“Are you coming or not?” asked Lumi annoyingly.

He rushed into the carriage in response to Lumi’s voice. Usually, we would have one more person, so it felt a bit empty. Jianne was missing because he had a bad cold. Just until a while ago, Jianne insisted that he would follow us even if he collapsed. That was until Lumi’s kick knocked him out. With just one kick.. He sure seemed sick. I was worried.

Chelleno, who stared at Rey through the window even after getting on the carriage, quietly said, “I still don’t like him. Marin, can’t you find someone else to be your guardian knight? How about me? Let’s perform the vow.”

“Stop saying nonsense. I already made a vow with him,” I said as I glared at him.

Lumi laughed, “Honestly, I can trust Sir Reyan to protect Marin. I can’t trust you on that one.”

Chelleno looked at her disappointingly and said, “Why are you speaking so poorly of your brother!”

“Hmph! You’re a play-”

Chelleno quickly blocked Lumi’s mouth with his hand. She stopped at the word “play,” but I think I can make out the rest. Playboy. Are you saying he’s a playboy?

“Lumi, you may continue.”

It’s intriguing. After hearing my words, Lumi threw Chelleno’s hands off of her mouth with a frown. She then looked at me with a bright smile. “Do you know how infamous he has become in the beau monde? He earned the name ‘the Red-eyed Maniac!’”

“Red-eyed Maniac?” I asked about such a grand nickname.

Chelleno frowned at Lumi and said, “Illumina, that’s enough.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have taken my precious Kathlyn with you then.”

What was Kathlyn that made them say that? The siblings were glaring at each other fiercely as if they were enemies.

“You’re the one who abused it first!”

“I didn’t abuse it! I will not stay silent if you take my lovely children again,” declared Lumi.

Chelleno distorted his face. He had his arms crossed as he turned to me and mumbled, “Ugh. You may be the only noblewoman with a strange taste for collecting swords, Illumina.”

With that, Lumi glared at Chelleno, then turned to me with a smile and commented, “My brother has a taste for.. ruby-like eyes. I mean, he claims that the most beautiful woman in the world has those eyes.”

That’s a strange taste. Even though that color is the same as mine, it has nothing to do with me. Every beautiful woman I know has different eye colors, so I guess the most beautiful woman in the world is not in this country.

It was when I came to that conclusion, Lumi was looking at me in anticipation. Then I said, “Oh, I see. That’s unusual. I do have red eyes, but honestly, I prefer purp.. I mean blue eyes.”

I almost said purple but quickly said blue instead. Dammit! I almost said the color that nutjob Crown Prince has.. Hmph. Frankly, they were beautiful! Anyway, Lumi seemed disappointed by my reaction and shook her head. Chelleno made a similar, hollow look. Then he said something that I couldn’t understand.

“See? I told you it wouldn’t work.”

“It seems so,” said Lumi.

***

“We’re here!” Lumi shouted as she excitedly got out of the carriage.

I, too, tried to get out when Chelleno, who got off first, and Rey offered me a hand at the same time. But Rey brought his hand down as Chelleno glared at him. He probably wanted to avoid an annoying argument.

“Marin! Come on!” said Chelleno.

His bright demeanor made him look like a giant puppy that made me smile. What a weirdo. I glanced at Rey, who was shaking his head.

“Come on! We should get our dresses fitted first. Don’t you need new clothes too?” Lumi shouted, then she spoke to Chelleno.

“Yeah. I wanted to check out some new releases actually,” replied Chelleno.

“Let’s go get the dress first and go together,” suggested Lumi.

Because of Lumi’s suggestion, we all headed to the dress boutique. Unfortunately, we encountered an irritating face.

“Long time no see, Reclans and Lady Harrant,” said Elise. The way she pretended to notice me this time made me laugh. She sure was inconsistent.

“Long time? We met not too long ago. How disappointing that you say that, Lady Schuteiner,” commented Lumi.

Elise laughed, but her blue eyes seemed somewhat irritated as she said, “You must be here to get your dress fitted. I wonder which one you’ll get, Lady Harrant.”

I was about to respond to her when Lumi stood in the way and coldly responded, “You certainly are curious about a lot of things. How nosy? Can you get out of the way if that’s all you have to say? We’re busy people.”

“Hmph, sure. I’m also busy myself.”

Elise directed her gaze toward someone other than me this time, which was unfamiliar. Her eyes were always fixated on me with her hostile intent. This time she was focused on Chelleno. Huh? Do they know each other? Chelleno never said anything about that. Maybe this was my mistake as she was moving toward the dress behind him.

“I also like this one. Add this one, too,” said Elise.

“Yes, my lady.”

Elise casually ordered the dress and left the boutique. It felt a bit unfinished.

“Sister, don’t worry about that witch. We should get ourselves some pretty clothes,” said Lumi.

“Yeah, we should.”