CH 51.1

“Return to His Majesty and tell him that if he tried to trick me again, I would withdraw my loyalty to the Empire.”

His words might come across as rebellious and arrogant, but the Emperor really couldn’t do anything about it if he tried.

He was Archduke Kyar—the first one to defend the North.

The Emperor knew that without Duke Kyar, the Acnis Empire would be in danger.

Duke Kyar tossed the wig at Angela with a scowl, and her hands shook as she clutched it with trembling hands.

Then, she exited his bedroom as if a big, bad monster was chasing her.

Duke Kyar couldn’t believe that he would start his birthday in such a bad mood, and he found it so annoying.

His birthday didn’t mean anything to him, but he was looking forward to it with such high expectations since he would be celebrating with Isabella.

He tried to forget about the earlier events with Angela, including his ire at her for ruining something special, and shifted his thoughts on Isabella.

“I must go and see Isabella.”

His mood cheered up immediately whenever he thought about her.

He left his bedroom and walked straight to Isabella’s.

Upon arriving in front of her bedroom door,  he raised his hand and knocked.

Duke Kyar waited for a while, but he heard no response.

Frowning, he opened Isabella’s door and saw her bird sitting by the window.

It was chirping at him so loud that he was tempted to cover his ears.

However, Isabella was nowhere to be found as he glanced around the room.

Where in the world did she go so early in the morning?

As he swept his black hair nervously to the side, Duke Kyar saw a note on the desk.

<I’m going out for a while because I have something to do. I’ll be back in time, so don’t worry.>

His face froze as he read Isabella’s note.

He suddenly had a bad feeling about it.

He glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist.

Duke Kyar focused all of his attention on Isabella’s face, but the communication bracelet didn’t connect to her.

“She must have taken off your bracelet.” He mumbled and his voice slightly cracked.

Next, Duke Kyar grabbed his necklace with his hand.

He wanted to use teleportation magic, but then, he hesitated.

If Isabella had taken off her bracelet, she would have unclasped the necklace.

His blood ran cold the more he thought about it.

Isabella’s behavior had seemed strange since last night.

Recalling her cold countenance made him clench his teeth.

Isabella said she would go out for a while, but what if she never returned?

He shook his head, not wanting to think about it anymore.

He roughly pulled the rope down.

**

Ria glanced up at Ignis, who flew around the greenhouse sullenly.

“Ignis, where did she go?”

“I don’t know! She said she would go out for a while. Of course, she would be right back!”

Isabella vanished out of the blue, and Ria wanted to turn Rubella Castle upside down to find her.

It was strange that Ignis was too calm, as if he wholeheartedly believed that Isabella would never leave them behind.

“Your Highness is frantic and desperate to see her right now. The Knights are searching for her outside Rubella Castle, aren’t they?”

“Isabella will be back in time. Why are they all very impatient? Isabella is not a child!”

Ria wasn’t relieved that Isabella’s disappearance didn’t bother Ignis.

She sighed and lowered her head, but then she heard a man’s familiar voice.

“You are talking with that chirping bird, aren’t you?”

When she glanced up, she was surprised to see Prince Victor standing in front of her.

“Why do you look so depressed, Ria? How cute~” He asked with a pleasant smile.

Ria pursed her lips and watched him nervously.

It was the first time she met him up close without Isabella, and Ria shifted from foot to foot.

He had a mysterious but cheerful disposition when he was around her, making Ria uncomfortable.

Archduke Kyar’s fierce scowl was easier to deal with.

She had no desire to be alone with Duke Kyar, but at least, he would be better than this man.

“Are you nervous around  me?” He asked her.

Prince Victor must have noticed!

Ria nodded in affirmation.

“What can I do to make you feel comfortable around me? I can’t do that overnight, but you will realize that I’m a good man  if you know me better.” He smiled.

Ria quickly avoided his gaze when he stared at her.

“Are you alright if you stay here with me?”

She did not utter a single word, but Prince Victor filled the awkward silence with his good-natured ramblings.

“Allen isn’t the kind of person you would be comfortable with. Don’t you think so?”

“I think I’m alright with you.”

Ria gave him an answer for the first time, and Prince Victor’s expression instantly brightened.