She had to be crazy. Why would this be given to ?
The invitation that had been shoved into my hand felt heavy.
Wow, you shouldve invited us too.
An invitation from Her Highness the Princess Im so jealous.
The noble wives congratulated with gazes of envy.
If youre so jealous, you guys go instead!
What excuse can I give to refuse this invitation?
I didnt want to get involved with Dahlia any more than I already was. But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldnt think of a suitable answer.
I glared at the invitation in my hands.
It seems that Grand Duchess Lapileon doesnt appreciate the invitation. You havent said anything.
Thank you for the invitation. Ill visit later, after checking my schedule.
Later. Maybe in about 30 years? Ill probably go at least one ti before I die!
Dahlia crinkled the sides of her eyes and smiled as she approached .
Since your body is so precious, you shouldnt do it yourself if youre busy. Just let the lower ones do it for you.
I can decide that for myself quite well.
Is that so? Then you shouldnt be so busy. When will that later be?
I could feel her strong desire to select a date today.
To be honest, my body condition hasnt been the best lately, so I cant give you a definite answer.
Oh no, what a sha to hear your body isnt well. Then I must invite you to the palace even sooner. We have quite talented doctors at the palace, you see.
No. When ill, its best to rest at ho.
Since youre sick, you must receive treatnt from the best doctors in the Empire.
Who knows what disease it is? If its infectious, itd be a terrible inconvenience if it spread to Your Highness the Princess, so I must be cautious.
If it was infectious, you wouldnt be going around like you are now. So it seems thats not the case.
Our battle continued endlessly.
Seeing how she was trying to invite at any cost, I strengthened my resolve to not go even more.
If I go, Ill die!
An alarm kept ringing inside of my head.
And just as Dahlias smiling red mouth was about to open again,
Your Highness the Grand Duchess!
I could see Selphius approaching quickly as he called loudly from afar. He ran to my side and stuck closely to , his wary gaze aid at Dahlia.
I greet Your Highness the Princess.
Yes. It wouldve been fine if you ca a bit slower. What a sha.
Preparing for the worst, Selphius put his hands on his red ruby earrings.
Just what is he about to do?!
After I saw him repeat the actions that hed taken in his fight with Siph, I pulled him back in surprise.
Selphi, just what are you!
Are you okay?
If you keep doing this Huh? What?
I was about to start scolding him, but was taken aback and fell speechless at his concern.
Why is he suddenly asking if Im okay?
I couldnt reply easily because I didnt know the aning behind his question. Selphius wrinkled his forehead in frustration at my silence.
Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Im asking if youre okay, and if youre not hurt anywhere.
Oh my, if soone heard, theyd think I was bothering Grand Duchess Lapileon. Nothing happened, Young Lord Lapileon.
I wasnt asking Your Highness the Princess, but Her Highness the Grand Duchess.
At Selphiuss sharp actions, I shook my head at him in surprise, motioning at him not to.
Why are you so on edge! The person youre talking to is a crazy psycho!
Selphius shouldnt know that were on bad terms, though?
Not to ntion, he probably doesnt know shes a crazy princess since shes smiling right now.
Dont misunderstand. I simply gave Grand Duchess Lapileon an invitation.
Even at Dahlias reassurance, Selphius turned to for confirmation.
Is that the truth?
Yes, I did receive an invitation.
It wasnt wrong. Since she had yet to do anything today.
For now, that is.
Really?
Yes.
Then thats a relief.
Selphius dropped the hand that had been holding the ruby earrings, before mumbling quietly so only I could hear.
I was taken aback by how scared Your Highness the Grand Duchesss expression was from afar.
So thats why he ran here and was so wary of Dahlia. Was my expression that bad?
If soone is bothering you, just tell .
I looked at Selphius through narrow eyes. Then, grabbing both his hands so he wouldnt be able to touch his earrings, I whispered to him.
You havent already forgotten my words from this morning, right? Selphi.
I do rember. However.
However?
If soone dares to bother Your Highness the Grand Duchess, I wont let them be. Its alright if I live in the countryside by myself for the rest of my life.
I could feel Selphius sincerity. At the childs unconditional faith, I was shocked into a loss for words.
After confirming there wasnt a big problem, Selphius looked around at everyone. Then, as if wanting everyone to hear, he spoke loudly.
Lets go back to the residence, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.
It seed like he was warning everyone that he was there at my side, so no one should touch .
Seeing him growl, even though hes so small, makes him seem like a cat No, maybe a cute dog?
Regardless, it was clear that thankfully enough, he had the intent to save from this hellhole.
As I was nodding my head in assent and was about to leave, Dahlia stopped .
Its the first ti the Grand Duchess has been out in a long ti, so why dont you go first, Young Lord Lapileon?
No! Too bad! Im going back with Selphius!
No, Ive been waiting for Selphi, and hes here now So itd be best if we took our leave. Lets go, Selphi.
Its your first ti out in a while, so stay a bit longer. You dont seem sick today, so lets go to a delicious tea house in the area and drink so tea together.
As Dahlia smiled and tried to approach , Selphius blocked her quickly.
Her Highness the Grand Duchess has rejected you already, so Ill take her back to the residence.
Dahlias eyebrows flinched. Looking down at Selphius, her eyes lost their color and beca cold.
How lucky of you, Grand Duchess. Like a flower in a greenhouse, it seems hes preciously protecting you.
Dahlias voice dropped a tone.
Although Selphius didnt know the situation, he must have gotten a brief sense of the atmosphere, for he didnt budge an inch.
Thats because the Grand Duchess is a precious person who must exist in our family.
Dahlias face crumpled up erratically, seemingly losing her wits after hearing him refer to as a precious person.
His Excellency himself told to make sure that not a single bug gets in her path.
A bug.
Dahlia bit her lower lip harshly, causing a drop of blood to form. It seed her patience had reached its limit.
Who knows what that crazy bitch will do!
It seed like she might hit soone at any mont. Selphius was blocking my way, so I quickly hugged him and hid him behind . It was then.
It seems you were all here.
The voice of a person with the ability to resolve this situation rang through the air. At his sudden appearance, the noble wives covered their mouths with their hands and bowed their heads, while Dahlia took a step back.
It seems we et again, Your Highness.
Your appearance was like that of a savior, Dahlia mocked as she watched Theodore, who ca to my side, and Selphius, who kept looking at her warily.
Wow.
After glancing at Selphius and I, he casually stepped in front of us, hiding us behind his back. Standing behind his wide back, my unease lted away like snow.
To make such a fuss just because of one invitation. If I invited the Grand Duchess twice, my head might go flying.
Looking around at the noble wives around her, she laughed.
It might even seem like Im harassing the Grand Duchess.
As if warning her, Theodore looked down at her as he spoke in a low voice.
Theres no way the wise princess would ever harass the Grand Duchess in a place where everyone could see, right? Although you might be able to do that if you t with her separately.
At the direct shot, Dahlia gave a chilly smile. Her red lips closed tightly. The noble wives who were watching did the sa.
With his appearance, the atmosphere was resolved smoothly.
If you have anything else to say, please do so now. Since its difficult for both my wife and I to give you ti.
Instead of replying, Dahlia stared at Theodore with a deep gaze. That gaze must have been uncomfortable, as Theodore crumpled his face.
Since it seems theres nothing, well take our leave.
Take your leave.
As soon as Dahlia gave her permission, Theodore turned his body, as if hed been waiting for it.
Lets go back, both of you.
As soon as he finished speaking, Selphius removed himself from my arms. Then, he promptly jumped onto the carriage that I had arrived on, and closed the door with a slam.
Ill return first with the carriage that the Grand Duchess rode here in, so the two of you take your ti and return in His Excellencys carriage.
W-What?
I locked eyes with Selphius. He smiled with a satisfied expression.
No, you dont have to! Dont be considerate of !
Before I could even reach out to him, the coachman started driving the carriage at Selphius order.
Damnit.
Although I watched the carriage that was getting further away with an astonished expression, the carriage did not return.
Lets take our leave too.
A calm Theodore opened the door of his carriage and reached out a hand to . At his actions that werent anything special, the noble wives started exclaiming Oh my, oh my!
Of course they would. Since Duke Lapileon had never escorted anyone until now, although that was probably because he had been avoiding physical contact.
Hah, Im tired.
I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Giving up, I grabbed my forehead with one hand, and Theodores hand with the other, getting onto the carriage.
Dahlia just silently watched this series of actions.
Shortly after, the carriage started off safely. Only after we had left that scene did I open my mouth, which had been clenched tight in fear.
Why did you co here?
Your lady-in-waiting returned to the residence first. Seeing that you didnt arrive even though youd left first to pick Selphi up, I ca to check on you.
Rebecca, nice one.
What did you discuss with the Princess? Nothing strange like getting your hair cut happened, right?
Instead of responding, I stared at the invitation that was still in my hands.
It must be because others were at the scene, but she didnt do anything. All she did was invite to the palace.
Itd be best to burn that invitation.
Eh, is it okay to burn an invitation from the royal family?
Taking the invitation from my hand and putting it into his pocket, Theodore snorted.
They wont know whether I burned it or not, so who cares?
That was true. After I nodded in understanding, Theodore asked.
Im asking just in case, but you werent planning on actually going, right?
I wont go even if you push my back and tell to go. I hate going towards my death, you see.
How wise Sothing like today might happen again.
If Selphius attends Delfanil Academy, there might be more incidents where I bump into the Princess, just like today.
If you dislike it, we can switch Selphius to a different academy.
Although it was an attractive offer
After considering it for a while, I shook my head.
I heard all prestigious families go to this academy? Then our Selphi has to go there.
Will you be okay?
We can ask Rebecca to send and pick up Selphi. If I dont go to pick him up, itll be fine. Send him to Delfanil Academy.
I couldnt let Selphius give up on the things he should be enjoying because of that crazy princess!
Will you be okay?
If Princess Dahlia has truly made up her mind to keep eting , it wont matter if we switch academies.
Theodore nodded, seemingly agreeing with what I said.
But still, if your mind changes at any point, let know.
I will.
He was surprisingly quite considerate of , seeing how he was planning on changing the academy of the heir of this family just for , even though I was only here because of a one-year contract.
Hes quite different from the rumors.
Absent-mindedly, I stared at Theodores face. The thought that his nacing-looking face must have played a role in spreading those rumors ca to mind.
Even though he was just staying still, he gave off such a dirty impression.
His chin was sharp, his nose was sharp. Even his eyes were sharp. Was he a saw blade, or what? Look how nacing his face appeared. Even those red eyes
Why do you keep looking at like that?
Ack! Your face looks nac Ah, no no!
Surprised at how suddenly our eyes locked, the thoughts in my head ca out of my mouth.
nacing?
Theodore wrinkled his brows. Crossing his arms, he stared at carefully.
Youre not talking about , right?
I was.
No way. So
So?
So, um
So, um?
Head, work. Brain, think.
The person with a nacing face
The nacing face?
Is the lawyer that I t today!
It was a laughable excuse.
Lawyer?
Y-You know how I t a lawyer today. His face was much more nacing than I thought itd be.
But I had to make it believable. I made excuses with all that I could, although Theodore just kept listening with an apathetic expression.
So? How was your conversation with the lawyer with the nacing face?
Phew, it seed he believed it sohow.
Um The law terminology was difficult, so I dont rember it that well, but we discussed situations where your inheritance gets cancelled.
Falsifying the will, blackmail, or murder?
Oh, you know it well?
Was your family talking about that?
As I nodded, Theodore spoke with a cold voice.
Theyre quite impressive, in a sense.
I thought so too.
As if he understood, he let out a low sigh.
Dont worry. Hes a skillful lawyer, so hell be of help to you.
Yes.
The carriage was filled with silence. I felt fatigue rush over suddenly. Hearing the constant sound of the wheels turning, I looked outside the window at the quickly passing view.
When I return, I should sleep a bit.
It was when I was thinking this that Theodore spoke.
I heard from your lady-in-waiting.
Pardon?
That you sorted out the wreckage of the statue?
Rebecca. Why did you tell him that? I was trying to avoid telling him so he wouldnt get upset.
I wasnt the one who sorted it out. I just ordered them to sort it out.
Thank you for saving so trouble.
Even though hed heard that his statue had been desecrated, Theodore was calm, as if it was soone elses issue.
Arent you worried?
Worried about what?
His Majestys statue was fine, although it was next to yours. Its only your statue that was destroyed.
So?
So? Wait, did he have no awareness? Or did he simply lack the ability to understand?
Arent you worried, since soone acted out of ill intent for you?
Did you worry about ?
Who? ?
Ha, gosh!
Do I seem like Id worry about you?
Forget it.
I swear, should I just hit him on the head?
As I was wondering whether or not I should form a fist, pretend Im crazy and just hit him once, Theodore spoke.
I told you last ti.
You told to hit you last ti?
Whoops, my mistake.
Theodore stared at with a gaze wondering what kind of nonsense I was spouting. So focused on thinking about hitting him, I couldnt help it.
That the Lapileon family has many enemies. I definitely told you.
Yes, you did.
So Im used to stuff like this. Its not sothing to make a fuss about.
To think hes used to being threatened. How ironic.
So what has to happen for you to make a fuss and be surprised?
Theodore, who had been indifferently staring out the window, turned his head at my question. The sun must have begun to set, for Theodores face was aglow with a red tone.
Who knows.
I swear
If you ever get hurt or threatened, Ill be sure to make a fuss.
The sky that had been painted by the sun eventually lit my face in red as well.
As if.
For real. Trust .
Im moved to tears.
After our short exchange, I rested my chin on the windowsill and watched the passing scenery.
The whole world was colored in red.
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