Chapter 12

Chapter 12

***

The next day, in the morning newspaper, Evan mentioned an article about Laria.

To be exact, it was an article about Laria and Seymour, who won a lot of money because of horse racing.

Their backs were photographed, and a photograph of Laria, the Princess of Icard, was focused more than the commoner, Seymour.

“Evan, you have a habit of reading newspapers while eating breakfast, don’t you?

Laria asked playfully.

“Yes. I want to know what’s going on in the world.”

“Wow, that’s great. You’re still young.”

“I’m not that young.”

Evan closed the newspaper with a sulky expression, then replied to her.

Laria treated him like a baby when she was only a year older.

Even though he was fourteen years old, he didn’t know why she was trying to act like his older sister.

“Where are you going, Evan?”

“Library.”

As soon as breakfast was over, Evan answered bluntly and headed to the library.

He thought he should have told Laria a little more kindly, but he had never talked to girls his age, so he felt awkward approaching them.

“This is annoying…”

He grumbled out the thick book.

“Well, there’s nothing I can do.”

The book was titled “The Events of the Empire.”

“I wish we could go out together more often.”

He took out the calendar he had brought and began to meticulously write down what events would be happening for the rest of the year.

A week later, there was a flower festival at the Ridoheart estate, followed by the founding party, which was the best event in the Empire.

“There is a royal tea party too, but I don’t think that is what Laria was talking about.”

Writing all the small festivals on the calendar, he left the library with a proud heart.

The people of the Duchy all spoke of his mother, Matilda’s past.

How good and how warm she was.

But Laria is the only one in the Duchy who can speak about the future.

He wanted to listen to her wishes because he wanted to get along well with everyone in the future.

Everyone got unhappy because of him, but he thought Laria was the only one who didn’t.

That person alone is his only half.

“Well, she wants to get along well, so this could do it.”

He willingly responded to what Laria said, “Let’s get along.”

Coming out of the library, he ran into the butler in the hallway.

“Oh, Morand.”

He called the butler and said, ‘Hmmm,’ after coughing.

“I have a favor to ask.”

Evan didn’t pay much attention to what he usually dressed.

In fact, he didn’t have much to say as he has good looks.

However, he couldn’t help it because others said that he looked good in red when he was together with Laria.

Laria was also going to order a few more…

“Please order some more red cravat.”

“How many?”

“Yes. About a hundred different reds?”

“What?”

Evan could not confirm Morand’s bewildered expression because he immediately turned around.

After she went to the horse racing venue, she got a hobby.

It was her hobby to go out and eat Ocrasia fruit alone, looking at her surroundings quietly.

‘I can’t believe this is so serene.’

Peace of mind also came from money.

But since she came to this world, she wanted to live better. She wanted to live a better life with more purpose…

She could tell how good money was even if she only stayed here a little bit.

A spacious house, a good cook, luxurious daily necessities, and a daily routine where she doesn’t have to use her hands.

‘I need more.’

In order to succeed in ‘Plan A,’ the more money, the better.

Though the problem was that she was still fourteen-years-old, and it would be difficult to move around on her own accord.

It was extremely rare for her to go outside with the Duke, and there was no dependable maid for her either.

But I can’t just do nothing here.

She grinned and hurriedly ran with her feet when she saw Duke Icard coming from afar.

“What are you doing here?”

She thought he came all the way here during his walk.

“I was taking a breather, Father.”

He laughed his head off while hiding something in his dress pocket. She added,

“I’ve been thinking.”

‘What is he thinking?’

Of course, it’s money, but I couldn’t answer like that. Therefore, I answered something else.

“I was thinking of the race venue.”

“You must have had a lot of fun.”

“Of course!”

How much money did I get?

“Did you enjoy our outing so much?”

I answered immediately because it was true that the outing was amazing.

“Yes, I had a great time with our family. We spent every day in the Duchy, so we were able to make memories together.”

Of course, I didn’t forget to add a little flattery in the end.

“I’m sorry if father had made up your mind in choosing a horse. You have good eyes, and of course, would have won the money.”

Since we have this concept of flattering, we need to keep going until the end.

“Of course, it would be easy for me to get some money.”

I forced the corners of my mouth down.

I’m the weakest, and the Duke is the strongest. And now I am a fragile, servile soul in front of the strong lion.

“Ahahaha! You are a really great joker after all!”

Duke Icard seemed to have accepted my wrong words rather than listen to Evan’s right words.

I can’t believe the Duke had this kind of humor!

“It’s funny!”

And so, she copied Ordi and took a picture of Abu Manreb.

It was a lot of hard work to laugh at such dull humor with a blunt face, but there was no helping it.

“Hm…”

He crossed his arms and spoke in a low tone.

“You are not feeling well, so I think it would be better for you to stay inside the Duchy.”

It is the first time that the Duke directly mentioned in front of me that, ‘I’m not feeling well.’ He knew but pretended he didn’t.

“That’s true, but…”

Yes! Good job! I really am not feeling well!

She turned her head slightly, trying to make a grim expression.

“But I feel stuffy sometimes…”

After sighing for a little bit, she asked carefully.

“So, will it be all right if we go to downtown tomorrow?”

Actually, she was just trying to get permission from the Duke.

She didn’t know whether she should or not, though.

“I really want to go.”

“Really? I have a schedule tomorrow, so go with Evan.”

What’s the matter with my outing and the Duke’s schedule…

Still, it would be impossible to say what I wanted to say.

“It’s… I’m not even going with Evan…”

She hesitated a little, and his eyes became sharp.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to say the truth, “I’m going to get a fake name, and get my back pocket.”

“I just want to go alone for some reason…”

He hesitantly replied while looking at her.

“Why?”

Suddenly, a cold voice was uttered, as though she was being interrogated. No matter how close she pretended to be with him, the Duke was still tough.

As expected for a villain.

Of course, she had already thought of a way to escape.

I will tell this villain that I had possessed this character.

For the dramatic effect, she asked in a small voice.

“Can I just tell you when I get back?”

Get ready to clear your suspicions about me later, father.