/
While Eleanor stuttered at the sudden invitation, Izmel’s permission returned.
“Sure. Of course.”
Izmel strode over and playfully tousled Lucas’s hair.
“You should apologize instead. Your manners with the ladies are failing, Luke.”
“What kind of a lady is that kid!”
“Lucas.”
Izmel’s voice took a little more force. Still, Lucas pouted and held out his hand toward Sienna, apparently listening to his brother.
“Now, apologize.”
Sienna’s eyes hardened at the half-hearted apology. Sienna, holding back her anger, gently grabbed Lucas’ fingertips and she let go.
“Great. You must have reconciled, are you inviting Sienna too?”
Izmel asked, putting his hand on Lucas’ shoulder. It took the form of a question, but it was a subtle command. Lucas nodded his head once, disapprovingly.
“Lucas was just babbling, but there are really many things to see in the Imperial Palace. Are you coming to play?”
Ismel smiled at Sienna. As he smiled at her with the corners of his eyes slightly curled up, her unfrozen heart melted.
Sienna nodded her head with a flushed face, as if she was bewitched. Lucas snorted at Sienna, but Eleanor could fully understand her feelings.
‘It will be strange if one doesn’t weaken when he asks with such a face.’
Izmel said, pointing to the two men who were slightly turned around.
“Kaidel, Adrian. I’ll invite you too. I don’t want a refusal in advance.”
Eleanor admired the way Izmel treated people. He was quickly clearing things up and finishing his post.
‘The Crown Prince seems to be a crown prince after all.’
There was a strange power that made them move according to his will in the lightly thrown words with a smile on his face. While admiring him inside, his red eyes suddenly turned to her.
“Like everyone else, Lady Everett, please come. I have a lot of personal interest in the Lady.”
“Al… right.”
Eleanor unexpectedly agreed to his sudden offer.
The word ‘personal interest’ sounds creepy for some reason, but… It’s probably because she’s been overly sensitive to strange gossip these days.
“Great. Then talk to me instead of Lucas.”
Izmel wrinkled the tip of his nose.
‘Of course. Sure. Absolutely.’
Eleanor nodded her head bewitched, eager to share her story with him even if she had to stay up all night.
After all, a new type of handsome is always beneficial. If Adrian was a handsome man with a gentle impression and Kaidel was a handsome man who felt ethereal, Ismel was the kind of handsome man who gently tickled her heart.
‘If I were to consider him as an animal, would it be a fox?’
Although she had adapted to the level of appearance of the people of the other world to some extent, it was another thing to see someone who knew how to properly use their beauty.
“Ellen, thank you for today.”
Then Adrian affectionately placed his hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. Naturally, Eleanor turned away from Izmel.
“No, what did I do? All we did was share snacks together.”
“I know that’s no ordinary thing.”
Adrian smiled broadly at Eleanor as he felt the eyes of Izmel and Kaidel on his back.
It was well known that the Crown Prince would jump at anything he wanted to do if it was fun, so even if he said that, it was very clear that Duke Valentine was interested in Eleanor.
There doesn’t seem to be any point of contact between the two, but it’s hard to know how a love affair developed. Whatever it was, Adrian wasn’t very happy with it. Kaidel was a nice guy no matter how anyone saw it, and that fact made Adrian very nervous.
Fortunately, Eleanor had no idea whatsoever. Adrian, if not knowing his speed completely is a problem, then it’s another problem…
‘I didn’t expect the day would come when I’m grateful for your lack of wit.’
If that’s the case, no matter how unwittingly Eleanor is, it’s enough to make her barely understood. Before others dare to step in between the two.
Adrian smiled softly and suggested.
“Shall we have dinner together tonight?”
“Today… How about another day? I think tomorrow will be fine.”
After thinking for a while, Eleanor answered slowly.
Not today, but acceptance was an affirmation anyway. He was a little sorry for his nephew, but it was a better suggestion because they could spend time together.
The fact that the Duke’s face must have hardened was obvious without looking. Adrian, who was in a good mood, nodded his head and asked again.
“Great. Why today?”
“I thought I’d talk to the Duke for a while.”
In an instant, the flow of air filling the room was reversed.
Turning to Kaidel, Eleanor didn’t see Adrian’s face crinkle faintly.
“Duke, can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Kaidel, standing tall in his seat, looked at her with his slightly startled eyes. He replied with a short nod of his head.
‘…Him looking strangely happy must be an illusion.’
Eleanor shuddered, this much could be suspicious to the extent she could think he was having a crush on her.
Be careful, self-consciousness!
“Then let me take Demian. It’s not far.”
Izmel suggested with a bright face.
“Demian, what do you think?”
Kaidel looked at Demian and asked. Demian’s shoulders hunched as he did. After a moment of hesitation, Demian gave him a small nod, and Kaidel’s back drained a little of his strength.
“Then Ellen, I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening.”
“Yeah, alright.”
“Then see you tomorrow.”
Adrian laughed, lightly tousling Eleanor’s hair. Eleanor leaned over and kissed Sienna lightly on the cheek to greet her.
“Goodbye, Sienna.”
“See you next time, Teacher.”
“You can just call me Ellen.”
Because she’s not that ‘teacher’ or something.
Eleanor cautiously met Demian’s eyes while Kaidel, Adrian, and Izmel exchanged blunt greetings.
“Demian, are you really okay? It’s okay to wait and go with His Grace. It shouldn’t take very long.”
Demian shook his head slowly. Eleanor whispered softly as she stroked his black, soft hair.
“I’ll treat you to delicious cocoa anytime you come over. It would be nice to take a walk in the garden when it gets warmer.”
His purple eyes shimmered beneath his long, lush eyelashes like a doll. Demian nodded his head, his face flushing a little. She could see the corners of his lips melted faintly.
“Alright. Nice to meet you.”
***
In the quiet drawing room, the sound of teacups rattling resonated intermittently.
Eleanor stirred the teacup for no reason, in which the sugar had already melted and looked at the Duke. Being alone with him froze Eleanor to the bone.
“As you may have seen today, Demian…”
Kaidel’s lips opened after hesitating for a long time. Eleanor quickly set her teaspoon down on the table and met her gaze with his.
“He hardly speaks. The Doctor has seen him, but he doesn’t seem to have any other problems. He just kept his mouth shut.”
“Since when?”
Eleanor asked cautiously, and Kaidel sighed briefly.
“I don’t know exactly. He was originally a very quiet fellow, but I think it’s been about three years since he closed his mouth like she does these days.”
“Three years.”
Eleanor whispered softly. It was quite a long time. The thought that Demian must have been grumbling alone during that time made Eleanor’s heart heavy.
She tried her best not to mix any emotion or judgment in her voice, but it couldn’t stop her expression from hardening slightly.
“At that time, if something big happened to Demian…”
Kaidel shook her head slowly.
“Not at all. That’s why I can’t even guess.”
Kaidel rubbed his throbbing temples and continued.
“Now, Demian has to make a decision on his future course. From whether he will go to the Academy or be homeschooled, to the question of what to do after that.”
“His face hardened as soon as the talk about the Academy came up.”
“Didn’t you say something else?”
Eleanor shook her head uneasily.
“Wouldn’t it be better to just get the education at the duke’s residence? The duke’s residence is incomparably more comfortable than the Academy…”
“It’s unnecessarily big and flashy, but there aren’t many good things about the duke’s residence. It’s a stuffy and desolate place. I would if Demian wanted to, but it’s not a good place for a child. The Academy is much freer.”
Kaidel sighed softly as he ran a hand across his face. Glancing at his pocket watch, he put down his glass and stood up.
“Evening is almost over. I think I took too much of your time.”
“No. I was the one who asked to see you.”
“What I told you today…”
“I will keep it a secret. Don’t worry.”
The two of them walked to the carriage in silence. The Duke was just about to climb into the carriage. Eleanor suddenly opened her mouth.
“I don’t know why you thought I was the right person.”
The Duke turned to Eleanor. She spoke in a calm voice.
“Demian is a good kid. He’s smart. I’ve only seen him once, but I know enough about it. I also feel sorry for Demian, and I hope that he will meet a good teacher and grow up healthy.”
Eleanor said with sincerity.
“But I don’t think I’m worthy of being a teacher.”
“Is that so?”
“Thank you for praising me, but I’m not a very good person.”
“You’re a good person.”
Kaidel retorted her words with a determined face. Eleanor’s expression softened even more, even though she thought it was just a comment.
“You don’t know me very well. Before this, we hadn’t even had a conversation.”
“We had.”
Eleanor widened her eyes at Kaidel’s reply.
“Pardon? If we did, there’s no way I wouldn’t remember it.”
Kaidel’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Well, the Duke is someone who is hard to forget. So…”
Eleanor’s words stopped. Kaidel glared at Eleanor as if telling her to continue. Eleanor, overwhelmed by his gaze, continued her words as if she was possessed.
“That… You’re so handsome.”
Eleanor’s words widened Kaidel’s eyes slightly. He seemed a little surprised. Then Eleanor, who suddenly came to her senses, handed him an apology, blushing.
“I’m sorry if I was rude.”
“Not at all.”
The answer came right back.
“But you seem to have completely forgotten. It’s an old thing, so it’s understandable.”
Kaidel’s lips rose slightly. Embarrassed by his words, Eleanor failed to notice the cheerfulness on his face as he climbed into the carriage.
“But I remember it vividly. It seems that the person who is hard to forget is not me, but the Lady.”