DKVM Ch 20

Chapter 20

We loaded up on gifts and headed back to the mansion in the carriage.

Rahel was lost in thought as she looked out the window at the passing scenery when she felt a weight land on her shoulder.

“Hmmm…….”

It was Vivian’s tiny head, asleep.

She had been eating desserts vigorously with her tiny body, kept chewing as if she was eating in her dreams.

Rahel, stunned by the sight, turned to Vivian, who was still holding her hand in her sleep.

“I’ll stay with the young lady.”

It was a first.

The first time someone other than my mom or nanny had ever held my hand.

No, not exactly…

Vivian was the first time I hadn’t fought off a touch that I’d always fought off for fear of revealing my closely guarded secret.

Strangely enough, I couldn’t shake off her hand.

At that moment, her honey-colored eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

I forgot to push her hand away.

Her hand was soft and warm in mine. I didn’t want to let go for a second.

But I still feared and hated other people’s hands.

Only Vivian was special.

Because this child was on my side.

No matter how scary things get, she won’t run away from me.

But then…

“So you like him too?”

“Of course, because Peter is my friend.”

Rahel’s eyes narrowed as she remembered the scene with Vivian and Peter in the general store earlier.

‘I’m not special to Vivian.’

Just one of many, many friends.

If there was one difference between Rahel and the other kids, it was that Rahel’s status made it so others couldn’t approach him easily. That was it.

It wasn’t something that made me stand out but acted as a barrier.

So I gave Vivian permission to step inside that barrier, but it wasn’t enough.

‘I don’t want to be like any other friend.’

I don’t want her to like me the same way she likes other kids.

I want her to look only at me and hold my hand.

‘No one else.’

I want you to like me more.

No, actually I hate that too.

“…I want you to only like me.”

I wish I was the only one for you, just like you’re the only one for me.

As Rahel thought about how to make himself special to Vivian, he remembered something Vivian had said to him one day. [T. L. Note: Since this is from Rahel’s perspective, I’m using male pronouns. ]

“Friends share secrets, even the ones they can’t tell, and that’s what makes them better friends.”

Sharing secrets makes you better friends.

As he reflected on that quote, he suddenly realized that he hadn’t told Vivian any of his secrets yet.

The first was…

‘Vivian doesn’t know my condition yet.’

Actually, with the disease you’re suffering from, it’s okay to hold my hand.

‘Then do you want to stay by my side?’

Of course, I know it’s a bad idea to take advantage of Vivian’s illness.

But even though my head says so, I can’t help but feel happy that I have an excuse to keep her.

And secondly.

‘If she finds out I’m a man…will she hate me?’

Rahel worried for a moment, then decided it would be fine.

She knows the emperor is watching me, and she stays by my side, even though she knows it’s a risk.

‘I’ll tell her when she wakes up.’

With that, Rahel vowed to himself and gripped Vivian’s sleeping hand tightly.

* * *

I drifted in and out of sleep, and when I opened my eyes, I was at the villa.

I asked the knights for the gifts they had brought in the carriage, and then Rahel and I walked slowly up to the room.

‘I’m sure the maids will be pleased with the gifts.’

Then they’ll be close to Rahel in no time, right?

I walked up the stairs, my heart pounding with anticipation, and I could see Rahel’s face behind me.

Rahel stared at me, her face deep in thought. [T. L. Note: I’m going back to female pronouns for Rahel since this is Vivian’s perspective.]

I cocked my head and asked.

“What’s wrong, Rahel?”

Rahel hesitated for a moment, then said with a look of determination.

“I need to talk to you later.”

“Talk?”

“Yeah. Before you go home.”

What’s this? When she says it like that, I’m curious.

“Can’t you just tell me now? I’m curious.”

“Not now.”

Rahel looked around at the servants passing by and cut me off.

My body was tingling with curiosity, but when she said no, I decided not to push it either.

‘I have more important things to do right now!’

When I arrived at the door, I saw two of the maids waiting for me.

“How are you, Miss?”

Rahel, who was about to enter the room without receiving greetings from the servants like usual, stopped when I held her hand and didn’t move.

I squeezed Rahel’s hand, signaling her.

‘Now, come on, Rahel, do what I told you back in the village!’

The first step in getting acquainted with the maids!

Rahel hesitated, looking reluctant, then said in a small voice, her gaze downcast.

“…Yeah. I’m back.”

Yes, good job.

The first step in making friends is always a greeting, isn’t it?

Of course, whether the noble princess ignores her maidservants or not, they will obey Rahel.

‘In the end, relationships are a two-way street.’

This was the first step in a relationship where the maids’ submission to Rahel had been one-sided.

I looked at the big sisters’ [the maids] faces with pride.

As expected, the big sisters stared at her in surprise.

But Rahel was too embarrassed to give the big sisters a second glance, and she went back into her room.

‘I should have told them to come in so I could give them their gifts.’

Well, I can’t help it if Rahel is still awkward with the big sisters.

I smiled with satisfaction and addressed the big sisters instead of Rahel.

“Big sisters, do you have a minute?”

“Do you need anything?”

“Not really, the princess has a gift for you.”

“A gift?”

I walked into the room with the puzzled big sisters.

Rahel was standing in front of the box the knights had left earlier.

I walked over to it and pulled out two bottles. They were glass vials of a clear liquid.

I held them out to the big sisters, one by one.

“What are these, Miss?”

The big sisters looked back and forth between Rahel and me, dumbfounded by the unexpected gift.

I explained on Rahel’s behalf.

“This is a famous beauty product in our village. You wash your face with it and put it on your face and it makes your skin soft.”

“Oh, my. I was going to buy it after hearing you talk about it.”

The big sisters seemed thrilled with the gift.

Well, that was to be expected.

Although Rahel paid for it, I chose the items.

I looked at Rahel with a smug look on my face.

When I told her I’d picked it out, she didn’t seem to know why I’d chosen it as a gift.

“Of course, food is a more effective gift for strangers, but there’s plenty of food in the duchy, and I’m sure it wouldn’t mean anything to the maids.”

“Aren’t there local specialties and such?”

“Yes, they’re delicious, but they disappear quickly.”

“That’s true.”

“But if you give them something that lasts, they’ll think of the person who gave it to them every time they use it, right?”

And I was right.

The big sisters will now think of Rahel every morning and night when they wash their faces.

Step 1 of them getting to know Rahel was a success.

‘Hmm, the mood is good. Should I try my luck?’

I added a coy remark.

“The princess apologizes for not taking care of you beforehand since you must have had a hard time getting here from the capital.”

Rahel stared at me in disbelief.

When did I…? It was as if she was asking.

The big sisters, who had no idea what was going on, thanked Rahel with tears in their eyes.

“You don’t have to take care of all this for us… Thank you so much, Miss. We’ll do better in the future.”

Rahel’s eyes subtly trembled as she looked at them.

She had gotten the gifts because I pushed her to do it, but she didn’t expect such a small gift to change their relationship.

Unsure of what to say, she looked up at me.

‘It feels bitter to see Rahel surprised.’

That look of surprise on her face told me that she didn’t really have any hope.

She was so alone that she had given up hope completely.