It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 43
I wrung the water from my hair with a towel, removing as much moisture as possible, and began dressing layer by layer.
The unfamiliar design gave me a bit of trouble at first, but how many years had I spent as the youngest daughter of Count Solen? I managed just fine, somehow.
The outer garment—something that could be mistaken for an evening dress at a glance but was essentially a floor-length slip —was the final piece.
When I caught my reflection in the mirror…
‘Oh….’
I looked elegant yet sultry, mature yet alluring.
Like I could transform into a villainess at any moment.
The kind who would stride confidently across a grand ballroom, only to splash wine in the face of a scheming bastard.
‘Alright, let’s go!’
My confidence shot straight through the roof. Just as I was about to swing open the door, however, I froze.
Sanity returned to me just in time.
‘Wait, wouldn’t it be… dangerous to go out dressed like this?’
I only wanted to confirm how ‘healthy’ Lionel was, not immediately cross the line with him.
An outfit this blatantly suggestive might give the wrong impression.
Fortunately, a robe was hanging in the bathroom. It was clearly Lionel’s.
It was massive —even when I wrapped it tightly, my collarbone was still visible —but at least it covered me.
My bare thighs, which had been exposed up to mid-level thanks to the side slits, were now safely hidden.
‘This should be fine.’
The alluring, confident energy that had surged within me plummeted by more than half. But honestly? This was probably the most I could handle as a beginner.
I did a final check in the mirror, adjusted my robe, and finally stepped out of the bathroom.
Just in time to lock eyes with Lionel, who had just entered from the drawing room.
I immediately locked eyes with Lionel, who was just entering the bedroom from the foyer.
“……”
He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me, his brow slowly starting to curl.
Extending an arm behind him, he quietly shut the door he had left half-open—then walked toward me.
“Was that… the only clothing in the box?”
“Yes. It looks like there was some kind of misunderstanding.”
“…Even so, how could they….”
Lionel exhaled a long sigh, rubbing his face as if trying to scrub away his frustration.
“I’ll have them bring proper clothes immediately.”
As he turned to leave, I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
“It’s late. There’s no need to make a fuss over it.”
Then, I moved closer and linked my arm with his, just as he did when escorting me.
“I’ll just borrow this robe for now. That’s fine, isn’t it?”
“…Of course, that’s….”
His gaze flickered toward me. Then, he stiffened and abruptly turned his head away.
“…Fine. But….”
His ears turned bright red. I could feel the tension in his entire body.
A very promising reaction.
Before leaving the bedroom, he cracked open the door and checked the drawing room.
Only after ensuring no one was present did he step out—then, without hesitation, locked the door to the hallway.
‘Isn’t that a bit much?’
After years of wearing a priest’s robe that barely showed my face, I did feel a little self-conscious in this outfit. But in the world of A Night of Entwined Serpents, this amount of exposure was hardly scandalous.
If I walked into any ballroom in the capital tonight, I’d see plenty of women dressed similarly.
As far as underwear goes… I’m not so sure.
Lionel’s uncharacteristic demeanor continued during the dinner.
When I sat right next to him, he refused to look my way at all.
Even when placing dishes in front of me, he kept his gaze forward and moved his hands mechanically.
“Your Grace.”
I called out to him. Still, he wouldn’t look at me.
On the one hand, I was relieved that he wasn’t stealing indecent glances at my cleavage. On the other hand, this was even more frustrating and embarrassing that he wouldn’t make much eye contact.
It was a contradictory feeling.
‘How am I supposed to confirm anything at this rate…?’
There was a reason I went through all this trouble dressing like this!
‘If tricks don’t work, I’ll have to use a direct approach.’
