Chapter 32

Chapter 32

No—if everything had been decided before they were even born and there was no way around it, then why had Duke Lilles raised his son to be such a scoundrel? He was well-educated, sure, but was that wild temperament just something no one could fix?

Either way, Idina wanted to tell someone about her fate—to place blame somewhere—but even that felt like a stretch.

Idina glanced back at the maid who was following her, then turned to Lilles and asked first.

<Where should I unpack my luggage? You can guide me to that point, right? Old fiance.>

<Oh, you can unpack in the guest room.>

Surprisingly, Lilles readily guided her to the guest room of the mansion.

Idina frowned at that sight again. It was because Lilles’ behavior was unexpected again today.

As expected, there were still too many things she didn’t know or understand about Lilles.

Lilles was the person who ignored Idina the most in the world. However, he acted quite obediently at unexpected times.

He was never kind, but he wasn’t always unkind either.

He’s a strange guy, someone who is really hard to figure out.

Idina followed the maid to the guest room he guided her to, and readily unpacked her luggage there.

They only had a few useful conversations during that time.

<What about the Duke?>

<My father went to the palace today at the Emperor’s invitation. He said he was going to see His Majesty. It seems like he’s been there for half a day already?>

Lilles spoke as if he was very proud of his father, who was so influential that he was invited to the palace. His arrogance was suspicious, so she asked.

<Does he have any good news for your family?>

Since the Emperor rarely went outside, he didn’t often meet his subjects.

He may have been a person who thought that all orders were best given in writing.

Duchy of Bride also visited the palace quite often, but it was that even that wasn’t that frequent compared to the previous Emperor.

<Well? Maybe it’s about marriage. Like you and me.>

<…..>

<The Crown Prince isn’t married yet. You know?> 

Since the coming of age ceremony the year before last one, the crown prince has not appeared at any official functions except for one time. 

Despite the voices of the nobles who were concerned about whether it was okay for a crown prince of a country to be like this, he remained in seclusion. As if he was protesting to the emperor from deep within the crown prince’s palace.

Everyone was curious about the reason, and even Idina was the same.

While Idina’s maid and her were unpacking, Lilles continued to lean against the doorframe and whine, not even thinking of helping.

<There is a girl in my family who is not engaged.>

The girl who is not engaged, Lilles’s younger sister.

Idina was not close to Lilles, but his younger sister was only 1 or 2 years older than her.

So, she could say that the age gap of the Crown Prince, who is only a year older than Idina, and her aren’t that different.

In fact, the fact that Lilles’ younger sister doesn’t have a fiancé was something she just found out, but Idina nodded roughly.

<It seems like you’ll be getting a connection with the royal family, congratulations.>

<……You don’t seem to be congratulating me very much? Do you have any awareness that you’re coming to our family? When you get married, you won’t be ‘Idina Bride’ but ‘Idina Lilles’. Then the glory of the Lilles family will be your glory. Aren’t you proud?>

<You don’t know if it’s going to happen yet.>

<This brat? Don’t you have any awareness that you’re really going to be my bride? You’re going to be a duchess soon. You!>

<For someone who has nothing logical to say, you always call me a brat.> 

Idina put her hand on her waist and refuted Lilles. Lilles frowned and groaned.

<……You, really.>

Lilles brushed his hair as if he was annoyed. Then, he suddenly tried to stride into the room where Idina was. 

<Little Duke! Young Master!>

As he entered the room, she was nervous about what he might do to her. Thankfully, someone called out to Lilles in an urgent voice.

Lilles paused and looked back at the attendant who had come up from the first floor. He was already on edge, as if his time had been interrupted, and his tone was sharp.

<What’s going on?>

<……The crown prince is coming to the mansion. So you should hurry and get ready.>

<What did you say?>

Not only Lilles, who had heard the news directly, but also Idina widened her eyes.

How could such a coincidence happen? The Crown Prince, Kilian Escass, who had been staying at home, is coming here? All of a sudden?

Lilles also seemed to find this situation unbelievable. Rather than moving to prepare, he asked the servant who had delivered the news.

<Why all of a sudden? No, where on earth did that news come from?>

He was determined not to listen to the servant unless it was from a proper source. However, the servant calmly dispelled his expectations.

<The Duke who entered the palace personally sent someone. He told him to hurry up and prepare before he arrives.>

<Does this situation make sense?>

Lilles asked back as if he was dumbfounded. However, the servant stared at him with a blank stare. Lilles, unable to resist the servant’s urging, eventually went to prepare to greet the Crown Prince. No, he warned Idina right before she disappeared from his sight.

<……Don’t come out.>