96
As
the two of them had suggested, Candice had her hair arranged using the
ribbon. When she mentioned it was a present from her maids, the maids of the Violet
Palace for some reason said, 「We are jealous.」
Today, they did a braided style for her using the ribbon. The pink ribbon
looked beautiful against her white-gold hair. She usually tied it high in two
bunches and wrapped the ribbons around the knots, but she was moved, realizing
that such an arrangement was also possible.
「Wow……!」
「Is it to your liking?」
「Yes, it's very lovely! Thank you.」
Candice was excited looking at the mirror.
The maids of the Violet Palace watching her state were rejoicing while
looking on in fascination. It seemed they enjoyed dressing Candice up.
They also held up several dresses against Candice to choose a color.
「These dresses are……?」
「…………Eh?」
「They are ones His Majesty the Emperor
prepared for Candice, Imperial Princess-sama.」
「Because they are all very adorable!
We are looking forward to Candice, Imperial Princess-sama wearing
them.」
「I-I see……」
Candice was only staying at the Violet
Palace for about a week and a half.
（Otou-sama went out of his way to get
dresses for me……? I can't believe it.）
While
looking in the mirror and wondering why she was being treated so well, Candice
noticed a person standing in the corner of the room wearing a pitch-black robe
that hid their face. While Candice was surprised, the maids of the Violet
Palace remained completely calm.
「That person is……?」
「We heard they are Candice, Imperial
Princess-sama's exclusive shadow…… a guard.」
「We believe there will be an
explanation from Hugo-sama later.」
Looking
at the person who wasn't twitching a muscle, Candice tilted her head.
Because she had barely conversed with any shadows other than Hugo, she
didn't know much about them. Before she knew it, a teacup and sweets were being
lined up in front of Candice. Candice was startled by how
efficient they were, but she calmed her restless mood while drinking black tea.
「I wonder if Eva and Rose
are alright.」
She
muttered while staring at her own expression reflected in the black tea.
「Fufu, Candice, Imperial
Princess-sama is very kind, isn't she.」
「I-It's not like that! Our maids can
be airheads sometimes unlike you all, so I was just worried!」
While
spending time in a harmonious atmosphere…….
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama, you
look like you're having fun.」
「Myaaaah!」
The
one who appeared without a sound was Hugo. Perhaps because she held back
from spitting out her black tea, a weird voice came out. The maids of the Violet
Palace looked used to it, but it was a surprise to Candice.
（I thought my heart was going to jump
out of my mouth……!）
Candice bared her wariness like a cat with
its fur standing on end.
「Hugo, at least knock on the door!」
「I did, you know? Because Monfa
opened it for me, I absolutely thought……」
「…………Monfa?」
Hugo sent a glance toward the person
wearing the pitch-black robe. Before she knew it, they had moved to the door.
It seemed that "Monfa" referred to the shadow doubling as a
guard who had been here since earlier.
（Th-This child is my guard, isn't
she……!）
As
Candice looked on with an excited feeling, Hugo told them to
remove their robe. Upon removing the robe, there was the figure of a young girl
with flowing black hair tied up in a single high ponytail. She was wearing the
same shirt as Hugo and pitch-black trousers. Candice widened her
eyes.
「…………A girl?」
Never
expecting that the one assigned to her would be a young girl, she was
surprised. When asked her age, she was said to be only twelve years old.
Because Candice had died at sixteen, she was calmer despite being
younger than that. Her black hair and black eyes were exactly the same as Hugo's.
She must also be honing her skills while working as a shadow. The slant-eyed Monfa
was glaring at Candice, but was it just her imagination?
（How cheeky she is…… but to go
outside, I must endure it! Endure!）
If
Candice couldn't freely go outside without a guard, then she had no
choice but to do her best. If it were the past Candice, the moment she
was glared at, she would have immediately screamed, "Fire her!", but
this time she wouldn't do such a thing. When she let out a hmph to show
her composure, Monfa's eyebrow twitched.
「Monfa's skills are certain, but…… she is
still inexperienced and immature.」
「……!?」
「This time is a trial run. She's the
only female guard we have, you see.」
She
felt as if Hugo's voice had dropped low. His plastered-on smile felt
terrifying. Monfa's expression also stiffened at those words. She
wondered if there were circumstances that only these two understood.
「Hugo, that means……」
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama, if
you do not like her, please report to me. I have assigned shadows to monitor
her just in case, so please rest assured.」
「……Eh?」
Hugo, unusually, spoke as if to
interrupt Candice's words. It was as if she were being treated like an
object. She was surprised by the words that held a tinge of terror.
「Well then, as I am in the middle of
my work, please excuse me.」
「Y-Yes……」
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