CH 62

“Lorraine, doesn’t that sound like you were trying to meet him alone? Or is it just my imagination?”

It’s strange, it’s cold even though we’re indoors.

I want more fur stoles. It’s so cold that I want to layer ten or more of them. The stoles are supposed to promise the best warmth that can be a proof of nobility and wealth, and I’m already wearing one, but it’s still so cold that I want to layer more.

But for now, I have to answer the question of the Ice Prince, or I’ll be scared. So I’ll honestly answer him.

“It’s not like that.”

“You’re an idiot. Even the bugs around here have more caution.”

Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve heard such a piercing line.

Well, I’m used to it. I know that behind those words is a feeling of worry that’s hiding under a black cloth, so I won’t take it seriously. But I feel like crying.

“I’m, I’m sorry, I’ll be careful.”

As I answer, a big sigh is released.

It’s hard to tell if he’s amazed or relieved. After all, I can’t look at the face of my beloved because I’m scared.

“Well, it’s good that I knew beforehand. That way, I won’t have to put you in danger. But you’re right, I might just get in the way if I go.”

“In that case, I’ll give up. It seems like it would be safer to avoid the danger.”

“No, I think it’s better to know what he’s planning. You might get involved in something without even realizing it.”

Jeremiah is thinking about something seriously.

I quietly watched his face until he came to a conclusion. How cool he looks, struggling to come up with a good idea.

It’s not a face that is often seen, so it’s better for his excellent brain to do the thinking. Above all, he is a trustworthy person. I just have to trust him and act accordingly.

So, for now, I decided to watch and burn it into my retina.

Eventually, Jeremiah seemed to have come to a conclusion and turned his gaze from the floor to me.

“It’s a cliché, but I’ll have someone guard you. At least while you’re in this capital city.”

“Huh, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t I have a strong servant with me?”

Nobles are generally wealthy, so they need servants to act as bodyguards when they go out. That was the role of the servants.

“Yes, but it’s no use if I can’t trust them. There are suitable people in the Castalde family’s estate, but they are servants of that mansion. But I know someone.”

Jeremiah said while looking out the window.

“Lorraine, I don’t want you to go out until I bring that person. Well, I don’t think you want to go out in this weather anyway.”

“I see.”

Snow was falling outside, and it seemed like it would accumulate by tomorrow.

There were few people on the road beyond the gate of the Duke’s mansion. I didn’t want to catch a cold by going out on a day like this. I nodded.

“Understood, I’ll do that.”

As I answered, Jeremiah looked a little apologetic.

“I know it will be inconvenient for you, but I don’t know what to do if something happens to you.”

“It’s okay. After all, I came here because of my selfish desire to be a suitable person next to Jeremiah. Please don’t worry about it.”

While saying that, I couldn’t look directly at Jeremiah’s face. Why does this person say such things that make him unable to come down to earth like it’s normal?

I used to think it was acting, so I could let it go, but now that I know it’s true, it’s awkward.

“Thank you. Well then, shall we go to the library? The Duke’s mansion has a large library, and you can see various things. If you know the place, even if I’m not here, you won’t get bored.”

“Y-Yes.”

I managed to smile, and Jeremiah smiled happily. It was good that the misunderstanding was cleared up, but I couldn’t stand that face with such destructive power.

Like a heroine in a romance novel, I couldn’t muster the courage to face it head-on, so I inadvertently looked down at the floor.

◇

That night, a modest dinner party was held at the Duke’s residence.

Those gathered were the Duke and his wife Paula, his younger brother Jeremiah and his fiancée (me), and my younger cousin Lucia. Originally, Mrs. Morena, the accompanying person, was supposed to join, but she did not arrive even at night.

According to Lucia, she will probably come while taking a break in some town. That means I have to keep an eye on Lucia as much as possible until then.

In my mind, I wondered why they did not assign a more proper person to be the chaperone, but the Baron or his wife. I remembered the faces of Baron Palmara and his wife, whom I knew well, and gave up.

If it were those two, such a situation could happen.

As for Lucia, she seemed to be looking for the figure of the familiar servant and wandering her gaze around. However, since each of them has their own role to play, I thought she wouldn’t show up until mealtime, but she did. At that moment, Lucia’s eyes light up.

I was annoyed to see that.

On the other hand, the Duke, who had no idea about the situation happening behind the scenes, happily talked to me.

“Oh, I’m very happy to meet you, Lady Lorraine. When I heard about you from Paula, I felt a sense of familiarity,” Duke said with a slightly weak laugh.

He was a tall gentleman in his mid-thirties, and at first glance, he didn’t seem to have outstanding looks. However, his demeanor and behavior were refined, and he had a good physique and dignity.

His facial features were also good-looking, but his calmness was prominent, and combined with his light brown hair and eyes with drooping gray-green eyelids, he looked very gentle. However, according to Jeremiah, he transforms into a sharp-minded person who thoroughly considers the interests of the royal family and the country in politics.

I was surprised by the words that came out of the mouth of such a great nobleman. Where could you feel a sense of familiarity with this plain embodiment?

“I heard that you’re not very good at dressing up either. I heard that you have a dress that looks like an artifact from a bygone era. Actually, I was like that too until I met my wife.”

Come to think of it, I feel like I heard that somewhere. It was when Paula was saying something. She was in the midst of praising with her wonderful sarcasm, so my memory is vague because I was taking care of my heartache, but she was also saying something about her husband.

“I was scolded severely. She was famous for not coming out into society much, and I thought she was a weak woman, but when I met her, she suddenly said that my attire was not suitable. But I fell in love with her at first sight, so I even thought it was a good opportunity. Even if she scolded me, I was happy to be able to interact with her.”

While eating, the Duke occasionally looks at Paula with affection.

Paula seems to be happy to be looked at, and a smile appears on her lips.

“Thomas was so persistent at that time. He asked me over and over again every time we met, wanting to know what was wrong with his attire. Thanks to him, I ended up spending all my time dancing and dining with him.”

“I didn’t want someone else to steal your time. Besides, I can get good advice from you, so there’s nothing to say.”

“You’re a troublesome person.”

Paula laughed happily. And the two of them looked at each other. I’m already full, thank you for the meal.

I had heard about it and had Duke-sama’s poetry collection related to the support group, and the content was very touching, but when I saw the actual thing, I felt a little heartburn.

Tatiana had commented that they were a silly couple beyond imagination, but it wasn’t like that. It was at the level of a minor pollution.

I shifted my gaze to the luxurious food in front of me, which could be mistaken for palace cuisine. As expected of the Duke and Castalde families, their food was delicious, but the chefs here also served visually stunning and innovative dishes.

It would be a shame not to enjoy it to the fullest.

Jeremiah, who knew this would happen, was not looking at his sister and her husband from the beginning and was focusing on his meal. Leaving the two of them to their own devices, I decided to follow his lead and make the meal the main focus.