The Legendary Villainess Who Vanished on the Guillotine, in Her Second Life She Wishes for Peace as

Chapter 26: Behind the dinner party〈Camilo’s perspective〉

When our eyes met, my breath and time stopped simultaneously.

Until the Exiled Duke’s Daughter,...

It was because Leticia, who came to the Duke’s house on the day of the dinner party, was so beautiful that words cannot express it.

(A dress in the color of young grass… is it matching my eye color? Am I dreaming?)

As I absentmindedly stared at her, I remembered the discussion we had before summer vacation with Elias and Miss Alondra.

Since I heard that Agustin and Miss Yserra’s relationship was not going well, I had been at a loss about how to deal with my pent-up feelings.

If those two weren’t really getting along, Leticia might not have to give up on Agustin after all.

If Leticia hasn’t lost her feelings from her first life yet, maybe I should step back.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Although I knew in my head what I should do, there was no way I could let go of Leticia.

What if she asks me to pretend like the engagement never happened when we meet next time?

Because I had even thought about such things, I had been afraid of this day coming.

Today’s Leticia was an angel who purified my ugly possessiveness.

The former Leticia, who was called the Black Rose Princess, was also beautiful, but I don’t think it’s just my hubris that I find her current self exceptionally beautiful.

Her sparkling rose-colored eyes.

The light green dress that stood out against her white skin.

A pearl hair ornament in her black hair, which flowed in loose waves.

Her well-shaped lips exuded a luster, and her cheeks had a translucent radiance.

“…Well, well. This Young Lady is much more splendid than I imagined! Right, Camilo?”

As my father slapped my back, my body leaned forward, and Leticia disappeared from my sight.

What’s going on? Father, please stop it. I want to see more of Leticia, don’t interrupt.

I stood up silently.

Then, my gaze was magnetically drawn to her exquisitely open neckline.

Is this how sexy someone looks when they wear a dress, even though they’re always buttoned up in a uniform?

Actually, I knew it, but it’s… No, no, clear your mind.

If I keep staring at her chest, she’ll definitely notice. If Leticia looks down on me, I’ll have no choice but to die.

Father tapped my back again, but I was struggling desperately against my desires, so I couldn’t react.

The dinner party went smoothly.

Marquis Benito and his wife seemed to have noticed that I had been completely charmed by Leticia, and both had a pleasant smile on their faces.

They were both nice to the nervous newcomer who couldn’t hide his tension, and they were wonderful people who understood how important Leticia was to me.

It was unbearable to see my father and mother in such a good mood next to me, but I’m grateful that they’re happy about the engagement.

How could you not like Leticia?

She’s so beautiful, her manners and etiquette are perfect, and she’s even excellent in her studies.

My parents aren’t the type of people who judge only by superficial information, but as they talked, they seemed to be completely charmed by her personality as well.

“Leticia-san is working very hard. She’s amazing.”

Mother spoke calmly. Then Leticia smiled brightly like the sun, looking very happy.

“Thank you so much. I’m delighted to be praised for doing what I love!”

She’s just too cute.

My parents look like they’re about to say, “It’s so soothing…”, but I don’t think I’m one to judge.

It’s really hopeless. Leticia is too captivating today, and I can’t focus on anything properly.

It happened while I was absentmindedly watching as the lemon sorbet was being served.

Leticia noticed that Samuel’s mouth was dirty, so she picked up a napkin.

“Look this way, Sam.”

Leticia spoke with a voice filled with affection, making anyone listening to her smile.

I had heard before that she adores her little brother, but it seems like she really does. He’s certainly a good and obedient boy.

Leticia was carefully wiping Samuel’s mouth. As I watched Samuel squint with delight, I couldn’t help but think this.

(… How nice.)

“What’s wrong?”

Leticia tilted her head suspiciously. I didn’t want to be exposed for my childish jealousy, so I replied, “No, It’s nothing.”

It seems like my thought process was transparent to my father once again, and he tapped my back with his Dragon Knight strength. Ouch, it hurts.

Sigh, how nice it would be to have her wipe my mouth for me. Even if I were to ask, I wonder if she would actually do it——.

Smirking ¬‿¬.

That moment.

When our eyes met, Samuel seemed to have a triumphant smirk on his face, or was it just my imagination?

…No, no, no. It must be my imagination. There’s no way a small child would have such a mean smirk like that.

I’m just getting too obsessed with Leticia. I should eat some sherbet and cool my head.

——Smirking ¬‿¬.

(W-Wait, he did it again?!)

He smirked! When Leticia looked away for a moment, he clearly had a nasty smirk on his face this time!

“Well, come on, Sam, the sherbet is going to melt. You should have some too.”

“Yes, let’s eat!”

Leticia gently stroked Samuel’s head.

Samuel, who had just shown a childish innocent smile, began to eat the lemon sherbet with relish.

“It’s wonderful that you two siblings get along so well.”

“Yes, Leticia takes good care of him, so I’m grateful.”

As the mothers smiled at each other, Samuel looked back at me again.

——Smirking ¬‿¬

T-This kid…!

You little…!

He’s deliberately showing off his closeness with Leticia…!

After that, I continued to eat the sherbet with trembling hands, overwhelmed by the sense of defeat.

By the time the meal was over, thanks to our parents’ thoughtfulness, I finally got some alone time with Leticia.

I guided her and we walked through the garden of Duke’s mansion.

Although I didn’t really know the names of the flowers, they were filled with vibrant colors of summer.

Watching Leticia walking under a parasol in the midst of it all, I remembered how we used to have conversations in the courtyard of the royal castle in my previous life.

Ah, it’s really beautiful.

Back then, you belonged to Agustin.

And now, you probably don’t belong to anyone.

“Your parents are really wonderful. Did Camilo become a dragon knight because he admired his Otoo-sama?”

“Huh? Oh…yeah, that’s right.”

Lost in my own thoughts, I could only give a vague answer when Leticia talked to me.

For some reason, her flower-like smile darkened at my ineptitude and she looked down, asking, “…Did I do something wrong? Camilo seems strange today. If it’s because this dress doesn’t suit me, I won’t wear it anymore.”

I could tell from the grip on the handle of the parasol that she had put force into her hand.

It was then that I finally realized that I had hurt Leticia with my half-hearted response and the sadness in her trembling eyes.

That’s right, I have.

Even though I think she’s so beautiful, I haven’t told her that even once.

“No, it’s not like that…! It’s because Leticia, with my eye color, is so beautiful! I’ve been mesmerized by her, all this time!”

There were other reasons, but that’s what I said. Samuel, that brat…

“It’s impossible that it doesn’t suit you! You are the most beautiful and prettiest girl I have ever seen!”

After a ridiculous and desperate plea, Leticia looked up at me in a daze for a while, blushing rose-colored from her cheeks to her ears and even to her elegantly opened white neckline.

“Ah…um…! Th-thank you…”

Leticia finally managed to say that much and lowered her head as if hiding under her parasol.

Her adorable gesture made me blush as well.

How much more do you have to make me crazy about you?

I want to get closer.

I want to be with you more than anyone else.

“Hey, Leticia. Your family calls you Letty, right?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right.”

As she tilted her head at the sudden change of topic, she looked adorable. With my relaxed and sloppy expression, I asked her a favor.

“I want to call you Letty too. Would you let me?”

“Let you call me that… Of course, you can. You can call me whatever you like,” Leticia smiled.

To me, this smile is the most important thing in the world.

If I could protect this smile by my side for my entire life, how happy I would be.