CH 177

After coughing twice, I changed the subject.

“Anyway, I’m planning to make friends with people I can cooperate with, but . . .”

“They want the Miller house’s protection, don’t they?”

“I was about to tell you that you don’t need to give them that.”

What they wanted would not just be within the academy.

They would surely ask for the help of the Duke of Miller, ranging from family business to social positions.

“I just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to worry because it’s a temporary relationship based on necessity inside the academy.”

He nodded while flashing a vague smile.

The academy was where the power of the majority worked, but the noble society was a new chapter with different rules.

There was no need for the House of Miller to be considerate to them.

“I’m feeling more relieved now that you told me that.”

I hesitated for a moment, and decided to confess one more thing while I was on it.

It was nothing else but what happened in this mansion, and Orion was the owner of this place.

Besides, it was related to the Crown Prince, so he obviously needed to know to some degree.

“And, last time when Mago Philip hid in this mansion, there was someone else who helped me.”

Orion’s blue eyes stared at me.

There was no hint of surprise in those eyes.

Looking at the face that was still smiling, he must have roughly guessed that the Crown Prince’s person was in hiding.

However, he had to know about that person’s identity.

“Under the Crown Prince’s order, he cooperated in luring Mago Philip to this place, and he’s currently teaching in the academy as a mage from the magic tower.”

“I see.”

“That person is Zen.”

I took a moment after saying the name arduously.

As I looked down at my feet, I saw the rabbits brought in by Jeremy.

It seemed though they were living peacefully inside the greenhouse without their natural enemies.

When I looked up, I saw Orion with a somewhat awkward expression.

An expression of a bit apologetic and grateful to me, who told him the truth with difficulty.

There was no surprise at all.

“Did you . . . know?”

“Well?”

I blinked my eyes as I looked at him furrowing his brows slightly.

My tightly clasped hands relaxed as it was a kind of big confession.

I realized yet again that Orion in front of me wasn’t only my older brother— liked to smile, goofy, and had a peculiar hobby— but was also the heir that will succeed this Duke house.

The moment my face turned hot, he spoke.

“The trends in the academy are important, and although it’s only temporary for now, the Bolton Duchy stepped there, so we’ve planted some people.”

“. . .”

“I didn’t tell you because you might think you were being monitored if I rushed to tell you. And it’s not wrong that there’s also a goal to protect you.”

I felt grateful that he told me honestly.

Even though he already knew that it was Zen, he didn’t expose it to me out of consideration.

I always felt uncomfortable because I felt like I was deceiving him, but since he knew, I rather felt relieved.

“Then, do you also know that Zen sometimes visits me in this mansion?”

The moment I asked that, there was a blunt sound of something dropping somewhere.

As I looked up, I didn’t see anything changed except for Orion smiling brightly.

“. . . Yes. I know.”

I felt relieved at his tone that didn’t change although it was an answer that was somehow a bit late.

As expected, he knows everything.

“Even though he’s an old friend, I was worried that this house wouldn’t like it because he came in and out without courtesy. But you’ve known from the start.”

“. . . Of cooourse. I know.”

Orion pulled the corners of his lips even higher.

He, who smiled with his eyes closed, parted his lips.

“But I’d like it if you tell that friend to come through the main gate from now on. The Duchy has its honor after all.”

“Ah, he always comes late at night. We don’t want to make a fuss at night when everyone’s asleep.”

I felt like I heard the blunt sound again.

Curious, I looked around, but there was nothing different.

Then, I saw there was a faint tremble in Orion’s face while he was still smiling.

When I tilted my head at that faint change, the tremble that arose a sense of jarring quickly disappeared.

“Orion?”

“It’d be very good if it’s not at night, but noon. Also, through the main gate.”

“I’ll tell him that.”

It’s not like everyone didn’t know, but they pretended not to know, so I should advise him to use the main gate from now on even though this is embarrassing.

I made up my mind.

“Is there still anything you want to ask or tell?”

“Oh . . . it’s nothing big. Does our family have a vacation home? One that can be used when the season changes or traveling for refreshing . . .”

“We do have a few. Do you want to go on a trip?”

“Erm, do we perhaps have one in the Pakit District?”

Orion’s eyes widened up.

It seemed as though he was confused that I suddenly brought up a district’s name when I was asking about the vacation home.

After thinking for a while, he tilted his head.

“I never heard about it, but it’s not like I know everything about the vacation homes we have, so I think I have to look at the records first.”

“I see.”

“Is there anything in that area?”

“Nothing. Someone suggested that area.”

I decided to not even mention that it was the area where Mom was believed to stay instead of her honeymoon.