MFTR 101

Chapter 101

 At Least for Today

Anette froze and looked back at Cardin.

It was the first time she had heard someone say she resembled the late Queen Mother since her nanny had passed away.

“Really?”

She asked cautiously, and Cardin nodded without hesitation.

Anette looked at the necklace again with a bewildered expression.

Come to think of it, no one had explained who the person in the portrait was.

It was possible she could have guessed naturally, since the necklace had been a gift from her brother, Franz…

“Could it really be that they look enough alike that you can tell at a glance they’re mother and daughter?”

Her chest tightened oddly, though she found it hard to believe.

At that moment, Cardin asked in a puzzled tone,

“You didn’t realize it even though you look so similar?”

“…No. I’ve hardly ever seen the portrait.”

Moreover, until coming to the Alkan Empire, she had rarely stood in front of a mirror to examine her face carefully.

Recalling the fleeting memory of thinking of the late Queen Mother when she first became a child, Anette lowered her gaze to the small portrait.

“Now that I look at it… maybe we really do look alike…”

Though the hair and eye colors were completely different and she couldn’t be certain, the delicate facial features overall—and especially the round eyes—felt quite similar.

Meanwhile, Cardin bit the inside of his cheek gently, trying not to show that he was staring at Anette, who couldn’t take her eyes off the portrait.

When he had casually mentioned that she resembled the late Queen Mother, he had caught a fleeting expression in her enlarged eyes—a look that seemed to ask whether it was really alright to be told she looked like the Queen… a mix of embarrassment and guilt.

Thinking of that, he tensed up without realizing it.

His chest ached, and anger surged as well.

Even though he understood why Anette felt that way, it angered him that she should feel guilty when she had done nothing wrong.

As his breathing became slightly heavy, Anette, pressed close against him, seemed to notice and turned her head.

Cardin quickly softened his rigid expression and smiled.

“You really do look like your mother, but still… I think our princess is a bit prettier.”

Anette raised her eyes slightly as if dismissing the flattery, but the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

In truth, hearing that she resembled the late Queen Mother—and that she was beautiful—was pleasant.

She held her lips tightly to prevent them from lifting, then cautiously spoke.

“I… could we perhaps invite a skilled painter to the castle?”

“A painter?”

Cardin tilted his head, surprised by the sudden request.

Anette had been staring at him, as if golden dust might fall from her bangs. Snapping back to reality, she explained,

“Yes. I want someone to paint a picture exactly like this portrait.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. The portrait is so small now; it’d be nice to make it bigger.”

How clever our princess is.

Blushing at Cardin’s praise, Anette quickly spoke, fearing his endless compliments might carry on as usual.

“After the painting is copied, I’ll return this necklace.”

“But your brother gave it to you as a birthday gift. Wouldn’t he be disappointed if you returned it?”

Instead of answering, Anette carefully closed the locket again.

Even though it was old, it was preserved so cleanly that it looked brand new.

“He must take great care of it every day.”

Anette knew well how precious this necklace was to Franz.

“When I was little, I wanted it so badly without shame…”

She muttered her long-hidden feelings unconsciously, scratching her cheek out of embarrassment.

Looking at Cardin, who seemed to wait for her next words, she admitted softly,

“Strangely, now that it’s in my hands, it feels like it isn’t really mine.”

“…Why?”

“Well… I’m not sure.”

She rolled her round eyes to avoid answering directly.

Though she pretended not to know, she did understand why.

Her gaze shifted to the table piled with birthday gifts she had received that year—from the sword from the Emperor and Empress to Cardin’s rabbit doll.

Now, she had a new family and people who genuinely cared for her.

But for Franz, the only precious item that reminded him of someone he could call family was this necklace.

“So she couldn’t possibly take it from him…”

“What is it? Why are you smiling and not telling me?”

Perhaps a smile had unknowingly appeared on her face.

As Cardin pressed her, Anette, flustered, changed the topic.

“Anyway, how about calling Martin again?”

“Martin?”

“Yes. There was a bit of a problem earlier, but thanks to him, I returned to my original body. And now that we have the antidote, he should be able to explain why I suddenly became a child.”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, genuinely wanting to know what had happened to her body.

Of course, she also wanted to escape this awkward and inappropriate position.

No matter how much they had confirmed their feelings for each other, being this close on the first day was too embarrassing.

Though it was less awkward than waking up naked together in bed, his low voice, the breath brushing against her neck, and his sharp, beautiful features kept distracting her.

Anette thought to herself how dangerously attractive he was.

“…The antidote probably isn’t what restored your body, though.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

Cardin shook his head calmly.

“Let’s call Martin tomorrow. He seemed quite surprised that you turned into a cat. He must have been busy making the medicine all night.”

“Oh…”

Now that she remembered, Larisa had insisted he make it in just one day.

Anette nodded in understanding.

Cardin exhaled a silent sigh of relief.

He could have called Martin right away to answer all her questions.

Originally, he would have wanted to reveal the truth immediately to ease her confusion.

But knowing how much she had suffered, he hesitated to tell the harsh truth.

He felt deep pity for his princess.

“So just… a little longer…”

Just a little longer. At least today, she could smile peacefully at her mother’s portrait.

“Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Feeling Cardin’s intense gaze, Anette tilted her head.

Cardin spoke sincerely, without moving an eyebrow.

“You’re beautiful, princess.”

“….”

Even now, after returning to her adult body, she was still unaccustomed to such words.

Blushing, she tried to look away.

Cardin chuckled softly, then rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered playfully,

“Tonight, the chef is preparing a grand dinner for you. The staff are all excited to see you. Maybe you could wave to them?”

Not sure if he was joking or serious, Anette blinked several times, then smiled.

She had grown accustomed to Cardin’s mischievous teasing and no longer fell for it completely.

“Shall we enjoy our meal and then go to the fifth floor? This time, I want to show you the room properly.”

“Ugh… that’s…”

“You wanted to hang my sword on the wall, right? I’ll allow it.”

“Really?”

Cardin’s reluctance vanished, and his eyes lit up.

Seeing him, Anette couldn’t contain her laughter.

Her smile, like bright sunlight chasing away dark shadows, made Cardin smile widely too.

The next afternoon,

Anette carried her sword, which she had displayed for about an hour in the secret fifth-floor room the day before, and headed to the training hall.

〈This room seems too plain to display the princess’ sword.〉

To her, the sword looked impressive on the wall.

However, Cardin seemed dissatisfied, adjusting its angle with a sullen expression.

He appeared to be considering a grander interior, but instead of saying, “That’s not necessary,” she hinted delicately, “The sword isn’t for display, so maybe it doesn’t need to be fancy.”

Cardin, misunderstanding her words as refusing a redesign, looked surprised.

〈Does that mean you want to take the sword back?〉

Anette smiled awkwardly.

She felt embarrassed about daring to get injured and then wanting to hold the sword again.

However, the sense of monotony and indifference that had plagued her life without any emotional stimulus had now vanished.

She felt motivated to fight monsters again, something she had previously found tedious.

She also wanted to show off her skills to those who recognized and cared for her.

Cardin seemed pleased, assuming she would not leave the sword here.

Seeing his eager expression, Anette suddenly felt concerned.

It had already been over two months since she last properly held a sword.

Before arriving at the duchy, she had confirmed at the palace that her left hand had recovered and her sword skills remained intact.

Yet she couldn’t be entirely certain her previous skill was fully restored.

〈Then… could you visit the grand duke’s training hall tomorrow?〉

She gladly nodded at Cardin’s words.

She wanted to warm up and test her abilities after a long time.

“Captain! Ah, I mean, milady!”

Of course, there were other reasons she could not refuse the invitation as well.