Chapter 230 (2/2)
I freaked out at that. How did he know?
I walked up to him in embarrassment. As I suddenly came to the bright out of the dark area, I went blank momentarily, then could see again. I saw my father picking up my hair tie with mixed feelings.
I blushed because I recalled the emperor’s hugging and kissing me right before my father arrived here.
“Let’s go back home.”
“… Sure, Daddy.”
I’d rather be comfortable if he scolded me, but he just looked at me for some time and asked me to go back, handing me the hair tie.
When I returned home in heavy silence, the butler quickly called the house employees.
I had dinner with my father in a breathless silence. I felt like I would have an upset stomach because I swallowed food reluctantly.
The moment I had the nerve to open my mouth, the butler came in carefully and said, “Sir, you have a guest.”
“Guest? At this time? Who is it?”
“Duke Verita and Duke Lars.”
“Oh, I see. Let me come down now.”
Although I didn’t feel like it, I felt I would still want to say hello to him, so I stood up with my father.
As I entered the reception room, the man with green hair, who seemed a bit tired, waved his hand at my father.
“I see you again, Kairan.”
“Ruth, what business has brought you here?”
“I’m sorry to hear that, man. How can you be mean to me as I haven’t seen you for some time?”
“Oh, I’m sorry if you felt hurt.”
“Not at all. Actually I’d like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you after a long time. Although I’m sorry I came here late at night, I hope you can understand as you are an adult, right?”
“Oh, sure, Duke Verita. Then, excuse me.”
After instructing the butler to serve them with snacks and drinks, I returned to my room and opened the book I read a few days ago. Somehow I was distracted while reading it, so I tried to read it line by line, but I still couldn’t concentrate.
When I closed the book with a sigh, I heard somebody talking outside the door.
‘Are they already leaving?”
As I went out hurriedly, I saw Duke Verita going out, escorted by the butler.
He smiled at me when I bowed to say goodbye, and said, “It’s been a while, Lady Monique. Congratulations on being a full-fledged knight!”
“Ah… Thank you, Your Grace. ”
It was the first time I heard somebody offering congratulations since the ceremony. Because I was so confused by the unprecedented event involving my oath of blood, nobody dared to congratulate me at the time. Even I forgot that I was fully appointed as a full-fledged knight today.
“Thanks to you, I watched a very unusual scene. Who knew the emperor, who used to be cold-hearted, was out of his mind? Well, I came here because I was worried about you. Don’t worry too much because I’m going to appease the emperor.”
” Thank you, Your Grace. ”
“It must have been very difficult for you in many ways, so take a break. I think it will take some time for me to talk with your father.”
“Will do, Duke Verita.”
After bowing slightly to express gratitude, I headed to my father’s study instead of going back to my room. But no matter how much I tried to focus, I couldn’t read the book. I just kept sighing with mixed feelings.
How much time passed?
When I was blankly looking at the book, the butler came to me carefully and said, “My lady.”
“… Oh, butler. What’s going on? Anything to say to me?”
“I would like to report to you that I took out lots of wine bottles from the wine cellar.”
“Really? Wow, much did they drink?”
After being briefed by the butler, I closed the book and stood up. I was bothered by the fact that they drank quite a lot of wine. Although Duke Lars also told me that he would appease the emperor, I felt I would relax if I double checked their condition.
When I knocked carefully and opened the door, I saw three men wining and dining under the soft light. Duke Verita was murmuring to himself, Duke Lars was leaning against his chair, with his legs crossed, and my father lowering his head as if he was lost in something, with his clasped hands on his knees.
I felt I could not interfere in such an atmosphere, so I stopped suddenly.