Chapter : 21
How did Duke Casiar get here?
He didn’t even say he would come today!
This wasn’t the time to be dumbfounded and flustered.
If things went on like this, Duke Casiar would discover Edelonian’s true identity.
I had to stop the two of them from being formally introduced at all costs.
“Duke, may I ask why you came without prior notice…?”
I jumped up from my seat and quickly stood in front of Duke Casiar.
“I think I left something behind when I stayed at the Marquis’ residence last night.”
To think someone so meticulous could leave something behind… It seemed as if Casiar had come knowing Edelonian would visit the Marquis’ residence.
Was there some unchanging law in the original story?
“What did you leave behind?”
“A fountain pen… I think.”
I had planned to quickly return the item he forgot and send him off, but Casiar’s answer was suspiciously vague.
If it was a fountain pen, then say it’s a fountain pen—what does “I think” mean? Ambiguous.
“What does the fountain pen look like?”
“Gold-trimmed… or was it silver? I’m not sure.”
If he didn’t even remember its appearance, then it probably wasn’t very important, right?
Yet, he came all the way back to the Marquis’ residence to retrieve it. Casiar’s intentions were hard to read.
But right now, understanding his intentions wasn’t important.
I just needed to find the fountain pen and send him off.
“If you don’t remember what it looks like, it’s better to check yourself. Liri!”
“Yes, Miss!”
At my call, Liri came running from the hallway.
“Did you see anything like a fountain pen while cleaning this morning?”
“No. I cleaned every room on the first floor, but I didn’t see anything like that.”
Relieved, I realized there was no need to search the first floor.
“That means we just need to look on the second floor. The place where the Duke went on the second floor…”
As I recalled the only room Casiar had entered on the second floor, a bad feeling instinctively arose.
“Your bedroom.”
I had hoped he’d forgotten, but there was no way he wouldn’t remember where he stayed for the night.
Not the bedroom!
It had been a rare occasion that Edelonian visited the Marquis’ residence, and we had a little fashion show with Liri to lift my spirits. The room was a mess.
I didn’t want anyone, especially Duke Casiar, to see that room.
“My room? I can tidy it myself. There’s no fountain pen here. Maybe you just guessed the wrong place, Duke.”
Casiar’s lips curved just slightly as he watched me insist there was no fountain pen in my room.
“According to my memory, it’s definitely your room. You spent the most time here, so the pen might have fallen under the bed or in the gap between furniture. I’d like you to check.”
“That would be difficult right now… Couldn’t we check later?”
“This is troublesome. I can’t work properly without that fountain pen. I had pending tasks from the day I stayed here, and time is tight.”
Casiar’s usually calm expression now carried a weight of concern.
I knew he was unusual, but I didn’t expect even his ailments to be so specific. Judging by his serious expression, it must be really important to him.
Maybe it’s a favorite fountain pen.
I have a cherished doll myself, so I decided to respect the Duke’s attachment.
“If it’s too much trouble for me to check, could you look for it yourself?”
It was better for me to climb up and check rather than show the disaster that was my room to Casiar.
However, if I went, only Edelonian and Casiar would remain here.
If Casiar greeted Edelonian in the meantime, his personal details might slip out.
“That’s a good idea. Liri, check carefully if the fountain pen is in my room.”
“Yes, I’ll search every corner!”
Liri, knowing why I wanted to hide the room, dashed upstairs like an arrow.
I didn’t necessarily have to go myself.
“Could you wait a moment until Liri returns?”
“Very well.”
Casiar’s gaze, following Liri as she disappeared to the second floor, looked somewhat displeased.
“While we wait, why don’t you have a little chat with me?”
I thought I had avoided the crisis, but now Edelonian, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up.
“Uh… no, Roan! Didn’t you hear? The Duke has too much pending work to chat. I’ll let you greet him later.”
“Roan? Who’s that…?”
Calling Edelonian by a completely different name left him flustered.
I grabbed him by the collar and whispered quietly in his ear.
“From now on, your name is Roan. Got it?”
“But I’m Edelonian…”
Frustrated to the point of bursting, I glared at Edelonian.
“…O-okay. Fine. I’m Roan.”
Momentarily sensing a threat, Edelonian nervously accepted his new name.
“Chatting isn’t hard. I was curious about you anyway, so it works out.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Duke Casiar immediately took the seat opposite Edelonian.
Of course, he was curious about Edelonian. He’s a perfect “hostage” to intimidate me.
“Could you get another cup of tea?”
“Yes, right away.”
I ordered tea from the servant and sat beside Casiar.
I had to finish this conversation without revealing Edelonian’s identity.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ed… someone who grew up with Liel…”
As Edelonian tried to say his real name, I kicked his shin lightly.
There was no other way in such an urgent situation.
Edelonian gritted his teeth, swallowed the groan, and said,
“I’m Roan.”
I felt a little guilty toward Edelonian, but it was necessary to protect him from Duke Casiar.
“As I said, I am Liel’s fiancé, Casiar Kisen.”
“I know about you, Duke. I just learned today that you’re promised to Liel.”
Edelonian seemed to know of Casiar already.
Naturally, anyone working at the royal palace would know him.
Everyone in the capital had at least heard of his beauty and eccentricity.
“I’ve heard you work in the Royal Knights and are very close to Liel.”
“You’ve heard about me, it seems.”
“It’s only natural that Liel’s acquaintances know about the person who will become my wife.”
It sounded like Casiar emphasized that I am his wife to Edelonian.
“Then you must also know we’ve been promised to each other since long ago.”
I remembered admiring Edelonian’s sword skills when I was around eight.
“Edel, when I grow up, I’ll marry you! So don’t meet any girls while training away!”
“You won’t meet any girls anyway. Even if you do, it’s like being with the same sex.”
“Then promise me! When I grow up, I’ll make you my bride.”
“Will you? No backing out even if the young boy seems appealing?”
It had been earnest as a child, but now it was an embarrassing memory I’d rather erase.
“Roan, that’s such an old story.”
“We even promised back then that there’d be no backing out.”
Edelonian’s mischievous attempt to provoke Casiar’s jealousy with childhood stories was clear.
But I knew it wouldn’t work.
Poor Edelonian. He’d soon be disappointed by Casiar’s indifferent reaction.
As I looked at him pityingly, Casiar gently placed his arm around my shoulder.
“You should have held on firmly if you didn’t want to lose him.”
Casiar, still smiling casually, now looked at Edelonian with cold eyes.
“No matter what promises were made before, Liel is my wife now. And she doesn’t seem to mind.”
Casiar made it clear to Edelonian that I am his wife.
Was he acting, or… genuinely jealous?
Edelonian, watching Casiar, had a delighted expression.
“That’s your thought, not Liel’s. You should ask her directly.”
Hiding a smile, Edelonian turned to me.
“I’ll ask straight. Liel, who do you choose? Me or Duke Casiar?”
“What kind of question is that? Both are important to me. Besides, Duke isn’t interested in childish questions like this, right?”
I tried to dodge with a safe answer, but facing Casiar, I was at a loss.
He was waiting for my answer more determinedly than ever.
“Unlike what you think, the Duke seems very interested.”
Why is Casiar acting like this today? He’s serious about my “husband” role.
Well, I can play along.
“Miss, I’ve finished checking the room.”
I planned to just say “Duke,” but Liri came down after inspecting the room.
“Did you find the fountain pen?”
“No. We checked everywhere, but there wasn’t one.”
Liri wiped the sweat from her forehead, probably exhausted from the search.
See? It wasn’t there. I barely avoided exposing private matters.
“Duke, what shall we do? She says there’s no fountain pen in her room. Maybe it’s nearby, and you just got confused.”
“Oh, that’s right…”
Casiar suddenly fumbled through his jacket pocket. A fountain pen appeared—the one he had been looking for.
“You were right, it was nearby. I signed some urgent documents and put it in my pocket, then forgot.”
Casiar seemed unusually forgetful today, uncharacteristic of his normally precise self.
But the important thing was that his business at the Marquis’ residence was now done.
I stood up, ready to send him off.
“You’ve found the fountain pen, so you should leave. You must have tasks to catch up on.”
“No, I have time.”
“Huh?”
Then what about earlier? Casiar, holding the fountain pen, explained:
“Since I have the pen, I can finish work in no time, so I have free time.”
A magical fountain pen, perhaps?
“So, what’s your answer?”
“Answer to what?”
His serious expression made me realize he was watching to see how I’d respond.
“Me? Or him?”
