Chapter 67
Bewildered, Ayla slipped out from between Minerva and her daughter and pulled him away.
“Huh?”
Lloyd, not understanding what was happening, was dragged along by Ayla with a dumbfounded expression.
Although Minerva and her daughter were quite surprised by Ayla’s uncharacteristic behavior, the door soon slammed shut.
Ayla dragged Lloyd to the room right next door and asked him with a look that said “Are you serious?”
“Father, don’t tell me you haven’t told the Princess and Aslan?”
Ayla was still hurt that Lloyd had hidden his identity from her.
Although he finally told her after coming here, she had tried to understand him somewhat because he did eventually tell her.
But to do this even to Minerva and Aslan after coming all this way!
“Is it because you feel guilty about keeping it a secret from me until now?”
Struck at his core, Lloyd couldn’t say anything to his much smaller daughter and just stood there listening like a child being scolded.
Frustrated, Ayla stomped her feet.
“Why did you invite the two of them here then? I mean, I’m really happy about it! But shouldn’t you have apologized for hiding your identity when you invited them?”
Although Ayla was smarter than her peers, there were still things she didn’t know.
Namely,
“Well, there were various issues with Her Highness in the past…”
“What issues? Since when?”
“There were marriage talks even before you were born, Ayla.”
“M-marriage talks?”
Adult circumstances like these.
Lloyd smiled bitterly as he recalled that time.
“And we both firmly rejected it. I can’t really say much since I refused too, but Her Highness was particularly averse to the idea.”
Good heavens.
Minerva disliked Lloyd so much that she was completely against it at first?
Come to think of it, Lloyd often wore a strange white mask and a navy blue wig in this mansion.
Ayla couldn’t understand it at all.
When she first saw him at the orphanage, she was speechless.
She had never seen such a handsome person in her life.
There were occasionally nobles who visited the orphanage, but none of them exuded nobility and were jaw-droppingly handsome like Lloyd.
“…Did you wear that mask and wig in front of Her, I mean, Her Highness too?”
“I usually wear them most of the time, so of course I did then too…”
No wonder Her Highness was completely against it if he went around with his face covered by a mask!
Even Ayla wouldn’t want to marry a suspicious man who hid his face.
Anyway, that past isn’t the point right now.
“Can’t you tell Her Highness even now? She’ll be more disappointed the longer time passes.”
Just like Ayla had been.
Minerva would be disappointed to learn that someone she was close to had a fake name and identity.
Lloyd knows this rationally too.
Even Ayla seemed so shocked that she refused to see him for the first day after arriving at the mansion.
“…No, I want to appear as just Ide Mente to Her Highness.”
However, Lloyd wanted to remain as just a humble rural noble to Minerva and Aslan.
Lloyd Eckhart the Grand Duke certainly has the power to protect a criminal princess.
But as a human being, he’s quite lacking.
As Lloyd Eckhart, without a mask to hide his expressions, he can’t face people.
Even if he does, his face turns pale, he can’t say anything, and his hands tremble.
He often blamed Priscilla, but deep down there was self-loathing.
He thought he was hopeless for not being able to endure even such things, becoming this kind of person despite holding the excessive title of Grand Duke.
He didn’t want the mother and daughter to find out about this fact.
‘I did consider telling the truth as it is, but…’
The time in Mente territory was really peaceful and happy.
That was only possible because Minerva was just a noble lady, and Lloyd was just a rural noble.
There’s no way she, who was born and raised in the imperial palace, could interact with Grand Duke Lloyd Eckhart without any complicated calculations.
Thanks to Minerva, he spent a pleasant and peaceful time there, and he was able to get a little closer to his awkward daughter.
He could also notice Priscilla’s interference towards Ayla.
He received so much kindness that it was hard to repay.
That’s why Lloyd wanted to be just a comfortable neighbor to them.
“I like it as it is.”
Somehow, that voice sounded so sad to Ayla that she found herself nodding to his wish without realizing it.
* * *
Ayla and Ide returned a bit later than I expected.
They both looked somewhat less energetic than before, but since they didn’t bring up their circumstances, I didn’t ask either.
Instead, we sat around the table and had a cozy chat over a cup of tea.
“So, will ma’am… I mean, Her Highness be staying here from now on?”
“Just call me as you used to, Ayla. I’m not a princess now.”
“What? But…”
Ayla hesitated, looking at me cautiously.
It’s been 5 years since I was confined, but more than anything, I didn’t want to be called by such a stiff title by Ayla.
I really meant it, so I playfully smiled while poking Ayla’s chubby cheek with my index finger.
“There’s really no need for that between us. Call me as you used to.”
Ayla, who was surprised when her cheek was poked, soon blushed and smiled shyly at my words.
Seeing that familiar smile, I somehow felt like I had returned home.
We were busy sharing stories about our journey to the Grand Duke’s territory.
Ayla and Ide chuckled, as if they couldn’t believe it, when they learned why we arrived two days later despite leaving at the same time.
As it was about time for me to return to my quarters, Ide asked as if he had just remembered something.
“Come to think of it, there was a young tree among your luggage.”
“Ah, yes.”
Although we left most bulky items behind due to our hasty departure, we brought the golden osmanthus tree.
The tree bravely survived even the invasion of the ruffians.
Since it held great significance, I couldn’t leave it behind, but I was wondering where to plant it.
“It’s a tree that grew up with Aslan. If it’s not disrespectful to the Grand Duke, I’d like to plant it in the garden of the annex where I’ll be staying. Would that be alright?”
I was hesitant to plant something in someone else’s garden without permission, and was considering replanting it in a pot if refused, but Ide nodded more readily than I expected.
“The master will surely allow that much. I’ll send a servant to arrange it.”
Ide rang a bell to call a servant, gave some instructions, and sent them away.
I suppose they’re going to ask for the Grand Duke’s permission?
Come to think of it, how did Ide become a subordinate of Grand Duke Eckhart?
Considering that he’s been put in charge of my daily life and seems to know the Grand Duke quite well, it seems he’s quite trusted and serves closely.
‘Now that I think about it, Lord Mente’s mother was said to be strict about Ayla’s education.’
Until just now, I thought Ide had been a commoner who received a viscount title, but recalling when Ayla was abused, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
When I heard his story then, it naturally felt like his mother was a noble.
The children, bored with adult talk, were playing with dolls in the next room.
For the first time, I became genuinely curious about him and carefully brought up the subject.
“How long has Lord Mente been working under Grand Duke Eckhart?”
“Ah, it’s been quite a while.”
Ide answered, blinking quickly.
Indeed, they’ve been together for a long time. Maybe I’ll get the answer I want.
“How long is ‘quite a while’?”
“Since I was born…”
Ide answered, avoiding my gaze with an awkward expression.
Did he feel uncomfortable, like I was interrogating him?
Anyway, if it’s since he was born, it means at least his parents also worked under Grand Duke Eckhart.
“Your mother was very dedicated to Ayla’s education, right? Did you inherit the work from your mother?”
“…You could say that.”
Ide’s skin seemed to be turning increasingly pale as he answered.
Thinking I might have asked too impolite a question, I quickly apologized.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“N-no, it’s fine.”
Ide hurriedly shook his head, but the uncomfortable air didn’t disappear.
Normally, I would have stopped here.
But this time, I needed to find out how close he was to Grand Duke Eckhart.
I had my personal curiosity, but there was another purpose.
“By the way, it seems you’re highly trusted. Usually, even if a title is given, land isn’t, right? Moreover, the Mente Viscounty was one of the imperial territories until recently, as far as I knew.”
“…I’m grateful it turned out that way.”
Not expecting my questions to continue, Ide picked up his teacup with wandering eyes.
The teacup was trembling strangely.
I’m sorry, Lord Mente. But you’ve put me in a difficult position before, so please bear with me just this once.
“Why did Grand Duke Eckhart provide accommodation for me? Was it His Majesty’s influence?”
“I’m not sure about that…”
Hmm, I guess he won’t tell me such reasons even if he’s a trusted subordinate.
I felt slightly disappointed.
I’ve come to a safe place, but I can’t settle here.
Fortunately, all witnesses that day died, so Mars hasn’t discovered Aslan’s existence yet, but it was only a matter of time now that we’ve come to a place where many people gather.
I have a plan in place to hide Aslan’s identity, which I came up with on the way here.
But it would be useless if I couldn’t meet Grand Duke Eckhart.
I needed to meet him as soon as possible.
“Will I not be able to meet Grand Duke Eckhart at all?”
“Pfft. Cough.”
