CH 186

The prince, who was picking at the badly damaged pie, asked as though he was wondering.

“Why cherry pie?”

“Zen likes it. He also said it’s tasty.”

Jeremy’s expression turned odd.

Usually, when someone apologized, the norm was to present something that the other party would like, not to throw away something they themselves liked.

He composed himself.

“What is important is that Adel is calm, energetic and healthy. If she’s okay, then I am also okay.”

“What touching paternal love.”

It was good that he found meaning in life, but what would happen to him if Adel withered?

My worry for Jeremy was unceasing.

* * *

As the effect that Bertin had on others died down, the academy went back to the right balance.

The young ladies, who had been sneaking around us because they were bewitched, gradually regained their stability.

Even Bertin, who was called the angel of the earth loved by God, could not blind them all the time.

Rany regretted that the effect of the bait died down, but this far was best.

“It would be dangerous to go any further.”

The reason I was targeted was because I stood out too much at the academy.

Though of course, it wasn’t my intention to step up bravely in front of Young Duke Bolton, and to exhibit my ability through discussion with Professor Grein at every class.

“Oddly enough, the tail was cut off as soon as Mago Philip was captured.”

There were no clues, no witnesses, no traces of the detailed force behind her.

Rany mumbled with a troubled ecpression.

“Suspicion, there’s only that thing.”

The suspicion was also from someone else, not Rany herself.

Liz, who gave off the tip about the force, looked around.

Meanwhile I drank the tea and shook my head.

“It will be no use even if we dig in deeper. The opponent is as troublesome as the Duke.”

Ever since Duke Hastings began his seclusion, Marquis Paris had been the center of the noble faction.

These families, who played an important role in high society, controlled their followers based on the merchant guilds and talented people they supported.

That must be why the Crown Prince barely managed to catch Mago Philip even after carefully preparing layers of traps.

I remembered the bland eyes of the young lady of the Paris family which I saw at the hunting competition.

There was no emotion shown in the eyes watching her fiance, Jeremy, walk to my table at all.

“It’s best not to touch her.”

Rarely was Jeremy the first to be terrified.

It was the first time he made such a face toward someone.

It looked different from the fright he displayed when he saw Young Duke Bolton.

His expression as he recalled his fiance was hard to read.

“Were you harassed?”

“No. There was no such a thing. I am from the Imperial family after all. She never did anything that could be criticized in front of me even once. She gave me creeps because she’s such a perfect ‘noble.’”

I could vaguely understand what he said.

I turned my gaze to Abigail, who alone was silent during this conversation.

Noticing my gaze, shhe quickly looked up.

There was something that flashed across her face for a moment, but she quickly collected hersel.

Then with a nonchalant face, she opened her mouth.

“Have you thought about career counseling?”

Although she was changing the topic, this too was an important problem.

For Liz, whose territory was in a quite far location, it seemed like the relative of her guardian would come.

For Rany, it would be Viscount Rocke. For the freshmen Benji and Jeremy, fortunately, career counseling was not required.

“I have thought about it, and simply decided to go with the Duke.”

“Why is that simply?”

I slowly turned my head at Abigail’s words. It sounded like she couldn’t understand.

“. . . Are you telling me to bring my mother?”

Of course, she would not refuse the chance to stand in front of hundreds of academy students.

Rather, the problem was that she enjoyed it too much.

Still, I didn’t want to see my classmates and peers fall for Mom and chase after her.

“Or are you telling me to bring Orion?”

Everyone was silent at my question.

Since everyone here knew more than enough about Orion Miller’s true nature, they seemed to be convinced.

“The Duke is the most simple and reassuring choice.”

Because he was the one least likely to cause any accidents.

“Well, that’s true, but I’m sure that person isn’t easy to deal with. He even married aunty.”

My feelings became complicated at Rany’s words.

I was really feeling uneasy due to the dreams, which continued on these last days. They suggested a direction, but that direction kept connecting to Mom.

The holes in the words she left behind were small enough for me to just brush it over as imaginary fears.

“Then you’ll go home right after the academy. You have to tell the Duke, after all.”

“No. I’ll stop by the bookstore for a moment first.”

Rany nodded as if she felt regret.

It might be another case if it was a cafe or other places. It seemed like her friendship wasn’t enough for her to follow me to a bookstore.

Well, if she followed me, she would only be more annoyed.

Since Rany wouldn’t really like the person I would meet with at the bookstore.

“Marianne.”

The man wearing a robe only showed his presence once I came within close distance.

Even though he covered his whole body and hid his boastful silver hair, he couldn’t hide the lean silhouette of his body.

Bertin Gramia, who called my name softly, smiled warmly like the rising sun.