The Male Lead's Sickly Aide Is My Type - Chapter 33
Translator and Editor: Nana and Nabi
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Chapter 33
“Princess, would you like to dance with me?”
“No, thank you.”
Carinne replied.
A well-dressed nobleman, who had approached her as the fifth person, became crestfallen and stepped back.
Feeling perplexed, she pinched her thigh forcefully.
“Ouch.”
Carinne winced, the pain confirmed that this was indeed not a dream.
‘So, it’s real?’
She pondered, struggling to comprehend the situation unfolding before her. Was she not Carinne, the infamous villainess, the embodiment of wickedness and foolishness? Her reputation had hit rock bottom, earning her various notorious titles.
Why would anyone ask her for a dance?
‘…Has my reputation changed?’
She had tirelessly attended numerous events, meticulously portraying herself as meek and mild, purposefully engaging in friendly conversations with strangers and even mustering a sweet smile when making eye contact.
Ah, the effort she had put forth was truly tear-inducing. And today, finally, she was witnessing the fruits of her labor.
The sudden change in people’s attitudes was a bit bewildering, but what did it matter? As long as her infamous reputation could be shed, the natural progression of events didn’t matter to her.
‘My reputation must’ve changed. Should I make a move now?’
Perhaps now was the time to make her move. She initially planned to talk with Archen after the ball ended, but if her reputation had improved to such an extent, there was no harm in trying sooner.
With her newfound confidence, Carinne easily spotted him in the crowd.
When she caught sight of Archen standing in the distance, her mind seemed to be empty, as if her thoughts had been vacuumed away.
Duke Lucas was nowhere to be seen, leaving Archen alone at the edge of the hall, quietly observing the dancers. Beside him, an empty table stood vacant, and around him was devoid of any bustling activity.
It was the perfect moment to approach him, a golden opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
At the thought, her feet carried her towards him with a lightness that felt as if she had sprouted wings. As she nearly arrived at the destination, Archen’s gaze shifted, and he noticed her.
“Nice to see you again!”
Carinne cheerfully waved her hand and beamed at him.
“Oh, it’s the Princess.”
Archen replied with a gentle smile as he asked.
“Have you been well all this time?”
“Of course!”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
He spoke, exchanging a brief glance before returning his gaze to the dancers.
Carinne couldn’t help but wonder what could be so amusing. She followed his line of sight and watched as people twirled and spun to the soft melodies played by a small band. The joy on their faces was palpable as they locked eyes with their partners, lost in the bliss of the moment.
Her gaze discreetly shifted back to Archen’s face.
‘…Will I ever be able to dance with him?’
Would there come a day when they would gracefully glide across the center of the hall, hand in hand, with her dress swirling like a full moon? Would he bestow upon her a gentle smile, causing whispers to ripple through the crowd, declaring them a perfect couple?
It was a wishful thought, one that she couldn’t help but indulge in.
Carinne closed her eyes and allowed her imagination to paint a future that may or may not come true. Since her eyes were closed, it should’ve been pitch dark, but instead, it was the complete opposite. It felt as though a spotlight was on her, illuminating everything with brilliant light.
“Ah!”
At that moment, a sudden force yanked her from behind, making her eyes fly open in shock. With a clattering sound, a metal tray brushed past her, its surface heaped with plates laden with delectable food.
Startled by her sudden appearance, the waiter pushing the tray hurried over, clearly more terrified than she was.
“Oh, are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.”
Carinne took a deep breath, attempting to steady her racing heart. She had narrowly avoided a disastrous collision. If it hadn’t been for the hands that had grabbed her from behind, there would’ve been shattered plates and food strewn about by now.
But whose hands were they?
‘…Ah.’
There was no need to ponder the answer. After all, only one other person had been nearby.
Carinne turned around to confirm the identity of her savior.
Archen was standing there, gazing down at her, unable to conceal his concern. Despite the slight downturn of his mouth, his eyes brimmed with infinite tenderness, causing her to momentarily lose herself.
‘Even if I were to die, there would be no regrets…’
“Princess, please accept my apologies. Would you care for this?”
Suddenly, a glass seemingly materialized out of thin air. The waiter presented a glass brimming with shrimp, bathed in a tantalizing sauce to her. The plump shrimp nestled amidst the vibrant red sauce, their enticing sheen beckoning her.
“Does this contain alcohol?”
“No, it’s not.”
Carinne immediately picked up one of the glasses. Then, she picked up another glass and extended it towards Archen. However, he raised his hand, refusing to take it.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t like shrimp?”
“I… I’ve never tried it before, so I don’t know.”
He hesitated before responding.
In the meanwhile, Carinne was so surprised that her mouth hung open. At his age, he had never experienced the delight of shrimp? This exquisite culinary delight?
She had to make sure to feed him some this time.
“Well, then you should try it even more. How would you know if you like it or not unless you try it?”
As she uttered so, the shrimp continued to exhibit its plump and alluring appearance. Carinne nudged the glass toward him once again. Archen wore a reluctant expression and was on the verge of declining, but eventually, he accepted, lowering his head.
“I don’t really want to try, though.”
He was picky. To anyone observing, it seemed as though he had already endured a dreadful encounter with shrimp.
Was there really no way to make him taste it?
Ah, a brilliant idea suddenly struck Carinne’s mind. She withdrew her hand, clutching the glass, and slumped her shoulders dramatically as if she had suffered a great wound.
“Could it be… because I’m the one offering it?”
Her emerald eyes, reminiscent of a lush forest, trembled pitifully as she gazed at him.
“That’s…”
He seemed flustered, judging by the momentary dilation of his black pupils. His blue irises appeared lost, wandering aimlessly. As his cheeks paled and his lips opened and closed repeatedly, he reached out his hand as if attempting to grasp Carinne.
His fingers trembled slightly and clenched as if trying to grasp something. He stood there, not knowing what to do.
“That’s…”
He stammered.
“It’s a joke! If you don’t want to eat it, don’t. I’m not forcing you.”
Surely, such a prank was harmless among friends, right? Carinne’s mischievous smile danced upon her lips as she observed him, who was frozen in place.
‘Ah, how cute.’
Truly a specimen of outward strength and inward softness. What was the correct term for this? Lost in whimsical musings, she placed the glass on the table, though he still wore a dazed expression upon seeing her.
How much time had passed like that?
After some time, Archen relaxed his stiff posture, lowered his head, and let out a deep sigh. His gloved fingers ruffled his bangs.
‘Teasing him is so fun. His reactions are so amusing.’
She wanted to tease and talk with him whenever she had the chance.
The waiter placed the tray containing the cocktail glass on the table. Just as the waiter’s hand rested upon the tray handle, Archen called him over.
“Wait. Just give me one, please.”
“Oh!”
The waiter promptly handed him the glass. His hand, adorned with navy blue gloves, gracefully accepted the offering. Archen scrutinized the shrimp leisurely as though examining an extraterrestrial life form before delicately bringing the glass near his lips.
Carinne held her breath, observing intently as he hesitantly chewed the shrimp. Gradually, a gentleness washed over his face, akin to ripples upon a serene pond.
“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
It was clear.
It was a face that said it was delicious. Still, after swallowing, he averted his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in his surroundings.
“If it’s delicious, say it’s delicious.”
She was determined to get an answer no matter what. Finally, after a persistent gaze from Carinne, Archen raised both hands in surrender, his lips parting to speak.
“Not bad.”
He eventually replied.
Yes! Carinne raised her fist in triumph, intoxicated with a sense of victory.
“See, I told you to listen to me. You have to taste it to know if you like it or not. Have you tried any other seafood? Like crabs or clams, or maybe squid…?”
However, a sudden realization struck her like a lightning bolt.
She had never come across a romance fantasy novel that featured seafood. She wondered if people here eat octopus or squid as she heard somewhere that Westerners didn’t eat cephalopods. What was it they say? They called the octopus the devil fish and found it repulsive.
Carinne dismissed such notions as nonsense, convinced that they were missing out on a delectable experience.
… Let’s stop these random thoughts.
She lightly shook her head to clear her mind.
“Anyway, if there’s something you haven’t tried, you should definitely give it a shot. Life is too short to miss out on delicious things just because they’re unfamiliar.”
By the way, how could someone have their first taste of shrimp like this? It was such a delicious one.
Now, it was her turn to eat the shrimp.
Carinne quickly brought the glass near her mouth. As she chewed the tender and succulent shrimp, she felt a subtle gaze from somewhere. Who could it be? She searched for the source of the gaze, moving her head and discovered a pair of blue eyes fixed on her face.
The two, gem-like eyes were locked onto her.
Archen seemed deeply lost in thought, unaware that he was looking at her. It was a gaze that seemed to yearn for something endlessly.
‘…Could it be?’
Dizziness overwhelmed her as if she knew what that gaze meant.
“Can I ask you something?”
Archen’s partially open lips faltered and then closed as he fumbled. He averted his gaze from her eyes with a bashful expression.
“You… may speak.”
With his calm tone, Carinne gained courage once again.
She might regret it. It might be too hasty. However… Carinne cleared her throat and asked with an excited voice.
“Are you still not interested in me?”
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Zepelim
😲 vai! É agora!
Mangagirl4
Omg omg omg!!! So cute!!!!!😭💗💗💗