Since he is the Crown Prince, he must have read things about imperialism, economics, and military studies.
But I don’t know why his face is getting redder. Well, by the way, does he even read such books?
‘It’s not impossible…’
“What book did you read?”
“Well…”
Reynos, who had been pondering for a long time, just glossed over that and said what I thought he was reading.
I guess I’m right. You don’t have to be ashamed.
I am a woman who fully understood your duties, so I replied pretending not to notice.
“It’s always a pleasure to learn new knowledge.”
“Uh, um, yes.”
Raynos nodded his head seriously. Then, the moment our eyes met, he was startled and averted my gaze. Now his face and the nape of his neck was red.
Did you read something else to get that reaction?
I was curious, but couldn’t ask.
~*~
As always, the date with Reynos was fun.
But the main purpose of the day was to meet none other than the Countess Valentine, so I tried to ask Reynos for a moment-
“I’m sorry, young lady, I think I need to leave for a while.”
At the same time, Reynos brought out the story first.
As the Crown Prince, he was very busy, so he would often be absent this way during our dates.
“Maybe an hour? Or it could take longer. Would you like to go back? I will pick you up.”
“No, there’s still a lot to see, so I’ll wait here.”
I readily accepted his absence. And as soon as I was alone, I quickly moved toward the destination.
‘She said she would be in front of the cat dancing statue.’
Before coming here, the Countess and I had been writing letters and deciding where to meet.
The Count had attached guards to his wife which were to be taken care of by the Countess’s maidservants.
The statue exhibition room is over there, and the cat dancing statue is in the innermost part of them, so if I go a little further from here-
“…So, this statue is a tribute to an artist named Malek 182 years ago! Because of the last will he left, it is said that it is more valuable than anything else!”
“You really know everything, Miss Puritina.”
“I’m flattered.”
-Why can I hear Tyrael’s voice?
With an ominous foreboding, I hurried my steps. Correspondingly, the conversation between Tyrael and Countess Valentine became clearer.
The conversation about the statue soon led to a personal story.
“…So, we are getting engaged soon!”
“Oh, congratulations. I don’t know who he is, but you’re in luck. I mean, you’re in a relationship with such a smart person.”
“Hehe, it’s all thanks to my friend.”
“Your friend?”
“Yes, who-”
“Hello, Tyrael.”
I’ve never had a friend like you. Before my name came out, I greeted her bluntly.
“Ciela!”
Tyrael, who expressed her pleasure with her unique soprano voice, ran up and clasped her arms around mine. Then she proudly introduced me to the Countess.
“She’s my friend whom I just told you about!”
“Ah, you are Miss Labyrinth. Nice to meet you.”
Countess Valentine, who seemed bewildered by my sudden appearance, lowered her head slightly.
And the moment she lifts her head up again.
‘Who sees this woman as a countess?’
I doubted my eyes.
Her auburn hair curled up roughly as if she had just woken up.
Her skin was rough, and dark shadows were seen thickly beneath her piercing eyes.
Her chapped lips have white burrs, and —
Upon closer inspection, one cheek was swollen blue. There was a mark covering her wounds with make-up.
‘Wow.’
That’s why there were guards put around her.
There was also domestic violence in the referral report, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.
It was a time when I was thinking that it was brave for her to come out today, the ignorant Tyrael chirped like a youthful lark.
“Ciela, this is the Countess of Valentine. She said she originally lived in the East, but she came because she wanted to see this exhibition.”
Once again, the Countess lowered her head.
“I’m Arya Valentine.”
Tyrael looked at the Countess with sympathetic eyes. Judging by her eyes, it seems that she wants to be friends.
Maybe it’s because she grew up in a slum and has just recently joined the aristocratic society. Tyrael would always look at noble wives with longing eyes. She became acquainted with her, and she fretted.
When I recalled that, my strange grumpiness surged up, and I muttered out loud.
“I’m Ciela Labyrinth, Tyrael’s obstacle to love.”
“Obstacle…to love?”
“The man who will be engaged to Tyrael is my current fiance.”
“…What?”
Astonishment filled the eyes of the Countess, who was bewildered.
The Countess looked at me and Tyrael in turn. Her pupil, shaking like an earthquake, seemed to ask what happened.
I answered indifferently.
“My fiance said she was going to his new lover, so I decided to send her off well.”
Tyrael, who had her arms crossed, pulled me closer.
Frowning my brow at her unpleasant touch, I tried to brush her off, but I stopped at the whispered sentences.
“Young master Essit doesn’t love you.”
“…”
“I asked. He said it was just nonsense, and it wasn’t the truth. Are you happy?”
I don’t know why I should be happy, but I nodded my head roughly. If she finds out that Duval put in a request saying he doesn’t want to break up with me, she’ll faint.
But… Will she?
“There’s a story I’m also thinking about.”
I spoke as if whispering to Tyrael, but so that the Countess Valentine, frozen by the side, could hear it clearly.
Pls read only at pinkmuffintl.
“Do you know of a place called Ciel’s Love Manipulation Guild?”
“Ah, yes. They say it’s a guild that catches infidelity.”
Tyrael blinked innocently. It’s convenient because I don’t have to explain.
I darkened my complexion like a person contemplating whether or not to tell a difficult story. I lowered my gaze and bit my lower lip slightly.
I remained there for a moment, then opened my mouth just before the bewildered Tyrael asked what happened.
“Actually… Never mind.”
“…? Why? What?”
“Nothing.”
And then, I sighed deeply, like someone in deep trouble.
Tyrael, who was clinged to the action, made a loud noise.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“…By any chance, is it something related to young master Essit?”
“No.”
Contrary to what I said, I had a sad expression on my face.
Then, as if noticing something, the smile slowly started to disappear from Tyrael’s face.
I glanced at her with a side squint, then let out a long sigh.
And I whispered that I really didn’t want to say it, but I felt compelled to say it for her.
“Someone has seen Duval go into that guild building. Of course, it could be an illusion, but…”
Is it really an illusion?
That word contained such a meaning.
Trust, once cracked, cannot be restored no matter what.
Tyrael, who remembered being hurt by Duval, immediately understood what I was trying to say.
Why did Duval go to Ciel’s Love Manipulation Guild? He probably didn’t want to turn himself in, but he went to check on his fiance’s affair..
‘It means that he still has a heart.’
Tyrael’s face turned white when she realized this.
Her whole body trembled as if she had seen a ghost, and she asked in a voice that seemed to be about to cry.
“Maybe, maybe you… Do you still like young master Essit?”
Would you like me to?
“No.”
Her face, which looked like she was about to cry, brightened up a little at my resolute words.
She mentioned what she had heard earlier made her stomach twist as she wished it had gone away.
“Then why is he going alone? Didn’t you come with Duval? I saw him earlier and he was in front of a huge statue of a cow.”
“Oh, I got lost… Thank you.”
As soon as I finished my words, Tyrael ran towards the giant cow statue.
Having her tears stream down seemed to be more chaotic than what happened in the boutique. It was a pity I couldn’t watch it.
I glanced at the fading blonde with blurred eyes, then turned and stared at the Countess of Valentine.
It was as if her eyes were shaking like she was thinking, ‘What kind of relationship is this?’
“Ah, I’ll go too.”
The Countess, who made eye contact with me, hurriedly tried to avoid me.
“I came from Ciel’s Love Manipulation Guild.”
Then she jumped at my words.
Right, she probably doesn’t know that a good-looking kid like me could be a guild member.
In fact, I thought about it until the very end. As always, I would have Leather do it, or I’ll move there myself.
After much deliberation, I came to a conclusion.
‘There’s nothing wrong with making friends with the Countess. I don’t think she’s a light-mouthed person.’
Whether it’s a breakup, or business-related things. It was a good situation in many ways once we got to know each other.
In addition, Count Valentine, who offered to sign the divorce papers but changed his words, annoyed me, so I decided to proceed with this quest myself.
‘Of course I won’t reveal that I am the Master.’
The Countess, in embarrassment, fumbled and opened her mouth.
“Ah, miss, what kind of relationship do you have with that guild…”
“It’s a part-time job.”
“…! Have you ever received threats from the guild-”
“No, I do it because I like it.”
“Can I report it to the security guard? No, you better report it. It is a very dangerous place!”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!”
The guild that catches affairs should not have a good image, and Leather offered to make that image, but this seemed a bit harsh.
How the hell did we get such a bad image?
“I heard that the master there is so dangerous. They say they turn people into dolls and curse them!”