Chapter 72
After finishing lunch, Aslan was thoroughly upset with Minerva.
Taking advantage of Minerva’s deep contemplation about her preparations, Aslan sneaked out through the window.
Climbing down the wall, Aslan nonchalantly jumped from the second floor, landing steadily on all fours.
Then, standing on two feet, she kicked the grass.
“Hmph, Mom is stupid.”
There are so many dangerous things in the world! She doesn’t even understand that I’m worried about her!
Still fuming, Aslan looked for a suitable tree nearby.
After making sure no one was around, she extended her claws and started scratching furiously.
Though she hadn’t shown it to Minerva, Aslan had been anxious ever since the decision to move.
While she had gotten used to behaving like a human, she was essentially still a cat.
Cats are territorial animals.
Although they had moved for safety, she couldn’t completely trust this place either.
That’s why she needed to see the leader of this area with her own eyes.
The Grand Duke might be dangerous, so she absolutely had to be there!
‘Ugh, so annoying!’
Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch.
After finishing her angry scratching, Aslan spread all ten fingers.
Her nails were nicely sharpened.
They would make excellent weapons in case of emergency.
The scratching had also helped her regain her composure.
If you’re annoyed, you just need to vent that annoyance.
‘If they won’t let me come, I’ll just go find him myself!’
For Aslan, action came before thought.
She also knew that having an accomplice meant less scolding.
‘I’ll persuade Ayla!’
That way, even if they’re caught, they’ll get scolded less.
Aslan smiled cunningly.
From what she had observed earlier, Ayla seemed quite eager to join the conversation.
Her hands trembling slightly throughout the meal.
Her wavering pupils.
Her quivering lips!
Although Ayla was quite good at managing her expressions, she couldn’t fool Aslan’s motion vision.
Even the slightest movement was visible to Aslan’s eyes.
‘Besides, I’ve played with Ayla so much, we’re totally in sync!’
Ayla had been well influenced by Aslan’s personality, just as Lloyd had hoped.
If she coaxed her gently, Ayla would surely come around.
‘Uncle Lloyd might tell Mom, so let’s go secretly.’
Aslan began roaming the vast Grand Duke’s castle in search of Ayla.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time, Ayla was in an emergency strategy meeting with Lloyd and Pablo, the aide standing in for the Grand Duke.
“Since it’s come to this, we need to prepare perfectly.”
Pablo must not say a single word.
No matter how close he is to Lloyd, a stand-in is still a stand-in.
There are definitely limitations.
Ayla chattered away, showing the two adults a paper containing the plan she had devised with her little head.
“The setup is that his social anxiety has worsened. That’s why Father, in the role of the aide, will speak on his behalf. You can tell what he wants to say just by looking at his eyes.”
She also handed over a few novels for reference.
“The Beggar and the Princess”, “The Prince’s Reasons for Lying to the Lady”, “101 Ways to Deceive That Man”.
“These books will help with improvisation.”
Just from the titles, they all seemed to be romance novels featuring protagonists concealing their identities.
Ayla had recently started reading romance novels, and it seemed she had gotten quite into them.
Somehow, it felt like the Grand Duke’s image was plummeting endlessly, but thinking that they weren’t in a position to be picky if it could get them through this situation, Lloyd nodded.
She had even prepared anticipated questions.
Insisting that practice should be as close to the real thing as possible, Ayla started a mock interview.
Crossing her arms, Ayla asked with an arrogant face.
“You’ve kept me waiting quite a while, haven’t you?”
“…”
Ayla didn’t know what Minerva was like as a princess.
So her current portrayal was based on princesses she had seen in media.
Lloyd lowered his head to barely hold back his laughter, afraid that laughing outright might embarrass her.
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
Fortunately, in a rare moment for Ayla, she was so engrossed in her performance that she didn’t notice the adults’ reactions.
Rather, gaining confidence, her haughty and prickly acting became even more convincing than before.
“I asked for the Grand Duke. And I wanted a private audience with the Grand Duke. I’m sorry, Lord Mente, but please leave.”
“The Grand Duke is unable to have private audiences due to his unique condition. I humbly ask for your understanding.”
“What kind of condition warrants such rudeness towards me?”
“I cannot give you details, but please understand it as an incurable acquired condition.”
“And the name of this condition?”
“…Social anxiety disorder and panic disorder…”
While it was true, saying it out loud made it feel like the Grand Duke’s image was plummeting to rock bottom.
Seemingly sharing the same sentiment, Pablo, unable to bear this sight any longer, removed his stifling mask and wig and spoke up.
“Why don’t you just reveal your true identity?”
“No!”
“No way!”
The father and daughter vehemently objected in unison.
During their time living in the countryside, they had both given and received kindness from Minerva.
They had built up a neighborly bond.
Even though both families were wrapped in lies, Minerva had unavoidable circumstances.
But Lloyd and Ayla?
‘I lied for my own benefit. It wasn’t even a life-or-death situation like the lady’s. It will feel like deception.’
‘The lady thinks I’m a noble. In reality, I’m from an orphanage.’
Perhaps things had gone wrong from their very first meeting.
That’s why they were even more cautious about setting things right.
Lloyd gazed dejectedly at the mask and wig Pablo had taken off, while Ayla crumpled her candy wrapper-like dress.
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Pablo’s lips puckered, but that wouldn’t take back the words he had already spoken.
Lloyd hastily put on the mask and wig.
“We still have time, so let’s discuss this more tomorrow.”
He also gathered up the anticipated question sheet and novels Ayla had provided.
“I’ll refer to the books, Ayla. Thank you.”
“…”
“Ayla?”
But Ayla showed no sign of getting up.
It wasn’t that she lacked energy.
Her gaze was fixed straight ahead.
More precisely, out the window.
Before Lloyd could ask what was wrong, Ayla, unable to take her eyes off the window, pointed at something.
“F-Father. Th-there……”
Their gazes naturally followed the direction of Ayla’s finger.
And Lloyd rubbed his eyes.
That’s because he saw Aslan slowly climbing up a tree outside the window.
“Eek!”
Pablo, unaware of Aslan’s physical abilities, let out a shrill scream.
Even Lloyd and his daughter were not unshaken.
This was the third floor!
Perhaps noticing the gathering gazes, Aslan’s head suddenly turned.
It seemed her eyes met theirs through the translucent cloth of the mask.
Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.
The same goes for cats.
“Gasp!”
Aslan, not expecting to be caught so soon, misstepped and started slipping!
“Aslan!”
As Aslan slipped, Ayla immediately ran to the window and opened it.
Fortunately, Aslan had managed to cling to a branch she grabbed while sliding, barely hanging on with both arms and legs.
Even so, she wouldn’t be able to hold on in that position for long.
As if to prove this, Aslan let out a pained groan.
“Ugh…!”
“Wh-what do we do! Your Highness, do something!”
Pablo tugged on Lloyd’s arm, imploring him to do something.
If anything happened to the princess’s daughter here, there was no telling how the princess would react.
Lloyd thought the same.
If something happened to Aslan, Minerva might hold the ‘Grand Duke’ responsible for standing by in this situation.
That might greatly disappoint her in the ‘Grand Duke’, making it impossible to reveal his true identity for life…
‘Damn it.’
Lloyd bit his lip.
There’s no time to think about political implications at a time like this.
Saving the child is the priority.
Lloyd hurriedly approached the window and made Ayla step back.
“It’s dangerous, stay back.”
“Y-yes…!”
Ayla nodded, her face showing relief despite her tearful voice.
Her expression showed unwavering belief that Lloyd would resolve the situation.
Lloyd gauged the height between the branch Aslan was clinging to and the ground.
At the Mente mansion, Aslan had landed safely even after falling from a chandelier.
But it would be impossible to be unharmed falling from a height of about two and a half floors.
Fortunately, the distance between the window and the tree wasn’t far.
Lloyd dropped his cumbersome outer coat on the floor. He also took off and threw aside the unhelpful silk gloves.
Then he stood on the windowsill and took a deep breath.
He needed to reach that tree carefully enough not to make Aslan fall.
‘Huff…’
After secretly steeling himself, Lloyd nimbly leapt onto the tree.
“Wow!”
The tree didn’t shake at all.
Ayla unconsciously let out an exclamation at the sight.
After descending to near the branch Aslan was clinging to, Lloyd extended his hand.
“Aslan. Take my hand.”
