“Today, you’re not crying.”

I flinched, thinking Bambi was referring to the last moments before he died. But upon reflection, I realized that around this time, I used to cry whenever Bambi visited. Of course, it was mostly because of my father.

Swallowing the melted chocolate, I responded calmly.

“Why, disappointed?”

I guess I was overly excited to meet Bambi again.

He replied to my words with a bit of a frown.

“You seem… different today.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look happy.”

That was because…

“Well, I saw you.”

As soon as I said it, I realized my slip-up. The pre-return Bambi would probably have teased, “You’re happy to see me? Why?” and made fun of me for a while. However, the current Bambi blinked rapidly and blushed.

I widened my eyes at this fresh reaction.

Oh, what should I do? I want to tease him a bit.

“Take this.”

Bambi covered his face with one hand and tossed a small box with just his palm, and I quickly reached out to catch it.

“What’s this?”

“A birthday present.”

Oh my God. The same Bambi who couldn’t care less about manners or decorum actually bothered to wrap and give a gift?!

I was about to open the present when his voice stopped me.

“Don’t open it now.”

“Why?”

“Just… wait until after I’m gone to check.”

Wow, look at him being shy.

And then, I remembered what this birthday present was.

It was the antidote. A rare antidote that could neutralize any type of poison was so hard to come by that even Bambi had difficulty obtaining it. This small vial contained everything, and it saved my life in a critical moment.

‘Experiencing this moment again is quite amazing.’

As I silently stared at the box, Bambi, who was still sitting on the railing, asked.

“Are you trapped again?”

I replied with a simple yes.

“Can’t even eat properly?”

“Huh.”

His expression hardened as he looked at me.

“But you… Why does your face look like that?”

“What?”

“Who hit you?”

“Oh?”

Ah, come to think of it, I was slapped by Father earlier. My cheek might swell more by tomorrow. It was fortunate that Bambi came before the injury got worse.

Bambi presses me again.

“Who was it?”

“Oh, the Marquis. You know how Father has a bad habit.”

He landed on the balcony railing and asked.

“The Marquis. Should I kill him?”

What in the world…

Wait… was it okay…? No, definitely not. Still, going that far….

The boy with red eyes, who had been watching my reaction intently, laughs so hard that his black hair shakes. I felt a bit nervous that Bambi might fall off the railing.

“You’ve changed, Sophie. Just the other day, if I said something like that, you’d be in tears, causing a scene.”

Ugh, I wanted to punch my past self. Embarrassed but determined, I opened my mouth calmly, stroking my throat.

“I’m done seeking Father’s love.”

“Good for you.”

“And becoming the Empress.”

“Goo—what?”

Bambi’s eyes widened. Even in this situation, his ruby-like eyes are pretty.

“I’m also going to stop trying to assassinate Leonie, and it’s fine to return all the spies and assassins planted in the palace.”

Bambi remained silent for a while.

It seemed he wasn’t pleased. He seemed surprised by my sudden statement. Why? I thought he’d be pleased instead. There were only a few people involved in my requests. Wouldn’t it be better to use those people elsewhere?

Feeling a bit cold standing outside, I returned to the bedroom. Bambi followed me in and closed the balcony door.

“So, does that mean our contract is over?”

His voice lacks the usual strength.

But wait…!

“Why? You’re still doubling as my bodyguard.”

The assassination battle between Leonie and me was mutual. Even if I declared to stop, I didn’t know how Leonie would react. And to confront Leonie, I needed some sort of powerful weapon on my side.

My words visibly changed Bambi’s expression. He raised a hand to cover his mouth before walking over to the tea table in my bedroom and arrogantly taking a seat.

“Well, if you say you need me, I suppose I can’t refuse.”

“I didn’t exactly say it like that.”

“I’m a busy person, but I’ll have to make time, especially for you. In the future.”

The smirk on his face was so obvious.

Oh, come to think of it, I had some news to share. As I walked towards the tea table, I mentioned casually.

“Oh, by the way, I have a son now.”

“What?!”

His red eyes briefly flickered down to my belly in pajamas. What was going through his mind right now?! However, Bambi was faster than me. With a gaze I had never seen before, he looked at me fiercely and asked.

“Who’s the father? Is it your fiance?”

“No way!”

How terrible!

“Then who?”

Slightly curious, instead of correcting Bambi’s misunderstanding, I asked.

“If you found out… what would you do?”

For a moment, Bambi smirked as if to say, ‘Why ask such an obvious question?’ Then, he suddenly straightened up and pretended to think seriously.

“I’ve never thought about marriage before. It’s sudden, but sure. I’ll help you forget about your late husband.”

Don’t speak as if my imaginary husband is dead already!

Before more misunderstandings piled up, I quickly confessed. I told him about my younger sister Elouise hiring mercenaries to bring back Arne to Duchy Glentino. The child believed I was his mother and was staying at the Duchy.

I briefly described Arne’s appearance and continued.

“Please find out more about this child, Arne, Bambi. And where Elouise is. What exactly is she up to?”

“Then, just leave it be? That Arne or whoever he is, and the Duke.”

He meant he wouldn’t kill them.

I shook my head firmly. I didn’t want him to keep suggesting assassin-like solutions.

Seeing that, Bambi seemed to be mulling over something with a slightly displeased expression. However, I knew he would eventually agree.

As I expected, shortly after, he smirked.

“All right, I’m curious too now.”

And I added one more request.

That was to investigate my father, Marquis Bartholi. Soon, there might be a need to exploit… no, negotiate with him based on the weaknesses I found.

Bambi seemed particularly pleased with my final request as he left.

* * *

The next morning.

It wasn’t my usual maids who woke me up. They were unfamiliar maids, which meant they were sent by the Lion faction.

“Hurry up and come here. Miss.”

The one who spoke was the maid who mocked me when I spat out the brownie during dinner with Leonie.

With orange hair, she had a disapproving expression as she brought me a basin of water. She splashed the water on my face. Even though it would be obvious that one of my cheeks was swollen, she wiped my face roughly.

Meanwhile, one of them scrutinized my room like a hawk. Perhaps checking if I had hidden any food. While tidying the bedding, she subtly glanced under the bed.

‘I’m glad I told Bambi not to bring food last night.’

Instead, I tucked away a few more chocolates in my stomach.

The maid washing my face spoke.

“Your face is rough. Miss Leonie doesn’t look like this.”

“…What?”

“That’s why it’s natural for Master to prefer Miss Leonie more. She’s much more capable and beautiful than you.”

Huh… Look at this.

The maid then tossed the towel she used to wash my face aside. Finally realizing the maid’s intentions, I asked quietly instead of getting angry.

“What’s your name?”

“Shima.”

“Alright, Shima. I think you’re underestimating me.”

Usually, when the Miss of the house spoke like this, the maids would think something was wrong, though this maid was different. Instead, she looked at me with a slightly expectant gaze.

“What did I do?”

Clearly, this maid had received an order to provoke me. Since I caught on to her intentions, I couldn’t just play along as she wanted.

So, I smoothly changed the subject.

“No, upon second thought, I quite like your attitude. I should summon Gemma and appoint you as my personal maid. I’ll tell her how impressed I am with how well you serve me. It’s hard to find a maid with such loyalty.”

“What?!”

“Why, don’t you like that?”

She couldn’t say she didn’t like it here. However, as I reached for the servant bell as if to call the chief maid, Shima panicked and reached out towards me.

I grabbed her wrist and forcefully pushed it down into the basin of water.

Splash.

Water splashed everywhere.

My dress got wet, but I didn’t care. As Shima lost her balance and fell, I pulled her closer and whispered.

__