As if he were about to say something truly important, he took a deep breath.
But he couldn't speak right away. After almost panting through a few more deep breaths, he finally said my name.
"First of all, Miss Dory. How did you find out that I'm the same person as the Skull Mask from the salon?"
That, I could answer honestly.
"Your physique, your hostility toward nobility, and most of all, your interest in Miss Maria."
"Maria? D-Did I really make it that obvious?"
"Do you remember the first advice you asked me for? It was 'Who do you think Maria will dance with?' You threw in a bunch of lies before and after that, but that only made your initial sincerity stand out more."
"…That means you already knew how Rick Ray—not the Skull Mask—felt about Maria."
"Exactly."
To be fair, that was mostly thanks to the hints from the original story.
"Rick Ray. You met Maria during the hardest time in your life…"
I deliberately left the sentence unfinished.
I didn't want to name the feelings Rick had locked away and cherished himself.
He gently completed my hesitation with a word that sparkled.
"I adore her."
"…"
"Maria was the first person for whom I wished happiness without conditions. Probably because she was also the first to show me kindness without reason."
"Was this during your time in the Meyer estate?"
"Yes."
To Rick—who had been used as a pawn even by his own family and had lost trust in people—Maria, who trusted everyone equally, must've been a shock.
"At the time, I thought Maria's kindness, even toward the servants, was hypocrisy. So I gave her extra chores on purpose, taking advantage of her inability to say no."
"Ha… That's so immature."
That was something I'd nearly blurted out while reading the original novel. Finally saying it felt kind of good.
If this were a web novel, that chapter would've been flooded with 'Ugh, Rick is such a loser 👎' comments. Good thing the original was only in print!
Rick gave a bitter smile.
"Yes. But what was even more surprising was Maria's response. Even after she realized I was just being spiteful, she still did what I asked."
"…"
"Later, when I apologized and asked why, she looked at me with wide eyes and said, 'There's no reason my attitude has to be swayed by someone else's intentions, right?'"
"Ah…"
"That day, I learned that some kindness could remain unshaken. …And I also began to fall for her. Though I came to accept that it would never be returned."
"…"
"I'm glad. That Maria—so solid and beautiful, like a sapphire—was able to find someone who truly matches her… I'm really…"
Emotions he hadn't told anyone spilled out like a broken dam—unrequited love, friendship, admiration, jealousy, relief…
But Rick held back his tears. He bit his trembling lip hard and forced a smile as he looked at me.
"I'm really glad. Right? Arthur is perfect for Maria, isn't he?"
"…Yes. Maria found someone who suits her perfectly, and she'll be happy for a long, long time."
She will. Definitely.
"What you just said… I think Maria would've been happy to hear it. …But of course, I'll keep it secret."
"I feel like you'd keep quiet even if I didn't ask. Just like how you spent all that time playing along with me at the salon."
"Ahaha…"
"…Thank you."
"For what? That salon time was a lovely escape from everyday life for me too. I mean it."
Rick pretending to be someone else and occasionally spouting nonsense—that had been funny in its own way. Not something I could say aloud now, though.
…But wait. Is now really the time for heartfelt thank-yous? He still hasn't answered my question.
"Rick. My question was—"
"Yes. I had a very big reason for saving His Highness. Because he was your fiancé."
"Rick…?"
"I… I care for you, Dorys Redfield…"
Unlike earlier, when he clearly said he adored Maria, Rick's lips now couldn't form even one proper word. Since this was about me, I couldn't wait like before. And the context made the next word obvious.
"How did that happen?"
"Haha! 'How'—that's the perfect word for it. Out-of-the-blue kindness offering me cookies, blunt honesty, gentle care when I was drunk… I liked it all. When I thought about it, the only word that could wrap all those feelings together was 'that one.'"
"But you still loved Maria, didn't you? Even just now."
"Saying I 'adored' her and repeating it again now might sound like a lame excuse, huh. Yeah. My feelings for Maria were so intense that I couldn't even define how I felt about you for a long time. But in the end, I had to admit it."
"…"
"Ah, but this isn't a confession—more like a confession booth. I have zero desire to take things further with you!"
Rick waved his hands frantically, trying to clarify.
"If Maria is like a sapphire in a crown—distant and revered—then you're more like a dolphin swimming in the sea. You're not someone I could dare try to tie down."
His gaze held quiet resignation.
Maybe it came from a past where he'd never been able to form deep relationships.
…Part of me wanted to comfort him.
But I couldn't. He'd already made up his mind to keep his distance from me.
There was only one thing I could say now.
"So you saved His Highness for my sake. I sincerely thank you for that tremendous favor."
When the original story was shaken more than ever before—Rick protected my future.
"Thank you, truly… It must not have been easy, given how you felt about the Redfields and the royal family…"
"It's fine. Things were moving so fast that I didn't even have time to think about that."
Rick smiled, bittersweet.
"Especially when I realized that someone as composed as you could love Prince Tristan so fiercely… I couldn't bear to let you cry. My body just moved on its own."
"…Excuse me?"
"I didn't know I had such emotional sides to me either… Hmm? Why do you look like that?"
"Where did you hear that I love His Highness fiercely?"
"Sir Arthur told me during our last trip. He said that this spring, Miss Dory even asked for his help in romance because she was so passionate."
Suddenly, I remembered what had happened in May at the Queen's banquet. The time when I was fretting over Arthur and Maria's romantic subplot…
To trigger Arthur's possessiveness switch, I'd once told him, "Tristan is handsome. Way more charming than you. Be careful not to lose Maria to him."
I also mentioned that I liked Tristan during that time…
And that line somehow survived in Arthur's memory, reached Rick, and almost got him killed…?
The butterfly effect of a small lie shook me up for a brief moment.
And Rick, ever skilled at reading others, didn't miss the change in my expression.
"Dory…? Did I misunderstand something?"
"Ah, no! I've always been happy to wait for His Highness! I'm just flustered that you took it so seriously…"
"…"
"Really, thank you. But… I don't ever want to lose a friend again, so please—next time, think of yourself first."
The suspicion lingering in Rick's eyes slowly faded in the face of my request.
After spilling all his truths, he let out a belated, awkward cough and said,
"Ha… I've confessed things I meant to take to the grave. I'm sorry for worrying you—and most of all, for burdening you with something so heavy."
"Ahhhh! There's no need to apologize while bowing to the floor like that!"
I mean, sure, it was a bit much—but still!
Rick sat back down in his chair and continued.
"In any case, from now on, I won't seek you out or create any awkward situations. You can rest assured."
"…Got it. I—I really was oblivious, huh…"
I slowly pushed my chair back. More than feeling bad, it was just too awkward being alone after a confession…!
"Um, I'll go look for Prince Tristan for a bit! Why is he taking so long?"