Extra Scene, Act 1, Chapter 9 (Leire’s POV)

Note: This only happens if the MC is romancing Leire.

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The room is completely silent except for the sound of clothing and the distant bustle of the celebration going on downstairs. The exaggeratedly luxurious bathroom mirror gives Leire back her own reflection, and even she has a hard time recognizing herself in it.

The brave warrior twists her torso a couple of times to either side, testing a little the pull of the corset of the new dress left for her by the royal tailors in the room. With her musculature, it would be very easy to rip the seam simply by taking a deep breath, but the fabric seems to hold her movements perfectly, no matter how sudden they are.

The quality is noticeable, and Leire relaxes her posture, satisfied.

“Good,” the woman thinks with a nod toward her reflection. “I wouldn't want to break it.”

Her olive gaze wanders over the soft navy blue fabric made specifically for her.

'It matches well with the color of your eyes,' Ada had told her before forcing her to take the dress and carry it to her room to change. All this fuss over a simple and unnecessary farewell party.

But still, for a few minutes Leire stares at herself in the mirror.

It's a strange image. So accustomed is she to seeing herself in her armor or typical tank top that she finds it hard to believe that the person staring back at her is… her. But, even so, Leire can't stop a small smile drawing on her face, nor the blush that tinges her cheeks with a subtle pink.

She likes what she sees. She likes it a lot.

“Does it fit me as well as I think?” a hint of doubt rumbles in her head, making her smile falter for a moment. Her gaze drifts downward, collapsing next to her shoulders. “Probably not.”

The sound of the door opening pulls her out of her thoughts, and Albert peeks his head through the gap before fully entering his sister's room.

"Hello? Leire? Are you ready-?"

Albert's question trails off as he sees his sister in the doorway of the bathroom, his eyes widening at the sight of Leire in a dress.

The warrior averts her gaze and fidgets nervously in place.

"What do you think?" she asks with an uncommon shyness, toying with her fingers.

Albert recovers from the initial surprise, beaming from ear to ear. "By the gods, you look amazing, Leire!"

"You think so?" Leire says as she turns to glance at herself one last time in the mirror, pretending to adjust a stray strand of hair to hide her flushed cheeks behind her arm.

"Of course! You look gorgeous!" her brother exclaims, causing Leire's inner happiness to soar. "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were trying to impress someone."

Albert laughs at his own joke, but Leire doesn't join in. The warrior completely loses her smile, her older brother's comment bringing her movements to a sudden halt. Immediately, a specific person comes to mind.

The eldest Terrastar approaches his sister with some concern, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, if you don't like it, you don't have to wear it. No one's going to judge you for not dressing up. This celebration is for everyone, and that includes you."

Leire doesn't respond, she simply shoots her brother a look, relaxing at the kind smile he gives her. The one he has always given her.

"I'll wait for you downstairs, okay?" Albert finishes, to which Leire nods slowly.

As the door closes and the warrior is left alone again, the reflection in the mirror presents her with a different image.

"What the hell am I doing?" she asks to the mirror. "Am I trying to impress? Who? ...And why?" Leire knows. She furrows her brow and clenches her fists before undoing the hairstyle she had done.. The image is now more familiar to her. "No, I don't want to impress anyone."

A warmth rises up her back to her neck. A sharp pain pierces her temple, one that goes as quickly as it came, but it carries with it a warning that makes Leire's pulse quicken with fear.

She needs to silence her mind, and there's only one way to do that.

Leire exits the bathroom and opens the drawer of her nightstand to retrieve the small bottle she always carries with her. Without hesitation, she opens it and swallows its contents in one gulp before any remorse sets in. The sweet green liquid refreshes her throat, and within seconds she feels the dress constricting her muscles. She needs to get it off.

Rubbing her eyes, Leire hurries to shed the elegant attire and put on her usual clothes, leaving the dress in a crumpled heap on the bed before heading for the door, accompanied by the onset of familiar reproaches.

She'll go to the celebration, but only for Albert. Hopefully, she'll find a quiet spot in the garden where she can be left alone.

"And where I won't run into MC."

Leire exits the room, repeating the same lie to herself over and over again.