Chapter 36

Episode 36

Lydia froze in place.

But no further voice followed. Ilian, seeing Lydia’s expression harden, merely closed the distance by a few steps and approached her.

“What’s wrong?”

But Lydia didn’t have the attention to spare for Ilian, who examined her face closely and grabbed her hand.

She just jerked her head to one side, then to the other, trying to check for a presence she knew wouldn’t be there.

“Didn’t you hear that just now?”

“Hear what?”

It seemed Ilian hadn’t heard the voice. He simply followed Lydia’s lead and looked around once.

“Someone spoke to me. I heard the voice…”

She listened again, but only calm silence lingered around them. “Not entirely foolish” — what an absurdly childish insult that didn’t suit the situation.

Even if it was a rebuke, it would be better if it said something clear.

But the girl, assumed to be a mythical being, seemed more inclined to speak in riddles than to offer straightforward answers.

Whether she enjoyed tossing out cryptic phrases to observe reactions or had another reason was anyone’s guess.

“Just a moment. Give me your hand.”

If the other party had no intention of coming to her, then she would go to them.

Lydia had no intention of letting this frustrating situation drag on.

“What did the voice say?”

But Ilian pulled his hand back and hid it instead.

He, too, needed an explanation for Lydia’s sudden behavior.

In truth, he was the one most frustrated. He was the one cursed, yet he was the most in the dark. That didn’t sit well with him.

A faint, ambiguous smile, unfitting for the situation, appeared on Lydia’s face.

She suddenly relaxed and rested a hand on the table, looking down at the drawing of the “dragon” again.

“It spoke as if my assumption was correct.”

Interpreting “not entirely foolish” another way, it was essentially an admission of identity.

That alone was a noteworthy achievement.

Now, if she could coax the dragon into proper conversation, she might learn what the “heart” truly was and resolve the grudge once and for all.

“So I’m going to try communicating directly. Even if we put the heart issue aside, I need to find out how and why the dragon got involved with House Esteban.”

Lydia reached out her hand to urge him. It might be a one-sided attempt blocked unless the other side wanted it, but it was still worth a try.

“Are you sure it’s completely safe for you to make direct contact with this ‘dragon’?”

“It hasn’t been able to harm me so far, so there’s no reason it suddenly would now.”

Unless he was doubting her abilities, it was a strange question to ask. But Ilian’s blue eyes looked deeply serious.

“Lydia, I…”

“My lord. My lady.”

Whatever Ilian was about to say was cut off by the presence of another person, interrupting them.

With a faint sigh, Ilian turned to the unfamiliar figure, dressed like a royal attendant, who respectfully addressed the two.

“What is it?”

“It’s time to move to the banquet hall. Majesty learned you were in the study and ordered me to escort you personally.”

“Which ‘Majesty’ do you mean?”

Lydia thought she’d never get used to Ilian’s casual tone when referring to anyone, be it the king or queen.

“Her Majesty the Queen.”

“I don’t know what’s so urgent, but let’s go.”

Ilian tugged at his gloves to check they were properly in place, seemingly a bit irritated. But when Lydia gently grabbed his arm, his mood softened slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Glancing sideways at the attendant walking a little ahead, Lydia whispered.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen such an obvious hidden agenda.”

“Hidden agenda?”

“Sending someone like this means they want to make sure we’re really attending the banquet. It’s not out of courtesy.”

But what exactly their reason was remained unclear.

Alec’s mediation had prevented any major disruptions at the wedding, so why stir something now?

“There is an ominous feeling about this…”

His instincts were uneasy. And Ilian Esteban’s instincts were usually right — whether for good or ill.

Still, backing out of the banquet now would put him in a difficult position.

He may have looked like he wielded House Esteban’s power however he pleased, but he always maintained proper boundaries.

Declining the invitation would mean crossing the line and becoming a disloyal subject.

It was a fine line between asserting House Esteban’s authority and still fulfilling one’s role as a noble vassal.

‘I’ll stay just long enough to meet the minimum requirement.’

That was the conclusion Ilian reached. Whatever they wanted, he’d simply play his part.

It wasn’t refusal, just leaving early due to prior business — what could they do about that?

“This way, please.”

They finally arrived at the banquet hall, still empty.

Lydia sat down in the chair Ilian pulled out for her and began surveying the area — and immediately noticed something odd.

“Ilian. Even counting the princess, there are only four royal family members, so why are there five extra seats?”

“…You’re right. There’s one chair too many.”

Ilian narrowed his eyes and scanned the room. Alec’s second sibling was studying abroad in a distant kingdom and wasn’t staying in the palace.

But who else could have the right to join this banquet, where the king and queen themselves had personally invited the Esteban couple…?

“…No way.”

Ilian thought of one person who technically had a reason to attend, but whom he never expected would dare.

Then, the sound of a door opening again echoed, followed by a loud voice that pierced through his thoughts.

“Lian oppa! You’re here!”

“Princess, shouldn’t you maintain decorum?”

“It’s a family gathering. Can’t we let it slide a little?”

Lydia slightly frowned. It seemed the princess had decided to completely ignore her — she didn’t even make eye contact.

Ilian, noticing Lydia’s awkward attempt to stand and greet her, gently pulled her shoulder and guided her to remain seated beside him.

“We’re not family. My sister and I are both married, so that won’t change in the future either.”

“…You never know.”

The princess paused for a moment, clearly taken aback by Ilian’s blunt words, then smiled softly — and ominously.

She walked toward them with light steps, unhesitating, as if she had no awareness that it was inappropriate.

‘Or is she trying to outright deny that the marquis is married?’

Lydia was surprised at herself for even thinking that way.

Maybe she’d grown a bit cynical from being around Ilian for so long.

She usually didn’t care much for people who disliked or ignored her.

And yet, though she told herself it wasn’t her concern, some part of her still insisted it should matter. That there was a valid reason to be upset.

But why?

The feeling of discomfort lingering in Lydia’s heart offered no answer — only an unpleasant, prickly unease.

“Lydia.”

Startled, Lydia looked up when Ilian clasped her hand under the table.

Only then did she notice Princess Yulina, still chattering happily to herself, had taken the seat across from Ilian after tiring of his short replies.

“Yes?”

“You don’t look well.”

Ilian had instinctively been watching Lydia’s face ever since he noticed her sitting unusually still. It had become a habit.

“It’s nothing.”

“Really?”

Even Lydia herself couldn’t easily explain this vague, hard-to-define feeling — how could she explain it in detail here?

She just shook her head. In response, Ilian leaned a little closer and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

They were so close that Lydia saw his expression freeze instantly when he noticed something past her.

“Ilian? What is—”

“That woman, until the very end…”

Grinding his teeth, Ilian stared daggers at the figure entering. Lydia followed his gaze and also froze.

With long, wavy hair draped over one shoulder and walking in as though she were the star of the evening — it was none other than the matriarch of House Esteban and Princess of the Ines Kingdom, Madeline.