Chapter 17
As a glint appeared in Arendtert’s eyes, color returned to Grizelle’s face. She quickly approached him, as if she had never been intimidated at all.
“Syllie thinks of me as her real younger sister. Actually, we’re even closer than real sisters. Syllie tells me everything—literally everything.”
“…She did say you’re a precious friend.”
Arendtert recalled how Sylaria had asked him to take care of Grizelle the night before. She had insisted that Grizelle Willoughby was important and entrusted her to him. He’d found it annoying to be saddled with such a rural woman, but perhaps it really was because Grizelle was precious to her.
“Of course. Why else do you think I came all the way to this distant imperial palace? Syllie said she couldn’t hold her engagement ceremony without me!”
“Oh, really?”
Arendtert looked at Grizelle, half in doubt.
“Then why did she call off the engagement ceremony?”
“T-That’s…”
“Even if you’re close friends, you don’t know the reason for that?”
At his mocking words, Grizelle bowed her head low and squeezed out tears that didn’t actually fall.
“She must be going through marriage blues. She’s always been so delicate…”
At her hastily invented excuse, Arendtert’s eyes narrowed.
Marriage blues. A bride getting gloomy before her wedding.
It was a fairly plausible reason.
“I see.”
“Right now, she’s probably alone, deeply regretting and reflecting on her actions. Please, Your Highness, forgive Syllie.”
Grizelle sniffled as she dabbed at her dry eyes. Arendtert straightened up, changing his previously casual demeanor as he looked at her.
The fact that she had freely entered the guest palace suggested that she truly was close to Sylaria and not just boasting.
Besides, Sylaria herself had said that Grizelle was important to her.
‘Maybe…’
The corners of Arendtert’s mouth lifted slightly. Maybe he could coax Grizelle Willoughby into persuading Sylaria. The more people who could help bring Sylaria back to her senses, the better.
“I had no idea you cared so much for Syllie, Lady.”
“Ah, Your Highness the Second Prince!”
When Arendtert spoke in a gentle tone, Grizelle cried out loudly and threw herself into his arms.
Though she only cried with her eyes, a deep smile lingered at the corners of her lips.
“How could Syllie do such a thing to someone as kind as Your Highness!”
“Lady Willoughby, calm yourself.”
Arendtert was flustered by the woman’s sudden, forward action of throwing herself into his arms.
Country bumpkin or not, a woman was still a woman.
As a Holy Knight, chivalry was engraved deep in his bones. He couldn’t just cast aside a woman who was clinging to him in tears.
But he couldn’t just keep letting her stay, either.
Being seen alone with a woman in a private room was sure to invite uncomfortable misunderstandings. If someone saw them—especially if Sylaria saw—it could lead straight to a broken engagement, let alone marriage.
But he couldn’t just toss out a crying woman, either. It was enough to drive him crazy.
Knowing full well that Arendtert was at a loss and flustered, Grizelle burrowed even deeper into his embrace.
“Ah, Your Highness!”
“Now, calm down. For now, let’s… let’s go outside and talk.”
Arendtert chose to leave the room for the moment, as an emergency measure.
At the very least, he needed to avoid the worst-case scenario of being caught alone in the sitting room with her.
He comforted Grizelle as he led her out of the room. The whole way, she clung persistently to the hem of his jacket.
“I’m sorry. Hiic, I’m just… so worried about Syllie…”
“Yes, yes. You have a very warm heart, Lady.”
Arendtert replied absentmindedly to Grizelle, who stuck to him relentlessly.
‘Damn, as if she isn’t a country bumpkin.’
How dare she cling to a prince so presumptuously.
It was a completely improper act, far out of line with imperial etiquette.
‘She should have the sense to let go.’
Arendtert barely managed to suppress his irritation as he made his way toward the rose garden.
A wide, open place with many eyes around where Grizelle wouldn’t dare act so forward again.
He didn’t realize that his choice of location would soon come back to bite him, and hurried on his way.
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