Chapter 37

Episode 37

Ilian felt his grip tighten. His voice, coming from behind, was icy.

“How did you even get here?”

“Of course, I came because I was invited. It’s a dinner between the royal family and House Esteban—how could I possibly be left out?”

She entered with graceful steps and spoke with a sweet smile directed at Princess Yulina, as if seeking agreement.

“Don’t you agree, Princess Yulina? Naturally, this is a place I should be.”

“Of course. There’s no reason the Matron shouldn’t be here.”

The prompt response was telling. Ilian didn’t need to ask or look further to grasp the situation.

It would’ve been difficult to get close to him otherwise, so she must have decided to rely on a higher authority.

Yulina, unable to give up on the position of Marchioness of Esteban, and the queen, who had failed to marry off her daughter to the kingdom’s most eligible bachelor—persuading them must not have been a difficult task for Madeline Ines.

‘She must have said she’s the elder of the family and would cancel the marriage herself.’

Ilian had ended the disturbance quietly by merely expelling her, so their conflict didn’t become public.

That must have led Madeline to mistakenly believe she held some grand authority in House Esteban.

He thought, given her pride, that she would stay quiet for a while after being so thoroughly cast out.

It seemed the previous king of Ines hadn’t left her much inheritance.

Or perhaps she had already spent it all and was now in a desperate situation.

Whatever the case, he had no reason to just sit and watch.

Ilian stood up from his seat, regardless of the friendly greetings between Princess Yulina and Madeline. He had no interest in indulging such antics.

“Lydia. Let’s go.”

“Right now?”

Lydia was surprised by the firmness in Ilian’s voice as he stood and offered his hand.

Wouldn’t it be too rude to leave after coming all this way?

Still, his expression was so grim it was hard to imagine persuading him. And truthfully, Lydia herself had no desire to sit through a meal with that woman either, so she stood up with him.

Just then, the king and queen entered together behind Madeline.

“Looks like everyone’s arrived safely.”

“Your Majesty, thank you for the invitation.”

“Think nothing of it. What family is closer to the royal family than House Esteban?”

“Yes, indeed.”

The king arrived with a leisurely stride and a smug air, smiling broadly as if he hadn’t noticed the thick tension in the room.

Watching the queen chat warmly with Madeline, Lydia instantly understood why Ilian disliked them.

Before Ilian could deliver another cold, mood-ruining remark, fortunately or unfortunately, Crown Prince Alec made his entrance, already feeling like a familiar presence.

“Sorry I’m late. I had some work piled up…”

Alec walked briskly into the banquet hall, then stopped abruptly.

The smile that had been forming on his lips vanished, replaced by an uncomfortable expression.

“I didn’t expect the Matron of House Esteban to be present.”

From the prince’s disapproving face, Lydia guessed that Alec, too, had a fair idea of who Madeline really was.

There was a brief exchange of unreadable glances between Ilian and Alec.

It seemed Alec was advising him to stay and observe the situation for now, and Ilian, taking a moment to cool his head, recognized the logic in that.

But that didn’t mean he liked it—his hand gripped the edge of his chair tightly.

“Are you okay?”

It felt strange to return the question Ilian so often asked her.

Ilian’s tense expression relaxed slightly at Lydia’s voice.

However, he didn’t withdraw the sharp gaze fixed on Madeline, who was approaching them while chatting with the royal couple.

‘Should I admire how she pretends not to know, or…?’

Regardless of Ilian’s reaction, Madeline walked up with a sweet smile and looked straight at Lydia.

Only after that long gaze did Lydia realize Madeline wanted the seat she was in.

With the king and queen seated at the head and the royal family and House Esteban arranged down the sides, it was only natural Madeline ended up on this side.

She smoothly inserted herself between Lydia and Ilian.

“It seems there was some confusion about the seating, since I didn’t get a chance to inform you I’d be attending.”

“How dare you show up here.”

His voice was low, laden with warning. But Madeline only tilted her head and calmly replied.

“This is the royal palace, Ilian. Not the Esteban estate where you can do as you please.”

“Exactly. That’s why you’re here, with nowhere else to go. Isn’t it pathetic, throwing yourself on the mercy of another kingdom’s palace?”

Madeline’s graceful face finally cracked at Ilian’s words.

A woman who’d lived her whole life relying solely on her lofty status—being forced to lean on someone else’s authority just to attend a gathering like this had to wound her pride.

“This is all because of you. If you had at least let me in, the least I could’ve done as the Matron—!”

“Wake up. Remember who’s saving your face right now by not overturning this table.”

“And you think you have the right to bring her up?”

“You certainly don’t.”

Madeline’s face hardened as her hand gripped her dress in visible anger.

Ilian, feeling a different kind of calm descend, raised his voice and addressed her with exaggerated politeness.

“As the Matron, it’s only right you take the head seat over me. Please, take my seat.”

With a stiff glance at Ilian, Madeline walked over quietly and sat without another word.

Lydia felt Ilian lean toward her. His voice, tinged with a light sigh, was barely audible.

“Just endure it a little. I’ll only stay for the bare minimum time, then we’ll leave.”

“I’m fine. It really doesn’t bother me.”

Once the basic greetings ended and everyone was seated, Lydia felt more at ease.

She hadn’t expected to be able to eat much anyway.

Thanks to the seat arrangement shifting one over, she now sat at the edge, barely facing anyone and almost abandoned in place.

But Lydia felt more relieved than anything to be excluded so completely from the table’s conversation.

“You’re so easygoing.”

“As long as you’re here, what does it matter?”

Whatever her words had triggered, Ilian’s stiff face finally softened just enough for a faint smile to appear.

“As long as I’m here, huh.”

“Even Crown Prince Alec is bearable, I think.”

Lydia had meant it only in the sense that he was someone she could converse with casually without getting bored.

Just then, she met the eyes of Crown Prince Alec, who had been quietly observing from the seat across. He gave her a small smile.

Yes, there was still some hope in the royal family.

Ilian’s judgment seemed accurate. But oddly enough, the one who had rated Alec so highly looked like he had a particular grudge today.

“What’s with him?”

“Him? Can you speak like that about His Highness?”

“I’ve called him that pretty much my whole life.”

Realizing what she had asked earlier, Lydia simply shrugged and looked down at the plate in front of her as Ilian stared, waiting for a reply.

“His Highness is easy to talk to, that’s all.”

“You just met him today.”

“What’s that got to do with anything? Why are you asking so many questions about—”

“You seem to get along quite well with the Marchioness of Esteban.”

A loud, hearty voice cut through their conversation.

Lydia, realizing how close she had drawn to Ilian during their quiet talk, blushed slightly. Ilian, however, looked perfectly unbothered.

“Well, it’s only natural, isn’t it?”

“Yes, yes. I’m glad you’ve found a well-matched partner.”

The king simply watched them with a pleased expression. Then the queen, as if nudging him to remember something, gently tapped his elbow.