CHAPTER 27………………………………………………………
Suddenly, a memory of something Alicia had said in the past came to mind.
“Irina, I trust that you’ll handle things well, but I’m saying this just in case.”
I remembered Alicia, at least two heads taller than me, calmly holding my shoulder as she said it.
“Just in case… if there’s anyone who recognizes Vernis-nim’s face…”
“You have to run no matter what.”
“Absolutely run…”
Yes. Because I still remembered those words, I had dashed straight out of the temple.
Could the “fugitive” my father had mentioned in my childhood possibly…
“Have something to do with the temple…?”
Unexpected unease wrapped around me.
But what connection could my parents possibly have had with the temple? There was no link between them and it.
There was no reason to antagonize the temple. Could it be some personal connection? I quickly removed the artifact necklace that had altered my appearance from my neck.
Even without considering my parents, there was no good to be gained from getting involved with the temple.
Just having divine power itself was enough reason that entangling with the temple would bring nothing but trouble.
“…What the—”
Contrary to my expectation that all the lights of the duke’s mansion would be off, the estate shone as brightly as daylight.
At this hour, everyone should have been asleep. Had an important guest from the royal family arrived?
Perhaps Perphone had sent someone to settle the matter of the broken engagement, I thought, and quickly entered the mansion.
The duke’s guards were standing on high alert.
It didn’t seem like a visitor had arrived—something had happened to the mansion itself.
If I went inside now, I’d surely draw attention. So I waited in a spot out of sight, hoping the situation would resolve quickly.
“…Search the capital thoroughly if you have to.”
The voice was low and threatening enough to make my knees tremble.
It was a tone I had never heard, even when April had lied about me pushing her, or when I was about to be expelled from the mansion.
Hearing this, I could understand why Duke Alexis was called a “war demon,” even in retirement.
I hoped this situation would end quickly as I crouched behind the mansion, tapping my foot on a stone.
“Find Irina.”
Huh?
“And if anyone dares threaten her, bring them before me alive.”
Why was my name being mentioned here…?
Peeking out, I saw Duke Alexis’s face, frozen and icy, his right side flanked by Patrick, who looked worried, and his left by an equally uneasy Lian.
The only one observing calmly was Barak.
“You really didn’t do anything, right, Barak?”
“I didn’t do anything! Why don’t you believe me? Why would I touch that girl?”
“I hear she was with you until the very end in the royal family.”
“That may be, but I really didn’t touch her!”
Barak jumped up and down in indignation, pounding his chest.
“Why did that damn girl suddenly disappear and make everyone exhausted?”
So that’s why the duke’s guards were lined up like this—because of me.
“What’s the matter? Why aren’t you all moving?”
Though I had entered the royal residence in broad daylight, it was almost midnight now.
Thinking of Sir Cliff leading soldiers through the capital and making a scene, I quickly revealed myself, my head already throbbing.
“What are you all doing here?”
“Irina.”
The first to approach me was Lian.
“Nothing happened in the capital, right?”
“First, let go of me.”
I shook off his hand on my shoulder and removed the robe I had been wearing.
“Hey, you! You should have been holed up at home after leaving the royal residence, so why are you wandering around and just coming in now?”
He had once raged at me to leave the house, and now complained that I hadn’t returned sooner.
I frowned at Barak’s contradictory words and stepped inside.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Alright? What do you mean? Nothing happened.”
I had only gone for a brief errand.
I wasn’t a child like April, wandering the festival with Barak in tow—his excessive concern was unnecessary.
Perhaps he really believed he’d lost me, sending guards to search as if I were gone for good.
I glanced at Duke Alexis, who had ordered them to scour the capital and bring me back.
Despite the severity of his orders, the duke’s expression hadn’t changed much.
“You thought I ran away from the mansion?”
“My father was only worried about you. Choose your words carefully.”
“It’s not exactly wrong, is it? If I disappeared suddenly, the one inconvenienced would be the Rize family.”
“…….”
“There’s no need to make a scene. I won’t run away, Father.”
Even as I spoke with a teasing tone, Duke Alexis didn’t let out a shallow sigh.
Perhaps it was because he was an adult, or because the teasing of a small child like me was too insignificant to affect him. Unlike Barak or Lian, he showed no emotion at all.
Seeing this, the Rize family seemed like emotionless, wooden dolls.
“…I was worried something might have happened.”
“Useless worry. I’m not a child anymore.”
The first to disappear when I appeared was Barak. It was obvious he’d been harassing Lian for hours just because I hadn’t arrived.
“Everyone, return to your posts.”
At Duke Alexis’s command, the guards began dispersing one by one.
“Lian, you too.”
“Father.”
“Hurry.”
Lian exchanged a glance with me and Duke Alexis, then sighed lightly and turned.
“Follow me.”
“…….”
What a nuisance. I should have quietly entered, ignoring their concern and whatever havoc they caused in the capital.
As soon as we entered the study, he turned to look at me directly, his cool blue eyes unflinching.
“Where were you going alone without an escort?”
“…….”
“Do you even realize how worried everyone was?”
Worried? No one in the mansion had any reason to be worried about me.
I scoffed at the thought of lying with drool in my mouth.
“Worried? Not funny at all.”
“……Not funny?”
“Yes. There’s no one in the mansion who would be worried about me.”
“Do you think this is a joke?”
Duke Alexis’s face stiffened as if about to scold me, then he closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
“The butler, the head maid, Lian, and…”
As he lowered his head, his silver-gray hair fell forward.
I couldn’t guess the expression on his face hidden behind it.
“And I worried about you too.”
“…….”
“Didn’t I tell you? While you are here, I will consider you my daughter.”
“Duke, you have no right to worry about me.”
How could anyone in the mansion, let alone Lian and he himself, so brazenly claim they were worried about me?
If the mansion had any shame, they couldn’t say such a thing.
Even pretending to be a father was disgusting.
“Irina.”
“Call me April.”
The duke, who had been looking down slightly, stared at me in surprise.
“Do you think you have the right to call me by name?”
I couldn’t hide the rising disgust and contempt in my voice.
“If you remember how you treated me…”
My throat went dry.
“You wouldn’t even dare to say such words.”
Words like “I’m worried.”
I dried my face and ran my hand through my hair, watching the duke cool and quiet before me.
“If that’s all you have to say, I’ll be leaving now.”
“……Rojian wants to meet you.”
That one remark, grabbing my ankle, was unexpected.
Frowning slightly at the sudden mention of Rojian Staryu, the duke handed me an invitation he had placed on the office desk.
“Read this.”
