Chapter 29
“Baroness, you’re back?”
At the voice of Meredith, a B-Class Transcendent, Logan turned his gaze. It was common knowledge among all Transcendents that Meredith had taken on the role of escort knight for Baroness Linier.
Sure enough, Ephinia was meeting Meredith and brightening visibly. Judging by their direction, it looked like they were coming out of the Administrative Palace.
‘Did she meet the Crown Prince?’
Perhaps things hadn’t gone well, as there was a faint shadow of worry on her face. Logan found that bothering him, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak to her.
After all, he had never even exchanged greetings with her yet. He had planned to do so at that ball, but the Crown Prince had ruined everything.
‘If his goal was to isolate Baroness Linier, then I’d say he succeeded splendidly.’
If he spoke to her now, she’ll think he had ulterior motives. But so what?
‘Letting her pass by like this would be the dumber move.’
“Dame Aphis. What brings you to the Administrative Palace?”
At the sight of Logan approaching familiarly, Meredith flinched and glanced at him. The fact that she had only now noticed his presence as an A-Class meant that he had been concealing his aura well.
Since this was the Administrative Palace, that was natural enough, but because Ephinia was beside her, Meredith couldn’t help giving him a displeased look.
“Count Ricard, fancy seeing you here.”
“I work here. And this person is…”
As if he didn’t already know. Meredith shot him a sharp glance and introduced Ephinia.
“This is Baroness Ephinia Linier. She recently awakened as a Guide.”
He had attended that ball as well, so there was no way he didn’t recognize her face. With so few Guides, Transcendents knew the faces of every Guide.
“Pleased to meet you, Baroness. I am Logan Ricard.”
As he greeted her politely and extended his hand, Ephinia cautiously took it. Since she was a Guide, her hand was covered by lace gloves.
She had probably put them on after meeting the Crown Prince.
‘Playing hard to get.’
Using the etiquette he had learned after becoming a noble, Logan pressed his lips to the back of her hand. He wanted to kiss her palm instead, but Meredith’s gaze was sharp.
“Pleased to meet you, Count.”
“Please call me Logan. I’m a noble of common origin as well. If you ever need someone to rely on, or someone you can associate with comfortably, feel free to call on me.”
“Count.”
At Meredith’s warning, Logan looked at her as if to ask what the problem was. The look toward Meredith lasted only a moment, and his gaze soon fixed back on Ephinia.
Ephinia seemed a little surprised by Logan’s easygoing manner. Though he wore a genial smile, Logan’s eyes were sharply scanning her.
‘Still on guard. Quiet, and… the type who’s shy around strangers?’
“The Baroness is a precious person. She has further engagements, so we will take our leave.”
It was rude behavior toward a count, but if Ephinia was to become the Crown Princess, it could be said to be appropriate.
“See you around, Baroness.”
As Logan said this with a smiling glance, Meredith quickly wrapped an arm around Ephinia’s shoulders and led her out of the Administrative Palace. Seeing the curiosity in Ephinia’s brief backward glance toward him, Logan felt satisfied.
For now, that was enough.
* * *
Last time, she had gone back simply because she was in a bad mood, but it was strange that she couldn’t meet Kasselard the next day, or even today.
‘He’s definitely avoiding me.’
Why? No. She wasn’t even curious about the reason.
If I leave it like this and he reaches the brink of rampage! They’ll tell me to do deep contact guiding!!
Not just guiding with a simple kiss, but full on guiding, all the way.
If he’s right before rampage, there’s no telling how bad his condition would be, and he might just pounce at her having lost his rationality.
She absolutely hated the idea. With a two-rank difference between them, Ephinia thought she could quite literally be torn apart and killed.
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