Chapter 17
Lorr chattered right into his ear.
“Bboong-bboong!”
“Bboong-bboong?”
“Yeah! Like this, shaking in the air!”
“…Explain that in detail.”
Alcade focused seriously on Lorr’s words.
“I-itch, bboong-bboong is…”
Lorr, excited to explain, faltered for a moment.
“No, that’s not it! There’s something more urgent!”
Remembering the boy in the carriage, Lorr shouted,
“We have to help him!”
“…Understood.”
What a shame…
Alcade didn’t care at all about the mysterious boy or whether he lived or died. He was only disappointed that he couldn’t figure out what “bboong-bboong” was.
He forced down his uneasy feelings. Losing the chance to get closer to Lorr, and seeing her so concerned about a child she just met today, didn’t sit well with him. But…
“……”
The bright, sparkling eyes before him belonged to someone Alcade could never defeat.
He had to treat her as quickly as possible and send her on her way.
“Do as Lorr says.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Alcade, carrying Lorr, stopped in front of a massive door.
Wow… this looks like a door a princess would come out of!
Lorr, resting her head against Alcade’s chest, raised her head in awe.
The double doors were adorned with elaborate golden decorations and intricate carvings.
The frame was marble, etched with luxurious patterns.
At the center was a large circular window filled with beautiful stained glass.
Light passing through the colored glass painted the surroundings in a fantastical array of colors.
Red, blue, yellow, green…
As Lorr’s green eyes darted after the scattered beams of light, the doors swung open!
Hup! Could it be… a princess?
Lorr clutched her tiny chest, trembling with anticipation, staring at the door.
But the figure that appeared was…
“It’s Unnie!”
Not a princess, but a woman with bright red curly hair tied high in a ponytail—someone Lorr knew.
Lorr’s green eyes sparkled with delight.
“Pretty Unnie!”
It hadn’t only been her father who accompanied her to the market earlier.
Lorr waved toward the kind, pretty woman who had helped her father.
“Haha, miss. Please call me Giselle.”
Giselle winked and bowed politely, like a knight greeting a princess.
Lorr giggled.
“Giselle Unnie!”
“Unnie… I’m not really…”
Giselle scratched her head. Was it really appropriate for the Grand Princess to call her “Unnie”?
Yet, having such a cute little girl call her so familiarly made her heart melt.
Ah, this is wonderful…
Golden hair like sunlight, a round forehead, soft cheeks, cute lips, and those large green eyes. It was hard to believe she was the daughter of the dark and intimidating Grand Duke.
The word “Unnie” alone seemed to melt Giselle’s entire heart.
But the dark aura rising from behind Lorr quickly snapped her back to reality.
She had work to do: show the finished piece she had prepared to the young lady.
Though the Grand Duke had ordered it last night and time was tight…
Left alone in the boutique to handle everything herself, time had indeed been tight. But Giselle had managed it, determined to earn even a single smile from the young lady.
She imagined how delighted the girl would be, and that thought alone filled her with joy.
“Your Highness, I’ve finished the preparations. Miss, please come this way.”
Alcade nodded slightly and stepped inside the open doors with Lorr.
“Your Highness,” the maids lined up on either side greeted Alcade respectfully.
“Ah, hello…!”
Lorr, in Alcade’s arms, also quickly bowed her head.
Mom says good children greet adults like this.
But Lorr’s tiny greeting had the opposite effect.
Alcade explained on her behalf, replacing the pale maids who were bowed low.
“Lorr, maids always greet first.”
“Uuuh…? But shouldn’t Lorr greet the adults first?”
“You said you read a lot of fairy tales, right?”
“Yes!”
“In those stories, did the princess greet first?”
“Um… no!”
Hearing Alcade, Lorr tilted her head.
“But I’m not a princess! Mom’s the princess!”
“You’re the daughter of a princess too, so you’re a princess as well.”
“Ah-ha!”
Finally understanding, Lorr nodded brightly.
Alcade turned his head sharply. Restraining the urge to pinch her soft cheeks, he instructed the maids,
“Raise your heads.”
The nervous maids lifted their heads in relief.
Hup… adorable…!
Their initial discomfort at greeting the high-ranking young lady vanished, replaced only by her innocent gaze, which touched their hearts.
“Miss, Your Highness. How is it?”
Giselle cleared her throat proudly, drawing attention.
“All were chosen from maids who have long served the Grand House. They will attend to you properly!”
She handed Alcade a bundle of documents listing the maids’ experience and personal information.
Alcade set Lorr down and meticulously reviewed each page.
Some had worked a few years, others nearly ten.
Well chosen.
It must have been difficult to select staff in such a short time, but Giselle did well.
After finishing, Alcade handed the documents back to Giselle and nodded.
Meanwhile, Lorr busied herself exploring the room.
The large room, dominated by pink and white furniture and walls, gave off a cute and charming atmosphere.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, filling the room with star-like reflections.
When the chandelier swayed, it looked as if tiny lights were dancing.
Like a little fairy of light!
Lorr’s eyes sparkled along with it.
The soft carpet made walking barefoot comfortable.
Tiny sofas, chairs, heart-shaped cushions scaled for a child.
A large pink mirror and wardrobe along one wall.
Shimmering jewelry boxes and toys scattered on tables.
It was like stepping into a scene from a fairy tale.
“This place is so, so pretty!”
“Haha!”
Giselle laughed loudly, proud and happy to see Lorr so delighted.
Alcade, surveying the room, nodded slightly at Giselle.
“Yes, well done.”
“Haha, thank you!”
Alcade forced a sigh and hid his complicated feelings.
He was relieved that Lorr liked the room.
He had worried about leaving her in a guest room due to inadequate preparation.
He recalled the room traditionally given to direct descendants of the Grand House.
It only needed minor adjustments.
Of course, it wasn’t Giselle who had decorated it entirely…
…Elaine.
Weeks before leaving, Elaine had started decorating this room for some reason.
She had worked with maids to choose wallpaper, furniture colors, and select every accessory herself.
No one had expected Elaine to leave so suddenly.
Giselle’s role had been preparing the maids, cleaning, and replacing old items.
Without Elaine, this charming room tailored to Lorr’s tastes could not have been ready in such a short time.
A pang of pain hit Alcade’s chest.
Why had Elaine left?
What had become of her?
And Lorr…
Elaine was suspected of stealing the Holy Grail, making official searches and investigations impossible.
Secret operations by knights would take time, but he would see her soon.
He felt suffocated by the mix of anticipation and fear that Elaine might reject him.
Unconsciously, Alcade approached Lorr and gently clasped her tiny hand.
“Uuuh~?”
Lorr rolled her eyes and looked up at Alcade, her face a perfect mirror of Elaine’s.
Elaine.
I will never let you go now.
And I will never let go of the child who looks just like you.
