After a beat, Harriet, looking flustered, raised her voice.

“U-Ummm, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude!”

“No, not at all! Okay, it’s okay! I’m sorry if I made you feel that way!”

Harriet tried to jump up, but Rishe calmed her down and made her lie down on the couch again.

Rishe looked down unconsciously and then spoke a bit dispiritedly.

“We’re having a couple’s spat.”

“Couple’s spat?”

“I’m angry with him, so I’m throwing a tantrum…”

Rishe muttered quietly as she mixed the chemical solution with a glass rod in a circular motion.

“The truth is, we’re not even fighting.”

Her voice became more dull than she had expected.

“I wished to have a marital quarrel, so he just accepted it as usual. I’m sure he won’t ever get into a ‘fight’ with me.”

Rishe realized she was speaking something close to a monologue and was surprised.

“Pardon me, Harriet-sama.”

It would only confuse Harriet if she said something like that out of the blue. Just as Rishe was about to change the subject, Harriet opened her mouth.

“Are you feeling lonely, by any chance?”

“…”

Rishe felt a tingle in the back of her left chest.

“No, I don’t mean that.”

She tried to deny it, and found herself unable to do so firmly.

Harriet gently removed the towel and slowly raised herself up, turning to face Rishe.

“Rishe-sama, are you angry with your fiancé?”

Rishe reflected on her emotions and shook her head.

What was swirling around in her mind was different from distinct anger.It was a much childish emotion that she held for Arnold. She also realized that he was indulging her.

“I guess I’m just sulking.”

Rishe chuckled at this realization.

“You said it, Harriet-sama. I’m lonely. There’s nothing I can do for him, and maybe that’s why I’m so unworthy.”

“Rishe-sama.”

“My heart is aching, sad, and throbbing…”

Rishe gently placed her hand on her left chest and frowned.

“――If there was anything I could do for him, I wish I could make it happen.”

But she couldn’t get through him.

Arnold himself explicitly rejected her. Rishe clenched her fists tightly at that memory.

“Rishe-sama.”

Rishe looked up at Harriet’s voice.

“I-I’m sorry I’m being nosy. I might be talking out of turn, but…”

“W-What’s wrong, Harriet-sama?”

Serious, olive eyes looked at Rishe with unprecedented intensity.

“―― Just hearing your words alone, I’m sure you’re feeling like you’ve been given a lot.”

“!”

Rishe’s eyes widened at her remark.

Harriet looked down for a moment, seemingly hesitant, then shook her head and looked up.

“What if I…If only someone beside me says something like that…If only there was even one person in this world who would say that to me!”

Harriet clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

“I think that’s enough to make me happy!”

“…!”

Rishe suddenly had an epiphany upon hearing her wish.

Even if I can’t do anything…Just tell him that I can do anything.Rishe slowly blinked.

I wonder if there’s something I can help His Highness Arnold with.

Rishe didn’t have the confidence but that reminded her of something.

It was the same promise that Arnold had made to her.

[I swear I will do everything in my power to make it come true.]

Arnold said the same thing after his marriage proposal.

“Thank you very much, Harriet-sama.”

Rishe let out a breath and smiled at Harriet, who was trembling a little.

“Harriet-sama’s words made me motivated again to face that man anew. I’m so thankful for your concern.”

“M-My pleasure!”

Harriet shook her head and took a deep breath to embolden herself.

“I- I have no desire to quarrel with His Majesty Walter, my fiancé.”

“Harriet-sama, that’s…”

“I thought I couldn’t change what I was born with. The fact that I was born a princess, that I’m useless, that I have an appearance my fiancé hates! My bad, please excuse me. I just keep thinking I’m sorry I was born…”

No.

There was no reason for Harriet to think less of herself.

Rishe was appalled and immediately tried to deny it.

“But then…I realized something!”

A gleam sparkled in Harriet’s eyes as she stared at Rishe.

“For others, it may only sound trivial…People might say they just have to put on makeup, a nice dress, and braid their bangs. But for me, it’s entirely different.”

Her face was hidden by her outstretched bangs, and a sparkle, which had been invisible when she was lying face down, was shimmering in her teary eyes.

“I can now look in the mirror. I’m incredibly excited to get dressed after my bath. My maids, who had always been distant, talked to me a lot just today.”

“Harriet-sama…”

“From this alone, I felt as if everything had changed.”

Harriet sounded close to tears.