Chapter 60
This time of day was honestly unbearable.
It had already been nearly two weeks of this torture—with no sign of when, or if, it would ever end.
Anette never imagined that Kardien had been serious when he asked Larisa to teach him how to do hair.
She vividly remembered her shock when he knocked on her door the next morning and barged in.
Back then, she had thought it was the perfect opportunity to tease him.
She pictured the big man awkwardly fumbling with hair, completely at a loss for what to do.
Even if he made a fool of himself in the process, she had decided to enjoy it. She even had a line ready:
“You said you were confident—this is the best you can do?”
But little did she know, she had signed herself over to the torturer.
“Wow! Master, you’re really skilled! I think you’re even better than me now!”
After a time that made her skin crawl, the actual hairstyling began. Larisa clapped her hands excitedly, forgetting her place entirely.
Anette scowled at the mirror.
Kardien, wearing an expression full of arrogance as if Larisa’s praise were only natural, parted her hair with expert hands and began braiding it down.
Not a single mistake. His hands moved so smoothly that Anette clicked her tongue without realizing.
Kardien was a man who took every word he said seriously—down to the last letter.
“Who knew he’d actually be good at doing hair?”
She should’ve known when he easily followed Larisa’s demonstration on the first day.
He had a natural knack for it. The more he practiced, the better he got. By the second day, his braids were cleaner. On the third, neater. By now, he had reached the point where he truly did better than Larisa.
He even started trying to dry her hair, so she changed her bath time today to avoid him—but somehow, he figured it out and showed up anyway.
While Anette was fuming internally—
“Tada! Princess, you’re all done!”
With a silk ribbon tied just tight enough to stay in place but not hurt, Kardien looked at Anette expectantly, clearly fishing for praise.
“…Thank you.”
She replied begrudgingly, her tone sour.
But in truth, her hair was flawless. His work was impeccable, and Anette secretly loved it.
Even as she wore an unamused expression, her fingers were playing with the ends of her braid out of bashful satisfaction.
“Ugh. I really need to tell him to stop…”
She glanced at Kardien, who beamed proudly despite her indifferent reaction.
Honestly, she wanted to say, “Stop coming every morning,” but every time she saw that joyful face, the words just wouldn’t come.
If she said it, would he pout in disappointment? Maybe even look genuinely hurt?
Even knowing he was prone to exaggeration, she didn’t want to see him upset.
“Well… this won’t last forever anyway.”
Once her body returned to normal, this would naturally come to an end.
Unaware of Kardien’s persistence, Anette comforted herself with that naive thought.
“Haa… Our princess is just too pretty.”
Kardien rested his chin in one hand and mumbled dreamily.
Startled, Anette quickly looked away and pretended not to hear.
She had learned that the best way to handle these kinds of compliments was to act like she hadn’t heard them.
Though she was used to his gentle words and kind demeanor, comments about her looks still made her shy.
If Larisa or the maids said it, she could easily dismiss it as flattery or respect toward the future lady of the house.
But when Kardien said it? Her face burned with embarrassment.
“It’s that face… that face is the problem.”
In the mirror, she saw his dazzling features contrasted with her own, which—even with the cute twin braids—looked hopelessly plain in comparison.
“No matter how pretty my hair is, next to him I’m still just a pumpkin someone drew lines on.”
Yet he looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Of course it was embarrassing.
Even if her mind accepted it, when he said things like “You’re like a real doll… no, maybe even an angel,” her cheeks burned red.
Head lowered, Anette decided it wasn’t she who had fallen under a spell—but Kardien.
And if that was true, then—
“…!”
She raised her head and their eyes met in the mirror.
The moment he saw her slightly flushed face, Kardien smiled warmly.
He couldn’t possibly know what she had been thinking… but it felt like he had read her mind.
Anette’s cheeks turned a deeper red.
Thankfully, Kardien didn’t tease her. He simply smiled even more sweetly and offered his hand.
“Shall we go have breakfast, Princess?”
Later…
The staff of House Harzent had, after only two weeks, grown used to the daily sight before them.
Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Duke—whom they served with utmost respect—would appear with Anette at his side, doting on her shamelessly.
The manor, which used to be cold and strict like its master, had changed entirely.
Lively personalities like Samuel and Larisa used to stand out, but they hadn’t been able to transform the atmosphere.
But everything shifted when Anette—the Princess of Heyworth and future Lady of the house—arrived.
Of course, it was Kardien who had changed the most… but the one who brought that change was undeniably Anette.
The staff had always planned to serve her loyally, but now that loyalty had turned to deep affection.
Thanks to her, the ducal manor finally felt alive.
The Duke, once known for his stern, unapproachable aura, now radiated warmth and humanity.
So when Larisa once exclaimed, “My Lady seems to like Master too!”, it sent waves of joy through the household.
Until then, it had always looked like Kardien was the one hopelessly smitten.
But now… to hear the Lady might feel the same?
What a blessing!
If the two didn’t return each other’s feelings, how could they ever be truly happy together?
So the moment they saw Kardien holding Anette’s hand as they descended the stairs—just like every meal—they were glowing with joy.
Their joined hands, always seen before meals, were just too lovely to ignore.
To the staff, this was another brilliant achievement by their wise Master.
<Princess, I’m worried these steps are too steep. What if you trip? May I carry you down?>
<Wh-what did you just say?!>
<Well, then how about I just hold your hand?>
When they first witnessed their Duke shamelessly trying to flirt, they froze in shock.
Everyone held their breath, afraid Anette would reject him on the spot.
Then suddenly, Samuel shouted from behind: “Your Grace! That’s not how you flirt!” and came running.
Only for Larisa to tackle him, cover his mouth, and drag him down the hallway.
The entire staff was stunned—but not for long.
Because Anette, face red, had taken Kardien’s outstretched hand.
And at that moment, everyone knew Larisa had been right.
With that confirmation, they finally saw what they had missed:
Anette, pretending not to care, was watching Kardien—like a newborn duckling following its mother.
After that, they were completely smitten with her.
Even Hubert and Madam Hilda, who had been dreaming of the day the two had a child, now declared that this tiny, precious lady must be protected at all costs.
With such fierce loyalty swelling in the manor, Anette couldn’t help but notice.
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, she flinched at the burning stares from all directions.
“What’s wrong, Princess?”
Kardien tilted his head, feeling her twitch through their joined hands.
“Can’t he feel these burning stares?”
Anette looked at his face, baffled.
He looked only at her.
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
At that, gasps could be heard all around.
But she didn’t react this time.
Because right before her, Kardien was clutching his heart and groaning dramatically.
“Hngh… Princess… you’re too cute. My heart can’t take it…”
