Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 50.2

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Chapter 50.2

Ricardo said this, though he didn’t look alright at all. It seemed I wasn’t the first to make that observation. Studying his still-rigid face, I forced the corners of my lips upwards in an awkward smile.

“My connection to Ditronil is merely an unfortunate acquaintance. Personally, I’d prefer not to be deeply involved with him, my lady.”

His voice was laced with undisguised personal feelings.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

An unfortunate acquaintance… Ricardo’s reaction to Damian wasn’t positive, but it didn’t seem like a relationship that could be simply dismissed as unfortunate.

‘Damian seemed to have a connection to the Crown Prince…’

Perhaps Ricardo had come to know Damian through the Crown Prince. The question was, why had the Crown Prince summoned Damian to the Imperial Palace? According to the information I’d gathered, Damian was just an ordinary mercenary. Why had the Crown Prince approached and brought him here, concealing all information and not even mentioning his connection to the Crown Prince? I wouldn’t have known about Damian’s connection to the Crown Prince if it weren’t for the magical beast incident. Indeed, the only rumors about Damian Ditronil circulating in high society were that he’d appeared suddenly two years ago and was the illegitimate son of some noble family.

‘…But why did he reveal his relationship with the Crown Prince to me?’

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

Damian had arrived much later than the appointed time with the Kishan princes, and he was with the Crown Prince. He’d clearly stated he was there to protect Bashar on the Crown Prince’s orders. From their conversation that day, I’d also sensed a familiarity between them. Even if the summoning of the magical beast was unexpected, they could have easily hidden their relationship if they’d wanted to. But they’d revealed it all, regardless of my scrutiny. To me, whom they suspected of being Pazl’s informant.

‘What are you thinking?’

The Crown Prince, and Damian. The ensuing thoughts made me frown.

“My lady? Are you alright?”

Ricardo’s voice startled me, and I looked up. He was staring at me with concern. Come to think of it, we seemed closer to our destination than before. I blinked, realizing Ricardo had risen from his seat and was standing, observing me.

“Lord Div? I’m fine. What’s wrong?”

“You haven’t responded even though I’ve been speaking to you for some time. Are you unwell?”

“No. I think I’m a little tired from being out for so long. What were you saying? Could you repeat it?”

“…It was nothing important.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t listening.”

When I lowered my gaze and spoke dejectedly, Ricardo seemed at a loss. With a short sigh, he continued, “I was asking if you call Ditronil ‘Damian.’”

It truly was nothing important. It was so trivial that I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t wanted to repeat it.

I simply nodded.

“He told me to call him Damian when we first met, so I don’t really mind.”

Actually, I used both “Damian” and “Lord Damian” interchangeably, but I wasn’t as careful as I was with others. Damian would either be pleased, no matter what I called him, or he’d complain in his characteristically languid voice.

“…That’s… good… then.”

“What?”

I heard Ricardo murmur something. It was too loud to be a mumble, but his pronunciation was unclear, making it difficult to understand. This wasn’t like Ricardo Div. Staring directly at him, I slowly tilted my head to the right.

“Could you say that again?”

“…You may also call me Ricardo, my lady.”

He hesitated before answering, which made me wonder what was going on. He was saying things Damian would say. Since he and Damian weren’t on good terms, perhaps he was making the same request out of a sense of rivalry. Of course, Damian would have said it far more brazenly and smoothly.

I considered how to respond to Ricardo for a moment, then smiled. Perhaps this was a chance to become closer to him.

“Then you can call me Amelia.”

“That’s…”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to address each other informally?”

Ricardo seemed to be contemplating, but he finally nodded slowly, as if unable to withstand my persistent gaze.

“Alright. Amelia.”

“Good. Ricardo.”

I replied with a smile.

***

The carriage stopped after traveling for quite some time.

“Now that I think about it, I’d like to treat you to a meal. Would you be free sometime?”

This came as I was taking Ricardo’s hand and stepping out of the carriage. Surprised by the sudden question, I stood awkwardly, looking at him. Had Ricardo just asked me for a private meeting? I was surprised to hear such a thing from him, of all people.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The other knights around the carriage were also staring at us in surprise.

“…Were you talking to me?”

“I wouldn’t suddenly address someone else, would I?”

Ricardo replied with a light laugh to my question.

But I was truly surprised. I never imagined Ricardo would suddenly invite me to dinner. He was known for not forming close relationships with his colleagues.

I recalled Ricardo’s information again. It was the same no matter how many times I reviewed it. The information I’d read was correct. Then who was this Div who had just asked me that question?

“Is it inconvenient for you that I asked so suddenly?”

“What? No, it’s not that…”

Ricardo gently held my hand and led me forward. Following him, I was able to step down from the carriage.

“So?”

“It was just unexpected.”

I did intend to build a rapport with Ricardo, but we weren’t close enough to suddenly schedule a private dinner. It hadn’t even been an hour since we’d started calling each other by our first names.