“Leticia.”
After a while, Collen approached. Huh, Collen still looks angry.
“Where did this picture come from again?”
“Sorry for asking to dance without your permission,” Cedric said.
“Did you come here under the King’s orders?”
“Yes.”
“From now on, don’t ask my daughter to dance without permission. But thank you for escorting her with courtesy,” Collen said coldly.
Collen is amazing today too. Dad… you’re speaking to royalty.
Cedric faintly smiled without getting angry.
“Understood.”
Then he turned to me and made a bow.
“Well then, princess. Until we meet again.”
I quickly bowed in response.
“Are you feeling upset, Dad?”
I looked at Collen’s expression.
Collen’s eyes, which seemed angry, softened.
“People… what did they say today?”
Because of me?
“It’s nothing like that,” Collen said gruffly, ruffling my hair. “Don’t worry about that. And don’t dance with anyone.”
It seems that the prince is not just anyone, but I thought so.
“I won’t. And what about Marianne?”
“She had some drinks and disappeared somewhere. Don’t worry about her at night.”
I nodded my head.
“Did the conversation go well?”
“More or less. Aunt Elena said she wants to have a cup of tea with you before going to bed. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“After the conversation is over, go to bed right away.”
“Yes, will you wish me good night?”
Only then did a smile appear on Collen’s lips.
“I’ll say it in advance.”
Collen took me and we entered the ballroom. Then he led me to the second floor where the guest rooms were gathered.
“This castle is really old.”
“It’s usually empty.”
“No one lives here?”
“If someone enters and lives in an empty house, they’re considered intruders. Even if it’s Aunt Elena, she can’t live here.”
“Then what about the people who greeted us?”
“The branch family members either live in the annex next to the main estate or in their own mansions.”
“There are no nobles from the Duke’s family among the people in the Southern Gathering?”
There are distant relatives of the Duke’s family, but they can’t use the Duke’s castle. In other words, they’re all members of the branch families.”
An old, abandoned castle.
‘It’s a perfect place for ghosts to live.’
I looked around the corridor.
‘It feels eerie in places without magical installations.’
In the mansions of the capital, every corridor had magical stone lamps installed, so even at night, it was always bright as day.
In the southern castle, some places had magical lights installed, while others only had candles lit. It was eerie to see the candles flicker every time the wind blew from somewhere.
“Then who organized tonight’s banquet?”
“A few hired staff members reside here to manage the place, and when I arrive, they send people from each annex to assist with management.”
I nodded.
“Aren’t you sleepy?”
“I’m still okay.”
“The conversation won’t be too long.”
Collen stopped in front of a door.
“Sleep well. When the conversation is over, Elena will take you to your room.”
“Yes.”
Instead of a goodnight kiss, Collen ruffled my hair once more.
“Have only good dreams.”
Listening to that affectionate voice, all the bad memories seemed to be washed away. Then Collen opened the door.
Beyond the door was a brightly decorated small drawing room. Fortunately, it was filled with magical stone lamps. The display windows were full of colorful dishes.
And beyond the tea table, Elena was standing, showing her back.
She slowly turned around.
“Have a seat.”
Elena glanced at me and smiled faintly.
“Hello, Elena.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
Ah, fortunately, the atmosphere wasn’t as rigid as I had imagined. I crawled onto the high chair and sat down.
She pushed a large sandwich in front of me.
“You didn’t eat much earlier, right?”
“Thank you.”
I felt my tension ease a bit, and my stomach growled. I could feel my cheeks turning red.
“Go ahead and eat.”
I took a bite of the sandwich, which had fresh lettuce and ham.
Seeing me eat, Elena served me cookies and cake.
“So, how long have you known the second prince?”
“It’s been a little while. I’m friends with the princess. He’s like a friend’s brother to me.”
I answered honestly.
“The royal family is firmly wary of the south, huh?”
“Am I going to marry someone from the south?”
I mentioned what Cedric had told me earlier, not pretending to be unaware. Elena’s eyes widened at that.
“You catch on quickly. But Prince Cedric, he’s already a highly promising talent at the age of fifteen, so no matter which man from the south is presented, it can’t compare. Besides, the age difference between you two is just right.”
I thought about explaining once again that Cedric and I had no romantic relationship, but I decided against it. It was a harmless situation, and it was better to let the misunderstanding continue.
‘I’m sorry for leaving the misunderstanding as it is, Your Highness.’
I silently apologized in my heart.
“Leticia.”
After a while, Collen approached. Huh, Collen still looks angry.
“Where did this picture come from again?”
“Sorry for asking to dance without your permission,” Cedric said.
“Did you come here under the King’s orders?”
“Yes.”
“From now on, don’t ask my daughter to dance without permission. But thank you for escorting her with courtesy,” Collen said coldly.
Collen is amazing today too. Dad… you’re speaking to royalty.
Cedric faintly smiled without getting angry.
“Understood.”
Then he turned to me and made a bow.
“Well then, princess. Until we meet again.”
I quickly bowed in response.
“Are you feeling upset, Dad?”
I looked at Collen’s expression.
Collen’s eyes, which seemed angry, softened.
“People… what did they say today?”
Because of me?
“It’s nothing like that,” Collen said gruffly, ruffling my hair. “Don’t worry about that. And don’t dance with anyone.”
It seems that the prince is not just anyone, but I thought so.
“I won’t. And what about Marianne?”
“She had some drinks and disappeared somewhere. Don’t worry about her at night.”
I nodded my head.
“Did the conversation go well?”
“More or less. Aunt Elena said she wants to have a cup of tea with you before going to bed. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“After the conversation is over, go to bed right away.”
“Yes, will you wish me good night?”
Only then did a smile appear on Collen’s lips.
“I’ll say it in advance.”
Collen took me and we entered the ballroom. Then he led me to the second floor where the guest rooms were gathered.
“This castle is really old.”
“It’s usually empty.”
“No one lives here?”
“If someone enters and lives in an empty house, they’re considered intruders. Even if it’s Aunt Elena, she can’t live here.”
“Then what about the people who greeted us?”
“The branch family members either live in the annex next to the main estate or in their own mansions.”
“There are no nobles from the Duke’s family among the people in the Southern Gathering?”
There are distant relatives of the Duke’s family, but they can’t use the Duke’s castle. In other words, they’re all members of the branch families.”
An old, abandoned castle.
‘It’s a perfect place for ghosts to live.’
I looked around the corridor.
‘It feels eerie in places without magical installations.’
In the mansions of the capital, every corridor had magical stone lamps installed, so even at night, it was always bright as day.
In the southern castle, some places had magical lights installed, while others only had candles lit. It was eerie to see the candles flicker every time the wind blew from somewhere.
“Then who organized tonight’s banquet?”
“A few hired staff members reside here to manage the place, and when I arrive, they send people from each annex to assist with management.”
I nodded.
“Aren’t you sleepy?”
“I’m still okay.”
“The conversation won’t be too long.”
Collen stopped in front of a door.
“Sleep well. When the conversation is over, Elena will take you to your room.”
“Yes.”
Instead of a goodnight kiss, Collen ruffled my hair once more.
“Have only good dreams.”
Listening to that affectionate voice, all the bad memories seemed to be washed away. Then Collen opened the door.
Beyond the door was a brightly decorated small drawing room. Fortunately, it was filled with magical stone lamps. The display windows were full of colorful dishes.
And beyond the tea table, Elena was standing, showing her back.
She slowly turned around.
“Have a seat.”
Elena glanced at me and smiled faintly.
“Hello, Elena.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
Ah, fortunately, the atmosphere wasn’t as rigid as I had imagined. I crawled onto the high chair and sat down.
She pushed a large sandwich in front of me.
“You didn’t eat much earlier, right?”
“Thank you.”
I felt my tension ease a bit, and my stomach growled. I could feel my cheeks turning red.
“Go ahead and eat.”
I took a bite of the sandwich, which had fresh lettuce and ham.
Seeing me eat, Elena served me cookies and cake.
“So, how long have you known the second prince?”
“It’s been a little while. I’m friends with the princess. He’s like a friend’s brother to me.”
I answered honestly.
“The royal family is firmly wary of the south, huh?”
“Am I going to marry someone from the south?”
I mentioned what Cedric had told me earlier, not pretending to be unaware. Elena’s eyes widened at that.
“You catch on quickly. But Prince Cedric, he’s already a highly promising talent at the age of fifteen, so no matter which man from the south is presented, it can’t compare. Besides, the age difference between you two is just right.”
I thought about explaining once again that Cedric and I had no romantic relationship, but I decided against it. It was a harmless situation, and it was better to let the misunderstanding continue.
‘I’m sorry for leaving the misunderstanding as it is, Your Highness.’
I silently apologized in my heart.
