I couldn’t meet his gaze and averted my eyes slightly.
‘I’ll do my best to make sure they don’t run into each other, but if Diana hears about our visit or, by bad luck, crosses paths with Ian…’
The situation in the Levantine Empire and the Nomos Empire was completely different. With the two continents so far apart, unless one actively sought it out, there was no way for news of minor issues in the Levantine Empire to reach the Nomos Empire.
‘Diana came to Biblos Academy from across the continent because she didn’t want to hear about Ian.’
Because of that, I felt free to use my showy tactics to elevate Ian’s reputation as much as I wanted, even doing things like “putting on a public display.”
After all, by the time Diana returned, I planned to give Ian a cold, clean-cut divorce notice.
Then, I’d make Ian into the heartbroken male lead abandoned by his beloved wife and stir up public sentiment just enough to push him back into Diana’s arms.
My reputation might take a slight hit for abruptly leaving Ian, but by then, I would have collected a tidy sum in alimony and disappeared into some quiet mountain town, so there would be no lasting consequences to worry about.
‘…Well, things did start going off track at some point.’
But that was something I could handle when Diana came back. In the Levantine Empire, without Diana, I could afford to play things that way.
However, now that we were invited as state guests, the news of us at Biblos Academy would spread easily among the students. And among them would be Diana.
In short, putting on a show with Ian here wouldn’t help my plan at all.
‘And if I let him get any closer, I’m not sure I can stop myself from wavering.’
That was, in fact, the biggest reason. Since I first decided to come to the Nomos Empire, Ian’s attitude and the situation had changed significantly.
What had started as just weighing him on a scale now felt like a weight had been placed on my heart instead.
I awkwardly smiled, still avoiding his eyes.
“Um… Ian.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Ian, who had been adjusting my brooch, lowered his hands. Only then did our eyes meet.
I rolled my tongue around my words before speaking.
“The brooch… Let’s wear it next time. When we get back.”
I tried to sound as composed as possible, but Ian’s narrowed eyes suggested he didn’t see it that way. Hurriedly, I added,
“Oh, um, it’s just that I think simpler is better. Our outfits are formal, and this brooch is more suited for a banquet. It’s a bit too flashy for what you’re wearing, don’t you think?”
Even I could tell it was a weak excuse.
Ian stared at me intently, clearly unconvinced.
His lips twitched as if he was about to say something, but he swallowed his words.
“…If that’s what you think, then it must be so.”
His quiet reply gave me a brief sense of relief, but that vanished as he leaned in closer to me. I inhaled sharply.
“…I-Ian?”
“Then you should take it off, Madam.”
“What?”
“It’s a gift from you, isn’t it? You told me back then that gifts like these should be put on by the person who gave them.”
“…….”
“Surely you didn’t mean that only for the princess.”
His low, languid voice made the suggestion sound all the more seductive.
Even though I hesitated, his deep blue eyes remained firmly fixed on me. The overly close proximity left me holding my breath without realizing it.
“Will you stay like this much longer?” he prodded, his voice void of any humor.
“…No.”
Avoiding his gaze, I reached for the brooch pinned to his cravat, just as he had adjusted mine earlier.
“I’ve never actually taken off a brooch before.”
Maybe it was because I was unfamiliar with the task, or perhaps I was too nervous in the situation, but my hands kept slipping off the brooch. All the while, Ian remained perfectly still, watching me with his body still leaning toward me.
‘Don’t get flustered, don’t get flustered…’
I kept repeating the futile mantra in my head as minutes dragged by, but finally, I managed to unfasten the brooch and handed it to him.
“Here you go.”
I let out a deep breath, thinking I could finally relax, but Ian’s expression was strange as he stared at the brooch in my hand.
Instead of taking it, he gently grasped my hand, the one holding the brooch.
The cool temperature of his touch made me tense up immediately.
“Ian?”
He lifted his gaze to meet mine, then brought my hand, still holding the brooch, to his lips.
With a gentle kiss on the back of my hand, he said, “Since you’ve taken the visible token, this will be its replacement.”
My body stiffened at his words. Ian, however, remained completely unfazed as he let go of my hand and took the brooch. Feeling the heat rise to my face, I squeezed my eyes shut. Beyond the darkened view, I could hear his calm voice as usual.
“Shall we go? Before we’re late.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Ian and I rode in the carriage to Biblos Academy, and after being guided through the campus, we soon arrived at the headmaster’s office.
As we entered, a silver-haired woman sitting on the sofa stood up to greet us as if she had been waiting.
“Thank you for making the long journey. Welcome to Biblos Academy. I am Ivrante Biblos.”
Her face was gentle as she offered her hand in greeting. She was the current head of the Biblos ducal family and a renowned scholar, famous even beyond the continent.
“It is a great honor to have the grand duke and duchess of the Levantine Empire here.”
“We are the ones who should be thanking you for the invitation,”
Ian replied politely, shaking her hand with the formality befitting an envoy from a foreign nation.
I handed her the emperor’s letter.
“Her Majesty sends his heartfelt congratulations on Biblos Academy’s 100th anniversary.”
“How kind of her to prepare a letter,” she said, smiling warmly as she took the letter and gestured for us to sit.
Ian and I sat on the reception sofa, and a staff member brought out simple refreshments and tea.
“The academy has been buzzing with excitement ever since we heard the two of you would be visiting.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, the Levantine Empire has maintained relations with our Nomos Empire for many years. I’m also delighted.”
She seemed genuinely pleased. After a few more formal exchanges and a sip of tea, the headmaster spoke again.
“I understand you’ll be staying in the Nomos Empire for ten days.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” I nodded briefly, and Ian added,
“The grand duchess has taken quite an interest in the academy. She mentioned she’d like to take her time exploring the campus.”
“The academy?” The headmaster’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly smiled.
“I see. We’ve prepared a guide for the grand duchess, but the campus is quite large, so it might be difficult to see everything in just one day.”
She spoke modestly, though there was an unmistakable hint of pride in her tone.
‘There’s no way I can refuse after seeing that look on her face,’
As if something had just occurred to her, the headmaster let out a small sound of realization and spoke in an excited tone.
“Oh, then how about a formal tour of the academy? We have a visitor’s program for that.”
As expected, the topic had come up. Smiling outwardly, I nodded.
“Yes, I was thinking of signing up for that program.”
The headmaster couldn’t hide her delight as she clasped her hands together.
“You already knew! I didn’t realize the grand duchess had such a keen interest in our academy.”
“Well, since I’m here to give a speech for the 100th anniversary, it’s only right to know these things.”
Although, in reality, I had only learned about it because of the emperor and Ian.
“The program typically lasts a week, but since the grand duchess is quite busy, we’ll try to adjust the schedule to about three days.”
That was a relief to hear. Since anything could happen at any time, a short, efficient tour was better.
“Then I’d appreciate that.”
“Of course, I’ll make sure it’s arranged.”
The headmaster readily agreed.
‘At least it’s been shortened from a week to three days,’ feeling a quiet sense of relief.
She then gestured to her secretary, who approached Ian and placed a document in front of him. It was a schedule outlining the events leading up to the 100th-anniversary celebration.
“As you may already know, the celebration is in five days. This schedule covers the events leading up to that.”
As I was skimming through the schedule, something caught my eye, causing me to pause.
“…Wait, I thought only students were attending the anniversary event?”
♧♧♧
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