Lilliana's Jealous Knot
I'd clearly made a slip of the tongue.
"Your roommate… helped you?"
Lilliana's voice was low and calm as she asked that.
But that very calmness felt even more chilling somehow.
It was like the warm sunlight that had filled the greenhouse moments ago had suddenly turned ice-cold.
Lilliana was still smiling, her lips curved up, her expression seemingly sweet.
But her eyes weren't smiling at all.
"Uh, yeah. My roommate."
I answered as casually as I could.
Panicking or stumbling over my words here would just make it look even more suspicious.
"It was too uncomfortable to put on alone, you know? So many buttons, and I got all tangled up tying the ribbons. I just asked her to show me how to do it properly."
"Hmm… I see."
Lilliana's fingers tightened ever so slightly on the ribbon tie at my neck.
"So this roommate of yours dressed you, Lady Elise. Buttoned your shirt, tied your ribbon…?"
"Y-yeah. That's right."
"Standing close enough to feel each other's breath."
Her fingers trailed up the ribbon to lightly tap the top button of my shirt.
"Skin must have touched skin, then?"
"No way, it's just helping with clothes—what's there to touch?"
I shot back, grabbing my teacup to steady myself.
Clink clink clink clink.
But my hand trembled just enough that I couldn't hide the rattling against the saucer.
Please, just stay still.
Lilliana said nothing for a long while after my answer.
She just stared obsessively at the spot on my neck where the ribbon was tied.
"Lady Elise."
Finally, after an eternity of silence, she spoke.
"Your ribbon… it's a bit crooked now that I look closer."
"Huh? Really?"
It had looked fine in the mirror this morning. When did it get crooked?
"Yes. Take a close look. It's not balanced."
Lilliana was firm. Without even waiting for my response, she tugged at the knot.
Shhhk.
Aria's ribbon knot unraveled without a fight.
"See? It's crooked. And way too loose. The skill was good, but the finish was sloppy."
Lilliana muttered coldly, winding the loose ends around her fingers.
"Stay still. I'll redo it for you."
"Uh, it's fine for me…"
"Stay. Still."
Ignoring my protest, Lilliana tugged lightly at my shirt collar.
She stepped even closer.
Close enough that our knees nearly brushed.
A faint rose scent washed over me, making my head spin. Her fingers straightened my collar, then began retying the ribbon.
"Uh, um… it's a bit tight…"
"Bear it."
Firm reply.
"It has to be this tight or it'll come undone. So no one else can touch it carelessly."
She knotted it securely, then brushed her hands off with satisfaction.
"There. Done."
I didn't need a mirror to know.
A perfect, suffocatingly tight ribbon.
The pressure squeezing my throat was intense, but I couldn't bring myself to ask her to loosen it.
What if she strangled me for saying that?
"Lady Elise."
"Y-yeah?"
Her knuckles brushed my chin.
A movement loaded with intent.
"Next time… come to me instead."
"Huh?"
"If dressing is hard, just come here. I'll help you."
Her eyes bored deeply into mine.
"No, to come here from the dorm, I'd have to get dressed anyway. Can't exactly walk over in my underwear."
I babbled in panic.
"If that's the reason…"
Lilliana tightened the knot again.
"Shall I visit your dorm every morning?"
"…"
Just imagining it sent chills down my spine.
"No. It's fine. I'll handle it myself."
I waved her off frantically.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I need to get used to it. I've learned a bit now. Can't keep asking forever."
"In that case, I'm glad."
Lilliana didn't push further at my refusal, just looking a touch regretful.
Instead, she lifted her teacup and shifted the topic.
To the exact one I'd been dodging.
"By the way, Lady Elise."
"Yeah?"
"What's your roommate's name?"
"Name?"
"Yes. You praised her skill so much. I'm curious what she's like."
She nibbled a cookie from the table, smiling innocently. Like she was genuinely curious.
No, it was hard to believe, but saying the name here might lead to who-knows-what.
I answered as flatly as possible.
"Just… some ordinary girl. Can't really remember her name."
"You don't remember?"
"Yeah. We've only known each other a few days. Just sharing a room, that's all."
"Hmm…"
Lilliana rubbed the rim of her teacup with her finger.
"Letting her dress you like that means you're pretty close, but you don't know her name? You're so indifferent, Lady Elise."
"I'm like that by nature. Not really interested in other people…"
"Liar."
Lilliana cut me off bluntly.
Her icy tone made formal speech slip out naturally.
"Pardon?"
"You act indifferent, but you're actually very affectionate. You made friends with that girl in prison right away, and you even brought back a bracelet for your sister."
Her gaze flicked to the pink ribbon on my wrist.
"You must have gotten close to this roommate quickly too. No way you'd forget her name. That's just how you are."
She hit the nail on the head.
Lilliana was sharper than I'd thought.
No, she understood me far too well.
"Tell me. Her name."
"…"
"Why? Is there a reason you can't?"
Lilliana tilted her head.
"Are you… worried I'll do something to her?"
"No, it's not… like that."
"I'm hurt. I just wanted to get along with your roommate since you mentioned her."
Her pouty expression softened me a little.
Yeah, it's not like Lilliana would actually hurt anyone.
She's not that kind of girl.
I didn't know the details, but she was just a sweet kid a bit obsessed with me.
That was my impression since reuniting with her.
Besides, dodging here—what good would it do?
It wasn't some secret I could hide forever.
Anyone determined could find out my dorm room in C Hall and who my roommate was.
Hiding it might just fuel her suspicions more.
If she thinks it's someone special I'm hiding, it'll be even more trouble.
Better to be upfront and say it's nothing.
"Aria."
"Aria…?"
"Yeah. Aria Winter. Scholarship student in the magic department."
As the name left my lips, Lilliana's smile twitched upward subtly.
"Aria… such a pretty name."
She rolled it around in her mouth, savoring it.
"Magic department scholarship student. That explains the deft hands."
"Yeah, probably. Lots of drawing magic circles and stuff."
"Do you two get along well in daily life?"
"It's fine. She's quiet, just studies all the time—no clashes. No shared interests, so no real chats."
I downplayed our relationship as dryly as possible.
No mentions of eating together, sneaking out, or hiding in a box.
"Is that so? Good to hear."
She refilled my cup from the teapot. "She seems nice. Relieved she takes good care of you without bothering you."
"Yeah. Good kid."
"Must be, if you say so."
Lilliana smiled brightly and raised her teacup.
"Now, drink up. It's getting cold."
I lifted mine in a daze.
Did her mood improve?
She's not asking about the roommate anymore, so maybe.
Just as I started to relax—
I saw it.
The tips of her fingers gripping the teacup so tightly they were bloodless white.
What the hell.
How hard was she squeezing?
It was a miracle the cup didn't shatter.
"Aren't you drinking, Lady Elise?"
"Y-yeah, of course."
The ribbon's chokehold throbbed vividly every time I swallowed tea.
Not just while drinking, but through the afternoon tea time—learning flower arranging from her, hearing about rare plants.
It persisted.