TFLMLD 26

Chapter 26 Three Reasons I Fell for Him
2020.12.01

These days, Coral’s skill in making clothes had reached a professional level. The reason she could grow so quickly was largely thanks to the Duchess of Frill.

What I mean is—some time ago, Macaron had introduced Coral to the duchess. At his request—no, it was practically blackmail—the duchess reluctantly agreed to meet her.

How Coral had jumped for joy back then…!

I had never seen her that happy before. Honestly, as her mother, it was embarrassing to admit, but now Macaron seemed to know Coral’s likes and thoughts better than I did.

At first, the Duchess of Frill had come reluctantly, but soon her visits became more frequent. She even volunteered to increase the weekly lessons from once to three times. That wasn’t because of Macaron’s pressure—it was entirely thanks to Coral’s progress.

Now the duchess would beam every time she saw Coral, though she sometimes got caught by me and felt embarrassed about it.

After that, Coral’s clothes began to evolve into actual works of art. The dolls, once wearing simple dresses, were now adorned in elegant wedding gowns and tuxedos that she had crafted. Flowing beaded dresses and sharply tailored suits—it was hard to believe they were doll clothes, they were so beautiful they could steal your gaze.

I knew Coral was a genius with costumes, but… I hadn’t realized just how far her talent went.

As I admired the couple dolls she had dressed, déjà vu struck me. Then a small finger pointed at them one by one.

“This one’s Mommy, and this one’s Daddy.”

Looking closer, the wavy silver-haired doll resembled me, and the black-haired one beside it… looked exactly like Macaron. The two dolls were posed arm in arm, looking like the most loving pair in the world.

Seeing the wedding dress Coral had put on mine—it was so beautiful I almost felt like a real bride for a moment.

What am I even thinking right now?

I had never once thought about wanting to get married. Why was I suddenly having these silly thoughts? Maybe my blood sugar was low. I bit into a piece of chocolate and opened the window, and there he was again… Macaron.

Today too, he stood tall and broad-shouldered, giving orders to his men. His subordinates always looked disciplined and loyal.

Not long ago, traces of intrusion had been discovered on the outskirts of Craide territory, so he had been busy reinforcing barriers and defenses. With estate management duties on top of that, the lights of his western annex stayed on late into the night.

And yet, he still never forgot to pick Coral up from the academy.

Winter passed, spring bloomed anew. Seyra still avoided me. The children who had once followed the fallen chief attendant were gone, and I heard she no longer bullied the servants as before.

The household slowly fell back into order, and watching it gave me peace. Sunflowers still bloomed in the east annex, faithfully turning toward me…

And so, a few more months passed.

In those months living with Macaron, I realized a few things.

First—he was absurdly handsome.

Of course, I’d said it before: everyone knew Macaron was objectively good-looking.

But why am I bringing this up again?

Because I could no longer deny it. Before, I’d brushed it aside, but now I had no choice but to admit it.

I thought once you got used to someone’s face, it stopped mattering. But it turns out—some faces never lose their impact.

Had I mentioned it? I used to say I’d seen so many handsome men that looks didn’t impress me anymore. I guess you should never claim things like that.

I’ll admit it, shyly: I might be the type who actually cares a lot about looks.

Whenever Macaron tested a new filter, he always used his own face as the subject.

The problem was… his face was too good-looking.

“Don’t open your eyes like that.”

He was so handsome, I couldn’t even evaluate the product properly.

“My eyes have always been like this.”

His playful red eyes reflected me. And whenever our eyes met, he would spout nonsense.

“Please don’t look at me like that.”

“How was I looking at you?”

Macaron’s gaze curved seductively. As if I’d ever looked at him that way.

I should’ve been exasperated, but instead… my heart thundered.

Over something like this. Yes, this.

That’s when I realized… I was falling for him.

One day, looking at his silk-like black hair and radiant skin that advertisers would kill for, I caught my reflection in his crimson eyes—and what I saw was telling.

To others, my expression would’ve seemed indifferent. But I knew myself too well. I was… a little flustered, a little excited.

Of course, Macaron had treated me well all this time, which might have added to it.

They say when someone is kind to you, their face appears more attractive through a kind of illusion filter.

But if it had been another man treating me the same way—would I have felt this way? Absolutely not.

So maybe the truth was—I’d always had high standards.

And if I looked shallow, caring about appearances instead of hearts… well, I couldn’t help it.

My heart had been swayed.

Not that Macaron had the slightest clue. I’d hidden it well, and so far I’d succeeded.

Second—Macaron was more considerate than I’d thought.

One day during tea time, he suddenly asked if I wanted to know what he was researching lately. I said no.

For days afterward, he sulked and sat grumpily at tea.

I knew I was being mean, and that it was worse because I did it on purpose… but I wanted to see that sulky Macaron.

I know it sounds strange, but…

Sure, Macaron’s handsome, but sulky Macaron? He’s downright adorable.

A few days later, I found a pile of flowers at my door. But then…

The flowers were called “die”…? Who gives death flowers as a gift, even in anger?!

Was Macaron really this hot-tempered?

Turns out they were “dye flowers.” One letter difference nearly gave me a heart attack.

The note read: “I heard you like disguise play.”

I vaguely remembered telling Coral about that long ago… how had he known?

All those times he asked if I wasn’t curious about his lab—was this what he meant?

It was clearly a trap to lure me there.

And it worked. That was the first time I went to his laboratory.

His large hands carefully plucked petals, and for some reason, my body shivered—as if I were the petal being teased.

I should’ve kept my thoughts pure, but my mind kept summoning indecent images.

After squeezing the petals for their juice, he spread it gently through my hair.

“Apply and wait. Easy, isn’t it?”

In an instant, my silver hair turned violet.

It was like a new kind of dye. In the Empire, hair dye was rare and expensive, imported from far away.

I had always thought of Macaron as a loyal puppy—though if Sir Momont and Sir Aint heard that, they’d faint—but in that moment, he was every bit the genius alchemist.

Disguise play, and he comes up with this? Handsome and brilliant—it’s unfair.

…Unless he’s my man. Then it’s different. Then it’s perfect. My own little empire… the Romance Empire.

Third—this one was more delicate. It had to do with Macaron’s family.

It came up one day while we were out walking.

By chance, we saw him meet with a marquis from the Imperial Palace.

Macaron frowned several times at the marquis’s words, while the marquis seemed very interested in me. His glances suggested the topic involved me.

After passing on a message, the marquis immediately returned to the palace. Normally, one would stay the night, but…

Macaron’s face afterward was resolute, yet lonely.

Come to think of it, I realized I didn’t actually know much about him.

Why did Macaron leave the palace? Was it his choice, or forced on him?

Born a prince, wandering battlefields, then retreating to a desolate domain and turning it prosperous—all on his own.

The Emperor, in that sense, was truly cruel.

“His Majesty must want to see me.”

“Please don’t concern yourself with it.”

His tone was gentle, but his expression hardened. Did Macaron even realize how his face stiffened whenever palace matters came up?

Having lived apart from family myself, I knew how hard that was.

I could understand his loneliness.

Though… he hadn’t always been alone. He had a new family now. One member wasn’t here anymore, but still.

Which made me wonder—

Why wasn’t Kai’s mother by his side now?

It wasn’t a new thought; I’d been wondering for some time.

Since Macaron brought Kai back after the war, he must’ve met her there.

Why did they part? An accident? Or…

Given she’d never been acknowledged publicly, perhaps she was no longer alive.

That day, the weather, the timing, everything felt right—and I thought maybe I was close enough to ask.

“What kind of person was Kai’s mother?”

“I… don’t really know.”

Macaron looked down at me. His eyes were moist, his lips tight.

Had he not yet forgotten her?

His eyes looked so sorrowful, I couldn’t bring myself to press further.

After that, neither of us ever brought her up again. Over time, the unanswered question faded in my mind, though it always felt like walking on level ground while hiding a thorn in my shoe.

From resentment, to forgiveness, to gratitude—my heart kept shifting.

And then, unexpectedly, another new color of emotion had begun to bloom.

I tried countless times to deny it, but…

That very evening, I was caught by Coral sketching Macaron on papyrus.

After dinner, in a quiet moment, I’d started to draw him—and ran right into her.

Luckily, she didn’t suspect it was Macaron at all.

Even though it looked exactly like him—why didn’t she see it?

Relief and embarrassment flooded me at once.

Just then, there was a knock. Eve knocked three times, Macaron twice from the top, Coral twice from the bottom.

Which meant… it was Macaron.

As usual, Coral ran out to greet him, while I scrambled to hide the drawing.

Afterward, he lingered in my room, pretending to play with Coral.