Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 24.2

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Chapter 24.2

“It’s been a while, Lady Amelia.” Ray Kewind, Captain of the Crow Knights, grinned at me.

A large number of knights were guarding the Kishan princes’ mansion. Security had clearly been tightened following the poisoning incident at the recent banquet. And with the princes hosting guests today, they would have increased the guard even further.

‘The princes’ attendant, the culprit behind the poisoning, had escaped, too.’

Reinforced security was only natural. This was the Lefkind Empire, not their own kingdom. And the attendant had escaped from the Crown Prince’s knights, no less.

Either the attendant was no ordinary servant, or someone within the knight order had aided their escape.

“My lady? My arm is starting to ache.” Ray Kewind said playfully when I remained still, momentarily distracted by observing the Crow Knights.

I looked down at her and took her hand.

“I apologize, Commander.”

Holding her hand, I stepped down from the carriage.

“How have you been, my lady?”

“Well, fine. Thanks to you.”

This was only our second encounter, yet Ray Kewind treated me with the familiarity of a long-time acquaintance. And she was, as before, strikingly beautiful.

“And who is this?” Ray asked, glancing at the carriage where a rather disgruntled Rettie stood.

“As I mentioned earlier, this is the young lady attending me today.”

“A maid, then.”

“Rettie Hazel.” Rettie added through gritted teeth, deliberately stomping as she exited the carriage.

As promised, I had brought Rettie as my maid. She had complained about being treated like a servant, but the lure of attending the tea party had ensured her compliance.

The constant fussing over what to wear and which shoes to choose had made me briefly regret my decision.

“His Highnesses await you inside. Allow me to escort you.”

“You, Commander?” I was puzzled. Escorting guests was typically a servant’s duty. Ray nodded.

Ray Kewind was a princess. While she had chosen to renounce her title and become the Commander of the Crow Knights, she held a position equivalent to the Kishan princes. Accepting her escort felt… awkward.

“We replaced the entire mansion staff after the incident. Many positions are still vacant.”

Ray’s explanation made me nod. It seemed the knights were filling in for the missing servants. I followed her lead.

The Kishan princes’ mansion in the capital was enormous and opulent, almost palatial. I had heard they even kept wild animals within the grounds. I wondered if it was truly safe…

“You don’t resemble them.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You don’t resemble your brother or younger sister.”

I tilted my head at the Commander’s words.

Is that so…?

Something else had been on my mind.

“Please, speak casually, Commander.”

Ray blinked.

“Why?”

“Well, it’s just…”

“I am currently the Commander of the Knights, acting on the Crown Prince’s orders, and you are a guest of the Kishan princes.”

“….”

“I am a knight, nothing more, nothing less.” Ray finished her explanation with a bright smile. She was merely fulfilling her duties as a knight; her status as a princess was irrelevant here.

That’s what she seemed to be saying. To dwell on the matter further felt disrespectful. I nodded.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“By the way, is Sir Damian also attending?”

“Damian, that rascal—no, he sends his apologies. He’s detained by some business.”

Did she just call him “that rascal”? I stared at Ray, slightly taken aback.

“Truly has no sense of propriety.” She delivered the harsh words with a beautiful, smiling face.

I had suspected they knew each other. I had guessed as much back at the knight order headquarters, observing the dynamic between Ricardo and Damian. If he knew Ricardo, it stood to reason he would also be acquainted with the Commander, Ray.

‘So it’s just me and the princes today.’

It was a good opportunity to get closer to Bashar, but perhaps because recent events had always involved Damian, his absence felt strangely…empty.

He had approached me so suddenly and familiarly at the banquet, and we had been together during the investigation. His presence, or rather, the lack of it, was noticeable.

‘He certainly has an undeniable presence.’

I shook my head, a faint smile playing on my lips without realizing it.

Stepping inside the mansion, I was enveloped by an exotic atmosphere. The basic structure was Lefkindian, but elements of Kishan architecture were interwoven throughout.

The decorations adorning the hallways and staircases evoked the distinct ambiance of a desert kingdom. The blend of the two cultures, seemingly disparate yet harmoniously combined, elicited a stream of admiring murmurs from Rettie.

Then, as if remembering her place, she made a visible effort to restrain her reactions.

‘It is quite impressive.’

She had never seen desert architecture, or much of any foreign architecture for that matter, so her fascination with the mansion’s interior was understandable. Seeing her like this, she seemed like nothing more than my younger sister.

‘Don’t be fooled. Remember the Hazel family’s misdeeds.’