After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 29

Chapter 15.1

Her heart wouldn’t settle easily.

Dexter, noticing her distress, told her she could go back to her room.

Bianca left quickly, but the unpleasant sensations lingered in her body. Even from their first meeting, he had seemed like a twisted person who did things his own way, and today only confirmed that she wasn’t wrong. What bothered her the most, however, was Elris trailing behind her. Her expression didn’t look good, perhaps because she had been waiting outside for too long.

Bianca barely managed to ignore the eyes burning into her back.

‘Why does the Crown Prince’s palace have to be so big?’

The long hallway felt endless. As she walked from the room where Dexter had been waiting to the one she was staying in, her lower body throbbed painfully. Every time her thighs brushed against each other as she hurried along, the swollen area between them ached.

What really happened last night?

There must’ve been something she couldn’t remember. Otherwise, her body wouldn’t be so sensitive.

Bianca’s mind then drifted back to the day she had guided Dexter. The next day, her body had been sore and swollen, just like now.

“I think I’ll take a walk.”

Bianca stopped abruptly, her feet halting as she was about to head to her room. Going inside like this would only make her head spin even more.

“Lady Elris, have you sent the letter I wrote to the Count’s estate?”

“Yes, it has been delivered.”

Bianca felt a small wave of relief and nodded slightly.

It must have been uncomfortable for Elris to serve as her maid, but she didn’t show it. Still, the occasional burning stare from Elris made the back of Bianca’s neck prickle.

“Lady Elris, is there something you’d like to say to me?”

In the end, Bianca couldn’t hold back any longer and turned to face her. Elris’s green eyes widened briefly before she looked down.

“No, there’s nothing. If you’re heading to the Crown Prince’s garden, I can show you the way.”

“That’s alright. I know where it is.”

She had made a mistake going there once before, so the place was etched in her memory. It had been hard to see clearly at night, but in daylight, she wouldn’t get lost.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? If so, I understand. But I’m here to serve you, Lady Bianca, so I hope you’ll try to treat me more comfortably.”

“….”

She may have been assigned as her maid, but her attitude was far from it.

Bianca’s brow furrowed slightly at Elris’s demeanor, though she tried to maintain her composure. Elris’s attitude didn’t waver as she asked to be treated more comfortably. She seemed to think Bianca wasn’t of particularly high rank.

‘Naturally, she would think that. The Astri family’s rank has always been low.’

In contrast, the Fair family had produced at least a B-rank, so it wasn’t surprising that Elris carried herself with such confidence. Apart from the Crown Prince and his close entourage, no one knew Bianca’s true rank. That was why the subtle condescension in Elris’s gaze was unmistakable.

“I’ve been to the palace often, so I know my way around. But since you’re not familiar with it, wouldn’t it be better if I accompanied you?”

No matter how many times Bianca insisted she was fine, it didn’t seem to matter. In the end, she gave a slight nod as if telling her to do as she pleased.

Even on the way to the garden, Elris didn’t stop talking. By this point, Bianca regretted saying anything at all.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to think at first, so I turned it down. But my father insisted I take the opportunity, so I ended up coming here as a maid. If you stand out long enough, people are bound to notice you.”

Elris Fair was well-known in social circles, though she wasn’t necessarily considered a stunning beauty. Still, people said her bright smile and charming way of speaking, especially with men, set her apart. At times, her shy demeanor gave her the appearance of an innocent girl.

Bianca wasn’t interested in what Elris thought of her. After all, she was only here for a one-year contract.

From the start, Bianca never considered that someone from the Fair family would feel any jealousy or envy toward her. She assumed Elris might simply be curious as to why she was favored by the Crown Prince.

“That’s true. Lady Elris has such a pretty smile; it would catch anyone’s eye from afar. Especially your green eyes, they really stand out.”

Bianca gave her honest opinion. She figured the ‘opportunity’ Elris mentioned was likely referring to being selected as the Crown Prince’s dedicated Guide. Since Bianca hadn’t officially taken on that role, she understood why Elris might feel that way.

‘Well, I hope her matching rate with His Highness is high, regardless of me.’

It was only fair that the opportunity would go to those who seek it.

She kept walking diligently toward the garden without slowing her pace, hoping that once they arrived, Elris’s chatter would finally stop.