Chapter 70…
Rikaion smirked and swung his long legs up onto the carriage in one smooth motion.
Tession glared at him and abruptly said,
“I didn’t give you permission.”
“I’m not someone who needs anyone’s permission.”
Rikaion finished speaking and turned his glittering eyes toward Cynthia.
“But I should get the lady’s permission. Would that be all right, my lady?”
“Ah… i-if you’re willing to come with us, it’s an honor.”
“You heard her.”
Even though Cynthia’s answer was reluctant, he smiled casually and nodded.
Cynthia glanced at Tession, who was glaring daggers at Rikaion, then looked away and leaned back into her seat.
Having barely escaped a life-or-death situation, the adrenaline was fading and left her feeling oddly drained.
Fine, whatever happens, happens. I don’t even know anymore…
* * *
“My lord, I have something urgent to tell you.”
The moment they arrived at the Grand Duke’s mansion and stepped into the parlor, Ruse whispered something to Tession with a troubled look.
“Right now?”
At Tession’s question, Ruse nodded nervously—it seemed there really was something pressing.
Seeing that, Cynthia quickly spoke up.
“Ah, I’m fine. Please, go take care of it. The physician should be here soon.”
“Yes, I’m here too, so don’t worry and go.”
Rikaion, lounging lazily on the sofa across from her, raised a hand and added,
“Which is exactly why I can’t go.”
Tession shot him a look and immediately sat down again.
From behind, Ruse visibly went pale. He turned pleading eyes toward Cynthia, blinking rapidly.
‘Please help me, my lady…!’
That desperate look made Cynthia’s heart sink. She knew all too well how much trouble and effort Ruse went through.
After a brief hesitation, she spoke.
“Your Grace, really, I’m fine. Please, go handle your business.”
“No.”
Tession refused flatly.
But Cynthia knew the one word that could move him.
“If you stay, I’ll feel uncomfortable.”
“……”
At the word uncomfortable, Tession visibly flinched and looked at her.
“I’m grateful, truly, that both Your Highness and Your Grace are staying by my side for such a minor injury… but it makes me uneasy. I feel like I’m sitting on needles.”
“You hear that?”
“That applies to you as well, Your Highness.”
“Wouldn’t it be less awkward if at least one of us left?”
Tession looked back at Cynthia. She gave him a small nod and a gentle smile, signaling that it was all right.
“Please, go ahead. I won’t go anywhere—I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
She might not have realized it, but her words reassured him deeply.
He exhaled a quiet sigh and stood up.
“Then I’ll be back shortly.”
Cynthia nodded, and Ruse hurried to follow. As he did, he threw her a secret thumbs-up.
“Pfft…”
Cynthia couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh.
She definitely didn’t want to be left alone with the insane crown prince—but she also didn’t want to see poor Ruse suffer.
Well then… how am I supposed to kill time with this lunatic now?
“…?”
Cynthia turned her head toward Rikaion—and froze.
His red eyes were fixed sharply on her.
What’s with that stare?
Holding his gaze, she finally mustered the courage to ask,
“Why… are you looking at me like that?”
Whatever strange expression had been on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by his usual teasing smile.
“Tession watches you like I’m about to devour you whole.”
“That’s because he’s such a kind person.”
“As I told you before, that kindness is reserved for his fiancée alone.”
He muttered and picked up his teacup, then asked,
“Did the engagement happen before or after he regained his sight?”
“Before. It was decided by our family elders.”
Cynthia answered calmly, though she couldn’t shake an odd feeling.
I was literally walking out of the Bailey mansion after signing a contract termination… so how did I end up here, alone in the Grand Duke’s parlor with the Crown Prince?
Am I really supposed to keep pretending to be Elizabeth? Should I just run away again?
Her thoughts tangled like a web until Rikaion’s next question cut through them.
“What do you think about Tession regaining his sight?”
What do I think?
He’s asking that to the very person who secretly gave him the magic potion that cured him?
“…I think it’s wonderful, of course.”
She spoke cautiously, watching his face.
Apparently unsatisfied, Rikaion frowned.
What kind of answer is he looking for?
“You’re being awfully naive.”
He set his cup down with a sharp clink.
So he thinks Tession regaining his sight wasn’t a good thing?
Cynthia frowned slightly, but he continued,
“Why do you think the Bailey family was able to arrange an engagement with the Grand Duchy of Lumanov?”
What is this, an interrogation?
Grumbling inwardly, Cynthia replied—thankfully, this was something Dale had prepared her for.
“To strengthen both families’ positions. The Baileys have few daughters, and since the Lumanovs have always followed the principle of male succession, the two houses rarely interacted. I suppose my birth presented an opportunity—”
“Not that typical, superficial reason.”
He interrupted mid-sentence, cutting her off completely.
Her confidence deflated.
Then what kind of answer do you want, exactly?
“The Bailey family is one of the wealthiest and most influential in the capital. But do you really think that alone could tie them to the Lumanovs? Compared to the royal-blooded Lumanovs—who already have wealth and prestige—the Baileys are far inferior.”
Cynthia couldn’t tell where he was going with this, so she stayed quiet and listened.
“The only reason the Bailey heiress and the Grand Duke could be engaged was because Tession was blind.”
Ah…
Now she understood.
The Baileys, rich but lacking any exceptional lineage or accomplishments, could only secure a match with the royal-blooded Lumanovs because the next Grand Duke had a fatal flaw—his blindness.
“On the surface, the arrangement favored the Baileys, so Duke Castleton Bailey attached the return clause for the Ritemper Trading Company as a condition. That old fox of a duke really is a master negotiator.”
Rikaion chuckled.
“But now that Tession has regained his sight, the tables have turned. The engagement now favors the Lumanovs.”
He lifted his red eyes to study her face again.
“So, I’ll ask again—what do you think about Tession regaining his sight?”
Cynthia took a slow breath instead of answering right away.
From that perspective, she finally understood why the Baileys had convened a full family meeting after Tession’s recovery.
Nobles…
And yet—why was Rikaion telling her all this?
What exactly was his relationship with Tession? They seemed hostile at times, but earlier, they’d walked together through the hunting grounds almost like companions.
Are they friends or rivals? I can’t tell at all.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper between them that she didn’t yet know.
“Hm? Need more time to think?”
Snapped out of her thoughts by his voice, Cynthia finally answered,
“Then I’ll say it again—I still think it’s a good thing. My father and I don’t see things the same way.”
“Heh. I did hear the Bailey heiress wasn’t exactly known for her brains.”
He replied with a look that said he’d never expected a better answer anyway.
Excuse me, what?
