CH 120

“It seems like you care about him.”

“I didn’t know either, but I am more meddlesome than I thought.”

Hearing my words and my sigh, Sir Rune giggled.

While I was silent for a moment, the prince changed his position as though he were uncomfortable.

Sir Rune carefully lowered the arms that looked uncomfortable.

Then I suddenly asked.

“Is the reason for Orion to be distant from the prince because of the position of our family?”

“There are numerous reasons. The position of the family, his own circumstance, and last, Orion is really vigilant about accepting others.”

“But he can’t be like that as a teacher.”

At least in order for the prince to survive in the palace on his own, he should not be in the direction of isolation.

“That fellow hasn’t lived for very long either, he’s still a bit clumsy.”

Along with saying that he didn’t know what to do to the pupil he suddenly acquired through the emperor’s order, Sir Rune added.

“Try to think about it, My Lady.”

“Yeah?”

“Orion’s friend is only me.”

“. . . !”

“I think he only teaches him according to how he has lived so far.”

I felt like my head was struck hard.

Certainly, the Duke mansion was of high status and rare for nobles to visit freely.

They never held a banquet, and I never heard Orion go out to meet his acquaintances.

“That . . .”

While I was at a loss for words, the carriage arrived at the mansion.

Sir Rune swiftly held the prince, then greeted me and disappeared.

After slowly getting off the carriage, I met Orion who had been waiting.

“Welcome, Marianne.”

The smiling face was gentle and friendly to me as always.

“Let’s have a talk.”

His eyes turned slightly bigger, then curved like the moon.

Now I had already got used to putting my hand on his reached out hand.

Walking the garden with his escort, I could hear the workers shushing each other behind us.

When I heard hurried footsteps, it seemed like they tried to help us to be alone.

“Was it fun going out?”

“Yeah.”

It’d be good if the small clash with Young Duke Bolton didn’t reach him, but it seemed like it was impossible.

Even if it wasn’t for Sir Rune, it was impossible for him to not know it through other routes since the commotion was loud.

“Is the preparation for your transfer going well?”

“Yes, it’s good enough.”

Come to think of it, he always subtly took care of me.

Because he was someone who even took care of the things I couldn’t think of, I never thought he would be clumsy in ‘human relationship’.

Looking at him with a restless feeling, I suddenly opened my mouth.

“Orion.”

“Yeah?”

“Is the reason for the Miller Family’s neutrality for political balance?”

His eyes grew a bit wider as though my question was unexpected.

He was deep in thought for a moment then slowly spoke up.

“It is also because of that. Politically, it may be also due to the narrowing of our position after being held in check for quite a long time.”

“Position?”

“The main territory of the Miller Family being so far from the capital is also the reason for that.”

Come to think of it, the territory of the Miller family was the farthest amongst the three Duke families.

“Of course, the land in our territory is rich thanks to the wide granary, but the good harvest continued until relatively recently, and we only wait and see while the Hastings Family aggressively widen their influence and come face to face with the Bolton Family.”

“I see.”

“In addition, basically, my father, my grandfather, they said the only way to survive is ‘observation’.”

Orion drew a bitter smile.

“To survive?”

“The reason for the vassals to scatter is because of the imperial family’s wariness. If the Miller Family participated in the throne succession now, the Vatican would meddle in.”

I blinked my eyes.

My head turned complicated because of the story that unexpectedly contained a lot of political reasons.

He had always been such a person, but Orion today was more honest.

I realized that was his consideration of my position ahead of my transfer to the academy.

I felt like I was once again reminded of the fact that he was the heir of the Miller Family.

Certainly, we couldn’t know people just by looking at their usual appearance.

“That’s why you’re also teaching the prince how to survive. Just like that.”

“Huh?”

“He’s not in a position where he can turn over the ranking for succession, and so that the young prince doesn’t get controlled by the Vatican. For him to only ‘live’ without presence.”

He rolled his eyes in confusion.

With a slight sense of helplessness in Orion’s blue pupils, he answered in a low voice.

“Ah, there’s no reason for that. I tortured him because I didn’t like his lifeless attitude when I went to teach him.”

“. . .”

Pretending to not hear his overly honest answer, I calmly changed the topic.

“Perhaps that method worked until now, but I don’t think it will be enough for him to just quietly live in hiding from now on.”

“Hm.”

“If the only thing the prince loves in this world is Adel, I’m worried about what will happen if he loses that.”

It didn’t mean I was never hurt.

I knew she didn’t mean to, but there were days when Mom made me lonely.

There were also times when we couldn’t understand each other.

There were also days when I deeply felt that we were different beings on different paths.

Still, it was clear that we became each other’s will to stay alive just as much as we got hurt because we had each other.

Because I didn’t think I wasn’t loved by her.

“So I’m wondering, Orion. I’d like it if His Highness go to the academy.”

Before it became too late, I hoped he would take a step further.