Chapter 11
“Thank you for taking the time to come here despite your busy schedule.”
“Not at all.”
Soleon added with a smirk at Skyler’s greeting.
“I did say you were special.”
Skyler choked on her words for a moment at his casual remark and coughed. He gently patted her back in response.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yes, I’m fine.”
Both this time and previously, he easily spoke words that could feel awkward or embarrassing. Perhaps because he seemed like someone who would never say such things, the effect was even stronger.
Skyler quickly changed the subject, reasoning that he might be the kind of person who shared his affection generously with everyone.
“By the way, I didn’t know you danced so well.”
“Well, I sometimes have to attend ceremonies.”
“Like escorting the princess, perhaps?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Soleon answered casually, then gazed at the sea for a moment before continuing.
“It’s really tedious, though.”
“…….”
“I’d rather just stay in the temple all my life and focus on work.”
This man, who always seemed perfect and flawless, was showing a side of himself Skyler hadn’t expected. For the first time, she felt he was someone similar to her—like the time she had told him about the three forbidden things.
“Skyler.”
He took his eyes off the sea and looked back at her.
“It must be frustrating, right? Suddenly there’s so much knowledge you need to learn, so many etiquette rules to follow… and now you even have to learn how to dance.”
“Well, I’m just not used to it yet……”
“I’ve heard, though, that you’re adapting well and learning quickly. That’s admirable.”
His gentle hand ruffled her hair.
Skyler froze, startled like a rabbit caught in a trap.
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Soleon withdrew his hand and smiled faintly.
“You remind me of a younger sibling.”
“A… younger sibling?”
“Yes. I wonder if I’d be like this if I had a younger sister.”
“Ah…….”
“Did you have siblings at the orphanage, Skyler?”
“Yes, but they were all younger than me.”
“Really?”
Soleon furrowed his brows.
“Yes, strangely enough. At first, I did have a few older sisters, but they left the orphanage as soon as they turned seventeen. So I’ve always been the eldest.”
“So you never had a brother figure to rely on.”
“No….”
“Then, from now on, rely on me as if I were your older brother.”
“Eh?”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it? You may have heard this already, but officially I have a family, yet in truth, I’m also a loner with no blood relatives.”
“You mean…….”
“I grew up in an orphanage too.”
“Ah.”
Swallowing her surprise, Skyler stared at Soleon with renewed perception.
The word “loner” did not fit the man in front of her at all.
His elegant and fresh appearance, dignified speech, and mannerisms made him seem like someone born with a silver spoon, not an orphan.
By contrast, Declan, from a long-established ducal family, had a rougher, harsher presence.
The two men were as different as the sun and the moon.
Which one should she trust, then?
After a moment of thought, Skyler mustered the courage to speak.
“There’s something I want to ask.”
Instead of answering immediately, Soleon nodded.
Encouraged by the gesture, she took a deep breath and asked bluntly.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Despite her probing, Soleon never gave her the answer she wanted.
Skyler stayed awake all night and eventually left the villa, just as Declan had instructed. She couldn’t fully trust Soleon, but her promise with him was still a promise. For now, she wanted to clear her mind before making any decisions.
“Skyler.”
As the four-horse carriage jolted down the cliff in the darkness, the man sitting opposite her quietly spoke, noticing her troubled expression pressed against the window.
“Have you had dinner? You don’t seem to have slept either.”
“Ah, well…”
“You haven’t eaten.”
This time, it was Esther, sitting beside Skyler, who answered.
When Skyler had secretly left the villa, Esther, who happened to be taking a walk, insisted on accompanying her as soon as she heard about her departure.
‘I’m not letting you go alone! If you’re leaving, I’m coming too!’
‘Please, Esther……!’
Continuing to argue would wake everyone in the villa, so she had no choice but to let her come along.
“I wasn’t asking you, though.”
The man frowned and turned back to Skyler.
“My name is Arthur. I am Declan’s right-hand man.”
“So, Arthur, are you a knight too?”
“No. Embarrassingly, I am not, as I lack the ability. When we were with the Krauss Dukes, I was Declan’s foster brother. My mother was his wet nurse.”
“Ah, I see.”
Skyler, not from a noble family, didn’t know much, but it seemed they had grown up together like brothers.
Seeing her silence, Arthur quickly added a few words.
“But don’t worry. The person sitting next to the coachman is a skilled knight. I can handle a sword fairly well myself too.”
“Oh, no. I wasn’t worried about that.”
Skyler quickly waved her hands and added.
“I just didn’t expect someone important to bring me here personally. You could have sent anyone.”
“Of course. You are an important person.”
“Huh?”
“This is the first time Declan has paid such attention to a woman.”
Esther added from the side.
“Unlike the high councilors, who are forbidden from love and marriage, the grandmaster and knights are allowed to have wives and children. That’s how the Krauss family maintained their line.”
Arthur’s face was full of curiosity and anticipation.
“Arthur, could it be…….”
“Just call me Arthur.”
Realizing she had jumped to a ridiculous conclusion, Skyler tried to respond, but Arthur cut her off and explained.
“You will now be going to the Krauss Duke’s villa. They said you cannot enter the main mansion yet because people are watching.”
“Ah, understood.”
“You can stay there until things settle down. It’s a small place, suitable for temporary residence.”
“Yes…….”
It felt awkward to insist on calling it a misunderstanding when the other person hadn’t said anything.
Skyler smiled awkwardly and avoided Arthur’s gaze.
“The room you’ll be using from now on is this one.”
Arthur opened the door and politely introduced it.
“There is a small adjoining room next door for a maid. There is a call bell by the head of the bed connected to the basement, so press it anytime you need someone.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’ve already placed your change of clothes in the wardrobe. Feel free to use anything in the room.”
After finishing the explanation, Arthur bowed deeply once more and left the room.
The room was larger and more spacious than the one she had stayed in until yesterday.
At first glance, the tapestry embroidered with gold thread and the carpet made from snow leopard hide immediately caught the eye.
The rest of the room was filled with stately walnut-colored furniture.
“Miss, what do you plan to do from now on?”
Esther, who had left her coat in the adjoining room, asked her.
“You’re not planning to give up being a candidate for the saintess, are you?”
“Well… I don’t want to make any decisions yet.”
After traveling long distances since early morning, she was extremely exhausted.
Collapsing into the dressing table chair, Skyler rubbed her throbbing temples.
“If Soleon finds out, he’ll be very surprised.”
Skyler sighed at the continuation. One of the reasons she came here was because of him.
He didn’t lie, but he also didn’t tell her everything.
She had a foreboding feeling that staying there as-is would sweep her away with him. At the very least, she wanted to discern the truth before deciding her next move.
“To be honest, Esther, I was supposed to leave the temple as soon as I turned twenty.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“That was the promise. With Soleon. That’s why I spent three years in the temple.”
“Then why did you become a candidate for saintess?”
“I’m not sure either. They said it was the will from above…”
“Then……”
“Why?”
Something seemed to bother Esther, and she paused before shaking her head.
