Chapter 21

***

“Come on, wait!”

“It’s been too long.”

“That’s, I made a mistake, a mistake. Yeah, I spoke nonsense.”

Although he attempted to make up for it somehow, it wasn’t at all convenient.

Irene left the drawing room, ignoring Roger, who irritatingly clung to her.

Beth, who had been enjoying tea time with the other maids inside the duke’s residence, hurriedly followed Irene’s footsteps.

However, Roger, insisting on what he said to be rubbish, hurriedly grabbed Irene’s shoulder.

“I, Irene, wait. Let’s talk a little more. Okay?”

“It’s all right.”

“Don’t do that, will you? Should I ask the attendants to prepare a meal?”

“It’s not mealtime yet.”

“Please, please listen to my story a bit more. I was talking nonsense. All right?”

“All right.”

Pamela calmly alerted Roger as she witnessed his behaviour, which seemed displeasing and hideous to the eye.

“My Lord, persistent men are hated.”

Exactly what she said.

He is so annoying.

Irene turned and stared at Roger. She greeted him with her formal, sociable smile, and hastened to the wagon. It seemed more like she was running.

Now I need time to think alone.

Who is the Crown Prince?

Irene requested the horseman to slowly circle the city for about an hour.

Now, let’s think through this.

A little while ago, Roger Blake shouted the following.

「I know that the country boy who followed Benjamin Webber around is actually the Crown Prince!」

‘The country boy who followed Benjamin Webber’ was most likely referring to her benefactor.

There is no other possibility, I am positive.

‘In other words, the benefactor… is his Majesty the Crown Prince?’

Roger, of course, desperately argued while saying, ‘I was wrong. That’s not it!’. He denied gravely, most likely an attempt to revoke his statement.

‘Something is a bit off.’

Of course, the benefactor perfectly matched the Prince’s physical appearances.

Such as his rich black hair, and green eyes that resembled fresh leaves.

However, that was all.

The image of the Crown Prince portrayed in her mind was that of a vicious boss. It did not correspond in the least to him.

‘Rather, he protested for my brother, and lent a hand when I was in need.’

Above all, he handed Irene candy. It turned out that the candy he gave was a limited edition that only sold a fixed amount each day.

I figured he was a very good person, good enough to give up such precious things.

“Hmm… I really don’t know.”

I don’t know what’s going on.

Besides, why is it that the Crown Prince has a good impression of Irene…

Irene ceased pondering for a moment.

The cause was a horrid thought that entered her mind.

A while ago, she spoke a specific statement.

「Actually, I’d like to know more about His Majesty the Crown Prince, but it’s not easy… 」

With him in front of me!

I said that right in front of him!

What should I do about this?

Irene, unable to stand her rising emotions, stomped her feet while inside the carriage.

Crazy! Crazy, Irene Webber!

“My lady, are you all right?”

Beth, who was sitting across me, seemed worried.

“I’m not all right in the least!”

“Don’t worry. Once we buy candy from Rose Velvet, you’ll feel better.”

Rose Velvet was the store that produced the candy I received from Elvin Manuel at that time.

Although the candy there was ecstatically delicious, what she needed now was not sweetness.

“No, I’m going home. Head to the residence.”

I need to return and kick my blanket right away.

***

For a few days since the incident, Irene did not budge an inch from the residence.

In addition, she mostly locked herself inside her room.

The attendants inside the mansion wondered what caused Irene’s sudden change. Of course, their curiosity was soon resolved.

Everyone heard her kicking her blanket while shouting, “I’m so embarrassed, I just wanna disappear from Earth!”

‘Disappear from Earth!’ was a phrase Irene casually used to describe her disliked opponents, so everyone inside the residence knew of it.

They interpreted that the Earth Irene referred to was ‘residence.’

She’d yell that out for all things she didn’t like.

Therefore, they interpreted ‘Earth’ as a metaphor for residence.

“When I see that the lady wishes to leave Earth, it seems to be that she’s blaming herself for making a mistake… What could it be?”

As the kitchen maid said so, the stableman’s expression filled with worry.

“Oh, God. What if she asks me to prepare a carriage for her to leave Earth?”

“Fool, of course you can’t do that! Think of something that would make her feel better. Something that comforts her.”

“Well, what is there?”

While the attendants were busy worrying over their lady, she was currently curled up inside her bed.

Of course, her body was the one and only thing that remained still; her head was spinning the fastest it had since she was born.

“My Lady.”

However, only she knew that Irene was thinking more than ever.

Beth, her closest maid, did not deviate beyond the two meter radius of Irene’s bed.

“Why don’t you build a bigger encyclopedia castle?”

Beth constantly talked about Irene’s favorite hobbies one by one, and struggled to remove her from bed.

“It’s already big.”

“A young lady should aim to expand her territory. “

“It’s all right, I’m a lady that’s busy trying to balance her welfare.”

Irene swiftly answered while crawling back into her blanket, her face blank.

“Then, would you like me to prepare water in the tub? You can play with the big duck I bought last time.”

It was a bit tempting. Large ducks had the ability to carry small ducks.

“Yes- no, I’ll do it later.”

“Then shall we go to the library for a while? You have books to return, am I right?”

Beth picked up the book called ‘The River of the World’ on Irene’s desk.

“Huh.”

That was a book I borrowed as an excuse. In order to visit the library again.

Of course, I ended up reading it all.

It was none other than Elvin who taught Irene how to borrow books as an excuse.

She was currently thinking about the person she wanted to forget the most.

“Can Beth return it for me? I don’t want to move today.”

“My Lady.”

“Okay? Please, I’ll take a walk around the garden this evening.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Irene pulled up her upper body and raised her pinky finger, in order to pinky promise Beth.

“Then, I’ll be right back. Keep your spirits up until then? All right?”

“Yes, I got it. I’ll do that! I’ll make sure!”

Irene waved to Beth, her smile bright.

After Beth left, Irene sighed deeply, however…

She decided to think positively.

“Now I know the Prince’s face, right?”

Furthermore, I learned that he had already begun to build a friendship with my brother.

“This is much better than I anticipated. I was just a bit surprised since I never expected this sudden development.”

Irene tapped her chest.

The more complicated her thoughts became, the less time she’d have to think.

It was important to focus on her main goal.

‘I will make sure my brother doesn’t have a hard time overworking.’

I am planning to help sweet Benjamin live a pleasant and exciting life pursuing a perfect balance between work and personal matters.

Nothing else mattered.

‘For now, let’s just focus on that.’

As I calmly concluded, I heard a knock coming from the door.

When Irene answered, the stableman entered.

“Hey, Lady, cheer up.”

He placed a candy on top of Irene’s tiny palm.

“Is this a gift?”

“Ah, it’s not a gift. It’s just candy. I heard that you like them these days.”

“Yes, I do. I’m glad.”

Irene smiled and thanked him.

The stableman hurried out of her room after inviting her to come play with the new horse that just arrived.

Irene pushed the candy he gave her into her mouth. It was delicious.

Another knock was heard around the time she melted as she sucked on the refreshing candy.

This time, it was a kitchen maid.

“My Lady seems a bit sick.”

Uh… I just lied down while eating the candy, why do you say that?

“You might feel better if you eat this. Here.”

While saying so, she handed me candy.

“Yes, candy makes me feel better. Thank you. “

One candy wasn’t enough. Irene quickly ate the other.

I think I’ve lowered my sugar level by thinking too much.

The butler was the one to make an appearance after the kitchen main excused herself.

“Ahm, here.”

He coughed, pulling out a piece of candy.

“Are you giving it to me?”

“Unless you’ve already had three.”

Of course not. I only ate two. Irene quickly received the candy he presented her.

“Thank you.”

“Please do not forget to brush your teeth after you finish eating.”

He quickly left the room after he had nagged her about her teeth.

Maybe he was a little shy.