I moved awkwardly towards Klaus. Klaus was dressed in a robe-like nightwear.

Approaching him, I awkwardly held up the bag.

“It’s a cheap outfit purchased from a downtown store, but it’s the only dress I have.”

Once I tried to put it on, I felt embarrassed. Surely, as someone of noble status like a Crown Prince, it would not look appealing.

“When I go to the newspaper office, I put on makeup, but this time, I decided to skip it because it seemed distant from the appearance you desire.”

Hesitatingly, I continued, “So, where should I change?”

There should be a dressing room connected somewhere in this room, but since I usually just talked with Klaus and left, I didn’t know the layout of Igor’s bedroom.

So, after asking, I subtly panicked. Surely, he wouldn’t ask me to change right here?

“Oh, there’s a dressing room over there.”

Fortunately, Klaus was a reasonable person. He raised his finger, pointing to the door on the wall that wasn’t clearly visible from my position.

“Don’t worry; I won’t peek.”

He pointed out the location of the dressing room and even gave a small laugh.

I stepped into the dim dressing room. Feeling the wall, I fumbled for the light switch.

Soon, a dim light expelled some of the pitch darkness.

“Alright…”

I murmured to myself, trying to suppress my pounding heart. First, I took off the jacket. Then the pants, followed by the shirt.

The fabric tightly wrapped around my chest was revealed. My hands, untying the knot, trembled.

I took the dress out of the bag. A knee-length skirt, which, when worn by others, would reach their ankles, but for me, it was considerably shorter.

There were some wrinkles, but Klaus would probably understand to some extent.

Finally, I put on the veiled hat.

Because of Anton’s sharp eyes, I was startled, but he never got to see my face behind the veil.

There was no way he could have discovered my true identity.

After checking my appearance, I cautiously walked out of the dressing room.

“I’m all dressed up.”

Klaus slowly looked up.

“It’s dark, so I can’t see well, Musel.”

I had no choice but to move forward. I approached the table in front of the sofa where he was sitting.

“I apologize for the shabby outfit. It’s the only thing I have.”

Klaus stared at me in silence.

…

It felt like his gaze was piercing through my heart. I couldn’t look straight at him and bowed my head.

Suddenly, I felt his movement as he stood up.

Closing my eyes tightly behind the veil, Klaus came closer.

“Musel.”

Hesitantly, I raised my head at his call.

Klaus carefully held my fingers, lifting them.

…

He discreetly grasped my other hand that wasn’t held. My face grew hotter again.
He, with a serious expression devoid of any trace of laughter, meticulously touched and examined each of my raised fingers. A silence followed, so profound that not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Gradually, Klaus’s exploration extended to my wrist. After lightly grasping my wrist with his hand, he slowly ascended along my arm. It felt as if he were discovering my identity in a secret chamber, much like when he realized it in a secret archive. Strangely, the touch of his hand holding my arm didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Was it because I love him? If he sensed that he was holding me precious, was it just my own delusion?

The hand that was caressing my arm and shoulder moved to my lower back. Soon, Klaus’s other arm also tightly wrapped around my waist, as if giving me a chance to escape, and he slowly pulled me into a hug. Nevertheless, as if tied to an inescapable knot, I couldn’t help but be drawn deep into his embrace. The softness of my untouched body met with his firm upper body. A faint sigh-like sound was heard. His warm breath touched my neck. If I were a typical romance novel heroine, my vision would have darkened when embraced like this, burying my face in the hero’s chest. But I was Musel, the sub-male lead. With nearly the same eye level as the male lead, I could see beyond his shoulders when embraced.

I wished I could bury my face in his chest like a typical romance heroine. I could have inhaled his scent deeply. However, this wasn’t bad either. Our two hearts were beating at the same height.

I closed my eyes tightly. Thump-thump, another heartbeat joined my own rhythm, and the unique rhythm gradually changed.

“……Musel.”

Eventually, in the same rhythm, as if becoming one heartbeat.

Thump-thump.

It became an even greater resonance.

“Yes.”

At the moment I answered his call, an inexplicable overwhelming joy surged over me like a wave. Tears welled up for an unknown reason. Suddenly, the pleasant vibration he created transmitted to my chest.

“Call me Colin.”

At his words, I weakly smiled. Then, a small sigh was heard behind my head.

“You won’t call me that until the end.”

The arms that tightly embraced my upper body gradually loosened. Klaus gently released me from the embrace.