Chapter 102
“Why are you clutching that handkerchief so carefully?”
“Ah, this is…”
While relaying what Sia had said, Dylan placed the handkerchief on the table in front of the Crown Prince.
“Hah… if she said to brew it as tea, that means it’s tea leaves. And she dared to wrap it roughly in a handkerchief instead of even a glass bottle… how insolent…”
It felt like what little patience he had left was evaporating rapidly. Letting out a deep sigh, Louis grabbed the edge of the folded handkerchief and muttered,
“Well, since it’s a gift, I should at least check it out as a matter of courtesy.”
He casually opened the handkerchief, then froze at the sudden burst of fragrance.
The scent was extremely fresh and pleasant. Not just pleasant, but intoxicating.
“What in the world is this…”
“…Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
When Dylan called him in a serious voice, Louis looked at him suspiciously. Fidgeting in a way that was unlike him, Dylan answered,
“Would you care to try these tea leaves right away? I will have hot water brought at once.”
Speaking quickly as if he couldn’t endure the desire to taste it, Dylan was stared at blankly by Louis for a moment before Louis slowly nodded.
“Do so.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
The moment permission was given, Dylan hurried out again. Watching him absentmindedly, Louis muttered quietly,
“He could have just pulled the bell cord, yet he went himself?”
* * *
Nox was riding alone.
As he moved without rest, the subordinates who had been following him began to fall behind. One by one they disappeared, and before long, there was no one left behind him.
But Nox didn’t notice.
His mind was filled with nothing but Sia.
The wound on his shoulder, which he hadn’t properly treated, had stopped bleeding naturally but remained as it was. Even so, Nox gripped the reins and rode powerfully as if he had never been injured.
When his estate finally came into view in the distance, the impatience and anxiety that had risen to his throat seemed to ease a little. Only then did Nox let out the breath he had been holding and urged his horse forward.
He passed through the iron gates in an instant and hurried toward the entrance of the mansion. The servants who recognized him despite his unannounced arrival all bowed their heads at once. Cedric, having heard the news from a servant, came out to greet him at the entrance.
“Master, you have returned.”
Instead of answering, Nox leapt down from his horse. Then he gave instructions to the groom who was approaching.
“He’s been running for two days without properly eating, feed him well first.”
“Yes, Master.”
Handing the reins to the groom, Nox walked toward Cedric, then paused to check his own appearance. He roughly brushed back his dust-covered hair and asked Cedric, who was waiting,
“Do I look very dirty?”
“…My lord. There is something I must tell you.”
At Cedric’s serious tone, Nox’s hurried movements stopped abruptly. Turning his head sharply enough to make a sound, he pressed him urgently,
“Is Sia ill?”
To Nox, the only matter serious enough for the head butler to speak like that could be about Sia. The anxiety he had barely suppressed surged back up, and he started to move without caring about his disheveled state.
“That isn’t it, my lord. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is currently at the estate.”
“…Who?”
“His Imperial Highness arrived early in the morning two days ago without any notice.”
“……”
Nox’s face, which had already gone pale at the thought that Sia might be sick, turned even paler. He whispered quietly enough that only Cedric could hear,
“…Do you think he’s caught on?”
“…It seems likely.”
Cedric was worried for Nox. They had reported false information to the imperial family. At the same time, he was also worried about Sia. She too had been repeatedly disobeying the Crown Prince’s summons.
Before the Crown Prince’s attendants arrived, Cedric quickly gave Nox a detailed account of everything that had happened. Listening quietly, Nox tilted his head slightly, then slowly covered his mouth.
The more he heard, the more a smile began to leak out.
After hearing the whole situation, Nox straightened from where he had been leaning toward Cedric.
He even forgot the worry that Sia’s actions might have exposed her to the Crown Prince.
All he wanted now was to hurry and see his adorable Sia.
The only one in the world who was on his side.
His mate.
Just knowing he had someone firmly on his side made him smile. Nox immediately went to Sia’s room, threw the door open, and called out,
“Sia, I’m back.”
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