SDA 32

Chapter : 32

It was really strange.

‘Aside from this, it was also odd that Violet knew the Crown Prince’s face and liked him.’

I pretended to ponder seriously.

“How on earth would she know…?”

But then I quickly shook it off.

“I mean… what am I even thinking, speculating about this?”

I suddenly remembered that I was a total outsider.

I was a homebody, someone who found social interactions bothersome.

I’d been like that since I was a child, and I still was.

‘Honestly, if Chase hadn’t given me so much pocket money, I would’ve quit the counseling center ages ago.’

But Violet was the opposite: an insider.

An insider among insiders… a core-core-core insider.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, she chattered away at tea salons with friends and regularly attended tea gatherings for daughters of noble families.

No doubt she heard far more stories than I ever would.

“Looks like the Castilian story is circulating among the nobles. Violet probably heard it there.”

Also, I assumed that since Violet liked the Crown Prince, she must have met him personally.

But on second thought, that was just my bias.

‘Johann also likes Violet even though he barely knows her.’

He doesn’t know anything about her, yet he likes her.

Of course, Johann and Violet’s situations were different.

Even if Johann was captivated by Violet’s appearance, Violet liked Castilian without knowing his face.

But didn’t Isadora say it?

“Violet Bringer, age 18, has reached adulthood, so she’s probably thinking about marriage.”

“…….”

“In that case, along with being drawn to someone, she would also consider the man’s qualities.”

Violet prioritized Castilian’s other “qualities” over his appearance.

‘Even if she didn’t know his face, she liked the wealth and prestige of royalty.’

I managed to reach a conclusion.

“Alright, that makes sense.”

Whatever it was, as a third party, I had no right to judge.

I turned my gaze out the window.

Suddenly, Lian’s shameless face flashed in my mind.

“Center Director.”

Come to think of it…

“…I’ll finally see him today.”

It had been three days since I last met Lian.

After today, I’d go back to the center and spend time with him again.

Even without seeing him yet, I could already imagine how he would act toward me.

“He’ll probably talk my ear off like crazy after not seeing me for a few days. And it’ll all be pointless chatter.”

“…….”

“He’s been calling me ‘myself’ more than the Center Director lately… I wonder if he’ll do the same in the palace.”

“…….”

“He really is the kind of person who doesn’t know embarrassment at all. If he calls me ‘myself,’ I should stomp on him.”

I muttered to myself.

But… my feelings were strange.

‘I’m clearly annoyed that Lian casually calls me “myself.”’

The fact that he keeps talking to me, and everything he says is nonsense, irritated me.

Yet, thinking of that cheeky face made the corners of my mouth twitch.

My legs also trembled, and I could feel my heart beating fast.

“…Arrhythmia?”

I crossed my arms.

I deliberately tensed my shoulders and curled my toes.

Yet my body continued to shake, as if restless.

Meanwhile, the carriage entered a dense forest.

The tall trees blocked the sunlight, and the interior of the carriage grew dark.

Only then did I see my reflection in the window.

“…Huh?”

Strangely, I was smiling.

After hours of riding, the carriage finally began to slow.

Siena, who had been dozing off, woke up.

Outside the window, where there had only been dirt roads and trees, the luxurious scenery of the royal palace appeared.

“So, we’ve finally arrived.”

It was time for her to… once again send Johann off.

The carriage stopped shortly thereafter.

Siena stretched her arms.

“Ugh…”

The falcon, which had been sleeping across from her, also woke up.

“Squeak.”

Siena addressed the bird.

“You know the rule, right? Back home, you’re not supposed to wander anywhere other than my room.”

“…….”

“But this isn’t our home, it’s the palace. So absolutely no going outside the carriage.”

“…….”

“Stay quietly in the carriage while I’m gone. Got it?”

The falcon blinked its golden eyes and tilted its head at her.

“Squeak?”

Not very reassuring.

‘It’s pretending not to understand since I didn’t give it a treat.’

We hadn’t spent much time together, but I felt I had spoiled my companion falcon a little.

Siena got out of the carriage and stretched her back.

“Ouch… my body hurts… sitting so long takes a toll.”

She was nineteen this year.

But perhaps her soul wasn’t nineteen, because sometimes she acted as if she had a grandmother inside her.

Then it happened.

“…Squeak—!”

The falcon let out a high-pitched cry.

Siena’s eyes widened.

‘Huh…?’

Why is it doing this?

A bad feeling settled in.

“Squeak, squeak!”

“What’s wrong…? Did your claw get stuck in the carriage seat?”

“SQUEAK!”

And my intuition was correct.

The falcon, flapping its wings anxiously, suddenly darted out of the carriage.

It flew past Siena and headed somewhere.

Panicking, she covered her mouth with her hands and shouted.

“Hey, where are you going! You…!”

The falcon was usually calm despite its fierce appearance.

It seemed to understand most of what Siena said and never left her shoulder while with her.

‘Why is it suddenly acting out…!’

And in the royal palace, no less.

“This is insane.”

Siena looked around.

After confirming that no one was nearby, she closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

“…Na… Naby…! Don’t go!”

‘Naby’—that was the name of her black falcon with the intimidating face.

She had actually named it a long time ago.

“Hmm, what should I call you…? I’ve never named an animal before, so this is tricky…”

“…….”

“Umm… Na… by?”

Of course, she was mortified at having said it out loud.

“Oh my, it sounds so ridiculous.”

A black falcon with a terrifying presence, and I named it Naby…

But there was no choice.

‘Other names I could think of were things like Happy or Maru.’

No wonder adults always gave pets such similar names… I was the same.

Anyway, I hadn’t properly called it by name until now.

‘It’s too embarrassing!’

I had only timidly whispered “Na… Naby…” a few times when alone with it.

But now I had to shout.

“Naby! Naby, stop! I’ll give you a treat…! Come back!”

Naby was smart.

It seemed to understand most of what Siena said and recognized the name she gave it.

It also noticed that Soren disliked it and behaved quietly around him.

But not now.

‘It’s like a puppy let loose outside, distracted and excited…!’

If I kept just calling its name here, I’d lose Naby.

I had no choice but to follow the falcon.

“Can we really just wander around the palace like this…?”

I worried, but there was no other option.

Then a thought occurred to me.

‘There must be a reason it’s acting out suddenly…’

Could it have smelled its owner?

Naby’s sense of smell was far more acute than a human’s.

And today, the palace was filled with many scents.

‘Countless nobles have come from all over the empire.’

So maybe Naby’s owner was here.

‘Yes, a smart falcon wouldn’t act out without a reason.’

Siena clutched her dress and quickened her pace.

“Na… Naby! Come with me!”

She didn’t forget to shout its embarrassing name from time to time.

After some distance, they passed through a garden and reached the back section of the palace.

“…Huh?”

And then she gasped.

She had come face to face with a completely unexpected sight.