Chapter 14

Growing Feelings (6)

Leaning against the wall of the bathtub at an angle, Cecil erased his thoughts about the emperor. Even if he was not affectionate, he was still a father, but his condition was already irreversible. He did not seem to want to live.

Rowena.

When he thought of Rowena, his heart was strangely shaken.

A feeling of being filled with emptiness, he also felt like the world, which was all gray, was slowly changing into various colors around her.

When he thought of Rowena, he lost track of time listening to her voice. His head was busy with what to say to Rowena and how to lead her reaction and tease her.

He wanted to hug her again with his arms, then he naturally felt pain. Regardless of face, he regretted having to put her in the palace instead of sending her home to the Earl.

* * *

Lyria was surprised to learn that the marquis’s ban on going out was lifted through the maid. It wasn’t just the curfew that was lifted. Not only did he say she could go out to see Rowena, but she was notified that she could go out anywhere with Rowena.

“Well, are you serious? That’s what Father said?”

“Yes, he said Lady Adelia would be a member of the royal family in the future, and asked you to strengthen your friendship.”

Only the families of both families will know how unconventional this is. Until now, Rowena had only been allowed to come to see Lyria, and all she had been allowed to go out for was a tea party when invited by a temple or a prestigious lady.

It was the Marquis who even banned her from visiting his next-door Count Adelia. But now he was willing to allow it!

Lyria hurried to get ready to go out at once. She wanted to go out and let Rowena know the good news.

Maybe yes, the two of us can drink tea at a cafe with the Count’s permission!

It was just one time.

Lyria, like Rowena, changed her clothes in the temple and disguised herself as a man, and walked around the city. How happy she was then!

Lyria swelled up in the hope of enjoying the same joy again.

In addition, because of the previous week’s meeting, Theo had hurried back to the capital and returned to the Countess. Kian was Rowena’s escort driver, but Theo, who paid attention to his outstanding skills, often called him up and dragged him to the extermination of a demon.

That’s why Kian hadn’t been around Rowena for the past few weeks.

Her entourage will be watching, so she won’t be able to act as she did when she went out in disguise, but she was happy to see Kian’s face again.

Lyria was very excited and headed for Count Adelia.

* * *

As she walked down the stairs, Rowena couldn’t believe it. Lyria visited her in person!

“Really?!”

It was a time when there were no fathers or brothers. Louis was sweating in the backyard of the mansion taking fencing lessons. Therefore, no one yelled at Rowena, who ran down the corridor and stood on the stairs, even when she hurried down the stairs.

“Rowena!”

It had already been five days since Rowena climbed up to her window. The two young ladies embraced each other and rejoiced.

“What happened?”

While delighted, Rowena lowered her voice, conscious of the gaze around her.

“Did the Marquis leave you and go down to the countryside?”

“Uh, n-no. It’s not that…”

Lyria confided in the Marquis’ permission, which she heard through her maid. Unlike Lyria, who is just happy to be able to go out with Rowena, Rowena could guess what the Marquis was up to.

“You’re trying to figure out where I’m going!”

Paul, Earl of Adelia, was also tolerant of Rowena’s outings. The date of the engagement was decided short of time, and the time to enter the palace was decided soon, so if it suited the prince, she could go out.

Rowena was aware of the underlying ulterior motive.

He was no match like before. He was trying to play the role of a generous father because she was about to live as a crown princess and even as a queen.

It’s a no-brainer.

It was when she was eight years old that she was caught stealing a piece of cake from the kitchen and was slapped and fainted. Rowena never forgot about it.

He strictly controlled her weight and diet, saying, “If you’re fat, you can never sell well.”

The amount of food increased because the nanny, who disapproved of it, told her that another lady died as soon as she gave birth. Rowena has always been monitored for eating.

The Lady had a skinny body like a skewer. She was sold to her father for money and married a man, but she died after stillbirth. Far from grieving his wife’s death, the husband went to the man who sold his daughter and threatened his money back.

The reason was that he lost money for selling a sick woman. When Paul heard that, he thought she couldn’t be the same, so he let her eat at a normal level.

It was amazing!

If I get treated like that, will I get attached?

Rowena knew that her two other brothers and Louis were free to eat and drink. There was also a cupboard filled with food for the boys.