For You In The Cage - CH 17

*******

“Hello, Canaren. We will help you with bathing and dressing. Just leave it to us.”

“Ah… Uhh.”

Sympathy and contempt flashed through the faces of the maids as they heard the sound of Canaren. Hwira were half human and half bird, and since they were a race living among themselves in the wild, rumors that they couldn’t speak the imperial language had already been established as true.

However, Monica, a longtime maid, quickly erased her emotions and returned to a businesslike attitude.

“We don’t have much time, so we’ll hurry.”

Canaren nodded her head. Her eyes were on the door all the way as she was quickly stripped of her clothes and pushed into the steam-rising tub. Precisely, she was facing Yulif, who would be beyond the door.

The maids skillfully moved Canaren’s stiff body and quickly finished bathing her.

As she passed through the door leading to the next room, wearing only simple underwear, she was greeted by several sets of dresses of various colors and designs.

A wizard, who had been hanging around near her door, saw Canaren and politely saluted.

“Hello, I am Roana Orcard, I am here by order of Duke Rubius. Feel free to call me Roana!”

“……아.”

“…Ah.”

“The Duke has prepared a dress for you. Ah-hem. ‘I didn’t know what she likes, so I bought all of them. Let her choose and wear what she likes.’”

Although her voice was completely different, the tone of her voice was that of Yulif.

Canaren couldn’t help but let out a short laugh. Roana looked at her and muttered with a serious expression.

“You like, such a small and cute person… No, but the personality difference is so…”

“……?”

“Oh no! I’m talking to myself! If it’s not rude, can I help you choose a dress?”

Roana was a very cheerful and lively person. Thanks to her, the gloomy atmosphere was instantly brightened.

Canaren grunted as she looked through the sets of dresses. It was very difficult to choose one because all the dresses looked pretty, flashy, and expensive. In the end, she decided to wear a light pink dress that Roana strongly recommended.

Then Monica, who had backed away from her, stepped forward.

“How about wearing a different dress? His Majesty will be offended if he finds out that this is the dress the Duke has given you.”

“Excuse me? How will His Majesty know whether this dress was given to her by the Duke or not? Are you coming here to watch over her, instead of helping to dress her up?”

Roana sarcastically spoke in a light tone. She wasn’t wrong, but it was hard to admit outright. Moreover, they did not have the power to retaliate against Duke Rubius, so her maidservant, Monica, quietly backed away.

After selecting a dress, the rest went smoothly. With Canaren sitting in front of the dressing table, an experienced maid picked her accessories.The rest of the maids were fiercely arguing about what to do with Canaren’s long, voluminous hair.

“It’s too long, so it’s best to put it in braids.”

“It doesn’t match the dress. Wouldn’t it be prettier to let it loose because of her curly hair?”

“What if it looks messy?”

“It’s not messy. Have you ever seen such an unusual color? Just by releasing it, everyone will look at her.”

“She has to ride a carriage, so braid half of it and roll it up, and let half of it hang under the braid. Secure it with pins so it doesn’t get messed up.”

“All right.”

At Monica’s words, the maids’ argument ended too easily. The real decorating began.

Canaren, who had nothing to do, dozed off by the dressing table. She was woken up earlier than usual, and when they soaked her in the warm water, she closed her eyes.

Her maids gave up on her who soon fell asleep again a minute after waking her up.

*******

“It’s done.”

“You have worked hard! Please leave now. The Duke will escort Miss Canaren”

“Yes.”

The maids, who were going to call the head maid, were forced to leave at Roana’s words.

Roana looked at Canaren and clapped her hands.

“Wow, you look like a completely different person from before! Oh, I mean, you were really pretty before, but now you’re really, really pretty.”

Canaren bowed her head to Roana’s praise. Her cheeks were white and translucent, blushing enough that she didn’t need makeup.

‘How can you be so cute!’

Canaren looked like a small, sweet, cute canary. Roana wanted to pet her; it unwittingly awakened her protective instinct. And, she felt that her heart was cleansed just by looking at Canaren.

‘I can see why the lord, who was disconnected from worldly affairs, was restless.’

Roana walked bravely and knelt on one knee in front of Canaren

“I’ve decided as Roana Orcard! From today, the knight who protects Miss Canaren day and night… Ouch!”

“The mission is over, Dame Orcard.”

An invisible force struck her side with a cool, low voice. Roana barely managed to touch the floor with her superb reflexes.

‘This scoundrel is using magic to beat down his precious subordinate!’

Roana, who was about to vent her dissatisfaction, met Yulif’s face. At the sight of his cruel expression, her mouth automatically shut. Even if she said a single word, it was clear that the tremendous magic he had spit out would come flying.

“Sheesh. I’ll just go away. Canaren, see you again. Next time, please accept my oath!”

As Roana left, the room became extremely quiet.

After expelling Roana, Yulif didn’t say a word and just looked at Canaren.

His gaze was quiet and still. Nevertheless, there was a persistent aspect to it. That tenacity, oddly enough, she did not dislike.

Canaren was very surprised by that fact. Even though he has the same eyes as Deltinus, how could he be so different?

Wherever Yulif’s gaze touched, her skin felt hot as if on fire. Canaren couldn’t stand the heat spreading through her body, and she opened her mouth first.

「Does… it look weird?」

「Pretty.」

Canaren’s eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected reply.

Her heavy scent touched his nose. Suddenly, Yulif came right in front of her. She was still sealed in the sunken chair.

「Pretty. Really.」

「Oh, thank you… The dresses Yulif gave me are all so pretty. I wanted to wear them all, but it’s a pity that I only have one body.」

「t’s all yours. Wear as many as you like freely. If you get tired of them, I will buy you new ones.」

「No, no! Even now, that’s enough!」

He seemed to be in the mood to go out and buy a new dress right away, so she answered quickly.

Yulif laughed silently. He stared at her perfectly decorated hair. Canaren felt his gaze and asked.

「Why? Don’t you like your hair?」

「No. I have prepared something, but I don’t think I can use it.」

「What?」

What Yulif took out was a white ribbon.

Canaren tilted her head slightly and fell into troubled thoughts. It was prepared by Yulif, and she wanted to use it somehow.

She had no idea that it was the ribbon she had dropped by the lake where she first met him and that Yulif picked it up and kept it.

After a while she went ‘Ah!’ Then she extended her arms.

「Isn’t it okay if I tie it like a bracelet?」

But instead of tying the ribbon, Yulif stood behind Canaren’s back. And with one hand he carefully lifted her bountiful hair.

Her slender, white neck was exposed. It seemed like he could hold it with his large hand.

「I like necklaces too.」

Canaren lifted her own hair instead.

Yulif wrapped the ribbon around Canaren’s neck. Careful fingers moved delicately and tied a knot. His hands were very slow, sometimes stopping in mid-air.

He was terrified of his desire to kiss the nape of her neck.

‘You don’t know my selfishness to want time to stop like this. My filthy heart that wants you to stay by my side on a leash.’

「Yulif, you have good dexterity.」

Canaren smiled happily, knowing nothing.

Yulif couldn’t help but smile at her smile. He simply nodded his head quietly and meaninglessly.

*******

At this moment, everything was new to Canaren.

The hem of the dress gently swaying against her skin, the light and comfortable shoes that fit her perfectly, and a large, warm hand that supported every step she took.

Yulif walked alongside her, leading her movements.

He didn’t seem to be doing anything in particular, and he was not even pulling and squeezing her hands, yet she naturally turned to him. She was surprised that she was not at all uncomfortable.

‘This is an escort.’

There was no such custom in a village that was almost cut off from the outside world. It is a place where you can enjoy a lively village festival instead of a ball with elegant dance music. A fluttering, flowing dress would also be unimaginable.

A simple life that conformed and assimilated into nature.

Canaren thought that her own life would be like any other Hwira person’s. She thought that her current kind of life was only possible in fairy tales or stories that came through wind.

‘I was sure I would be locked up in the Imperial Palace… I don’t think like that when I’m with Yulif.’

Canaren lowered her gaze. Even though she knew nothing, her dress looked very expensive. The feeling that it flowed smoothly, or the fabric that glowed softly when exposed to light was the basis for that guess.

The fact that there were several more of these dresses left suddenly flashed through her mind.

It might be nothing to Yulif, who possessed a vast territory and wealth. But Yulif’s kindness wasn’t just the dress. He had saved her several times and gave her whatever she wanted. Going to Deltinus together like this was part of her request.

Even though he lived in a busy world, he did not leave her side.

It was by no means an exaggeration to say that Canaren could praise Yulif until her mouth wore out.

「Yulif.」

「What is it?」

「Why is Yulif so kind to me?」