Meanwhile, after washing up, Lellia changed her clothes and stood before a mirror.
In the mirror stood herself, exactly as she had been before leaving for the capital.
Wearing the light, loose dress she used to enjoy wearing at the territory, both her body and mind felt at ease.
Lellia flopped onto the bed right next to her.
It was a moment when she truly empathized with the saying, "Home is best after all."
Memories surfaced of sleeping fitfully every day with anxiety at the capital's imperial palace, and camping uncomfortably on the way to the territory.
Compared to that, this place was heaven.
On the sunlit bed, the sheets emitted the soft fragrance she had missed all along.
Becky must have been consistently maintaining the room even while she was away.
Lellia was feeling comfortable happiness when suddenly she bolted upright.
As if asking when her heart was ever at ease, she immediately felt uncomfortable again.
'By the way... did Oscar already know I'm a woman? Since when exactly? How?'
Earlier, when Becky called Lellia "young lady," Oscar definitely had a nonchalant expression.
Not only knowing she was Leo, but had he also figured out she was a woman?
Lellia, confused, got up from the bed.
Just then, Becky opened the door and entered.
On the tray in her hand was a light snack for Lellia.
"Young lady, you must be feeling a bit peckish, right? There's still some time before dinner, so please have a snack. The head chef got all excited hearing the news that the young lady had returned!"
Becky set the tray down on a table and pulled Lellia to sit.
Then she hesitated before asking.
"Young lady, but who exactly is the guest who came with you? The maids are in an uproar!"
"Huh?"
"Where did you bring such a handsome man from? You said you had no thoughts of marriage, but have you changed your mind? Right?"
Becky spoke in a tone that clearly hoped that was the case.
"......"
When Lellia remained silent, Becky spoke.
"But that person... there's something concerning."
"...What is?"
"He's really handsome and beautiful, but... he looks a bit cold. His eyes are too scary too! But he must be different with the young lady, right? He treats you affectionately, doesn't he?"
"......"
"If he doesn't treat you kindly and well, I absolutely cannot let the young lady go!"
A sigh escaped at Becky's excited chatter. Lellia's head throbbed.
"Young lady, please say something. Hmm?"
Becky then picked up a fork and stuffed Lellia's mouth full of fruit.
She couldn't tell if she was being told to speak or to eat first.
Lellia swallowed the fruit in her mouth and said.
"Sorry, but we're not in that kind of relationship. He's really just a friend."
"That doesn't make sense!"
"It does, Becky..."
Becky looked as if her world had crumbled at the words that the two were just ordinary friends.
Just then, as if to save Lellia, a knocking sound was heard at the door.
"Becky, could you let the guest in?"
Becky approached the door with a gloomy face as if she had no choice. However, upon confirming the guest, Becky's face immediately brightened.
Lellia's expression stiffened, having expected it to be her uncle.
No way?
As expected, it was Oscar who opened the door and entered inside.
Becky bowed her head and went out closing the door with an excited expression.
"......"
Oscar slowly walked toward her.
Like Lellia, he must have washed and changed clothes, as his face glistened.
He was indeed handsome enough to make the maids go wild.
"W-what brings you here? Without resting more?"
Lellia said as she awkwardly stood up.
He looked her up and down, taking in the new appearance of Lellia. Lellia gazed at such Oscar with anxiety.
"...Since when did you notice?"
"What?"
"...That I'm a woman."
Oscar answered nonchalantly.
"Well. A few days ago?"
At those words, Lellia's brow furrowed. Oscar came a bit closer and kindly added an explanation.
"Specifically, on the rainy day, when we stayed the night in the hut? I hugged your waist and was trembling with fear when I felt something was strange."
"......"
"Holding you like that... according to Calix, shouldn't I have felt something the size of a forearm between your legs normally?"
Lellia was at a loss for words. So, he noticed because when he hugged her tightly, the area between her legs was smooth?
Lellia hadn't known Oscar was thinking such things at that time, and had innocently only thought to comfort him.
Lellia glared at him with a thoroughly annoyed expression.
Come to think of it, did that mean he used the same room at the inn even after knowing she was a woman?
Oscar narrowed his eyes seeing Lellia's expression.
"I think I should be the one demanding an explanation... shouldn't you explain now?"
"......"
Lellia pretended not to know and avoided his gaze, immediately lowering her eyes. Her mind was complicated.
At the same time, an apologetic feeling washed over her.
Oscar was already feeling betrayed by her, and this was essentially deceiving him once more.
After hesitating, Lellia opened her mouth.
"I can't explain right now. But I'm sorry for deceiving you."
"...There's nothing to be sorry for."
At the unexpectedly gentle answer, Lellia looked up in surprise.
Oscar was looking at her with warm eyes she had never seen before.
'He can make that kind of expression too.'
Actually, on the way here, Oscar either looked at her with eyes swirling with indescribable madness, or glared with eyes full of hatred mixed with betrayal.
So his current expression and eyes were unfamiliar.
It reminded her of Oscar from childhood, so she felt glad too.
Oscar, with his hands behind his back, looked down lovingly at Lellia who seemed to be seeing something amazing.
Lellia wouldn't know right now.
What he was thinking.
He had thought it didn't matter even if she were a man, but to think she's a woman.
It felt like blood was rushing to one part of his body from being too delighted.
Thinking lecherous thoughts that would make Lellia recoil in horror, Oscar smiled gently.