traveled quite a distance.
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