# Chapter 45
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My mind, which had been complicated by Charon's problem, was instantly renewed.
So the real question for me was not whether Charon was deceiving me.
The question was how to overcome this awkward situation, as if I had been caught cheating.
"Hello Nezar, Joe, good evening, huh?"
"no."
Nezar looked at me with a cold, icy face.
I didn't notice it when I got off the carriage, but as I approached, I noticed that my face was a little duller than usual.
"I was a little lost looking at Deborah.
However, Duke Pansion came looking for me and took me to Ezelot.
Thank you again, Duke.
"If it weren't for the Duke, I would still be shaking at Deborah."
No one objected to Pansion and I accompanying each other, but I found myself trying to explain the situation calmly.
The atmosphere was oppressively heavy and the speed of the carriage was frustrating, perhaps because I had a lot to think about during the journey.
"I'm sorry, Captain.
You must have had a hard time today because of our little brother.
Kate has gotten older, but she still has a childish side, right? haha!
It's late, so please sleep in our castle tonight.
"We've played cards, but it's not fun with two people."
Rockherd, who is great at livening up the mood, stood in front of Nezar with a bright smile on his face.
I moved slowly and stood next to Nezar.
His face, crumpled like a piece of tissue paper, was tilted slightly toward me, but he said nothing.
"I am no longer the leader, Lord Lockherd.
"I make mistakes every time I see them, so now I think it's intentional."
"It's a sad thing to say.
"Once decorated, you're always decorated, don't you know?"
"I hope you know that every time you say something like that, I worry about you."
Pansion let out a sigh-like laugh and lowered his head towards Nezar.
"How are you, Your Majesty?
"It's been almost two weeks."
Nezar, who smiled, reached out to him, and Pansion, who smiled, took Nezar's hand.
"It will be three weeks, not two.
Why do you seem to have so many worries?
"Are you adapting well to Entera?"
"Not bad."
"His answer that it's not a bad thing remains the same even after the war is over.
The Little Duke is a person who will answer that it's not a bad thing even if he sees Enterera going bankrupt.
"That's not bad either."
Unlike the stiff atmosphere at the beginning, after they started to open their mouths slightly, the conversation became natural and friendly.
Ah, only then was I able to shake my head, understanding the cause of this unknown situation.
They traveled the battlefield as comrades in arms for a long period of five years.
So, it wasn't a strange relationship when they sang and drank while hugging each other's shoulders.
"Be prepared to hear about this from your mother."
It was time for Pansion and Nezar to say hello.
Rockherd, who was just laughing, lowered his head toward me and spoke in a whisper.
I opened my mouth in dissatisfaction, but unfortunately there was no room for excuses.
"I'm sorry for making you worry about Kate's well-being.
"Even if I tell you to be careful, it seems like you have no intention of listening."
Nezar turned his head and made eye contact with me.
Unlike when he looked at Pan Shion, his eyes were not so cruel.
It was a situation I experienced many times since I was young.
When I left whenever I wanted, when I didn't know anything, when I dragged myself back to the castle around midnight, Nezar's expression encouraging me was the same as now.
Somehow I felt a little stiffer today.
I was so scared that I swallowed my saliva and quickly opened my mouth.
"I'm sorry, Duke.
"I will be careful that something like this doesn't happen again."
"no.
"I'm willing to invest time for my daughter, so there's no need to feel sorry."
As always, Pan Shion's smile was soft and calm, like a landscape painting.
It was a gentlemanly response, but I didn't dare say, "I understand," with Nezar at my side.
This is because his voice was so sweet and gentle as if it had been coated with honey, rather than simply a gentlemanly style of speaking.
I looked at Nezar.
He was looking at Pansion's face and then, with a natural movement, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Thank you for your words.
However, there is no need for the Duke to invest time in Kate.
"Today, tomorrow and in the future."
I went in alone, held by Nezar, and went up the stairs.
Since we couldn't let Pansion out at this late hour, the first floor got a little noisy while they were preparing the room.
"Between."
The door to the room that Nezar pushed opened silently and without making a sound.
I looked at the familiar scene and walked away, feeling depressed.
"Sorry."
"what?"
If you ask, "What is this," it's difficult to answer.
I grabbed my head, groaned and spat out the words with difficulty.
"For making me worry."
His cold face remained silent.
Eventually, his breath, which exhaled as if the ground was falling, was heavy and dense.
He pushed my back into the room.
"It's late, go to sleep."
The door closed without even having time to look back.
It may have been obvious, but there was no way to sleep comfortably.
In my head, two scenes were stuck in the projector and repeated dozens of times.
Nezar when I got off the carriage and our eyes met, and Pansion who comforted me in a fragrant tone in front of him as if he were a lover.
Do I really have feelings?
I'm not stupid.
Oh no, he's an idiot, but that doesn't mean he's a complete idiot whose intelligence disappeared without a trace.
The favor that Pansion had shown me so far was very different from that of Nezar.
There were a number of differences that were more direct, much more implicit and difficult to express in words.
Most of all, it was the way he looked at me, his actions and his smile.
If he wasn't interested in me in the first place, there would be no way he would have sent me long distance at this time just because he was close friends with my younger brother.
Nezar is a man who can found a nation with just one look.
There was no point in not noticing this feeling.
Suddenly I remembered his voice telling me that he would break off my engagement if I brought him a man.
However, when Nezar's voice came to mind, my mood quickly returned to earth.
From the beginning, Pan Shion's feelings were unclear.
On the contrary, it is more likely my illusion.
I felt like I would get a headache if I thought any deeper, so I forced myself to close my eyes and sleep.
Fortunately, because my body was tired, I was able to easily forget my disturbing thoughts.
***
When I opened my eyes, it was early in the morning, with the sun rising.
My body felt heavy like water-soaked cotton, but my mind was just the opposite: clear and vivid.
I rang the doorbell and ordered a light meal, but as the kitchen staff had just started preparing the meal, the only thing I could afford was tea with milk.
I looked at my empty glass, which was empty after about ten minutes, then went to the window and looked out at the wide meadow inside the castle.
The external heat passing through the glass was much hotter than normal.
Now, it felt like we were past the beginning of summer and into full-blown summer.
"warm."
"Weirdly, it's not even 7 am today, but the sun is shining, right?
"Would you like me to prepare some cold water?"
Daisy, who was arranging the bed linen, asked as if she was throwing it at me.
"No, I think I should swim after a long time."
"yes?"
"I want to go to the lake.
"Tell your mother when she wakes up."
Since I came home late the night before, I didn't have the confidence to face my mother.
As soon as our eyes met, it was clear he was going to start bothering me.
For the first time in a long time, I ran barefoot across the meadow beyond the garden.
I felt like I was suddenly woken up by the hot floor.
Lake Dimania has a considerably larger circumference than expected.
Unlike my three brothers who stay away from the water, I really liked playing in the water, so there were some traces I made near the lake, from diving boards to small boats and fishing spots.
No need for swimwear here.
All you had to do was wear light clothes that wouldn't interfere with swimming and bring a towel that covered your entire body.
"Katrina, I'll get it."
It's just a springboard, and the tower I climbed on the ladder was just to enjoy the view.
I looked at the calm water, without a single breeze, and the pier above it.
Whenever this happens, Charon always comes to mind.
This is because playing alone gets boring quickly.
with a plop!
I felt a chill penetrate my skin and envelop my bones.
I held my breath, looked at the bottom of the lake and came back to the surface.
As always, Lake Dimania was peaceful and uneventful.
Will you wake up?
I hoped that when I returned, Nezar and Pansion would not be left behind.
It was because I felt like I would be embarrassed if I ate between the two of them.
I brushed my flyaway hair and swam to the middle of the lake.
I lay down facing the sky and enjoyed the warmth of the sun, watching the carefree family of ducks washing their butts.
Everything was peaceful, as if time had stopped.
Even when I found Nezar nestled under the spire of the tree.
He was sitting on the dock, leaning against the tower, looking at me.
It was so natural, as if it had been there from the beginning, that I almost didn't recognize it.
He dove deeply and emerged in a spot where the pinnacle would probably be.
When I looked closer, I saw that he was wearing glasses, as if he was reading a book.
Sure enough, a thick report was next to him.
"Are you secretly following me?"
I was the one who opened my mouth first.
Nezar's handsome nose, wearing glasses, wrinkled slightly.
"If you don't, you won't be able to come here.
"You're not planning to say we met by chance, are you?"
"You're a little noisy, Kate."
It was a textbook response from alumni.
What does this suddenly mean?
I placed my arms on the dock and rested my chin on them.
"You may have forgotten, but the room I use whenever I visit Ezelot is on the same floor as your room.
And unless you're an idiot, everyone will understand the unique sound of your footsteps.
"Am I walking that high?"
"I'm not the quiet one.
You don't know, but when I take a little break after hearing footsteps and look out the window, I often see your back.
In those moments, you're usually doing one of two things.
"Ride a horse or roll in the grass."
Nezar reached out and tapped my nose.
"But today, as I ran away, I thought I had ended up at the edge of the lake."
There's one thing I realize every time I hear something like this.
No matter what I do, I'm always in the palm of Nezar's hand.
"It seems like you know me better than I do."
"I thought so too.
"Until you reject my proposal."
His face with a small smile was wonderful, as if he was dreaming.
Was it because it was a comfortable environment or because it was already in the past?
The topic of conversation didn't seem as uncomfortable as I thought.
"So, have you found a man to show before me?"
Pan Shion's face passed by, but it only went so far.
As I thought of an answer, Nezar spoke again.
"You can't be a minor duke."
I opened my eyes wide.
"He is Entera's successor.
"He is not a man you should deal with lightly."
I closed my lips as I was about to shout, "What are you talking about?" He seemed to think I had turned down the proposal in favor of pre-wedding fun.
Otherwise, you can't say something like that!
"Did you say to relax now?"
I arrived at the dock in a huff and looked at it, dripping with water.
"What if you don't have a light heart?"