Chapter 13

At these words, Asella raised her head slightly and looked at Ryzen. When she looked into his deep blue eyes, Ryzen added.

“I have something to tell you. His Excellency has specifically ordered me to inform you this matter in private, Your Highness.”

“Very well, Sir. Then…”

After a moment’s thought, Asella nodded and replied. But before she could finish her sentence, Philip interrupted.

“You can’t do that!”

All the people’s eyes turned to him at once. Ryzen did not hide his displeasure and asked.

“Acting Marquis Philip, is there a problem?”

“That’s…”

Philip was speechless. He tried to prevent him from doing so in a panicked gesture, but now, he had nothing to say.

“His Excellency is the young lady’s official fiancé and he had something to say to her before the wedding, but the circumstances were unfavorable, so I came in his stead. Unless you have another reason, please excuse yourself out.”

Phillip became nervous. Anxiety arose at the thought of what Asella might say to Ryzen if he left.

He always kept a close eye on the situation like a hawk and acted cunningly like a snake, but this time he lost his self-control. He became impatient and spat out the words without a second thought.

“What kind of a father would leave his daughter alone with a man?! What do you think will happen?”

Instantly, the air in the room turned cold.

A chilly, almost suffocating silence fell between them.

Philip’s face grew pale as he finally realized what he just blurted out.

When Ryzen’s eyes turned cold. Philip flinched unconsciously. The look in his eyes looked as if he was about to tear him to pieces and swallow him alive, which sent cold sweat down his spine.

“I’ve never heard such an insult before!”

A horrified, somber voice echoed through the room.

“I have come to this place on behalf of His Excellency. Can I interpret what the Acting Marquis said as an insult to him?”

“What! No! It’s not like that!”

Philip stuttered in embarrassment.

His body trembled at the thought of this story entering the ears of the Grand Duke. He would rather be threatened with a knife over this. Anyone who would go against Calix Benvito would meet their end on the same day.

Feeling his heart pounding, Philip quickly picked up an excuse and held it in.

“I made a slip of the tongue because I cared about my daughter. It was just a mistake, so please let it slide. There’s no need to inform His Excellency of what I said and make him worry, right?”

“Out of compassion. I see.”

Ryzen’s eyes narrowed slightly. It was the look he made when he became unhappy about something. But to those who saw this for the first time, it seemed to look like he gave a small smile.

The same was true for Phillip, who was very good at reading the moods of others. He assumed that Ryzen was feeling better and talked confidently.

The smooth lie came out of his mouth effortlessly.

“You wouldn’t know because you don’t have children yet, but you’ll feel it when you become a parent. How precious and lovely children are. When I care too much about them, I sometimes make stupid mistakes like this, so I hope you will understand me.”

If an outsider saw this, they would think that Philips’ words were sincere.

Ryzen answered coldly as he listened to Philip’s audacious words.

“Very well, Sir. Let’s pretend it didn’t happen.”

Philip’s face brightened.

Fortunately, it seemed that the matter would pass without any issues. After sending Ryzen off, all he had to do was go to the Imperial Palace and get a marriage permit from His Majesty.

Philip, who had completed his calculations, continued to speak with a good-natured expression on his face.

“Indeed, it seems that Sir Kadan and I are on the same page. Now that His Excellency and my daughter are about to get married, we will be seeing each other often on many occasions. I look forward to working with you.”

“I would like to have a conversation with the young lady.”

Even though Philip said it with a little servile, Ryzen’s answer was cold. Philip looked at him, puzzled.

“What conversation? Didn’t you say you’d pretend that nothing happened?”

“I said that I will accept your excuse that you weren’t trying to insult His Excellency. I never said I wouldn’t converse with the young lady.”

“H-How could that be…”

“Otherwise, did I ‘misunderstand’ you?”

Philip was left speechless, his lips pursed.

If he prevented the conversation here, he would be the one who had insulted the Grand Duke. But he couldn’t casually answer that way either. Philip glanced at Asella.

‘I wonder what that thing he wants to talk about.’

For now, she sat quietly, but again, it was impossible to tell what she would say once he left.  He would step on her to stop her from raising her head, but she always caused trouble when he thought she would just stay still.

‘I have to do something about this, but…’

This is a situation where he couldn’t do anything, no matter how hard he tried to come up with a way to get out of this situation. If only Ryzen hadn’t been watching over him.

He nailed his words so that Philip could not make excuses.

“While the young lady and I are having a conversation, the Acting Marquess will have some time to spare. Perhaps you should go to the Imperial Palace and receive a marriage permit from His Majesty.”

“…”

In the end, the only words Philip could muster were…

“… Prepare tea for the guest.”

There was a lot of force in his clenched hands. His anger skyrocketed, but he had no choice.

The sound of Philip’s shoes walking away was particularly loud as well. Asella watched his back with a soft sigh.

At that moment, Philip suddenly stopped and turned around.

When Asella’s eyes met Philip’s, a creepy smile stretched across his face which made her gasp in surprise. Ryzen was sitting with his back facing Philip, so he could not see him. Philip opened his mouth slowly and silently formed the shape of a mouth.

Ma-ri-el.

Asella’s pale face turned completely white like a sheet of paper. Philip bent his lips as he watched her trembling lips. It seemed to make him feel a little better about being dirty.

He got a hold over her sibling and warned her so that she wouldn’t dare slip up.

Philip stepped out of the door with lighter steps.