Chapter 06
For a moment, Leticia covered her mouth with both hands. Then, she smiled brightly, like a blooming flower, and said in an excited voice,
“I met His Highness the Duke two years ago at a banquet in the capital.”
“Is that so? How could I forget such a beautiful lady? My apologies.”
“No, it’s alright. There were many people who greeted His Highness that day. At least a hundred, I would say.”
“I won’t forget you this time, Miss Rios.”
Leticia’s cheeks turned bright red, like boiled octopus. Count Rodri, sitting beside her, gave a subtle signal to stop talking.
As Baron and his wife were leaving with regretful expressions,
“Baron Rios.”
Divoa suddenly spoke up. Baron Rios turned toward him with an expectant look.
“Yes, Your Highness the Duke.”
“Do you know Irene Rios?” Divoa asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Irene Rios?”
Baron Rios froze for a moment, then stiffly asked. Divoa waved his hand casually.
“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t know her. I was just wondering because you share the same surname.”
Divoa shifted his gaze to the next noble, but Baron Rios answered in a dry voice,
“She’s my daughter.”
Divoa ‘s gaze slowly shifted back to him, his eyes narrowing in surprise. The expression on Baron Rios’ face looked strained, like crumpled paper.
He glanced at his wife and daughter, who also had the same strained expression.
“This is interesting.”
“Huh?”
Baron Rios asked, not quite hearing him. Divoa smiled gently and replied,
“It’s nothing.”
Ignoring the noble waiting to be introduced, Divoa continued to speak with Baron Rios.
“I met Irene Rios yesterday at the Royal Medical University. She is a wonderful talent representing the university. You must be proud of having such a wise daughter.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Duke. Well, I must take my leave.”
Baron Rios, who had been trying to continue the conversation with Divoa , quickly excused himself, as though he no longer wanted to talk about Irene.
This only seemed more amusing to Divoa.
“Why hasn’t His Highness the Duke contacted me yet?”
Irene asked, her voice casual, as she sat at the table with Maxi.
Maxi, who had been glaring at her, finally opened his mouth,
“You rejected His Highness the Duke’s offer? Don’t tell me you lied to me?”
“I don’t lie. I never have in my life.”
Maxi scoffed and said sarcastically,
“So, when the professor asked if anyone thought there was a problem with his teaching style, you raised your hand, right?”
“I raised my hand because the professor asked. I wouldn’t break a frog’s leg just for the lesson.”
“Ha, you call that humane?”
Maxi sneered, his shoulders shrugging. Irene’s indifferent expression didn’t seem to convey her true thoughts.
Maxi, frustrated, couldn’t help but argue further,
“Well, what about the fact that you didn’t understand what ‘raising your hand’ actually meant?”
Irene remained quiet.
Maxi was still furious but couldn’t control his irritation,
“Why hasn’t the Duke contacted you? Didn’t he say he was looking for a personal physician?”
“You don’t know why?” Irene asked, looking at him calmly.
Maxi’s curiosity piqued,
“Do you know why?”
“Yes.”
“And what’s the reason?”
“Because the Duke was interested in the top graduate.”
Irene closed the book and stood up, leaving. Maxi, dumbfounded, sat there for a moment before realizing,
“So, he hasn’t contacted you because you’re not the top graduate!”
But Irene had already left the library. Maxi, muttering angrily to himself, was silenced by the glaring looks he received from others.
Later at the Rios’ House:
Irene stood in front of the tall, two-story stone building, taking a deep breath as she looked up. Normally, three deep breaths would calm her, but today, despite trying five times, her heart felt unsettled.
This cream-colored building was where she had lived from the age of eight until four years ago.
