Chapter 68
Ide suddenly choked, barely managing not to spit out his tea, and asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“W-why do you ask that?”
“I’d like to have a brief conversation with him.”
“As Butler Lawrence conveyed, the master is a bit…”
“I know. He dislikes meeting people. He even wore a mask in front of me, a princess, and didn’t say a word.”
Ide’s shoulders flinched at my carelessly muttered complaint.
Ah, I didn’t mean to invite him to join me in criticizing his master.
I quickly added:
“Lord Mente. I have a favor to ask.”
“…What is it?”
Ide asked nervously, and his prediction was naturally correct.
“Please arrange for me to meet Grand Duke Eckhart.”
“T-that’s…”
As expected, Ide looked troubled but couldn’t flatly refuse, trailing off instead.
I had anticipated this.
Since I expected this reaction, I wasn’t greatly disappointed.
“It’s difficult, isn’t it?”
When I asked weakly, as if giving up, Ide looked both apologetic and relieved.
Of course, it was a trap.
I spoke with the most dejected face I could muster, sighing deeply:
“I was also troubled when I came to look after Ayla, but… since he saved our lives, I suppose it’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Ah… if it weren’t for Aslan and me, Ayla would still be…”
Ide was flustered, probably not expecting me to stoop so low.
I didn’t intend to pressure Ide so pettily and immaturely using Ayla’s situation, but it couldn’t be helped.
I’m not the only parent who needs to protect their child.
Depending on the situation, I thought it would be unavoidable even if he got angry.
However, Ide’s flustered appearance was brief. Sensing something off about my unusual behavior, he grasped my true intentions.
“You have something you must tell him directly, don’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ide was quite perceptive, so he seemed to have already guessed what kind of conversation would take place.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them and looked at me resolutely as he spoke.
“…I’ll speak to him about it.”
Great, it worked!
Mars really messed with the wrong person.
How dare he, when he couldn’t even match up to the real Minerva, let alone me.
He should have been satisfied when I was willing to leave him be.
I hid my rising anger with a smile and earnestly requested Ide:
“Please tell Grand Duke Eckhart that it won’t be a loss for him either, so I really need to meet him.”
* * *
Minerva and Aslan must have been quite tired from the journey, as they fell asleep early in the evening.
Hearing this news, Lloyd was initially relieved.
‘Now, let’s think.’
He needed to rack his brains until Minerva woke up on how to convey that it would be difficult to meet the Grand Duke.
However, no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t come up with a good solution.
‘I’m doomed. What should I do?’
He never dreamed that Minerva would want to meet the Grand Duke herself.
He thought she just wanted to raise Aslan peacefully and safely in hiding for her whole life.
But it seemed the recent attack made her want to be reinstated.
Minerva was persistent and sharp.
If he kept refusing with just the excuse that the Grand Duke had social anxiety, she would eventually notice something suspicious.
Fortunately for the clueless Lloyd, he had a wise daughter.
“Father.”
Ayla visited Lloyd’s office.
As expected, he was holding his head in his hands.
Lloyd’s fear doubled when his daughter, who must have been deeply disappointed by his hidden identity, came to see him.
“What is it, Ayla?”
“Since I’ve decided to keep your secret, I thought I’d help you think it through.”
Ayla sat gracefully on the reception sofa with a slightly sullen face.
It would be best if Lloyd revealed his identity, but she had unintentionally seen his dark side.
Above all, Lloyd was her father.
This was an issue that could make Minerva resent Lloyd.
Of course, Minerva wouldn’t hate Ayla because of Lloyd, but things could become awkward.
Ayla wanted everyone to get along comfortably, just like they did in the countryside a week ago.
In any case, Lloyd had no reason not to be moved by his daughter offering to help think things through, and he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you so much, Ayla…”
What followed was Ayla’s interrogation.
Exactly when and how many times had he met Minerva?
What conversations did they have?
Had they exchanged any letters besides that?
She listened to every trivial detail.
And Ayla came to a conclusion.
“…Couldn’t we use a body double?”
“A body double?”
“You only met the lady for the first time 5 years ago, right? Then I think she wouldn’t know if we used a body double…”
A body double! Why didn’t I think of that!
Lloyd stood up unconsciously, exclaiming in admiration.
“How sharp of you, Ayla!”
No, it was a thought anyone could have come up with normally.
Lloyd’s panic had just shortened his thinking at the moment.
“As it happens, there’s someone with a similar build.”
Lloyd’s expression was the brightest she had seen yet, as if he had found an escape route.
Minerva was sharp, but she had almost no interest in Lloyd Eckhart as a person.
It was only one meeting, so if they brought someone with a similar build and put a wig and mask on him, she would surely believe he was Grand Duke Eckhart.
“If we use a body double, and I listen to the conversation together…”
Watching Lloyd hurry about, Ayla felt as if some of her admiration had shattered.
‘I wonder if he’ll really be able to handle tomorrow’s conversation well.’
She sighed involuntarily out of worry.
When they were at the Mente mansion, Lloyd was the model of a perfect, flawless father, but at the Eckhart Grand Duke’s residence, he seemed somewhat scatterbrained.
No, it was more accurate to say he was so tense that he was making mistakes he wouldn’t normally make.
In contrast, Minerva was always decisive, wise, and sharp.
There would surely be times when he’d be caught up in Minerva’s pace…
‘Oh?’
At that moment, she recalled something from just a few weeks ago that felt like ancient history.
“My mom and Ayla’s dad are going to get married!”
Why did I only think of this now?
A big picture suddenly formed in Ayla’s mind.
It was only the size of a drawing paper, but to Ayla, it was a grand vision.
‘If the lady and Father get married, all problems might be solved!’
If they fall in love with each other, Lloyd’s lies would become a touching narrative, and Ayla would feel more secure with a reliable adult becoming her mother.
It was full of advantages.
‘Aslan, I’m sorry! You were right! I think it really is a good idea for them to get married!’
If Minerva comes to like Lloyd, Ayla won’t have to be hated along with him for the crime of deception, and Lloyd would gain a reliable partner!
It would be incredibly good for Minerva too.
Wouldn’t she be gaining a strong ally as family?
Ah, we should have realized this earlier and conspired with Aslan!
Ayla stomped the ground in regret.
No, it still wasn’t too late.
Without further consideration, Ayla jumped up from her seat and shouted at Lloyd.
“Father, I want to join tomorrow’s conversation too!”
“Huh?”
“It’s a must! I absolutely have to be there! Because I’m worried about leaving Father alone!”
Ayla’s eyes burned with determination.
Her attitude, threatening to barge in if not allowed, was exactly like Aslan’s.
That’s why the timid Lloyd could only nod in bewilderment.
* * *
“Ugh, I slept for so long.”
I’m usually a heavy sleeper, but I’ve never slept this long continuously. The journey must have been quite tiring.
I had only intended to lie down for a moment after dinner, but I ended up sleeping soundly until this morning.
I slept so well that my face was glowing.
Thanks to that, I was only now able to see the faces of my employees.
As soon as I finished bathing, Luisa began her backlogged report.
“While you were sleeping, Lord Mente left a message for me. He says the Grand Duke will clear his schedule in three days.”
Tsk. I clicked my tongue softly and crossed my arms and legs.
Even though I’m in this state now, I’m still a princess, yet I can only see him when he makes time?
Usually, nobles would act subservient to royalty in public even if they badmouthed them in private, but Grand Duke Eckhart had quite an unusual personality.
My maids, including Luisa, nodded as if they agreed.
But since I’m in a position of need now, I suppose I have to accommodate him.
I let out a deep sigh.
“Alright, tell him I understand.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“What an expensive face to see. Ow, ow, ow.”
“Please bear with the pain a little. Your muscles are too tense.”
Jane stood behind me, mercilessly pressing down on my shoulders.
It was such terrible muscle pain that my crossed arms and legs naturally uncrossed.
They say the more it hurts, the more the muscles are loosening up, but I couldn’t get used to the aftermath of muscle pain I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
I deliberately turned my thoughts elsewhere.
“Do you know what Lord Mente is doing now?”
