Knock, knock, knock.
âLady Elle, the Count is calling.â
Iâm still upset, but Edgar always found me.
There was no way that guy would have said it.
If thatâs the case, itâs probably just to ask if Iâve found something.
I shook my head again.
âWhat are you talking about?â
If I immediately say he has a pattern, the Young Duke will not stay still.
Didnât we decide to shut up?
If thereâs a rumor about Leon out there, itâll be a problem.
I think itâs more of a loss, but it was a matter that could have been repaid in a different way.
âYou didnât cause an accident in the meantime, did you?â
At Diriaâs words, I raised the corners of my mouth awkwardly.
It wasnât my accident. Since Leon did it.
But for now, Leonâs safety was good as I was protecting it.
âNothing.â
ââ¦â¦Really?â
I had to lie to Diriaâs worried gaze.
Because I didnât want to worry her.
âYes, heâs just curious about how the meeting with Young Duke was.â
âIâm glad, then. My heart sinks whenever the count finds you.â
Indeed, Diria was the only one here who worried about my safety other than Leon.
Lately, Iâve gotten better with the maids, but I donât know how long it will last.
Diria asked me if I suddenly felt something strange.
âBut you donât even know his name? Why donât you call him by his nameâ¦â¦.â
I just donât want to say his name.
âIs the name important? Anyway, we only saw each otherâs face once because itâs necessary.â
âThatâs true! However, if a pattern like him appears, I think youâre really meant to be.â
Iâm telling you.
Diria had too much fantasy about patterns.
Because she was one of those people who didnât get a pattern yet.
She doesnât even want to think in cases where the pattern doesnât appear forever.
âIâll be back.â
I closed the door with a big smile.
As I followed the guide, my expression turned cold and hard.
* * *
On my way to Edgarâs office, I stopped walking.
âOh, I really look like X today.â
I happened to run into Delther on the way to Edgar.
âHeâs walking around like crazy.â
My eyes frowned at the sight I didnât want to see.
Oh, I really donât know what this is about.
I walked forward with my head bowed, pretending to be lost in thought.
ââ¦â¦Youâre looking ahead, right? Or was it a trick to pretend you didnât see me?â
As expected, Delther didnât just pass by me like this.
Was it too obvious? Iâm sure it was.
It was a plan to pass by without seeing him.
âOh, Your Highness, why are you wandering around here at this hour?â
In the end, he smiled pretentiously.
Deltherâs brows frown, but I didnât mind.
âI donât want to talk to you right now.â
If we just pass by each other, we wonât be tired.
Why do you keep pretending to know?
Is it because youâre an imperial family, or do you get sick if you donât get attention?
âAre you on your way to meet your father?â
âDo I look free?â
âHa haâ¦â¦.It canât be!â
It looked very much like that.
But if I tell you the truth, Iâll use up my emotions.
âThen, are you really here to meet the Count? You two seem to get along better than I thought.â
âIs that so? This is our daily routine.â
I guess itâs a relationship where you have to go when called.
Delther looked at me with a surprised face.
âDo you have any problemâ¦?â
âHave you not seen Princess Janice?â
âWell, I had work.â
âAre you already helping the Count?â
Whatâs up with those contemptuous eyes?
I felt as if you were laughing.
I donât like anything in his eyes.
It might be better to stay like this.
I never wanted to get along with him.
âShould I ask the servants to look for her?â
âWell, how long does it take to find a person in this little house? Itâs alright.â
ââ¦â¦Oh, yes.â
Then you can do it.
I tried to get back on my way, nodding my head towards Delther.
âI think Iâve heard of marriage.â
Where else did you hear that?
Is there a spy in the house?
There may have been someone who tells the house lame story to Delther.
Isnât he a prince? It was a perfect opportunity for them.
âIt wouldnât be bad to find a traitor at this time.â
Maybe I should give you a heads up while Iâm on my way to Edgar.
Thereâs no way this good building is soundproof after all.
âBut it would be better not to get involved with the family. Was it Cedric Amelan?â
ââ¦â¦Why?â
I didnât mean to get involved, but I was wondering why you were saying this to me.
âThe Duchy of Amelan is a family with nothing but false honor. Itâs on the verge of extinction. I canât believe you donât even know such basic information.â
Edgar would have known that.
âWhat the hell is he trying to get?â
If the information youâre trying to get from selling me is nothing, Iâll definitely have a blast today.
âBut why did you tell me that?â
I tilted my head to one side.
Isnât it strange. Why are you telling me this?
Rather, there was nothing wrong with him if I married such a family.
Itâs really weird.
Why does that matter?
Whatâs the point of knowing what kind of whims Delther is giving me information about?
âLooking at it, your highness seems to be very interested in me.â
I stopped and just turned my head and looked at Delther.
âDo you think Iâd be interested in you?â
He raised the corners of his mouth sharply.
It was a clear mockery.
Laugh or not, if you donât care, thatâs fine.
âThen can you tell me one more thing while youâre at it?â
âYou want to hear something else?â
He seemed very proud of himself.
âWell, youâve saved a poor life. Instead, I will also tell you where Princess Janice might go.â
Iâm filming it, though. There was only one place for her to go in our house.
âIâll take part in the next auction at the Duke of Amelan.â
âWhat kind of auction?â
âWhy donât you look it up on your own?â
I think itâs up to here.
Still, it was better than having no information at all.
I felt relieved when I thought so.
âThere is a high probability that she will be in the garden behind the house.â
âWhy? There must be gardens elsewhere.â
âThere are many flowers that you canât see anywhere else.â
If you see a beautifully blooming flower, you will be fascinated by it and walk in the garden.
If she didnât come here on her own will, sheâd feel stuffy.
She must have gone for a walk.
âThen Iâll say goodbye.â
I tried to turn my back beautifully. Soon after, I stopped at Delterâs words.
âOh, by the way. Your knight.â
ââ¦What?â
âTell him to stop paying attentionâ
âWhatâs that?â
I blinked at the sudden remark.
Did Leon throw any interest in the crown prince?
That wouldnât be possible with his personality.
âI think heâs interested in Janice. I canât believe Iâm turning over an royal woman on the subject of a knight guard.â
â¦Thatâs because you donât know what Leon is like.
What do you mean? Itâs because Delther doesnât know, but Leon was a man who wouldnât be attracted to Janice.
At Deltherâs words, a false smile broke out of my lips.
âHeh.â
âDid you just laugh at me?â
âNo, it canât be. The Knight must have been rude when he saw an important person for the first time. I will tell him.â
He looked suspicious at my excuses.
âYou heard it wrong. I suffered a lot today. It takes my breath away.â
Huh, huh. Phew.
I exhaled as Iâm conscious of Deltherâs gaze.
And I rolled my head to get him out of the way he was still staring at me.
âCome to think of it, Your Highness also seems to be worried. As expected, youâre uncomfortable here, right?â
Delther looked puzzled.
âOn the contrary, Iâm more comfortable here, but you must be uncomfortable.â
Oh my.
How comfortable it is to stay in the Velois family, who are no less enemies.
I canât believe what he said.
âThatâs a relief, then. Then make yourself at home. Iâm going to leave, my father is waiting for me.â
Fate will lead them to the same place anyway.
Seeing something like that makes me sad.
ââ¦â¦Whatâs with that expression?â
Oh, my.
I scrambled to conceal my expression.
It seems that the emotions are revealed on my face.
âFrom a while ago. That keeps getting on my nerves.â
Deltherâs patience was about to explode.
Itâs really time to stop talking.
âIâm tired today, so please understand.â
Ha, ha, ha.
I left an awkward smile and walked quickly before he could catch me.