“Huh.”

The unexpected response surprised me. Even Ashton, the only party member who spoke comfortably to me, including a formal tone.

“Did I say that?”

I couldn’t remember. Besides, wouldn’t anyone say words of encouragement like that? Thinking back to the awkward Ashton when we first met, anyone might have told him to stay strong.

“It was just a simple comfort, though.”

“Still.”

‘He’s back to informal speech.’

Perhaps it was too embarrassing. Like taking Ashton out of a freezer, my emotions were calm, frozen, and brought out. It was embarrassing enough to carefully scrutinize Ashton.

“No one… has ever said such words to me. The Duke was the first. Telling me to live, that it was okay to live.”

‘Did he really say that?’

No matter how hard I tried to remember, the only thing that came to mind was his impolite remark about not dying in front of him if I was going to die.

But it seemed like that was a precious memory for Ashton.

“So, I decided to fight with the Duke. I wanted to be with the Duke’s will, to save me and others.”

Because of the quest.

Because of Ashton, who treated me like an elevated hero, my face felt like it was burning.

“Is this kind of answer… not acceptable?”

Ashton’s chilly aura surrounded his handsome face as usual, but his blushing ears couldn’t be hidden.

‘Wow.’

Is he feeling embarrassed in front of me now? But he’s pretending like nothing happened?

Ashton might not like it if he hears this, but… he looked cute.

“Why are you like this?”

“No, it’s because you’re handsome.”

I just conveyed an honest impression, but from Ashton’s neck to his face, a red flower bloomed.

‘Oh.’

Seeing Ashton turning into a human tomato made me want to tease him.

“W-what are you talking about, Duchess?”

“Exactly as I said. You’re handsome. Very much so.”

It sounded like something popped, and a bursting sound could be heard. Ashton’s firm expression crumbled. He raised his hand to cover his face. Between his large and thick fingers, a glimpse of a burning face could be seen.

“…Please don’t lie, Duchess. I haven’t heard compliments about my appearance since I was young.”

Formality emerged again. It seemed like Ashton involuntarily used honorifics when he was embarrassed.

“Even from Jacqueline?”

“My cousin sometimes praised my appearance with good intentions. I understand that it was out of sympathy. I’m not foolish enough not to know it’s a sympathetic lie.”

Still covering his face, Ashton, speaking in a depressed voice, seemed to genuinely believe that he was not good-looking.

‘Is he serious?’

Even without considering that his face matches my taste, bringing all the male protagonists in this story, Ashton could boast that he was second to none.
Moreover, even if it’s not to my taste, his appearance was the kind that could make anyone confident that he was their man just by looking at his face… How can he make such a self-assured statement without any confidence?

“… Still, Duke, thank you for saying empty words.”

“Yes?”

Empty words, they weren’t empty; I was sincere. It was 200% pure sincerity.

Ashton, who had finally removed his hands from his face, wiped away tears while sniffling. I never knew he was a person who could shed tears.

“That means there is a possibility. It means the Duke might love me. Even if it’s just a speck of possibility.”

When teardrops like gemstones rolled down from his red eyes, flowing along the dense eyelashes, I almost ran to Ashton to console him. Don’t cry.

Crack. The paper and pen I was holding without realizing it crumpled. I barely maintained my composure.

Instead, my mouth grumbled without going through any filters.

“Second Prince, if you go outside, compare yourself with the people in the mansion. Comparisons are not good behavior, but Your Highness… no, His Highness Ashton, it might be okay to do it to understand how fatal your beauty is. Don’t you look in the mirror? If I were born a man, I wouldn’t even dream of having such thoughts. If you were born with perfect golden ratio features and still think you’re ugly, you’ll get hit by a rock passing by.”

Without pausing, I rambled on like a rap. Ashton just blinked his eyes. Damn it, even in this situation, he looked like a fashion model, so I couldn’t get angry.

“Do you understand? Did you get it?”

“Ah… I got it.”

Overwhelmed by my vigor, Ashton nodded listlessly with a face that seemed to have lost its soul.

His face was still burning, and now it turned red pepper paste color. Why is his face about to explode in color even though I complimented him? It was incomprehensible.

“Then, from now on, every time you get up to wash your face, look in the mirror and reflect. I am beautiful, handsome, the best. And if you dare say you’re ugly in front of me again…”

“If I… say?”

“I’ll assume that you’re giving up. I understand that you have no problems with yourself. I hate people who harm themselves even though there’s nothing wrong with them.”

What am I blabbering about now?