Chapter 54 (1/2)

I turned while I was getting on the wagon when he called me.

When I turned my head, he said, smiling feebly, “Oh, just nothing.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Allen. I’ll write you a letter. ”

“Well…”

I looked back again. He was looking at me with an uneasy expression.

“What’s the matter?’ He said as if something came to his mind,

“Oh, that blue mellow. I’ll give you it again when you are out of stock. So, drink it as much as you like.”

“Really? Thanks for the tea.”

I brightly smiled at him. I waited a bit more until he spoke, but he said nothing.

So, I said goodbye to him and tried to climb the wagon when he called me urgently.

“You know, Tia. Um, let me escort you back home.”

“I like it, but isn’t it a burden to you?”

“Not at all. Let me tell them to get ready for my departure. I’ve only just seen you after such a long time, so I feel a bit sorry as I let you go alone like this.”

“Sure, then. Thanks, Allen. ”

After he disappeared, saying he would prepare a wagon, I told the horseman of my carriage who was waiting for me to board to leave.As he knew I was close to Allendis, he nodded without any objection.

Soon a wagon arrived with the sound of a horse’s hoofs. As if it was cold outside, there was puffing up white steam from the horse’s mouth.

“You must have gotten cold while waiting. Let’s get inside. Come on. ”

“Sure.”

It didn’t seem that much time passed, but it got dark suddenly outside the window.

‘What should I do?’ I think my father has returned already.

As Duke Verita’s manor was not far from mine, we reached our destination shortly after we left. I looked anxiously at the knights guarding the main gate, but fortunately, it seemed that I was not late because they didn’t mention anything special after bowing to me.

“Thanks for escorting me here, Allen.”

“You’re welcome, Tia. I think it’s too late, so go in now.”

“Okay, Allen. Take care.”

When I turned after waiving to him, I heard the clatter of a horse in the distance.

Another wagon approaching the mansion had the crest engraved with the four spears intersecting over the silver shield.

‘Oh my god! Why is he coming back now?’

While I was at a loss what to do, the wagon drove at a high speed and stopped.

Soon the door was opened and a man stepped down. I sighed. Although it was hard to see him because it’s dark, I clearly saw his shiny silver hair.

“Daddy.”

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“Aren’t you Duke Verita’s son? It’s been a long time,” my father said.

Walking to me with great strides, he bluntly nodded at him.

“Oh, you returned after seeing him.”

“…Yes, Daddy.”

“Let’s go in because it’s late. Thanks for escorting my daughter here, young man.”

“You’re welcome, sir. Then, I’ll see you again next time. Goodbye, Tia. See you next time.”

“Take care, Allendis…” I barely responded while checking my father’s look because I almost called him so naturally by his first name. However, perhaps because of the darkness, I couldn’t read anything from his expression.

“Goodbye, boy. Tia, let’s go in. ”

“…Yes, Dad. ”

My father, who walked silently up the stairs, looked back at me halfway through the stairs and said, “It’s late, but would you like to have tea with me?”

“Ah yes, Daddy.”

I felt like I was guilty for some reason when I headed for his study. As I sat facing him in the soft chair, my father said, sighing low, “So, did you have a good time there?”

“…Yes, I’m sorry. ”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, I am sorry I didn’t tell you in advance before I went to his house.”

Upon hearing my answer, he was silent for a moment. He seemed to choose words while I was waiting, and then broke the silence with a low voice, “I don’t know what will happen in the future, but you’re engaged to the crown prince. If you are making friends with boys of other families, you know people will begin to gossip about your relationships.”

“… ”

“Well, the reason I haven’t stopped you from making friends with Duke Verita’s son and Duke Lars’s son was because I saw you were happy while mingling with them.”