Chapter : 30
The butler bowed his head and spoke politely.
“…The Crown Prince has arrived.”
I was startled and looked at Sirinyu. His expression had noticeably turned cold.
Until just now, I had thought his face looked slightly icy—but I realized that, in fact, it had been a surprisingly pleasant expression.
“You’ve crossed the territory without permission. What were you doing at the border that you didn’t report?”
Even the tone in which he spoke to the butler was on a completely different level from earlier.
“The message was delivered, but His Grace the Duke was unwell, so it seems there was no opportunity to pass it along.”
“Dismiss the messenger.”
“Yes, understood.”
When people get angry, some stomp around and raise their voices, while others become calmer and speak more quietly. Sirinyu was the latter.
His low, controlled voice dripped with icy tension. Even without moving a muscle or changing his expression, it was clear he was very angry.
I carefully observed Sirinyu, making sure not to let my eyes roll.
‘This kind of demeanor suits him…’
“Where is he?”
“I have him in the sitting room.”
“You should have left him at the door.”
“My apologies. I will do so next time.”
Sirinyu accepted the gloves the butler handed him and walked toward the stairs.
After a brief hesitation, I followed. It felt a little awkward to go into the room with the Crown Prince here.
As I took a couple of steps behind him, Sirinyu turned his head slightly to look at me. Luckily, I had kept enough distance to avoid bumping into his back.
“Don’t come, young lady.”
“…Is that really okay?”
“Of course. He’s my guest.”
Without waiting for my reply, Sirinyu moved on.
‘Yes!’
I felt happy at the thought of collapsing onto the bed, and I held back the smile threatening to creep across my face as I turned my body.
“Shall we go to Miss Selene’s room to talk, then?”
A soft and refreshing voice whispered near my ear.
“Huh? Noel?”
I turned my head and saw the glinting blonde hair. Dressed elegantly in a white uniform, Noel approached me, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Without even glancing at Sirinyu, who had stopped in place, Noel came straight to me. When I stood still, he extended his hand.
“It’s been a long time, Miss Selene.”
I placed my hand on his. Noel lightly kissed the back of my hand.
‘Have we ever greeted like this before?’
In most fantasy novels, this is a common greeting… but I didn’t recall experiencing it here. My head tilted slightly.
Noel’s face was full of warmth and brightness, almost pure and radiant. Looking at him, I had no time for wandering thoughts.
I lifted my skirt with my free hand and slightly bowed my head, noticing Sirinyu approaching from behind Noel.
“What are you doing?”
Sirinyu’s expression was no different than if he were facing a monster. Even as he came closer, his gaze remained fixed on Noel and my hand.
Noel carefully released my hand and turned his head.
“Grand Duke Reprics, thank you for allowing me to visit.”
“…….”
Sirinyu looked at me without responding, as if speaking was too bothersome.
“Young lady, return to your room.”
I nodded, and this time Noel stepped forward.
“Then I’ll escort you. Which room is yours?”
“Why are you—”
“Because I want to talk with Miss Selene.”
Sirinyu and Noel exchanged a silent stare. The corridor felt freezing. I rolled my eyes at the tension and cautiously spoke.
“Shall we… go to the sitting room?”
Both of them simultaneously looked at me and extended their arms. As I stared at their arms side by side, Sirinyu spoke in a low, controlled voice. He seemed to be gritting his teeth.
“As the host, it would be proper for me to escort you.”
“That’s true.”
Noel withdrew his hand obediently and smiled, though his smile now seemed slightly awkward.
“Go.”
I placed my hand on Sirinyu’s arm and walked down the corridor. Come to think of it, this is the first time someone has formally escorted me down the stairs in this mansion…
‘The etiquette must be for the Crown Prince’s sake…’
I pleasantly felt Sirinyu’s firm arm beneath my fingers as we walked.
When we entered the sitting room, the maids were bustling about. The tea table was crowded with so many desserts that its legs seemed to bend under the weight.
“Huh?”
What caught my attention most was the pastry chef in a white uniform piping whipped cream on a small table.
“What’s going on?”
Sirinyu addressed the butler, but Noel spoke instead.
“Fresh fruits have arrived at the palace. We thought Miss Selene would like them, so we brought them here.”
“Wow.”
Sitting on the sofa, the cakes and tarts on the dessert trays glittered brilliantly.
One thing I liked about this place was that seasonal fruits didn’t matter. Strawberries and melons could be grown in the same season at peak sweetness, so strawberry-melon cakes were always possible.
I licked my lips at a tart topped with apple and blueberries.
Sirinyu, sitting in the single-seater sofa, glanced at the pastry chef and slightly furrowed his brows.
“Have you not heard that the most famous pastry chef in the empire is here?”
Noel sat upright on the sofa and smiled.
“I know. Is there anything I don’t know? But I think it’s better for someone experienced in serving desserts to give instructions.”
Suddenly, I realized—these two have been talking in riddles the whole time. Their words are dripping with sarcasm, and even though they’re sitting elegantly, their eyes are trying to find fault with each other!
Is this really the Crown Prince and the Duke, or are the supporting young ladies’ egos clashing?
Instinctively, I decided not to get involved in this suffocating duel. I reached for a macaron quietly.
‘Hmm… it’s delicious.’
“Why did you come suddenly?”
As Arcas gracefully lifted a teacup, Sirinyu sank deep into the sofa and tapped the armrest.
“I finished my political duties and came to assist with your analysis of the ancient texts. I can’t leave the burden solely on Miss Selene.”
I couldn’t help but reach for the new desserts that looked enticing…
At that moment, Arcas entered.
He looked confused as a maid guided him into the sitting room.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
When Arcas greeted Noel, Noel smiled lightly in response.
“Count Whedon. The Duke is inside.”
“I didn’t know you were here, so I was late with my greeting.”
Arcas sat beside me, and Noel spoke gently.
“That’s fine. By the way, the Duke should use more staff. You’re slow in entertaining guests.”
Sirinyu tilted his head at Noel’s words.
“Guests? I’m already attending to them properly.”
All eyes turned to Sirinyu. He pointed at me with his hand.
Following his finger, I saw the butler standing close to me, serving tea.
Noel’s smile momentarily faded. Arcas looked around the people seated at the table and asked:
“What were you discussing?”
“We were talking about whether the ancient texts were being interpreted properly,” Noel replied.
Arcas nodded.
“It seems the interpretation needs to be completed quickly. The appearance of monsters is unusual.”
“More monsters?”
“Yes. A few days ago, one appeared near the Duke’s residence. It had the ability to command other monsters. At that time, the Duke—”
As Arcas recounted the events while staring into space, Sirinyu’s low voice cut in.
“Count Whedon.”
Startled, Arcas fell silent, and Noel looked intrigued.
“Something must have happened.”
Noel glanced at Sirinyu meaningfully, but his expression remained unchanged.
Sirinyu tapped the sofa’s armrest and stared at Noel. Noel smiled and looked at me.
“Shall we return to the matter at hand? Do you think you can interpret the texts? How long will it take? What do you need me to do?”
“Ah, well…”
I remembered that Sirinyu had told me not to mention that the texts had already been interpreted. I lifted the teacup to my lips and sneaked a glance at Sirinyu.
He didn’t look at me but twitched his fingers that had been tapping rhythmically.
I returned my eyes to their original position and put down the cup.
“Haha… well…”
“Is this the ancient text?”
Arcas looked at the book I had left by the sofa, lifting it and examining it from different angles. Sirinyu frowned.
“That belongs to the Reprics family. Don’t handle it carelessly.”
“Oh, yes.”
As Arcas tried to return the book, a piece of paper fell from between its pages to the floor.
I reached for it, but it slid under the table and ended up near Noel’s feet.
Noel picked it up, glanced over it, and looked at me.
“You’ve already finished interpreting the texts, haven’t you?”
