“Episode 9”
Is this caution about stillness, or is it tension? I smiled lightly, not avoiding his gaze, and spoke as if it was inconsequential. “He’s just a childhood friend.” Only that. The connection between Lucas and me was solely that. While the attendants around Lucas had names assigned to them according to their roles, what I wished for from him and what he gave me were solely this. “Just a childhood friend….” However, Joshua, unlike his usual leisurely demeanor, fixed his gaze deeply and asked again. “Really, is he just a childhood friend?” If not, what else could there be? Was I hoping to be a lady-in-waiting or a representative supporter for Lucas? I deliberately showed a puzzled expression as if I didn’t understand the intention behind his question. Perhaps hoping he would only think of me as a noblewoman from the outskirts. ‘Maybe he’s warning me?’ It could be. But I wasn’t afraid. I smiled lightly and spoke to him. “Yes, what else could it be besides that?” There was a moment of silence. He sighed briefly and apologetically, as if feeling awkward, helped me up. “I apologize. It’s something very important to me.” Well, it would be. Lucas, with his reputation as “Lucas Delric,” was practically the strongest competitor to Joshua himself. But shouldn’t he refrain from revealing his own anxiety so easily, Your Highness Joshua? If I had sided with him, I might have wanted to say such words by now! However, despite my pitiful feelings, he seemed to have a very gentle expression. As if he liked my answer, which concealed the truth. * “I’m really sorry, I wanted to touch Miss’s hair again. It would have been nice if you stayed at the palace a little longer!” I chuckled softly at Rosina’s words inside the returning carriage. “It can’t be helped. You belong to Prince Joshua.” He had offered to take me to the townhouse, but I declined. After all, wasn’t it because Joshua Prince himself didn’t want to get involved with me so much as to come to this outlying botanical garden? So I thought it was a formal remark. ‘Then please let Rosina serve you as well. Although I’d like the knights to serve you, Miss Blante probably wouldn’t want it.’ I didn’t expect her to be so disappointed. Was there something she hadn’t finished saying? I wondered for a moment, but she didn’t seem to show any signs of it. I accepted the letter lightly, seeing Joshua Prince’s smoothly stamped seal. Without knowing what trouble the letter would cause. * “Have you come, Miss.” Butler Gerald greeted me warmly. He, who was in charge of managing the townhouse, used to be the footman of the Marquis when I was young. Most of the people in the Marquis’s household were usually rough, but he was mild and playful, making him one of the only servants I felt comfortable with. “It’s been a while, Jerry. Is everyone doing well?” “Yes, Miss Alicia, you’ve grown up so fast. It’s been a while since we last met! I’ve missed hearing that Jerry sound of yours.” He winked at me, showing his joy. While other servants just did their jobs quietly. He spoke with a bright face, then lowered his voice and whispered. “Young Master Lucas, I mean, His Highness the Prince, is here.” “Lucas?” “Yes, I’m not sure what happened, but he doesn’t seem to be in a good mood… A few maids were excited to see him and went in, but it seems like they got a scolding.” I frowned slightly at Gerald’s words. What else could Lucas be upset about? ‘It’s still time to be at the banquet hall.’ Why did he come to the Marquis’s townhouse? Just yesterday, he said it was an opportunity to mingle with other nobles. “Where is he?” Gerald looked very uncomfortable at my question. Just from his face alone, I could easily tell where my childhood friend was. “He’s in my room.
I passed through the maids cautiously sniffling and opened the door to my room.
Bang!
“I said stop it! All the servants in the Marquis’s household are like this.”
“Lucas.”
I furrowed my brows slightly as I picked up the fallen book from the wall and faced him.
Of all things to throw, it had to be my cherished first edition.
And it was one of the rare birthday gifts from Lucas that actually suited my taste.
After gently dusting off the slightly bent book cover and placing it on the table with a heavy heart, I could see Lucas looking desolate as he stared at me.
“Alicia…”
“What’s wrong?”
Rushing over to Lucas, he grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit next to him on the sofa.
As if it were my place.
I could smell a faint scent of alcohol from Lucas.
I gently brushed his disheveled hair and spoke soothingly.
“I’ve been feeling so exhausted without you.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why I asked you to come with me. You dressed up so nicely for once, why did you leave me alone?”
Why was he acting like this?
He had never been this despondent even at the Marquis’s.
Even after counting the days, there was still the day when Lucas’s mother passed away.
“What happened at the party?”
At my question, Lucas shook his head.
Like on the night he got drunk, and on days when he couldn’t handle all the overwhelming emotions, he pulled me closer and tousled my hair.
“Nothing happened, I just… suddenly got scared.”
“Lucas.”
“Alicia, did I hurt you too much with my words?”
“No.”
“But still, I didn’t even wear the bonnet you painstakingly picked out for me.”
I let out a short sigh.
Lucas Medelike sometimes wanted me to do whatever he said.
Usually, it was during the Empress’s birthday.
Even though I hesitated, Lucas spoke to me as if casting a spell.
“You always said you’d take care of me, Alicia.”
“…”
“Can’t you do this for me too? Just until I fall asleep. Huh?”
I sighed heavily again.
A victorious smile crossed his pretty face that I adored.
I could only nod reluctantly.
After all, caring was something people did for those they loved.
* Clunk, the sound of the door closing was heard.
The fresh scent that had lingered around Alicia since she entered the mansion disappeared in an instant.
Lucas, who had pretended to be asleep, opened his eyes wide and sat up.
“Alicia.”
His golden eyes flickered in the darkness.
Lucas got up, turned on the bedside lamp, and opened a drawer to take out a letter.
The well-sealed stamp made his heart race.
“What’s this, Joshua?”
You dirty son of a bitch, did you think I’d let you take Alicia away from me?
Lucas chuckled.
No, taking her away was a wrong assumption from the start.
“Did you think that innocent and foolish girl… would choose you?”
Lucas laughed heartily after tearing open the letter and confirming its contents.
It was a ticket to a terrace seat at an opera that was currently popular in the capital.
“What a boring gesture.”
Alicia wasn’t suited for such occasions. That boring and quiet girl would just dissolve into the dust there.
Lucas tossed the entire letter into the fireplace.
“Alicia doesn’t need to know anything beyond the world I’ve prepared for her.”
Silently, as the letter burned leaving black marks.
A bitter smile crept onto Lucas’s lips.
Chapter 2. Time to Explore
