EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 158

Chapter 158

 

The Grand Duke shuddered involuntarily under his wife’s piercing gaze and stammered.

“L-Let’s calm down first. And besides, wasn’t that just the Duke and Duchess’s plan? The Lady has nothing to do with it…”

“That’s what I thought at first too. But don’t you think it’s strange? Earlier, she definitely…”

The moment Lady Elard sensed the friendly atmosphere between Jack and Lia, her eyes had widened in alarm, and she had quickly inserted herself between them.

Given that she was looking at Jack with the same wary gaze as her husband, it didn’t seem like Diana had any romantic interest in him.

“And yet, the second son—who we were actually worried about—didn’t even react.”

There was no doubt that the Duke’s family was targeting Lia.

However, Allen, the expected suitor, barely stole glances at her and couldn’t even make proper eye contact, let alone engage in conversation.

“Anyway, I’m sure of it. Lady Elard is in on this too!”

“Then what should we do? Should we really have let them go together like that…?”

“For now, let’s leave them be.”

The Grand Duchess shook her head at her husband’s puzzled expression, recalling the bright smile on their daughter’s face as she had left the house.

“She looked happy, didn’t she? We’ve always been by her side, but she never really got to spend time with friends like a normal girl.”

“…That’s true. She did seem happy.”

No matter how well her family and attendants cared for her, they could never replace the unique joy of sharing moments with friends her own age.

And though Lia and Diana had exchanged letters regularly, she must have been looking forward to actually spending time together in person.

“And also…”

“…?”

“It’s funny how fickle people’s hearts are. There were times when I felt like I’d go insane because of you… but now, I’m actually relieved that Lia takes after you. Of course, I don’t think she’s as dense as you or Ascart.”

“Huh? She takes after me? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, for now, we can just wait and watch.”

The Grand Duchess chuckled at her husband’s clueless expression before turning away first.

 

***

 

“From here on, the carriage won’t be able to get through easily, so let’s get off and walk while looking around.”

“Yeah! There’s lots of street food too!”

As we made our way to the shopping district where the night market was being held, we decided to stop the carriage near the entrance, where the crowd was thickest.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Diana, who was already smacking her lips in anticipation of all the snacks.

“Diana, you haven’t forgotten that we have a restaurant reservation, right? Don’t eat so much that you’re full before we get there.”

“Ahh…”

Realizing her mistake too late, Diana let out a despairing groan just as the carriage came to a stop.

The moment Allen stepped down and reached out his hand to escort her…

“Ack!”

Diana suddenly leaped off the carriage on her own and grabbed my hand instead.

Allen, left stunned and teary-eyed from the unexpected body blow, called after her in distress, but Diana completely ignored him.

Chuckling, I took Diana’s hand and stepped down.

Then, Diana turned to Jack, who was the last to exit the carriage, and shot him a triumphant grin.

Jack tilted his head in confusion for a moment, but I quickly got distracted by something else.

“Wow, the weather is really nice.”

A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of autumn as fallen leaves crunched underfoot. The beautifully colored foliage and the slightly chilly air made me feel nostalgic.

I was fully immersed in the sensations of my favorite season in the empire when…

“Diana!”

A high-pitched voice suddenly rang out.

Turning my head, I spotted a boy with deep navy-blue hair stepping out of a nearby carriage.

“…Aiden?”

“What?! Why is he here?! I even canceled our plans so I could spend time with you, sis!”

As soon as I recognized Aiden, Diana stomped her foot in frustration.

“Plans? You had plans with Aiden?”

“I made them a while ago! I didn’t know you’d be coming! But Aiden only knows you as the Grand Duke’s daughter, right? This is going to be awkward… What do we do?”

As Diana fretted, looking close to tears, I was about to reassure her that it was fine…

“Then let’s split up for now and meet again at the restaurant later.”

A quiet voice spoke from behind me. Then, before I could react, Jack grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

“Wha—?”

Before I knew it, I was already being led into the night market, Diana and Allen’s stunned faces quickly disappearing behind the bustling crowd.

As I was swept along, I turned to Jack with a confused expression.

“Jack, I don’t mind running into Aiden…”

In fact, I had been happy to hear about him from Diana’s letters and was looking forward to seeing him again.

‘He still remembers me, right?’

Back then, Aiden had been so young, yet he still remembered me. That alone was touching.

I had planned to be friendly with him, even if I couldn’t reveal my identity.

“…Really? Then I guess I did something unnecessary.”

Jack’s face fell, looking like a puppy caught in the rain.

Despite his large build, I suddenly had the urge to pat his head.

But he’s too tall for that…

Instead, I withdrew my hand from his grip and lightly tapped his arm.

“It’s okay. You were thinking of me, right?”

Come to think of it, even if I didn’t mind, it could be uncomfortable for Diana, Allen, and Jack to keep up the lie.

Just then, a group of people brushed past us, jostling me slightly.

Worried that my hair might show, I quickly pressed my bonnet down.

Seeing this, Jack subtly shifted to the outer side of the street to shield me. Then, he leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“By the way, Lia, why didn’t you use transformation magic today?”

“…What?”

“On the Lady’s birthday, you disguised yourself as a maid.”

I froze on the spot.

 

***

 

“W-Wait… How do you know about that?”

Jack chuckled as he watched Lia, eyes wide in shock, stumbling over her words.

Looking at Lia now, elegant, beautiful, a noble Grand Princess so divine that merely gazing upon her felt like a sin, he had thought he would never again see traces of the girl he once knew.

Yet unexpectedly, he had glimpsed her clumsy side, and a wave of emotion washed over him—whether it was relief or nostalgia, he couldn’t tell.

Suppressing his feelings, Jack spoke in a calm voice.

“Because the ducal house never hired any temporary maids that day.”

“What…? Is that true?”

“I already checked. And when the Lady mentioned that you had been there, I was certain it was you.”

Jack stared blankly at Lia, who blinked in shock, her mouth slightly open.

‘…Cute.’

He hadn’t understood when they were younger why his words always came out sharper when speaking to her.

Even when he vaguely realized his feelings, it had been the same.

But now, he knew.

She was so small, so innocent, that she always left him restless.

‘I never thought we’d go this long without seeing each other.’

Feeling the absence of Lia’s hand, which he had held just moments ago, Jack clenched his fist.

‘Would she notice?’

Half-expectant, half-nervous, he watched her intently.

“I just don’t want to stand out today, that’s all. I’m not trying to hide my identity.”

“…Huh?”

Jack looked at her, puzzled.

“You were asking why I didn’t use transformation magic today, right?”

Lia, who had seemed slightly shaken, now wore a composed expression as she explained.

Diana, the only princess of the empire, and Jack and Allen, both sword masters, were far too well-known. Since it was obvious that anyone accompanying the three of them around the capital would be the Grand Princess of Belus, she saw no reason to use magic.

Jack appreciated her honest answer, but realizing he had been anxious over nothing made him feel both embarrassed and deflated.

Still, he shook off the feeling quickly.

There was plenty of time before their restaurant reservation, and it wouldn’t be easy for the princess to shake off the young lord of Faelunt.

He couldn’t waste this rare opportunity to spend time with Lia.

So, he led her to stands selling things she might like—sweet treats, charming trinkets, handmade candles.

But Lia hardly seemed to notice any of it.

Her mind was still stuck on what Jack had said earlier, that there had been no temporary maids at the duchy on Diana’s birthday.

There was only one person with the authority to bring in temporary staff at the duchy.

The person who knew about Terencium and had the power to summon her there.

The person who had once been in the ducal household but was absent that time.

One name filled her mind.

‘Why?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out a reason.

Well, there was one possibility. But she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

She couldn’t exactly go back in time to ask, so as her frustration welled up, she nearly let out a sigh.

Just then, Jack, who had been confidently leading the way, suddenly stopped.

“…Jack?”

Lia tilted her head in confusion, and Jack spoke with a serious expression.

“Lia, could you give me a handkerchief tomorrow?”

“Huh?”

Blinking at his abrupt request, Lia finally noticed where they had stopped.

A stand selling handkerchiefs and sword ornaments.

It was a tradition for loved ones, family or sweethearts, to give handkerchiefs to competitors in the upcoming swordsmanship tournament, as a wish for victory and safety.

“So… you want a handkerchief?”

“Yeah.”

Jack swallowed nervously as he watched Lia stare at the display.

‘Was that too sudden?’

But he couldn’t let the opportunity slip away.

He truly wanted Lia’s handkerchief.

The only reason Jack, already recognized as a sword master, was participating in this tournament was because the imperial family had pressured him to uphold the empire’s honor.

Last year, Allen had competed under the same circumstances and won.

This time, the winner would be him.

There was a rule that only pure swordsmanship could be used, no aura techniques, but that wouldn’t change the outcome.

As the champion, he would have to follow tradition and offer the imperial-gifted flower to a lady—likely the Duchess of Elard or Diana. That would be the end of his duty.

At least, that was what he had thought until Lia unexpectedly returned to the empire.

As he waited anxiously, Lia finally spoke.