Chapter 39
Unaware of her approach, the Second Prince simply embraced the young lady, and the people watching the Second Prince were startled by the intimate yet casual contact.
However, the Second Prince turned around with a calm, unshaken expression. The way he lowered the young lady who clung to him carried the same carefulness one would give to a doll.
“How did you find this place?”
“How do you think? I asked around and tracked it down. Do you know how hard it was to figure out where this was?”
The young lady, puffing one cheek and placing both hands on her hips, looked immature, matching her youthful appearance.
Yet, she didn’t frown.
The bright and innocent aura of a spoiled girl, raised with plenty of love, refreshed the stiff atmosphere around the Second Prince.
“You knew I came to the palace every time to see you, but when the schedule changed and you left no message at all, what was I supposed to do? I searched the entire capital!”
“Is that so? I didn’t expect you to come. Your family is so overprotective that they said you wouldn’t be able to go out for a while.”
“I overcame it! I’m completely healthy, not a bit sick!”
“But…”
“Enough!”
The Second Prince tried to say something, but the young lady, likely his fiancée—probably the youngest princess of Roheim—smiled brightly at the people staring blankly at her.
“I’m sorry. Did I interrupt your work?”
“Oh, no, not at all.”
“I’ll help too. What should I record on this list?”
“Excuse me? Ah… you’re the young lady of the Roheim Duchy, right? I heard you fainted…”
“Oh my, that rumor’s already out? I didn’t faint. My attendants overreacted, so a light cold turned into pneumonia, and a broken nail turned into a broken arm. I’m perfectly fine!”
The Roheim duchess waved her hands and laughed brightly. Her complexion was good, her skin clear—there was no way anyone would think she was a patient.
Even sitting at the table with a file and fountain pen, diligently filling out the list, she gave no impression of being unwell.
“Next person! This way, please!”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
A burly man at the front of the long line hesitated before stepping forward.
A large scar ran across his face, with a scruffy beard. Usually capable of making children cry with just a grin, he glanced shyly at the duchess this time.
“Your name?”
“P-Pry… Pry.”
“Yes, Mr. Pry…”
Pry, fascinated by the duchess writing his name, let out a delayed “Ah!” and asked her,
“Are you… the fiancée of His Highness the Second Prince?”
“Yes, that’s right. How do we look together?”
Seeing the duchess smile brightly, Pry thrust both his thumbs forward.
“You two suit each other perfectly. I think it’s truly a match made by heaven!”
“You have good eyes! Can I give you two breads as a token? How many per person?”
Watching the two of them talk warmly with smiles, the Second Prince finally spoke,
“One per person. And this one has already received theirs.”
“Oh, really? That’s too bad. I can’t give more today, so come again tomorrow!”
“Yes. Sorry for lining up twice. Goodbye, and you two really look good together. I mean it.”
“Thank you!”
The Roheim duchess smiled and held out her hand as a token, and the man glanced nervously at the Second Prince before rubbing his palms on his clothes and bowing deeply to shake her hand.
The duchess shook his hands cheerfully with both of hers and called out for the next person.
Having naturally joined the Second Prince’s volunteer work, people finally spoke again,
“No matter how you look at it, she’s not an abused young lady…”
“Wasn’t she beaten by the Second Prince? Didn’t she roll on the floor wanting to break off the engagement?”
Among those rumors, the only true part was that Cecilia had rolled on the floor.
Yet people didn’t realize that and instead focused on the duchess, smiling brightly at the Second Prince.
A young lady subjected to physical or mental abuse couldn’t look that lively and innocent.
“And just looking at her…”
“It seems the duchess is completely smitten with the Second Prince.”
“Actually, my sibling works at the palace…”
The rumor spread that the duchess fell in love at first sight with the Second Prince and had been visiting the palace every day, devastated when she heard he called another woman ‘like a flower,’ chasing after him from the morning…
This time, the rumor based on fact spread widely among people, even though the main parties themselves had no idea.
I finally had a moment alone with Lionel when the sun was setting and it was time to take down the relief tents.
Lionel offered to help, but the priests insisted it wasn’t necessary, waving their hands. Perhaps they feared I’d insist on helping too.
‘Hmm, indeed, my arms are too slender to help with heavy work.’
“Your Highness, please escort the duchess.”
“Of course. It’s getting late. We’re fine, so please return.”
“Thank you! I’ll go now!”
I nudged Lionel into my carriage and instructed Eunice,
“Tell the coachman to drive very slowly. Or even take a full round of the capital if needed.”
“Yes. I’ll make sure to manage the time appropriately.”
Trustworthy Eunice sat with the coachman while I got in the carriage alone with Lionel.
The doors closed, and the carriage began moving slowly. Initially, I sat opposite Lionel, but I moved beside him and whispered softly,
“Finally, just the two of us.”
I looked at Lionel intently.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment?”
As I reached for his hand, Lionel lifted me into his lap and returned me to my original seat faster than I could grab his hand.
…Huh?
“Sitting backward can make you motion sick.”
“Excuse me? I don’t get motion sickness.”
“Still, it’s better to sit facing forward than backward.”
He placed his hand on my forehead, checking for a fever, and asked if I was cold.
“The evening breeze is chilly. I’ll close the window.”
“Alright, close it… no! That’s not important right now!”
Why is he suddenly acting like my guardian?
I moved beside him again, but once more, he lifted me back to my original seat.
“Sit facing forward.”
“Really! Then Leo comes over here!”
“Understood.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded, and, feeling the wasted time, reached for his hand.
“Give me your hand first. I’ve run out of magic. Quickly.”
“…”
Lionel looked at my outstretched hand and asked,
“May I check first?”
“Check what?”
Instead of answering, he removed his glove and laced his fingers with mine.
‘Gasp!’
I had only expected a normal handhold, but the sudden warmth and thickness of his long fingers weaving between mine left me blinking helplessly.