CH 57.1

“Oh. So the horse’s name is Lacey. Hello, Lacey. What a nice name. I look forward to your kind cooperation today.”

Isabella pretended not to hear Duke Kyar and continued to stroke the horse’s mane awkwardly.

Duke Kyar was about to burst into laughter when Isabella kissed the horse’s silky crest.

“Aren’t we supposed to leave now, Lacey?”

“Straighten your spine and move closer to me, Isabella. That way you wouldn’t get hurt.”

Straightening her back, Isabella leaned forward as far as possible so that she couldn’t touch him.

“Like this?”

Duke Kyar’s gentle but firm arms wrapped around her stomach and waist.

Then he pulled her closer to his chest.

“Like this, Isabella.”

Isabella couldn’t get herself together when Duke Kyar embraced her.

She could feel his solid body behind her back.

At that moment, Isabella realized how vulnerable and desperate she was regarding physical contact.

Meanwhile, Prince Victor, who sat at a table in the garden playing chess with Marc, found Isabella and Archduke Kyar riding a single stallion.

Both of them had suppressed their laughter.

“It’s a perfect time for horseback riding. Ah. I envy them.” Prince Victor murmured, and Marc looked up at the two lovebirds.

“His Highness had told me that the carriage wouldn’t have to wait for them. I guess he had a reason.” Marc said calmly as he lifted the cup in front of him.

“Allen is sneakier than I thought.”

“Well, I think you two are similar in that area.”

Smiling, Marc watched Archduke Kyar’s and Isabella’s backs grow smaller as they rode farther from Rubella Castle.

“Yes. That’s true. As I look at them acting all sweet, the envy I felt as I look at them irritates me.” Prince Victor murmured bitterly.

His memory with Ria during dinner crossed his mind all of a sudden.

Ria just literally ate with him and left the Dining Hall immediately, claiming that he had something to do.

“Ria will probably head to the greenhouse in the afternoon with Isabella’s bird, Ignis. Anyway, she had shared in the past that she loves chocolates that tasted a little bitter.” Marc informed him calmly about the things he knew about Ria.

Prince Victor’s eyes glistened with excitement.

“Really? I’ve noticed she wasn’t interested in sweeter desserts that much. Thank you, Marc.”

“You’re welcome. It’s the only gift I could give you in exchange for this delicious tea.” Mark answered as he drank the tea that he received from Prince Victor.

**

Archduke Kyar and Isabella arrived at a restaurant on Trias Street while on horseback.

The restaurant was famous for its grilled iron plate that neighboring areas had recommended the delicious food to the townspeople.

“Have you tried grilled meat on an iron plate, Your Highness?” Isabella asked Duke Kyar as they entered the restaurant and waited for their food to be prepared.

“No.”

“I heard that this place is famous for that particular cuisine, Your Highness. That’s why I wanted to try it.”

Isabella’s blue eyes always sparkled every time she talked about food.

She was serious when it came to eating.

Duke Kyar stared at her with his chin in his hand and his elbow resting o the table.

Isabella blushed when he searched her face in contemplation.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness?”

“Because you’re pretty, Isabella.”

That compliment certainly boosted her confidence, but she couldn’t fathom how the Archduke could say such an awkward thing without a hint of embarrassment.

Perhaps, all of that shame in his had accumulated and transferred to hers.

“I guess we were just in time for the opening, Your Highness. We could enter the restaurant without needing to get in line.”

Currently, many people have already started lining up outside the restaurant.

“After building the research institute in Rubella Castle, we should open a drugstore around this area, Your Highness.”

This particular restaurant was popular, and its location was in the middle of the bustling crowd.

Opening a drugstore here would attract new customers.

“In the past, I only thought about gathering herbs for you for a while before I decided on helping you build the research institute. The idea of opening drugstores hadn’t crossed my mind yet until I heard you say it.”

“I’ll do my best to earn a lot of money for you, Your Highness.”

“I have plenty of money already, Isabella. You don’t have to do it.”  Duke Kyar replied reluctantly when he witnessed Isabella’s fists clench in determination.

“The more money you have, the better it is. Your Highness.” Isabella remarked smugly while suppressing a smirk.

“This is strange. Why do I find you so cute after saying that?”

Isabella also wondered why and she wanted to ask him, as well.

The food they had been waiting for arrived just in time.

The grilled meat appeared more delicious as they saw and heard it sizzle on the iron plate.

“Enjoy your meal, Your Highness,”

Isabella told him excitedly as she picked up her knife and fork.