Chapter 87.2

“I’m nervous, because I haven’t been to the capital for a long time. I will prepare everything wisely to meet my father’s expectations.”

The Marquis didn’t answer. Lydia smiled shyly at this awkward silence, then bowed and left.

As soon as Lydia returned to her room, driven out of the study by the indifference of the Marquis, the maid ran up to her in alarm.

“Oh my God, milady! What happened?”

Lydia followed the maid’s gaze and looked down at her hand. Her palm was covered in ink.

It was covered in ink, so it was hard to see anything there, but every time the maid wiped off that hand, Lydia seemed to be in pain.

‘Is the ink bottle broken?’

Lydia laughed at the black ink that didn’t wash off no matter how much she wiped it off. She laughed not because it was funny, but because it was absurd.

Lydia didn’t even notice that the inkwell had cut her hand.

“I must have been out of my mind.”

Maybe she was scared, like a deer before a predator. Lydia tossed to the maid, who asked what was the matter:

“Nothing special.”

“I’ll call the doctor.”

“No. It’s just a scratch. No need to fuss. And what’s more, Maria, I will need to buy a new dress. Call Mrs. White here.”

“Oh, of course. It’s spring now, I think you could use a light dress.”

“No, not like that. I need a dress for a banquet. Looks like the imperial family will have a big event soon. Tell that to Mrs. White.”

“Yes? Are you going to the capital?”

“Yes. Tell Mrs. White to hurry up.”

“As you wish, milady!”

Lydia glanced at the maid rushing away and then glanced towards the door. The man stood in the corner of the room, where no light even fell. She smiled at him and whispered.

“You’d better not go to my father. He was very angry with Lady Carthia. If you go there, you might catch fire.”

“…”

“You know what I mean?”

There was no answer this time either. It was a common occurrence, so Lydia shrugged her shoulders once.

“And by the way, Kai. Was that tournament fun? I heard something is about to happen to Yurina Carthia. Were you involved?”

“…”

“You haven’t said anything since you went to Jenus Mountains. Was you scolded by my father?”

Not so long ago, walking past her father’s office, Lydia heard his angry voice addressed to this man.

Who knows what caused his anger, but out of the corner of her ear Lydia heard something about a hunt, and she became interested.

Lydia waited in front of the office for him to leave, but the man just gave her a worried look, and then disappeared, as if running away from her. Only his cheeks were reddened from something.

There was still no answer in the dark.

‘Something happened there.’

Normally, she wouldn’t care too much.

However, not so long ago, this man went to a hunting tournament with her father, and after that the number of words he hadn’t known had drastically decreased.

She wondered if it was because he was scolded by the Marquis, but it didn’t seem to be the case. Since childhood, he has been used to being scolded by the Marquis. To that extent, he dismissed it lightly and moved on.

‘Is there another reason?’

Lydia asked consciously.

“You don’t share anything with me anymore?”

“…No.”

“Now I can hear your voice at least.”

“…”

And again he closed his mouth. But Lydia wasn’t angry with him. Rather, it caused laughter. After all, what he was always stubborn.

Lydia laughed, got up from her seat and walked over to him. The man who was a head taller than her bent his knees a little like a frightened herbivore and stepped back.

“We are returning to the capital earlier than I thought. Looks like I’ll finally get to see this Yurina Carthia I’ve been hearing so much about all these years.”

At the words ‘Yurina Carthia’ it seemed that this man flinched for a moment. However, the change was so minor that Lydia didn’t take it too seriously.

“I haven’t been to the capital for a long time, that’s why I’m nervous. I think it would be better if you came with me…”

Lydia smiled softly and reached out to him. The man, staring foolishly at the outstretched hand, frowned and grasped it roughly.

“When is this…”

Only after that Lydia remembered that her palm had been cut. But the man didn’t think to let her go. She looked down at the top of the man’s head as she looked at her hand and smiled shyly.

“I was cut by a stupidly broken ink bottle. Isn’t it stupid?”

“…”

He was still silently stroking Lydia’s hand with his fingertips. Suddenly, a bright light burst from his hand, and the red cut on her palm quickly disappeared.

“Thanks.”

“It’s nothing.”

He tried to pull away, but Lydia quickly grabbed his hand.

“Kai.”

“…”

Lydia smiled shyly at him, who was still blinking quietly.

“Will you come with me to the capital?”

You never know what impact those words will have.