Father’s eyes widened. In the parlor, he heard Riel had a crush on the guy, but he didn’t know she liked him for real. Her mother also looked unexpectedly.
Riel cried, and immediately burst into tears and said.
“But suddenly, my sister approached the Grand Duke, and Boris acted offensively toward me after he was incited by sister. I was believing that it would not be me, and that I was shaken by Boris’ affection. But I found out today. Uh, sister…”
Riel raised his head. Tears dripping from her eyes. Anger ran over her father’s face, and her mother embraced Riel. In her mother’s arms, Riel struggled with her words.
“It’s like she is trying to take the Grand Duke away from me.”
“…… Riel. Don’t worry. It will never happen!”
His anger burst, her father jumped up from his seat and shouted. Her mother must have been troubled, whispering, sweeping her hair down.
Riel buried her face in her mother’s arms. Riel opened her eyes as she felt her mother’s hand stroking her hair. Her lips drew a line.
‘Sister, if I can’t have it, don’t you even dream about it.’
* * *
“Grand Duke, I’m sorry. You’ve been waiting for a long time.”
“no.”
Irene, who hurried out of the back door, said to Noel. Noel shook his head with his slender face. It was much more delayed than the promised time to escape from the eyes of the people in the family. Even so, after the Boris incident, she could not be disturbed anymore thanks to the exchange of correspondence as a messenger. Two days have already passed since that day, and two days ago, a call came in saying that the date had been set.
Noel opened the door of the carriage while Irene grasped her breath hastily. As Irene tried to get on, Noel reached out his hand. Irene looked at his hand with puzzled eyes.
“The carriage has a high step, so hold my hand.”
“Oh, it’s fine…….”
Escort like this was the first time in her life, so Irene’s face was stained with embarrassment. When she was in a relationship with Boris, she went up in the carriage by herself, and Irene went up by stepping on the simple stairs, so there was no escort. Rather, it was normal for Irene.
“If you fall down and get hurt, I will be in trouble.”
When Irene refused, Noel said again. Contrary to his firm tone, his face was soft. She couldn’t say no anymore, so Irene carefully reached out to him. Noel’s eyes widened. She held his hand as if she was doing a handshake. This way he couldn’t lift her up to the carriage. He would rather strain only her wrist.
Unaware of that, Irene held out her hand and looked at him with a distant face.
No matter how much he looked at, it didn’t seem like she was joking. Noel, holding back a little laugh, released her hand. Suddenly he pulled his hand away, and Irene looked fluttered.
“If you hold it like that, only your ladyship’s wrist will hurt.”
After saying that, he put his hand under her hand, which was stiff in the air, and supported it. It was only then that Irene’s face became hot when she realized the proper method.
“Thank you. Grand Duke…”
It was so hot that it seemed as if there was smoke from her face. Irene, who was caught in the face, entered the carriage and took her place. Soon after, Noel also sat across from her. The carriage quietly exit Count Chase mansion. Even then, Irene could not raise her head. She made such a rudimentary mistake. How ridiculous it was.
But she also had a reason. Not only did she not learn proper social etiquette, but she never received escort from someone.
Rattle, rattle. The carriage shook, and Irene’s body was shaken every time. Irene clenched her fist and glanced at Noel’s appearance. Noel was looking out of the window as if he wasn’t interested. Only then, Irene, a little relieved, carefully opened her mouth.
“The Grand Duke….”
Noel turned to look at her.
“Did the Great Duke of Kristen know I’m coming?”
Because she was nervous, she only got the chance to ask the most important thing now. Rebuking herself for her belated question, Irene looked at Noel. Noel replied, turning his gaze back out of the window.
“You know, maybe.”
“Maybe….?”
Irene tilted her head at his bleak answer. Noel paused for a moment and added an explanation.
“I told him that I’m bringing you, but I didn’t get an answer.”
“Ah…….”
Irene was belatedly able to understand what he meant. She could tell the relationship between him and the great Duke Kristen just by listening to the fragmentary words.
“By the way….”
This time, Noel spoke first, as the air flow ceased, and Irene was rolling her uncomfortable eyes.
Irene raised her head with a puzzled face, then held her breath for a moment. He was staring straight at Irene. She was confused by the sudden eye contact.
Noel, unaware of Irene’s condition, opened his mouth.
“Why does your ladyship call me Grand Duke?”