Whatever inner storms raged within him, the ability to conceal them behind a calm expression had long since become an art—one mastered in childhood.
The single scarlet flower Evangeline Rohanson had once plucked and transplanted into a glass vessel now trembled timidly. Gabriel knew all too well that he could only breathe within this vessel, which belonged entirely to its owner.
"Did you see?"
Instead of a greeting, she posed an unexpected question. Though the subject was omitted, he understood immediately what was being asked.
"Did you see the lady?"
Kanna was the only one in the house who called Evangeline that. While the old Evangeline had been "lady" to everyone, the current one reserved that title for Kanna alone.
And there was another truth here: only two people could truly perceive what was hidden in this house—Gabriel and Kanna.
Henna, with the "eyes" Pudding had affixed to her, only occasionally caught glimpses. Daisy, too. Sometimes, as if on a whim, the other servants would notice, and each time, the house would plunge into panic—as if the walls had suddenly begun to breathe.
Daisy was no exception. Before she had made peace with Henna and Kanna, Kanna couldn't stand her—especially after that incident where Daisy had tried to provoke conflict between them. And when Kanna heard that Daisy had fled in terror from some pathetic little bundle, she had barely contained her laughter.
Now that her sister and Daisy had reconciled, Kanna could understand. For someone with weak nerves, such a sight could indeed be... unpleasant.
Could it be that this knight, who appeared so strong, was also unsteady? His face had gone unnaturally pale, as if he had just suffered a terrible fright.
"Sir Gabriel. If you wish to love a lady, you'll have to endure. And *this*, too, must become your love."
Kanna was delighted to have gained an unexpected ally. So she generously shared her advice. The cat in her arms, as if to say *"Don't,"* swatted her with his paw, but she believed that as the more experienced party, she could offer a few pointers.
Pudding was... mean-spirited. The irony was that everything that had just occurred was the result of his territorial games. The cat had decided to test Gabriel because the knight had begun showing interest in the lady he so enjoyed observing. Pudding had revealed only a small part—a hint, a shadow, a tiny fragment—because if Gabriel couldn't accept even that much, he wouldn't be able to endure the lady to the end.
And the result had turned out exactly as it was now. Pudding was clearly disappointed.
"If you can endure it... you can be loved," Kanna said, almost tenderly. "You envy me, don't you?"
"Envy...? Me?"
Gabriel could deny it all he wanted, but Kanna remembered that moment with perfect clarity.
The look he had given her on the day of his first visit to the main temple, when she stood under the mistress's protection. In that gaze was the melancholy of the deprived, the silent thirst of one who had not had enough.
A pure sign of envy.
In Kanna's estimation, Gabriel was exhausted by thirst—yet the well couldn't quench it. He had passed it by, even rejecting the river. But what would happen if the sea opened up before him?
Kanna was certain he would have jumped in without hesitation and drowned happily. He wouldn't have noticed the salt water burning his throat and stinging his eyes. He'd probably have thought he was choking on sweet syrup.
"You already know from Daisy that the lady is not an ordinary person?"
Since the papers containing Daisy's denunciation of Evangeline had been handed to Kanna, she knew their contents by heart. Every line. She had destroyed the documents so no one else would see them, and when the mistress later asked about those papers, Kanna's heart had seized for a moment.
"You saw everything yourself, so why were you so frightened?"
Kanna asked with genuine bewilderment. Her words implied she didn't understand Gabriel's halfhearted response. He looked away, swallowing his answer.
Contrary to Kanna's assumption, Gabriel hadn't been frightened by what the cat had revealed. The sight of himself bathed in crimson had evoked not so much fear as nausea.
"Did you think the lady was a winged angel? And were you frightened when it turned out otherwise?"
That was exactly what had happened. Gabriel was afraid—afraid *for* Evangeline. Afraid because she wasn't there in the mirror. Afraid that she was merely an illusion, not existing in reality at all.
Her cool skin, her weak but perceptible pulse—it all seemed useless now. It seemed as if Evangeline really was just a lifeless body. A childhood memory surfaced: running, carrying a dead child on his back.
"Perhaps. I truly did know, but I suppose I couldn't accept it."
As the priest conducting the funeral and Daisy had both said, Evangeline Rohanson was indeed dead. And yet Gabriel wanted to treat her as if she were alive.
Was that why she had grown angry? Because he had shown interest without even truly knowing who she was?
"I'm already late. I must go. Thank you for the advice."
Since there was nothing more to say to Kanna, Gabriel bowed silently and retreated. This time, his steps were very quick.
"Well, if you run away, it's even better for me," Kanna murmured after him.
Pudding clicked his tongue in displeasure.
If Gabriel failed this test, then the only person on earth capable of completely loving the lady would be her—Kanna. It would be a joy to possess her entirely. But on the other hand, she longed for the things dear to her mistress to grow and multiply.
A wind stirred, and petals swirled through the air. Kanna caught them as if they were snowflakes, savoring the dazzling spectacle.
"Spring."
The calendar read June—the time after spring. A summer night, when the cherry trees that were the pride of Count Rohanson's house, planted by the late Countess, still bloomed without shedding their leaves.
---
After Gabriel departed, I headed to Artemisia to remove my dress. On the way, I encountered Kanna, who had just returned from her walk.
Her already large eyes widened further, and her cheeks instantly flushed. It was clear from that look alone—she had fallen in love from the very first moment. Perhaps this was exactly the reaction Artemisia had expected from Gabriel.
"Are you an angel? Where are your wings?"
Kanna covered her mouth with her hand, genuinely shocked. Why was everyone in this house so adept at flattery? Artemisia's assistants were also masters of the art. Had they secretly taken lessons from her?
Although, if you thought about it, there was no other way to survive around a villain. You either learned to adapt, or you disappeared.
"No wonder Sir Gabriel was speechless. I myself wondered why the lady wasn't an angel..."
"Did you meet Gabriel?"
"Yes. He left looking very, very tired."
Kanna pictured his hunched figure, slowly trudging away. A pang of guilt stabbed me unpleasantly. I had indeed been too harsh with him.
Perhaps I should have simply accepted his words. Or at least thanked him. After all, I wasn't truly planning on falling in love with him. My goal was entirely different: avoiding the villain's death flags. Gabriel just needed to play along. Then he would be more willing to protect me and stay close.
And only now did the most unpleasant realization dawn on me.
It hadn't even been a confession in the literal sense! *I* was the one who, on impulse, had asked if it was a confession! When I demanded, "Do you love me?"—he had never actually answered!
Zero recognition and one hundred percent presumption on my part! I had gotten ahead of myself and rejected him preemptively. He was genuinely fond of me, but he had never even asked for anything more.
*Damn!* Why had I done that? I regretted it so much...
I had thought I'd been handling the emotional rollercoaster since my transmigration rather well, but I had completely fumbled in front of Gabriel. It hadn't been the time for midnight musings, yet I'd gotten caught up in them and taken my frustration out on the main character—who had simply been playing his part admirably.
All because I'd been woken up. *This is why you need proper sleep!*
Tormented internally—almost physically sensing my regret—I accepted Pudding from Kanna's hands. He was nocturnal, but now he slept with his eyes tightly closed. I scratched him under the chin, and he immediately purred with pleasure.
_Yes. This is it. True healing. Pure animal therapy._
The day's fatigue washed away in a single gesture. It was only a shame that Pudding wasn't really a cat. If he were, I would have buried my face in his belly. But this was still good.
"Kanna, thank you for walking Pudding for me."
"It's nothing. The lady was busy today."
Since I'd had an arrangement with Gabriel, Kanna had taken over walking duties. Usually, such small chores always fell to her.
Kanna had the least experience, so Henna and Daisy often handled all the outside errands. Especially recently, she frequently went out with the more experienced Daisy. I was unwittingly leaving Kanna out. That needed to be corrected.
"Are you going to see Mrs. Schmidtiana?"
"Yes. Come with me."
Daisy and Henna had probably already had their measurements taken. All that remained was Kanna. What perfect timing! I would return the dress, and she would be measured simultaneously!
"Me too?"
"Of course. You need a dress sewn as well."
"Me?"
"I've already ordered new outfits for Henna and Daisy. Remember that time at the temple, when you had to endure all those nasty comments because of me?"
Kanna seemed to recall that incident at the main temple. She nodded and snuggled closer to me. Pudding, whose place had been usurped, growled in protest.
_Hey, Pudding! Kanna's been taking care of you all day—let me have some of the affection!_
"Lady..."
A sob came from below. Was she actually crying? Because they were going to make her a dress?
This same Kanna who, when I had handed out gold coins, had enthusiastically shouted, "Hurray, our lady is the best!" and given a thumbs-up? This same Kanna with nerves of steel who, when I'd bought ready-made dresses by the carriageload, had calmly asked, "Will it be convenient to choose them?"
So the correct answer was *custom tailoring*? Excellent! I should hire Artemisia permanently!
"I'll be yours until I die. You can do whatever you want with me."
Kanna said this between sniffles.
_Uh... I'm not going to._
Saying things like that with a tremor of devotion in your voice wasn't exactly heroic behavior, you know? A heroine who repays a debt of gratitude must be loyal to the end.
"Lady, you like me, don't you?"
Kanna, still clinging to me, merely raised her head to meet my gaze. Her eyes shone with unshed tears.
To be honest, I had another answer prepared. But remembering the recent incident with Gabriel... and speaking harshly to someone on the verge of tears seemed too cruel.
So I simply nodded in silence.
Come to think of it, when I read novels, it was usually the heroines I admired most.
So yes—I loved Kanna too.