Chapter 130

Not long after Eugenie left, a test taker told Clarisse, ‘The priest is looking for you.’ 

 

Because she was already suffering from strange thoughts, Clarisse wasted no time and immediately went to see the priest. 

 

And she goes back to the room again. 

 

Clarisse paused for a moment when she noticed Valentine standing in front of her room.

 

She was taken aback to see him dressed in a gentleman’s suit, which he hadn’t worn in a long time.

 

For some reason, Clarisse was happy to see him wearing a green jewel brooch and a hat, so she smiled brightly and approached him. 

 

“Prince.”

 

“Why are you holding something that looks like a priest’s uniform?”

 

“It’s not like a priest’s uniform, it’s a priest’s uniform.”

 

Clarisse had received it from the priest a little while ago and was holding it preciously in her arms.

 

“No way, you.”

 

“No, how could I become a priest? You know.” 

 

He furrowed his brows a little, perhaps because Clarisse had reminded him of her identity. 

 

Before he could say anything harsh, Clarisse quickly explained the purpose of the priest’s uniform.

 

“Making a mobile.”

 

“A mobile?”

 

“Yeah, it’s a small model hung above a baby’s crib. So…”

 

“You’re starting to sound more and more like Eugenie. I know what a mobile is too. So, what’s the connection between a mobile and a priest’s robe?”

 

“Ah! I’m going to cut this up and make it.”

 

Clarisse showed him a priest’s robe. There were several burn marks on the sleeves.

 

“I heard that priests sometimes burn their sleeves with candles, so I asked for it some time ago. If you have clothes that have been burned multiple times and become difficult to repair, can I take them and make a mobile out of them?”

 

Clarisse gently hugged the priest’s robe.

 

“A mobile made from a priest’s uniform will definitely bring good energy to the Duke’s child. By the way, where are you going, prince?” 

 

“Oh. I’m going to the royal capital for a bit.”

 

“This suddenly? You didn’t say anything yesterday.” 

 

“Well…That’s how it happened.”

 

Unlike him, who spoke as if it was nothing, Clarisse was worried. 

 

The sudden appearance of a schedule that wasn’t there yesterday likely means they urgently need to find Valentine at the palace. 

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

Even when asked in a lowered voice, he responded casually, as if it were nothing. 

 

“It’s no big deal. I’ll be back soon.”

 

“Really?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“But you were waiting to see me before you left.”

 

She was worried that maybe something had come up where her friend needed comfort or support.

 

“T, that’s.” 

 

Valentine scratched his cheek for a moment.

 

“You’ll get annoyed later if I leave without saying anything.” 

 

“Was I such a terrible friend?”

 

“Yeah. Do you get it now?”

 

He tapped the top of Clarisse’s head with his palm.

 

As she looked at him with a frown at his usual prank, he seemed… somewhat anxious.

 

“Prince, are you really okay?”

 

“….” 

 

Instead of answering, he just patted Clarisse.

 

Just as she noticed his touch was unusually gentle, he finally spoke again.

 

“Clarisse, may I give you… just one command?”

 

‘Nevermind,’ he quickly corrected himself. 

 

“Please, Clarisse.” 

 

What on earth is going on that makes Valentine so serious? 

 

Clarisse felt like he was somewhat unfamiliar to her, so she just nodded her head.

 

“Just focus on your studies until I get back.” 

 

“Is that… a request from the prince?”

 

“Mhm.” 

 

“…It’s strange.” 

 

“Is that so?” 

 

He finally let go of his stroking hand.

 

“I just… don’t want you to worry about outside matters.”

 

“Why?” 

 

He only smiled, lifting one side of his lips, but didn’t give an answer.

 

“I’ll go.”

 

He tried to turn, but Clarisse quickly grabbed his arm.

 

“You know, prince.”

 

“I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.”

 

He squeezed Clarisse’s hand, gently pulled her away, and disappeared down the hallway.

 

‘I didn’t mean to ask when you would come back…’

 

As she watched him disappear down the stairs, clutching the priest’s robe, Clarisse couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

 

‘The prince… he seemed somehow sad.’

 

She was worried if he was really okay.

 

‘What on earth is going on in the royal family?’

 

When she returned to her room, she placed the priest’s robe on the desk and then clenched Mallang that she had kept in her pocket.

 

A little while ago, Valentine was wearing green jewelry.

 

The jewel had told various stories about Valentine in the past, so there was a possibility that Mallang had heard something this time as well. 

 

Clarisse held the brown pebble close to her lips. 

 

But she couldn’t bring herself to kiss it. 

 

｢I just… don’t want you to worry about outside matters.｣

 

It was because Valentine’s request came to mind.

 

“…Really.” 

 

Clarisse placed Mallang on the desk. She thought it would be better to ask Valentine directly when he came back.

 

“It… shouldn’t be a big deal.”

 

* * *

 

Noah came by that evening, saying, ‘It seems like Valentine is going somewhere.’

 

Clarisse, who had neatly cut the priest’s robe in a certain shape in her room, opened the door with beads and cloth patches all over her body. 

 

“The Prince said he’s going to the royal palace. He didn’t mention the reason, but it seemed like he hoped I would pretend not to know.”

 

“If he truly wanted me to pretend not to know, it would have been better if he had told me as well. If he just leaves like this, won’t it be more of a concern for me?”

 

As Noah grunted in displeasure, Clarisse smiled softly.

 

Because the two people seemed to be getting along really well.

 

Noah must have noticed that expression and quickly added this.

 

“Of course, I couldn’t care less about that rude prince, whatever happens to him.”

 

Even so, as soon as he found out that Valentine had disappeared, he came to check on the situation. 

 

Clarisse felt a little proud when she thought that. The reason she wanted them to become friends was because it was a wish she had had for a really long time.

 

“When the prince returns, why don’t we make a bet that the three of us can memorize and write the timeline together?”

 

“What do you mean by betting? That’s a terrible thing to say.” 

 

He shook his head as he remembered cleaning the chapel.

 

“We can just keep it a secret between the three of us.”

 

‘The three of us’ Clarisse once again found those words very lovely. 

 

“More than that, what on earth was the girl doing…” 

 

Noah used his long fingers to remove a piece of cloth from Clarisse’s shoulder. 

 

In fact, even if he took that one thing off, there wouldn’t be much change in Clarisse’s messy appearance. 

 

“That… I was working on making a mobile, but it’s not as easy as I thought. Anyway, now all that’s left is sewing.”

 

“Is this a gift for the Duchess?”

 

“Um, no. To be exact, I’m trying to make it for the future baby.” 

 

“Are you using your study time to make a gift?”

 

Because Noah hit the nail on the head, Clarisse frowned. It seemed like it was taking longer than she expected anyway.

 

“F, first of all, Mallang was reading a book.”

 

Clarisse stepped aside slightly and pointed to her desk. There was a thick book spread out between the hanging pieces of cloth.

 

There were now only four separate pebbles lying on top of the book.

 

“It seems like the reading was… tough.”

 

Clarisse only played with her hair, feeling sorry for nothing. 

 

“I can’t help it. If you don’t mind getting help, I will help you.”

 

“Really?” 

 

When Clarisse asked with a sparkle in her eyes, he adjusted his mask and subtly averted his gaze to the side. 

 

“A, and the Duchess won’t be happy about Clarisse’s study time being reduced. Just pick out a few pieces of fabric you need to sew and hand them to me…”

 

“If Noah could help me, I would be very grateful. It’s a little dirty, but come on in.” 

 

Without even listening to Noah’s words to the end, Clarisse went into her room and fumbled around, then tapped her hand on the bed, where barely a piece of cloth had fallen.

 

“It would be okay if you sat here.” 

 

“….” 

 

“Where did I put the extra needles?”

 

After that, she rummaged through the drawer and took out another needle.

 

“Hey, Girl.” 

 

When Noah, who was still standing in front of the door, called out in confusion, Clarisse ran in front of him and held out two clothes with designs on them. 

 

“First of all, there is a crystal sculpture shape and a marble shape. Which one do you want?” 

 

It seemed difficult to connect small pieces of crystal together, and although marble had a simple shape, it had to be embroidered on the surface.

 

“Ah, Noah can make something similar to the red stone…” 

 

“I like marble!”

 

He quickly took out the marble design.

 

“Really? I was worried about the difficulty of embroidery, but if Noah takes care of it, I feel relieved. Come in, Noah.”

 

Clarisse dragged him into the room and closed the door.

 

“…Uh, uhm.” 

 

Noah ended up sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed without even mentioning his intention to return to his room and do some sewing.

 

“I’m so glad Noah helped me.”

 

Clarisse also returned to her seat and picked up the rough brown fabric she had been sewing up until now. 

 

She was confident that Noah must be really good at sewing.

 

As expected, that thought was right.

 

Noah was faithfully expressing the marble pattern that Clarisse had vaguely drawn on the cloth.

 

‘How did he learn this?’

 

Did his master teach him this when he was young? Or did he learn by looking at books on his own?

 

“…Ah.” 

 

Then, suddenly, his hand stopped as if something was wrong.

 

“I saw it wrong because of the mask.” 

 

He somehow managed to take off the mask himself and set it aside. It seemed like his vision was narrowed and he was uncomfortable.

 

He focused on embroidery again.

 

It was almost the first time Clarisse had seen the expression he made when he was concentrating on something.

 

‘He barely blinks…It feels like a lot of force has been put into his forehead.’

 

Suddenly, Clarisse stopped sewing and just stared at him.

 

He seemed unaware of her gaze, simply concentrating on his sewing, oblivious to anything else.

 

Then he bit the tip of the thin needle with his lips for a moment. It seemed to be because his hands were strained from changing his thread.

 

It’s dangerous. 

 

Clarisse paused as she was about to say that, but…

 

It was because the moment she looked at his lips, the terrifying words Eugenie left behind came to mind. 

 

｢Let’s imagine kissing.｣