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Chapter 08
Before I knew it, it was the last day of my period of seclusion.
On the first day, thanks to Leila, I even managed to go to the theater, so in reality, the only day I had properly kept to my seclusion was yesterday.
I wondered if I’d have to stay trapped in the mansion again today, but just then, I received a message from Leila at perfect timing.
“Sorry for contacting you so late because something urgent came up. I feel bad that we couldn’t go see the play together, Tien. As an apology, I’ll buy you some delicious desserts from La Pause.”
I put down the fine parchment written in neat handwriting and began preparing to go out.
“La Pause…”
La Pause was the most famous dessert shop in the capital.
It was so popular that nobles and commoners alike had to line up to get in.
Of course, there was an exception.
Diana Rosefel, the Marchioness who owned La Pause, and her beloved niece, Leila.
Because she had reserved a private seat for Leila to come anytime, anyone accompanying Leila—including me—automatically had free access.
I wasn’t particularly fond of desserts, but the timing couldn’t have been better.
Even my mother, who never accepted excuses from me or Calian, would easily permit my outing if Leila requested it.
“Even though I’m supposed to be in seclusion…”
Besides, my mother pretended to grumble, but she actually loved La Pause’s desserts—very, extremely, immensely.
In short, through Leila, I was now going to buy bribes for my mother.
Anna was on vacation, so there was no one to scold me for my attire.
I gladly threw aside the torture device known as the corset and left the room feeling free.
I could have teleported directly to the Arvid mansion, but I didn’t bother.
I had something to do before that.
“Hey, loser brother.”
I called out to Calian outside the room, then realized I had forgotten to knock and gave the door a belated tap.
Clack―
The sound rang out as if I had flicked Calian’s empty head, sharp and crisp.
The door suddenly opened, and Calian, scowling irritably, popped out.
“What are you wearing? Your seclusion isn’t over yet. Are you so reckless with magic that you’ve forgotten how to count numbers?”
Though he had never won an argument against me, his pride wouldn’t let him simply endure it quietly.
“Why call a magical formula a formula? You call it that because you use math, dear brother, whose brain is made of muscle.”
With nothing to retort, Calian looked down at me with an annoyed expression, like “What do I do with this?”
“My beloved friend Leila wants to go to La Pause with me.”
“How cheap! So you’re using that as an excuse to go out?”
“Well, my mother permitted it, so what choice do I have? Leila insisted we go together.”
Though it wasn’t explicitly written on the parchment, what did it matter?
It was customary to tease one’s younger sibling with all your heart.
Satisfied with Calian’s deeply annoyed frown, I teleported.
Calian’s faintly audible fury made the perfect background music.
Corso District 4 was crowded without exception, not a single day free from throngs of people.
La Pause, owned by the Rosefel Marchioness, had made this area a bustling district.
True to the Marchioness’s reputation for business acumen, the building was lavish from the outside.
Season notwithstanding, dozens of fresh flowers covered the walls, and the intricately carved windows filled the interior with breathtaking light whenever the sun shone through.
In the sunniest spot, on the third floor reserved for insiders only, sat a man who looked like a statue.
With beauty that rivaled noblewomen and muscles honed through expert swordsmanship, Sier Persent, the second prince, was awe-inspiring.
And since the place itself, La Pause, was a famous location, it almost felt like a painting.
“…Your Highness?”
“Princess Ellopez? And… Miss Arvid. What a coincidence to meet here.”
Coincidence?
A coincidence?
Sier Persent just happened to be here at the exact timing Leila and I visited, in a private area prepared solely for her, inaccessible to outsiders?
“Haha… what a coincidence.”
He sure likes coincidences.
I wasn’t a fool—there was no way I would believe this was truly by chance.
This was already the second time I had run into Sier Persent in situations that couldn’t possibly be coincidences.
And Leila was at the center of it.
“Oh my, meeting the second prince here. How fascinating.”
Her tone was stiff, like reading an imperial document—not the way one would speak to a former fiancé who had announced their breakup.
She spoke almost as if performing an act.
If it weren’t for Leila’s clumsy acting, I might have doubted it, but now I was certain: the events of two days ago and this situation were all orchestrated by Leila.
“Why…?”
I couldn’t understand her intentions.
From her actions, it seemed she wanted me to encounter Sier, but I had no idea why.
“Is she trying to use me to arrange a breakup with the second prince?”
It wasn’t impossible to suspect.
Accidentally becoming the subject of rumors happened all the time to people who were possessed by others.
But I was certain that wasn’t her reason.
Not because of some naïve trust like “Leila wouldn’t do that.”
The theater, and even La Pause, were places where no one else could see us. As if she had anticipated gossip.
…Even if it was all Leila’s plan,
“What is that man scheming…?”
I couldn’t make sense of it. If Sier the prince was involved too, it wasn’t just Leila’s unilateral plan.
What could possibly align their interests?
“Excuse me, could you stay with the princess? I need to see my aunt for a moment.”
Leila laughed as she waddled toward the door.
Every movement and word was suspicious.
The Rosefel Marchioness was a famous entrepreneur in the empire and very busy.
There was no way she could leisurely rest at La Pause right now.
Leila knew that too, so she would usually enjoy desserts and leave.
But now, she claimed she was going to meet the Marchioness?
It was obvious she wasn’t here.
Even non-magicians carry a bit of magical power, but here, there was no trace of the Marchioness’s magic.
And Prince Sier, a capable magician, couldn’t possibly fail to notice.
“Of course. Don’t worry, Miss, go ahead.”
I looked back and forth between Sier, smiling graciously, and Leila, who was already halfway out.
“What on earth is happening?”
Just as I was about to stop Leila from leaving,
“Where are you going?”
His hand grabbed my wrist, turning my body back toward him.
“You’re leaving me again?”
Sier murmured quietly, lowering his head to hide his moist eyes.
I couldn’t hide my surprise at his almost tearful face.
Why was he about to cry at me again? Two days ago, I even went to the theater with him.
As I lifted my head to speak, our eyes met.
Tear droplets glistening like white crystals, shoulders trembling faintly and drooping as if sulking.
He looked like a retriever soaked in the rain.
Unconsciously, I wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek and murmured,
“You’re like a dog.”
“…….”
His blue eyes widened in shock.
It was only then I realized what I had just said.
I didn’t mean it, but… it sounded like an insult.
