chapter 85
* * *
I changed into the gifted clothes and stared at myself in the mirror, sinking into worry.
The sudden flood of gifts—could it be someone said I looked shabby, like a beggar?
To be fair, there was that one time I went out bundled like an Eskimo in a thick coat, fur boots, and heavy gloves. I’d been desperate to stay warm. Someone must have seen me and tattled.
‘Did they give me these because they were embarrassed to be seen with me?’
Not impossible.
Putting on a solemn face, I looked toward my loyal maids, who also happened to be my brilliant makeup artists.
“Make me look more powerful. Like a warrior queen demanding a refund.”
“That look doesn’t really suit you, Princess. But… we’ll give it a shot.”
With no choice, the maid gave me a dramatic makeover. When I saw myself in the mirror, I was so startled I flinched—I looked like a guitarist from a metal band.
“When the other girls do this, they look alluring, sexy, like they’re going to seduce the world.”
“Everyone has a different style, Princess. For you, a touch of color is more than enough.”
As if she’d expected this, the maid smiled gently while rubbing off the makeup with cleansing oil.
“In truth, your natural look is the most lovely.”
“Yeah. I like myself.”
No matter what body I was born into, I would’ve liked the way I looked.
Still, I wasn’t about to go out looking like a frozen hunter. I had every intention of dressing appropriately for the time and place.
* * *
I arrived downtown with Masera, shivering and huddled into myself.
This was a district packed with upscale shops, and naturally, the people around us were dressed stylishly, not warmly. I seemed to be the only one having such a weak thought as “you’ll freeze to death looking like that.”
Masera looked at me, blocking pedestrian traffic by standing close.
“Why are you dressed so lightly?”
“To look cool.”
“You should have dressed warmly, like the other day.”
“When?”
“When you layered up like an arctic hunter to buy cat treats.”
He saw that?! I was only dressed like that for a second, how come it feels like the whole world witnessed it?
Wondering if he was being passive-aggressive, I studied his face—but I found no trace of mockery or reproach.
“Wouldn’t you be embarrassed to be seen with me if I dressed like that again?”
“Why would I be embarrassed?”
Masera looked genuinely confused.
“You looked good. Like someone wearing a bear costume.”
I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or sarcasm, but he stopped walking and gestured toward a nearby building.
“This is the restaurant you said you wanted to try.”
I looked up at the building he indicated.
Oh—wasn’t this the famous place known for staying open even after being bombed, with a banner that said “We’re Still Open!” hanging over the ruins? It was known for its grit and consistency.
“But it’s super popular. No matter your status, if you don’t make a reservation…”
“We can just go in.”
Oh, did he already make a reservation? He’s always thorough with preparations.
I followed him. When the employee asked if we had a reservation, Masera replied simply:
“No, we didn’t.”
…?
So he really meant just walking in? I stared at him in disbelief.
Then he pulled something golden and shimmering from inside his coat and showed it to the staff.
“Ah! It’s an honor to have you here. Please, right this way.”
The staff bowed deeply.
Looking closely, I saw it was a war hero’s medal—something honored across the entire world. The highest recognition.
He was using it like an invincibility pass…
‘Wow. That’s so cool.’
If I live with a man like that, I’ll never have to stand in line for a famous restaurant again.
As expected, the meal was delicious. After dessert, we discussed where to go next.
“How about the zoo? It’s run by the government and houses rescued animals.”
I only asked for formality’s sake. He had already agreed to follow my lead, so we were going anyway. As expected, Masera nodded without complaint.
The zoo turned out to be quite large, with a snack bar and souvenir shop.
“Would you be interested in trying those?”
“If the Commander-in-Chief himself ordered me, I’d still refuse.”
I had pointed to the display of tangerine hats and animal headbands outside the shop. His rejection was swift and decisive.
I’d wanted to experience that silly couple-at-an-amusement-park vibe at least once. Disappointing.
Then I spotted it—an arctic fox, also known as the snowflake fox—and I was utterly entranced.
“Oh my gosh… It’s so fluffy, white, and pretty…”
Masera watched as I practically leaned into the enclosure and asked,
“Do you want to raise one? If so, the cats at the residence might not survive.”
As expected of someone who read the entire Deep Dive into Felines cover to cover—his knowledge was impressive.
We moved on to see a bear. It performed tricks in exchange for treats, so a large crowd had gathered.
“But wouldn’t it be hard for it to survive if released back into the wild after all this?”
“It probably won’t be released.”
Masera pointed to the signboard next to the enclosure.
-Hi, I was raised in a circus from the time I was a cub.
A circus bear?
When it came to animals, my emotional ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ defenses weakened even more. This was dangerous.
-I lost my mother to a hunter…
No! My tear button’s about to get pushed!
Unable to finish reading, I turned back to the bear. People were throwing snacks and laughing.
That’s when I heard a man’s voice—familiar and low.
“Losing its mother to a hunter, then living as a circus clown… From a distance it looked fun, but up close, it’s a tragedy. Maybe I’m sensitive to stories like that.”
Who… talks like that, so in tune with my emotions?
I turned to look around—and froze when I saw the elegant gentleman with black hair.
It was Makia, standing in a long coat, watching the bear.
His appearance was city-sleek—except for the rabbit-ear headband on his head.
Next to him stood another man in a sharp black suit, hair slicked back like a mafia lieutenant… also wearing an animal headband. A giraffe this time.
Two dark, dangerous-looking men in animal ears… at a zoo?
There was no way they were just here casually.
“Stan, did you know? If you eat chocolate and chewing gum together, the gum melts.”
“Amazing.”
Their conversation was shockingly mundane.
“Princess, hello.”
I hadn’t planned to acknowledge him for the sake of privacy, but Makia greeted me first.
Feigning ignorance, I acted like I didn’t notice his companion at all.
“Oh? What a coincidence. Hello.”
I had already told Masera about Makia.
I’d mentioned meeting him in an old shelter when we were children. Masera had said he couldn’t remember—so many kids had passed through.
But how was I supposed to introduce someone walking around a zoo in animal ears with another man like that?
“Brigadier, this is the volunteer I met back at the orphanage I told you about.”
As expected, Masera watched them with guarded eyes.
Makia smiled and held out a hand.
“Nice to meet you. I work in sales for a machinery parts company.”
Behind him, the children I’d once volunteered with waved at me excitedly.
“Princess! The uncles brought us to the zoo!”
They were the same kids from the orphanage.
The man in the black suit and giraffe ears had a fierce aura, yet he was staring intently into a glass enclosure.
There was a giraffe inside.
So… he just liked giraffes. He was a warm-hearted man after all.
I reflected on how narrow-minded I’d been to judge him by appearance.
* * *
While Cynthia’s attention was fixed on the giraffes, Makia glanced at Masera with a subtle smile.
“Looks like I’m the only one who remembers. We met in the shelter, didn’t we?”
“…Seems so.”
His hair made him look Medeian, but the delicate, refined air about him brought to mind Esats.
From the expensive clothes and accessories, Masera guessed he must have been adopted into a good family.
But Makia, ever perceptive, spoke up.
“I wasn’t adopted either. Said I had issues. So I enlisted as a child soldier, just like you.”
He nodded toward the bear gnawing on a fallen apple.
“Doesn’t that bear begging for snacks remind you of the old days?”
They had joined the army because someone told them they wouldn’t go hungry—but the truth was far from it. Hungry kids, exhausted from famine, did chores for the soldiers just to eat.
Masera felt an inexplicable unease as Makia dredged up memories best left forgotten.
“You were hospitalized at the national hospital, right? When you were a kid. I was there too.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Masera’s face visibly stiffened.