CH 31

“I didn’t know there was a place like this in the middle of the capital.”

Kaidel, who was carefully examining the Imperial Family crest engraved on the golden satin, spoke.

“It feels completely different from the outside, so it’s amazing, right? It was difficult for me to find at first too.”

Eleanor smiled as if she understood.

Soon, fragrant tea and simple tea food were prepared for the two of them. Even though she had a full course, her mouth watered when she saw the sweet dessert.

Kaidel, noticing that, asked, pushing the plate toward Eleanor.

“How did you find out about this place? It doesn’t seem like a place you can come by chance.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince invited me before.”

“His Highness?”

Previously, the Young Marquis, this time the Crown Prince.

Kaidel felt uncomfortable when the unpleasant names popped up one after another. His handsome eyebrows twitched.

It seems that His Highness, who had only been thought to be quietly in the Imperial pPlace, was secretly using a trick behind the scenes.

‘Ever since he said he would teach classes at the Imperial Palace, I’ve had a bad feeling about it…’

When his eyes met Eleanor’s, Kaidel quickly closed his expression.

“Yes, I asked for a face-to-face talk because we had something to discuss about Lucas. I didn’t even know that His Highness would come out in person.”

Eleanor had asked for an interview first, so he had nothing to say.

‘I can’t deliberately ruin the exam because of my personal greed…’

He couldn’t hope that Demian would be any less intelligent or cause trouble because of the face-to-face talk. Kaidel thought of Demian with a slightly confused mind. He was a child who was doing his job well without any trouble.

“So, Kaidel, what are you worried about? Did something happen at the Duke’s place?”

Yeah, that was the problem. He had nothing to say to Demian. Of course, there was nothing to worry about.

“That is…”

Kaidel shook his head, quickly reliving his memories of the last few weeks. He hoped to find something similar to trouble, but nothing came to mind.

Kaidel asked Eleanor a question to give him time to think.

“How is Demian these days? Does he get along well with his friends?”

“Yes, he’s fine. Everyone likes and follows Demian. If you look closely, he secretly plays the role of captain.”

“Really?”

“When Lucas and Sienna quarrel, Demian mediates between them. I don’t know how mature he is. He laughs a lot better than before.”

It was as Eleanor said. Demian has brightened noticeably these days. He still didn’t speak very well, but when they met, he would greet him and doze comfortably in the carriage alone.

Kaidel nodded his head and added in an awkward voice.

“Does he follow his studies well?”

“Of course. He has far fewer mistakes than before. He seems to be keen on chess lessons too, you know?”

“Mm, that’s right.”

It felt even new to see him teach and observe how to handle a wooden sword. The way he got along with Lucas and Sienna was like a child of that age. It was admirable to see him trying his best to keep up even though he was sweating profusely.

“And…”

“Kaidel.”

Eleanor firmly interrupted Kaidel’s words. A light of tension flooded Kaidel’s face.

Awkward handling of gaze, fingers tapping the edge of the table as if anxious, words spoken a little faster than usual, attitude that seemed strangely uninterested in the answer even after a question was thrown.

No matter how she looked at him, he didn’t seem like someone who had anything in particular to say.

Eleanor scanned Kaidel’s face with suspicious eyes. She could see his neck moving slowly up and down.

She made eye contact with Kaidel and asked calmly.

“Please be honest. I won’t be angry. Do you really have urgent worries?”

At that moment, Kaidel’s eyes visibly moved. His mouth was tightly shut, but she felt as though she had heard an overflowing reply.

‘This man is really bad at lying.’

Eleanor clicked her tongue inside, seeing Kaidel blush in her face and unable to even make excuses. At the same time, she was genuinely curious.

“…Sorry.”

“I don’t need an apology. Because I really didn’t feel bad.”

Why did he have to ask for time now when he even told lies that he couldn’t. If he was going to get caught this easily.

“I was just curious, so why did you do that earlier?”

At those words, Kaidel’s earlobes turned bright red. If he was a little more shy, steam would fly.

“Were you jealous that I was with Adrian?”

Eleanor gave a light joke. Half of it was to make Kaidel feel better, and the other half was to tease him a little more.

“Mm.”

However, the reaction that came back was very different from Eleanor’s expectations. Kaidel, who hadn’t said anything the whole time, nodded his head obediently.

“I think so.”

There was no knack for making up words that Kaidel didn’t have. So he couldn’t come up with a plausible answer to Eleanor’s words. His obstinate temper, which kept his mouth shut when he had to lie, also played a role.

At moments like this, Kaidel always chose the straight attack method. To convey the truth as it was, without adding or subtracting.

Looking straight into Eleanor’s eyes, which widened in surprise, Kaidel continued.

“I don’t know how it sounds, but I hated watching the Young Marquis and you spending time alone. Imagining the conversation you and His Highness would have had sitting here face-to-face isn’t very pleasant to me.”

Kaidel spat out carefully, word by word.

“Yes, Eleanor. I was obviously jealous.”

It was Eleanor, not Kaidel, who burned with shame. Without looking in the mirror, Eleanor could bet her entire paycheck this month that by now her face would be as red as an apple.

‘Does Kaidel like me?’

‘Why on earth? What is disappointing about that person?’

‘Ey, that’s ridiculous.’

‘But Kaidel isn’t the kind of person to play around with things like this… I can see it today. He’s sick of lies.’

‘…Perhaps it’s real?’

In a moment, dozens of thoughts passed through Eleanor’s mind. Every time that happened, her eyebrows twitched and her lips pouted. She tried to pretend that she wasn’t surprised, that she wasn’t embarrassed, yet it didn’t go as well as she thought.

Before she knew it, Kaidel’s face had returned a bit of composure. The tension and bewilderment seemed to have shifted to Eleanor. Kaidel stared at her blushing face and spoke politely.

“I apologize once again for bothering you with my petty feelings. If it embarrasses you, then that too.”

“…It’s okay. Really.”

Eleanor murmured softly, avoiding his gaze. Eleanor, whose throat burned, reached for the cooled teacup and drank it all at once. There was no time to worry about etiquette or anything like that.

Cooling her hot cheeks with the back of her hand, Eleanor excused herself awkwardly.

“Here, the air seems a little muggy.”

Kaidel laughed softly as he averted his gaze from Eleanor’s flushed face. The vibration at the end of the low-pitched voice was transmitted to Eleanor. It was a subtle sensation that tickled her whole body.

“It seems that summer has come a little early, only here.”

A friendly voice fell softly. And at that moment, Eleanor knew. She couldn’t have not known.

The man in front of her clearly has a crush on her. Something more than human feelings.

***

Time passed, and the day came when they decided to take a dance class for the first time at the Imperial Palace. Eleanor introduced a new friend to Lucas, Sienna and Demian. Six curious eyes turned to the new face.

“Everyone, greet her. This is Marianne, who will be taking dance lessons with you.”

“Hello. I’m Marianne Bassett.”

The lovely girl with curly gray-brown hair was Marianne, the youngest daughter of Marquis Basset. As it was a class conducted in pairs, she was specially requested by Izmel.

“I want to do it with Marianne!”

As soon as Marianne’s greeting was over, Lucas immediately raised his hand. Sienna also turned her head sharply toward Demian as if showing off.

“I want to do it with Demian. Demian, it’s okay with you, right?”

“Mm, it doesn’t matter.”

Demian nodded his head coolly, and their partners were decided.

Lucas was curious about Marianne’s calm and smiley smile, which was unlike Sienna, so he kept trying to talk to her. Eleanor smiled inwardly as he resembled Izmel.

“Ask me anything you don’t know.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Sienna, who had been quietly listening to Lucas and Marianne talking, snorted.

“You need to know something to answer her…”

Lucas pretended not to hear and asked another question.

“Where is it, the Marquis of Bassett? Is it near the Imperial Palace?”

“It’s in the Lawton district. About an hour away by carriage, so it’s not very close.”

“Even if she told you that, you wouldn’t understand.”

Sienna intervened this time as well. Lucas yelled at Sienna.

“Pink Hair, can you be quiet? I didn’t say anything to you, you know?”

“Anyway, only if your ears like it…”

Sienna asked, holding Marianne’s hand tightly.

“Marianne, you need to get as far away from him as possible. Because he’s not normal.”

It was when Eleanor was about to intervene. A familiar voice interrupted from the doorway.

“I thought they got along, but are you still fighting?”

“They’re arguing.”

“Ugh, that brat.”

It was Izmel. The presence of his older brother put strength on Lucas’ shoulders. Lucas looked at Sienna and stuck out his tongue, wle.

“I’m greeting Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You don’t have to be so polite.”

She quickly knelt down and greeted. Eleanor, who had approached Izmel, looked around and asked in a whisper.

“Your Highness, why did you come alone?”

“Ah, the pianist will come soon. I came right away because my previous schedule ended a little early.”

“And then…?”

“And then? Who else should have been here?”

Izmel asked as he folded his arms and tilted his head lazily. Eleanor gave him a quick nod.

“Of course. It’s a dance class, so you need a partner.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“But what if you come alone?”

Eleanor stamped her foot. A smile spread across Izmel’s lips as he watched her.

“If it’s my partner, you know.”

Izmel leaned over and met Eleanor’s eyes. Eleanor involuntarily held her breath and pulled her shoulders back. Ruby-red eyes were shining right in front of her.

A smile deepened around Izmel’s lips as he took a look at Eleanor’s eyes, nose and mouth, which showed her bewilderment.

“She’s here.”