Chapter 10: Fate's Folly

He looked at me with a gentle smile, but his eyes wavered for a moment. He had clearly recognized me.

My voice, which I had somehow managed to squeeze out, suddenly retreated.

As soon as I began to stammer, the Count spoke for me.

"This is my daughter, Lorisha."

"I am Duke Rocard Caidel. It is an honor to meet you, Lady Roar."

His voice, smoothly answering with a smile, sounded like this to me.

'You've been caught.'

"Duke Caidel."

I barely said so and bowed my head, holding my breath as the Duke spoke of the Count's pride and such, while the Countess was still in bed.

Now I see that the dark hair I saw on the beach was this person. His neatly arranged hair color seemed like an omen for the rest of my life.

Pure darkness.

Duke Rocard Caidel asked, showing familiarity. It sounded like a suitable social question for someone at a beach hotel.

"Do you like to walk, Lady Roar?"

"No, I'm afraid to go outside."

The Duke smiled as if I had said something cute. The Count knew that I occasionally wandered around the city, but he smiled in the atmosphere.

But I was serious. Now I was too scared to wander outside.

I knew along with the news of Amata's victory and the army's return, the story of the second Prince and the first lion's son, the heroic deeds. People hailed Duke Caidel as Tagar's cub lion.

If my luck was so miserable that I was born as a bastard and disgraced to the extent of a young hero Duke Caidel, it was better for me to grow old and die in the room.

But Duke Caidel, having heard my answer, smirked slightly at the corner of his mouth.

I understood his expression perfectly.

'Why, you wander the bustling streets at night.'

My breath was choked, and I drank water and put down the glass, but it hit the edge of the service plate with a clank!

The two noble lions pretended not to see such a trivial matter, but Duke Caidel's mouth twitched again.

How deliciously he seemed to enjoy my mistake. It was more galling that he did not openly laugh at me.

But I was already unable to move until the long, long feast ended. Hell was somewhere else.

Then a servant came in and whispered in Duke Caidel's ear, and he rose from his seat.

"I apologize. Father, Count Roar. It seems I must leave."

Then the Duke asked softly.

"Are you being called?"

"Yes. I ask for your understanding, Count."

"Of course. You must go."

I watched Duke Rocard Caidel rise from his seat, bow in apology to the guests, and leave.

The experience of leading an army and fighting in the war at such a young age had filled his body with a dignity and strength I had never seen before.

It was the aristocratic culture and at the same time a grace granted to one who had earned his natural duty through adversity.

I then felt a vastness, like when looking at the walls of the Academy's annex.

The Countess's misuse of the term 'refinement for the chosen ones' might be such a thing.

Of course, his amazingly well groomed face, his body that felt strong even when motionless, and his maturity added to that atmosphere.

At the same time, the fact that he was an unfortunate human being had not changed, so Duke Caidel left me with a strange and dual emotion.

I thanked the person who called him, whoever it was, with folded hands in my heart.

Then the Duke said to the Count.

"Oh, her Grace looks unwell."

The Count replied.

"It seems the fatigue of the long journey has built up. Lorisha, would you like to go rest?"

I was tearfully grateful for the two lions' act.

The Duke, who had no one my age, obviously brought up the subject to prevent me from making a bigger mistake. Witnessing the embarrassment of a respected opponent is uncomfortable for both parties.

I gently placed the napkin down and bowed my head.

"Thank you both for your consideration. Then, I must regretfully rise. Duke Kaidel, Count."

The Duke gave me a slight nod, and I was able to exit with the bare minimum of human dignity.

'I feel like I've aged ten years!'

I nearly screamed when I closed the restaurant door, thinking so.

Duke Kaidel was leaning awkwardly at the entrance to the hall, grinning maliciously at me.

'That's a demon.'

He turned, leading the way as if saying, 'Follow me.'

I understood the threat that his laughter threw at me and followed him, trembling.

He opened the door at the end of the corridor, but I didn't want to be alone with him in a room.

So, I spoke with the door open.

"Um, if you have something to say, outside...."

But the voice that answered from inside was different.

"It's okay, come in."

My mouth was frozen, but my body was going in and closing the door as if bewitched.

Inside was the knight I had met on the rock hill earlier. The problem was the lion's emblem in the shield on his chest. It's the mark of the royal family.

Looking at him in his uniform, I recalled that silver hair is a characteristic of the Tagar royal family. You have to see a royal to recognize them; just hearing about them won't do!

The cold smile aimed at me had no trace of goodwill.

It didn't seem like he was displeased with me. From the start, he seemed like someone who didn't need others' approval.

"His Highness Greiyan, the second prince of Tagar."

Duke Kaidel's words made me bow stiffly.

"Everlasting glory to Tagar. Lorisha Roar greets His Highness the second prince. I am sorry for not recognizing you earlier."

"Lady Roar's hobby is usually not recognizing people, Your Highness."

I glared at Duke Kaidel, grinding my teeth.

This is a potentially life threatening situation. I had to explain firmly.

"I did not recognize you as you were in plain clothes. It would have been a regrettable incident if I had recognized you even though you were hiding your identity in plain clothes."

Greiyan's eyes widened, and Duke Kaidel looked at him as if to say, look at this.

It was a misunderstanding at the time; to take revenge like this!

Greiyan spoke.

"I called you because I thought food would not pass between the lions."

I looked at him, wondering what he meant, and he said,

"Count Roar values manners and formality, so if Rocard left his seat with the Duke, he would have sent you away."

I had to admit that my expulsion from the room was due to my awkward manners and formality, but let's just agree. The result is the same, anyway.

I asked, feeling irritated,

"You couldn't just call me?"

"I wanted to see you secretly."

Greiyan looked at me intently and replied.

I quickly bowed my head.

"I will cover this matter up."

Then Greiyan laughed and said,

"I told Rocard about the story you told earlier. I told him it was strange to meet a noble who told the same story."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"This guy is crazy."

"Your Highness."

Duke Kaidel called out softly for the first time, looking flustered. Perhaps he felt the prince was treating me too harshly.

I found it funny. He thinks I would be this flustered, which felt slightly insulting.

I muttered very quietly. Crazy?

"Somehow...."

"What?"

"Nothing, Your Highness."

Greiyan burst out laughing, and Duke Kaidel frowned, folding his arms.

I felt joyful as he started to get annoyed, and for the first time in a while, I felt energized.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Please ask."

"Why aren't you scared? Is the second prince of the Tagar too insignificant to impress you?"

At the sudden question, Duke Kaidel, who had been folding his arms, covered his eyes with his palms.

I was also taken aback. Was this a question to ask after calling me here secretly?

"That's...."

"Speak."

"It feels unreal."

"Is it like you're dreaming?"

"No, it's...."

Greyan narrowed his brow at the quick denial, and Duke Kaidel looked a bit frightened at what I might say.

Heh, I laughed inwardly.

Nice. That expression.

"I think royalty is fundamentally different from ordinary people, they don't even go to the bathroom.... I'm sorry. I can't think of another expression because I'm nervous."

"You mean too ordinary? To the point that you wouldn't notice even if I wear casual clothes. Don't worry, you don't look nervous at all."

Greyan signaled to continue with a suppressed smile.

"No! That's not what I meant.... No, it's not."

Duke Kaidel interjected as if he couldn't help himself.

"Roar is confident enough to confront a thug on a dark street alone."

That's true!

"You didn't meet her for the first time today?"

"If I had to give an example."

Really cunning, it's been a long time since I've despised someone this much in such a short time.

Greyan, who seemed to be enjoying himself, stopped smiling and asked me quietly.

"I have one more question."

Ugh. I don't want to. I'm tired.

"Please ask."

"What's the most effective way to shut someone's mouth?"

The other party is the second imperial prince, His Highness the Emperor's second son. There is nothing he can't mobilize, whether it's money or power. If such a person is the opponent who can't shut up and is worrying about it....

Ugh. My luck is like this.

Suddenly my head throbbed. I was afraid to ask.

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 100.

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