Chapter 81: CH 81

What are you talking about?

I didn’t know if I was supposed to be listening to what I was hearing at the moment. Demimore has a thing for Lausanne? What about Astina, then? Isn’t this a setting where you’ve admired Astina since you were a child? When I looked at him with a look of astonishment, Demimore raised his hands and began to shake it.

“No, no.”

“Love is obstructed by birth, I can’t help it.”

Despite Demimore’s denial, Lausanne kept speaking in a melancholy tone. In that unnatural exaggeration, I noticed Lausanne was pulling another prank on him.

Lausanne, if I had met you in my previous life, I would have made you a famous writer……? No, this is a pretty plausible setting. I was thinking about those things when Demimore said something that made me laugh just by listening to them from a distance.

“Until when are you going to say that?”

“Oh, no. Isn’t it true?”

“No way!”

Demimore strongly denied whether it was unfair to be misunderstood. When I saw him react like that, I realized why Lausanne kept playing tricks on Demimore. His reaction was so sweet and innocent. It was interesting to see a different side of him. He appears to be acting his age now. So I made a joke as well.

“A strong denial is a strong affirmation.”

“Mary!”

Demimore was astounded by my joking attitude. When I saw him turn white like that, I thought he might become transparent and turn into a ghost, so I rushed to fix it.

“Oh, I’m kidding, I’m just kidding,”

“Really, really don’t do that.”

Demimore’s eyes were teary as he begged me not to do that. I apologize for teasing you in that way. I thought Princess Lausanne would be embarrassed if he showed how much he disliked it, but she just looked and smiled. All I could think about was how generous she was.

No, I didn’t think we could be this playful.

Maybe I’ll go talk to Astina? Another depressing storm blew in.

“Hmm… I see.”

Lausanne nodded as if she knew something. Demimore had his head bowed.

“For the first time, Demimore must be grateful to our father.”

***

Lausanne and Demimore escorted me to the palace’s main entrance. While Demimore appeared distressed, Lausanne appeared to be extremely excited. They told me to meet up again later and then left, saying Grand Duke Estin would arrive soon.

Grand Duke Estin appeared immediately, as they had said. He appeared more worn out than before, so perhaps his meeting with the emperor took longer than he anticipated. Grand Duke Estin approached me at eye level and asked me a question.

“Yes, Mary. Did you enjoy the salon?”

“Yes, the princess treated me with great kindness.”

“Has anybody bothered you?”

I understood why he was asking me this question right away. Estin, the grand duke, is worried that I might have run into Cameron at the palace. I vigorously shook my head. It was a little vague, but I wasn’t bullied. Today I’m feeling confident. I didn’t cause any more trouble than Grand Duke Estin suspected.

“Yeah, that’s a relief.”

Grand Duke Estin smiled and stroked my hair, but he still looked skeptical. I was a little upset, but I understood Grand Duke Estin because of the problems I’ve caused so far.

“Are we heading home now?”

“Yeah, let’s go back.”

I was now looking forward to returning home. To be honest, I felt stiff when I entered the palace because I was so nervous. I’m returning home to take a bath, unwind, and lie on my bed.

However, the expression of Grand Duke Estin, who wanted to go home, seemed somewhat suspicious. I only blinked because he looked at me with some hesitation.

“There is a place I need to stop by at the emperor’s order.”

“Ah…”

“So I think you have to go home alone, is that okay?”

He was so busy with the construction that it was not surprising if something happened suddenly. However, I was a little confused because I didn’t think he would ask me if I was okay with it. He seemed worried about sending me alone, even though the Knights are going to accompany me anyway, seeing him worry so much makes me feel that I’m really his daughter.

“Shall we go back together?”

“Yes?”

Grand Duke Estin remarked as if he thought I was afraid to return home alone because all I did was stare at him silently.

“It’s better to stop by the mansion and go.”

“No way!”

Thank you very much, but you didn’t have to go that far; taking away a busy man’s time would be uncomfortable for me.

“It’s fine because it’s not an emergency.”

It’s an imperial order.

Are you really going to put off work and take me home first? Even if I insist that I can go alone, Grand Duke Estin will ignore it, so I chose to use some conciliatory measures rather than regular methods.

“I… It’s better for the Grand Duke to finish your work quickly and come home and stay with me, rather than taking me home and coming home late.”

It’s not completely a lie. I said, turning my hair around with my index finger. Grand Duke Estin, who was staring at me like that, suddenly hugged me. And then he put our foreheads together.

I could see the black eyes of Grand Duke Estin. Perhaps he was staring into the same colored eyes. It was incredible that the black colored eyes could only be found in one family. So, my family is the only one who can own this color.

“How are you able to lie while dodging my eyes like this?”

“…….”

I got caught. But strangely, Grand Duke Estin didn’t look so upset.

“I’m willing to be fooled.”

No, why do you look happy?

As I tried to grasp the true feelings of Grand Duke Estin, he put me back on the ground and patted me on the head a couple of times.

“I sent someone to the castle earlier, so Lucas will be waiting in the middle.”

Nodding.

“I’ll finish it and go home.”

I was just trying to avoid the situation, but hearing that he would be back soon made me feel better. I looked down at my shoes on the ground. Isn’t it obviously stuck on the ground? But why do I feel as if I’m floating?

Grand Duke Estin escorted me to my carriage. The knights I saw earlier awaited me. In a firm voice, Grand Duke Estin directed the knights to look after me. He also said it was fine to arrive slowly so I wouldn’t be uncomfortable on the way.

I could feel the corners of my mouth about to turn up as I heard such worried requests. I cupped my hands around my cheeks and pressed them together.

“I’m boarding the imperial carriage.”

“But wouldn’t it be better to take one of us?”

Concerned about Grand Duke Estin, one of the Knights suggested that he bring at least one knight with him. And I do concur. No matter how strong Grand Duke Estin is, there’s a big difference between one and two.

“It’s fine; just keep an eye on the child.”

Grand Duke Estin returned to me after patting the knight on the shoulder who said that. Then he sat down and looked me in the eyes.

“Now, do you have anything else to say?”

I clenched my teeth. I was going to say something earlier. I’d been meaning to say this for a long time, but I kept putting it off. I’m sorry I didn’t say these words sooner. I snatched up my courage.

“Earlier, I met my friend from the orphanage.”

“Astina Borneau?”

You know about this?

When he spoke, I took a step back from Grand Duke Estin because of the name that naturally came out. It was because I was taken aback.

“Did you know that?”

“I’m afraid there’s nothing I don’t know about you.”

“Do you know why I brought it up?”

Grand Duke Estin lowered his head and laughed quietly, then looked up and smiled at me.

You know it.

But you don’t want to talk about it. You want to avoid talking to me about the orphanage.

“I wonder how my friends at that orphanage are doing.”

No turning back. Putting aside Grand Duke Estin’s subtle rejection, I just rammed in. Grand Duke Estin nodded as if he knew it would happen.

“Yes, I’ll let you meet them later.”

“Later?”

“It’s not time yet. You’ll see them later.”

“Why? Why later?”

When I made a grumpy face, Grand Duke Estin touched my cheek. I had a feeling that no matter how much I pleaded, he wouldn’t give me the answer I desired. Grand Duke Estin spoke up, perhaps to reassure me.

“Remember, they have the best support right now.”

But where has Leo gone?

I couldn’t get the word out of my mouth. It’s so unfortunate that we have no idea where Leo is.