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“Isn’t that too rude? They said she deliberately asked the Grand Duke to join, so what’s that attitude of the royal daughter? In addition, even though the kingdom of Elard is old, we are far above the national power. The fact that the delegation is coming means that they have something to desire.”
When Leon looked at him, Daniel, who was grumbling for a long time, closed his mouth. However, Leon’s mood didn’t look as bad as he thought.
“Yeah, it’s strange to you, too.”
“Yes, Your Grace. No matter how much the king cares about Christine, she is too arrogant. At times like this, you have to show the dignity of the empire. What’s the point of being conscious of us? I’d rather go back.”
“That’s true.”
Leon looked into the air for a while and remained silent. After a few seconds of thought, he opened his mouth.
“I’m going back to the estate. I’ll only take a few people, so wait at the (TN- Akine) Palace and start together when someone comes to replace me.”
“Your highness? Are you leaving?”
Leon said quite firmly to Daniel, who was urgently asking back.
“Yeah, it’s suspicious. And I agree with you. I told you that doing this does not have the dignity of the empire.”
“But His Majesty…”
“I’ll tell his Majesty. You stay and follow them.”
When the knights following Leon were ordered to return, they prepared to leave without another word from the Grand Duke.
Daniel was embarrassed and pouted, but couldn’t stop him because of what he said a while ago in anger.
You’re not going because of that thing earlier, are you?
At the thought of his own, Daniel shook his head and smiled with a puzzled look.
“What am I thinking about against His Grace? That can’t be true.”
As Leon moved away from Daniel, he pointed his finger back. Then the knight who had informed him of the news of Tertius Palace rushed to Leon.
He spoke a little lower.
“You finish the report you were doing earlier.”
“When I asked the maids of the Palace how Sarah was doing, they were nervous that they couldn’t see her these past few days.”
“Since when has she been out of sight? Is that why everyone left their hands without looking for her?”
His voice, which had only been calm at the royal daughter’s provocation, was now angry. As Leon growled, the knight who was reporting began to flinch nervously.
“Some maids and soldiers quietly searched the Palace, but when I went, I don’t think they’d found her yet…”
“Quietly?”
Leon, who was asking back, hardened his face and shut his mouth. The reason they couldn’t find her in earnest was because of the order Leon gave about Dana on the first day she came to the Palace.
Of course, even so, the anger did not die down. But right now, more strange emotions than anger dominated his mind.
I can’t believe I’m this nervous…
It was a pretty strange feeling for him. He was angry and regretful at himself for thinking complacently about what would happen in the Palace.
This was also unfamiliar and awkward because Leon had lived without knowing any regret. It was a diplomatic judgment against the kingdom of Elard that he decided to return earlier, but it was also true that he had a lot of self-interest.
Seeing the knights bring their luggage and horses, Leon hurried to that side.
“Let’s go.”
As he tried to get on the horse, a sharp voice flew from behind.
“Where are you going now?”
The face of the voice was Princess Christine. She seemed to be out of breath, as if in a hurry.
“I’m going back to the old land because something happened.”
“Then what about me? Didn’t the Grand Duke decide to accompany me to the capital?”
“But I have to go because something happened, and…”
Leon did not even look at the royal daughter and bluntly said.
“Originally, the delegation of the kingdom of Elard came to the capital without having to meet them. I don’t know why the royal daughter comes so loudly, and I don’t know why you pointed me out separately.”
Leon’s red eyes shone sharply, and as he headed toward Christine, her eyes shook and avoided the gaze.
“I think you’re uncomfortable with me, so without me, the princess will be able to go more comfortably. After I leave, Marquis Richard will come and do it for me.”
Leon climbed onto the horse and sat on the saddle. Princess Christine, who had kept her mouth shut, asked for the last time as if she couldn’t stand it.
“What the hell happened at the Palace?”
Leon, looking down at Princess Christine from a high place, said with a very short pause.
“… It is said that the cat I loved is gone.”
While Princess Christine tilted her head, Leon rode to start. It was only a few seconds after spacing out that Princess Christine burst into anger.
“Are you saying that you left me, a princess, because of a cat?”
* * *
The sound of breathing mixed with metal resonated in the quiet room. Owen looked down at Sophia, who fell asleep after taking a sedative, standing next to her bed.
“Sophia, what the hell is this? It was a very pitiful situation.”
There was not a handful of sympathy in his pitiful voice.
“You found me. Why? Didn’t you do as you please, regardless of means or methods? Well, thanks to this visit, I got an excuse to persuade Leon.”
The tearful anger leaked out of his throat. He clenched his fist.
“So I hope you can hold out like this. Still, if this happens, it seems like she acted well by pretending to be a good mother to Leon.”
Owen stopped talking and stopped breathing for a while. After a long hesitation, a long sigh came out as he endured it.
“Yeah, maybe… Even if I can’t forgive you, I might be able to feel sorry for you.”
Sophia couldn’t even see the hem of her clothes, even with Owen in front of her. Owen wouldn’t have come to see her if she hadn’t been sleeping like this.