Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Then, the servant added a word without noticing.

<Little Duke, even if he is a guest, he is the crown prince. You should be polite…….>

So, he was saying that he couldn’t leave out of the welcoming party. That didn’t just apply to Idina, but to everyone in the mansion.

The servant said this to Lilles, and gave Idina a look. She turned around with a cold expression and replied.

<I’m not yet a m*mber of the Lilles family. So, I’ll act according to common sense.>

<Ha…..>

Lilles glared at her with an expression that seemed to say that she wouldn’t listen. However, he couldn’t say anything more due to the servant’s urging and had no choice but to return to his room.

Idina glanced at him and muttered to herself.

<……I guess they are close.>

The maid who overheard her monologue nodded.

<I think so. I heard that the Lilles and the imperial family were close.>

Idina smiled at the maid who agreed with her. However, her thoughts were quite complicated.

Why did Killian come to the Lilles mansion at a time like this?

Suddenly, a brief memory from last time came to Idina’s mind. The moment she turned around, his face looked dark.

Other questions came to Idina’s mind one after another.

Did that dark gloom disappear from Killian’s face?

***

As the servant had predicted, Killian Escass showed up at the Lilles family in a carriage soon after. It seemed that he still didn’t want to be caught for his outside activities, so he didn’t come in a particularly fancy carriage.

In short, it didn’t seem like he belonged to the imperial family at all.

But Killian Escass, who had gotten out of the carriage, appeared with a bright blond glow, like the sun god himself. He entered the mansion through the sun-drenched gardens with the Duke of Lilles.

Killian paused for a moment when he saw Idina. He then looked away from her and turned to look at the Lord of Lilles.

<It’s been a while, Lilles.>

Judging from the fact that he called him by his last name, they must not have been very close.

It was quite unexpected for Idina, who had only seen them together once at the Academy.

Lilles also seemed a little awkward with the crown prince.

<……Yes, Your Highness.>

Judging from the shortness of his words, it seemed that way. Lilles was not the type to be taciturn. If one had greeted him, he would have added a few words. That wasn’t the only strange thing. Lilles looked he was trembling.

Anyway, after greeting Lilles, Killian turned his gaze back to Idina. He paused for a moment as if he was thinking about what to say, and then opened his mouth.

<……It’s been a while.>

<Yes, Your…….>

Ha, before she could finish that short word, Idina had to hear a surprised sound.

<Lady Idina Bride.>

It was because he was saying her name correctly.

Not only did she not have time to say her name last time, but Killian Escass and she had only had a few fleeting encounters.

Yet, Killian called her name correctly.

Is it because he saw her a few times, even at banquets? As she searched her memory, the memory of Crown Prince Killian briefly appearing at her debutante flashed through her mind. 

Idina’s debutante took place in the Bride family’s hall, and the Crown Prince seemed to have been present because of the relationship between the royal family and the Bride family. He didn’t even say hello to Idina.

While Idina was frozen in surprise, Killian looked back at Duke Lilles, who had come with him.

<This is my first time in the Lilles Estate… The mansion is quite nice.>

It was the beginning of a very light conversation.

Since the crown prince had come to visit in person, everyone in the mansion was mobilized to greet him. Idina, who was also staying as a guest, was completely left behind from that moment on.

However, Idina felt more at ease because of this. She went to the guest room that Lilles had guided her to and spent her time quietly reading a book on the bookshelf until she heard something.

Lilles came back around dinnertime as if he had remembered her presence.

Knock, knock.

The knocking sound after dark made her nervous, but fortunately Lilles personally announced her release.

<……You, go back.>

Lilles’s expression was clearly stiff. His complexion seemed paler than before. Was it because he had a hard time taking care of the crown prince who suddenly visited?

However, Idina got up without saying anything because it was news she had been waiting for.

<Is it because of the crown prince?>

<Yes.>

Killian said he would stay at the Lilles Mansion for a night. The crown prince was staying here, so there was no way an outsider could come in.

Idina, who was not yet a m*mber of the Lilles’ family, could no longer stay here.

However, Lilles’ expression hardened as if something was wrong with Idina’s obedient attitude. It was as if he was completely unhappy with Idina leaving.

‘I guess you’re being moody again.’

Idina smiled lightly, thinking that it was just an extension of his usual attitude.

<I thought it would be like that considering the situation, so I packed everything. Can you call a carriage for me?>

If the crown prince hadn’t visited, she would have been surrounded by people from the Lilles family, but his appearance gave her a lot of free time. Thanks to that, she had more time to prepare.

<……>