ITHTJ 20

Chapter : 20

Somehow Suspicious People (5)

“Please come back quickly, Saintess.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“But you have to. The priests are waiting for you.”

“Ugh, I don’t care anymore. Saintess or whatever—I’ll just quit everything and live while learning magic from Teacher.”

Today was Wednesday.
The one day each week when Linette went to the temple.

And I was supposed to be the escort seeing her off…

“Forgive me, Saintess, but the Grand Duke can hear everything.”

For some reason, Linette was clinging tightly to both my hands, throwing a tantrum about not wanting to go to the temple.

And beside us—

“……”

—stood Eclipse, staring at Linette with an unusually dark expression.

Caught between the two of them, I couldn’t push Linette away and could only break out in a cold sweat.

Then Linette leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“Let him hear. He’ll just think about it by himself and won’t say a word anyway. Our Grand Duke is famously taciturn.”

At that moment, I instinctively realized—

‘They fought!’

That subtly sarcastic tone, the cold expression, and those hands clinging on as if to show off…

This was clearly a battle of nerves.
Though it seemed rather one-sided.

“Want to come with me?”

Linette asked me, glancing sideways at Eclipse.

“Me? To the temple?”

“Yeah.”

She’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?

This is like pouring an entire drum of oil onto a fire!

‘There are already so many eyes on us—you can’t do this!’

The attention focused on Linette and me was incredibly, overwhelmingly burdensome.

Not just Eclipse and Silbern, but even Penny and the servants—dozens of eyes were watching us.

‘At least twenty people… This won’t do. I need to wrap this up fast.’

Everyone, watch closely.
I’ll sacrifice myself to clean up this situation smoothly.

You don’t need to clap—just remember this one thing:

“Ah, Elsie Blumhyer does her part when it counts.”

“You know I can’t go, Saintess. Please just head out already, okay?”

Sensing danger, I smiled awkwardly and tried my best to salvage the situation.

Unfortunately, my efforts were crushed within seconds.

“I don’t want to. What if something happens while I’m gone?”

“Oh come on, nothing will happen.”

“What if an evil witch suddenly appears and sets our house on fire?”

“…Pardon?”

“What if a dragon destroys our house and kidnaps Teacher?”

What is wrong with her all of a sudden?

‘And why would a dragon kidnap me?’

If anything, it would take Eclipse or Linette. Why would it bother with me?

Her ridiculous imagination was so absurd that I let out a laugh without meaning to.

“That won’t happen, Saintess. And even if something did, the Grand Duke would handle everything.”

“……”

“If it really did happen, I’d help His Grace defeat the evil witch too.”

One witch in this household is more than enough.

I meant that sincerely.

“If I really get kidnapped by a dragon…”

I stared straight into Linette’s golden eyes.

“Well, it won’t happen—but I’d survive somehow. Because I’m your teacher, Saintess. What kind of teacher leaves their student behind?”

You haven’t forgotten, right?
This place is my lifelong workplace.

I haven’t even signed a permanent contract yet—where would I go?

‘You think I’d let some dragon block my ambitions?’

Absolutely not.
Unless it’s a gold dragon made entirely of gold—then maybe.

At my confident reply, Linette’s sulky expression softened a little.

“So don’t worry and go. You need to visit the temple so I can prepare tomorrow’s lesson.”

“…Ah.”

“It’s only once a week. You didn’t forget, did you?”

“There’s no way I would…”

Linette reluctantly nodded, lips pressed together in dissatisfaction.

“…Okay. I’ll go.”

“Yes, have a safe trip!”

I bowed deeply toward Linette’s retreating figure.

When the carriage carrying her disappeared into the distance, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”

Seeing her cling to such ridiculous excuses—she really is still a kid.

I was reminded anew that Linette was only fifteen years old.

‘But why is it so quiet all of a sudden?’

There were dozens of mouths here—how could it be this silent?

Unable to endure the strange stillness, I glanced around.

For some reason, everyone was staring at me with looks of disbelief.

Some were even exchanging silent glances among themselves.

‘What? Why is everyone looking at me like that?’

Honestly, I felt more flustered now than when Linette was clinging to me.

‘What is this atmosphere…?’

This was completely unexpected.

What is it? What is it?! Why are you all staring like that?!

“Blumhyer.”

At that moment, Eclipse called my name.

‘Thank you for saving me from this suffocating atmosphere, Your Grace!’

I silently offered my gratitude and quickly turned toward him.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, not yet.”

Of course I hadn’t eaten.

I’d been dragged out by Penny the moment I opened my eyes that morning.

‘Ah… I’m hungry.’

Maybe because I’d been talking so much, my stomach suddenly felt hollow.

‘I should hurry back and eat. Hehe—what’ll breakfast be today?’

Meals at the Ledeir Grand Ducal House were exceptional.

Because of that, I hadn’t skipped a single meal since arriving.

‘Yesterday’s sandwich was amazing. Loaded with bacon, crisp lettuce, and that sweet white sauce inside…’

Compared to the hard bread and watery soup I used to eat, the food here was a feast.

While I was happily imagining today’s meal—

“Let’s have breakfast together.”

“Yes! …Huh?”

That proposal came out of nowhere.

I stared blankly, mouth still hanging open.

By the time I snapped back to my senses, Eclipse was already walking away.

‘What did I just hear? Breakfast? Like what nobles do?’

That was the meaning of “breakfast” I knew.

From Eclipse’s perspective, it might have been like saying, “Hey, I skipped breakfast—wanna grab something together?” but still…

‘Why invite me?’

Was I too shocked?

I felt like a sweet potato tossed into a bonfire.

My face burned, my heart pounded—I felt like I might drop dead from shock.

“This way to the dining hall.”

Silbern quickly guided me, staying close to Eclipse.

I followed him in a daze.

‘What is happening? Eating alone with Eclipse?’

This wasn’t in the plan…?

Clutching my racing heart, I entered the dining hall.

A long table covered with a white tablecloth, countless chairs upholstered in red velvet.

A place I’d only seen in novels was now right before my eyes.

“Wow…”

As I admired it without thinking, Eclipse—already seated—spoke to me.

“Over here.”

“Yes.”

Praying that my heart wouldn’t leap out of my throat, I hurried over.

With trembling legs, I stopped at the very end of the table.

‘No matter how nervous you are, know your place.’

This was obviously where I should sit.

Just as I quietly pulled out the chair—

“Not there.”

Eclipse’s low voice stopped me.

As if bewitched, I turned my head to where he was pointing.

“Here.”

The seat he indicated was right beside the seat of honor where he sat.

In other words—an upper seat.

“Excuse me…?”

“Sit here.”

Dear heavens, is this really my seat?

Surely I’m mistaken—

“Please, have a seat.”

…Guess not.

Not when Silbern himself is pulling the chair out for me.