“I am not the wife of a duke, but the wife of a prince, or rather, Her Highness the princess.
Do I even have to explain this to you?
But, who are you?”
“Oh, you're joking so well.”
'This is not a joke, I really don't know.'
“Robin, help me unload the luggage.”
I learned his name from a middle-aged woman who greeted me politely.
“Miss, why are you so thin?”
Her eyes were brimming with tears.
I don't know who she is, but when I saw the tears she shed thinking of me, I suddenly felt sad and almost cried.
“Your Highness, Mr. and Mrs. are waiting for you.
Let’s go.”
She did not give me the opportunity to enjoy this feeling, but rather rushed us.
Leon and I got into the Marquis's family's prepared carriage.
Since our arrival in the capital, Leon had been holding my hand exaggeratedly tightly, but when we were alone in the carriage, he suddenly let go of my hand in a harsh tone.
He closed his eyes and sighed long.
“Your Excellency, what is the matter?”
"I'm not a duke, I'm a prince.
I'm afraid to meet people.
I was shaking."
'What a brilliant act.'
“Okay, Your Highness.”
"You can't call me Leon like I call you Belle?
Huh?
Huh?"
'Aren't you embarrassed?'
I closed my mouth tightly to prevent myf from laughing and looked out the window.
The views of the capital passed quickly.
After finally calming down my laughter, I turned my head again.
“Okay, okay.
Leon.”
"once again."
“Leon.”
"Wow, great!
Leon is so happy.
Belle makes Leon happy."
I held Leon's hand again as he spoke in a childish tone.
In fact, I felt the tremor of his hand transfer to mine.
Is Great Leon really trembling?
He had witnessed his parents and brothers being killed in the Imperial Palace right before his eyes, so the shock must have been enormous.
I, who lost her parents too soon before I knew grief, can't even imagine what it must feel like.
But when I thought about my parents, my eyes burned.
“Bill, are you crying?”
“No, I'm not crying.
Something just got into my eyes.
Don't worry.
Even if you're afraid, I'll always be by your side.”
Leon looked into my eyes for a moment, then suddenly let go of my hand and turned his head away.
“Look over there.
What is this?”
Leon pointed to the scenery passing through the window and asked.
After speaking honestly for the first time in a while, I sighed and decided not to respond.
But these little things will accumulate and one day become the guarantee of my life, right?
But, I'm also here for the first time.
How can I explain to him?
"Well, what is this?
Guess!"
After I answered him a few times, Leon's questions calmed down.
However, his expression was not good.
Fortunately, we reached the Marquis's house before I noticed his completely changed mood.
“Your Highness the Prince and Your Highness the Princess, we have been waiting for you.”
We were greeted by a handsome middle-aged man.
From his familiar features, I knew he was my father.
Next to him, a woman with sharp eyes was looking at me, then suddenly smiled when our eyes met.
She must be the Marquis's wife.
“Thank you for your welcome.
Have you been well?”
“I thought you would return to the capital quickly, but you seem to have held up well?”
The Marquis's wife embraced me, smiling, and whispered softly in my ear.
I couldn't find anything to respond, so I just smiled.
She looked at me strangely and then turned her head away.
We were warmly received by the Marquis and his wife, and shown to the bedroom prepared for us.
“Miss, or rather, Your Highness, you have become even more beautiful!”
A maid came in.
I don't know who she was, but it seemed she had served me before, to arrange the luggage.
She put her hands on her chest and spoke excitedly.
“Okay… Katie.”
“What?
I’m Joan.”
“Sorry, I confused you with a maid in Esther.”
“Ah...it's possible.”
For a moment, a wry smile crossed the maid's face.
But then, their service was so courteous and satisfactory that it made me think I might have missed the mark.
“By the way, was there a maid named Katie?”
Leon suddenly asked me.
“I'm bad at remembering names.”
I laughed to get over the situation, but unlike me, Leon's eyes were cold.
Fortunately, the Marquis and his wife invited us into the drawing-room, so I turned the attention of Leon, who was tilting his head, to something else, and we went down to the drawing-room together.
The tea time with the Marquis and his wife was very quiet.
The Marquis's wife would sometimes look at me expressionlessly, but that look would quickly disappear.
They were polite and friendly.
'Is the setting that Belle is the daughter of this family true?
Except for her being an out-of-wedlock daughter, everything seems good.'
If the Marquis's wife had given birth to her, she would have been strongly opposed to her marrying a prince.
This level of treatment was comfortable and entirely appropriate.
“Your Highness, can we talk privately?
Shouldn’t we talk as father and daughter?” The Marquis said in a gentle tone.
“No, no, Belle you have to stay with me.”
I looked embarrassedly between Leon and the Marquis alternately.
I just thought the Marquis family looked good, and I wanted to check if I was right.
I carefully released Leon's clinging hand and calmed him down.
“Leon, can we separate for a moment?
I will ask my father to bring lots of candy and chocolate.
Isn’t that okay?”
The Marquis nodded enthusiastically.
Leon nodded reluctantly with frowning lips and returned to the bedroom.
“You too, come out for a while.”
"What?
Me too?"
The Marquis's wife was surprised, but the Marquis, whose outlook had changed, nodded.
When the Marquis's wife had left and the Marquis and I were alone in the drawing room, he said: "Do you think my words are funny?
Do you imagine that you have really become a princess?"
Before I could comprehend the situation, he got up and slapped me hard in the face.
Not only that, he also threw the sofa cushions at me several times.
“Didn’t you run away from the prince because you didn’t want to live with him?
After we convinced you and prepared you, didn’t I ask you to report on his condition daily?”
What is this situation?
I felt dizzy.
I have never experienced such a shock before.
I laughed at the ridiculousness.
For a moment, I thought this was a good family, but now I felt at ease.
If they were good people, I would feel guilty trying to stay away from them, but fortunately, they're not, right?
We convinced you?
How did they convince Bill?
I felt my body trembling as if I had lived that experience myf.
“Didn’t I promise that if you do your part well, you will live a comfortable life after that bastard’s death?
If this continues like this, you will get nothing.”
'What is he talking about?'
'It seems that you will die before Leon.'
However, when the era of great beasts comes, everyone will perish.
Staying by Leon's side is safer.
The Marquis was chattering without knowing his fate.
I didn't want to see his face anymore.
I wanted to leave this place quickly.
“I'm sorry.
But I didn't know how to send the news...”
“What?
Does that make sense… No, given your stupid mind, it’s probably possible.”
He was angry at first, but quickly nodded in agreement.
“Of course, using the carrier pigeon was difficult for you.
You couldn’t sit in front of the desk for a moment… Tsk.
I will prepare the communication stone before you return to Aster.
Don’t make me raise my voice again over this matter.”
'How much of a fool was Belle being treated like?'
“Okay.”
When he gave me implicit permission to leave, I ran out of the drawing room.
I felt like I would suffocate if I stayed any longer.
The Marquis's wife was waiting for me in front of the reception room.
'Now it's your turn?'
“Bill.”
I was going to pass right by her, but I stopped when she called me.
She came closer to me and straightened my messy hair.
“You should take the chocolate and candy.”
She motioned to a maid next to her, who handed me a small basket.
“Let's go up together.”
The Marquis's wife took the basket herf and began to walk in front of me.
I followed her quietly.
“Bill, have you considered my offer?”
“What?
Ah, well...”
“Okay, think carefully.
Here’s the basket.”
I put the basket in my hand.
'What show are you talking about?'
She looked at me confused, then turned and disappeared down the hall.
I looked at her back for a while, then entered the bedroom where Leon was waiting for me.