Chapter 28

The next day, Lillith slept soundly in the morning and, from noon on, she read a book she had borrowed from the library with great seriousness.

This library was well-stocked, stimulating Lillith's thirst for knowledge considerably.

Whether the book she was currently reading would be of any use to her as a newlywed was another matter.

And as Lillith nodded in agreement with the book, she raised her head.

"Hey, Rese. I have a favor to ask."

"Yes, what is it?"

Rese answered with a smile, but inwardly she was a bit anxious about what favor Lillith would ask this time.

Most of Lillith's "favors" were not serious, but occasionally they were quite outrageous.

"I want you to go on an errand for me now."

"…An errand, you say?"

"Yes, I think it should be fine this season."

After hearing the content of the errand, Rese heaved a sigh of relief and left the room.

Just as Rese was leaving, a messenger arrived to see Lillith.

Taina, who had received the messenger, returned to Lillith.

"Lillith-sama, Count Borno is requesting an audience. What would you like to do?"

"Count Borno, huh. I see. Please tell him that any time today is fine."

"Understood."

Taina seemed surprised by the unexpectedly quick response but did not comment on it, instead going to inform the messenger of the acceptance.

Count Borno is actually Conrad, Jesarado's cousin.

Lillith closed the book she was reading and stood up to prepare.

Conrad had been introduced to her at a meeting with the main figures of the Aeras Empire before her wedding.

Lillith had struggled to remember the faces and names of the ministers and nobles, but she had quickly memorized Conrad's face.

This was because he resembled Arnaud.

Having Conrad as her first private meeting as the Crown Princess should be a good choice.

At the moment, he is a very important figure as Jesarado's successor.

Lillith was nervous and careful not to make a fool of herself as she waited for Conrad's arrival.

When the time came, Conrad arrived with the same gentle smile as their first meeting.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice. I am Count Borno, Conrad Bondville. Please call me Conrad, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Count Borno. Then I will call you Conrad without hesitation."

The meeting with Conrad began with this exchange and proceeded smoothly.

It was teatime, so the conversation about sweets was lively.

It seemed that, unusually for a man, Conrad was very fond of sweets.

"…And yet, I am weak for alcohol and hardly drink it, so people often laugh at me, saying I'm like a woman."

"Oh, I think those who laugh are the ones who are wrong. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, and their strengths and weaknesses. Actually, I love apple cider and sometimes… end up drinking too much… or so I've heard."

Lillith, feeling too comfortable with the friendly Conrad, ended up saying more than she should have.

Noticing Taina's cough from the corner of the room, Lillith hurriedly tried to cover up her words, but it didn't seem to work.

Conrad chuckled.

"Indeed, he looks like Arnaud, but talking to him, he is quite different…"

While staring at Conrad absentmindedly, he met Lillith's gaze and smiled.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Ah, no… I'm sorry. It's not that…"

Lillith quickly averted her eyes and looked down.

She remembered that a lady should not stare at a gentleman's face.

Lillith tried to change the topic, but Conrad, seemingly not bothered, continued.

"My hair is a rare golden color, and my eyes are blue, so I am often stared at."

"Oh, I see."

This time, Lillith answered with a ladylike smile.

Indeed, his hair did look golden, but perhaps because she was used to Daria's beautiful blonde hair, she thought more of Arnaud's light brown hair.

And his eyes, which she saw as dark blue rather than blue.

In response to Lillith's reaction, Conrad nodded as if remembering something.

"Your Highness is from the Freud Kingdom, so someone like me is not unusual. Your Highness also has beautiful eyes."

"Yes, thank you."

Lillith, confident in the color of her eyes, thanked him sincerely, but Conrad's expression clouded slightly.

He then opened his mouth as if it was difficult to say.

"Speaking of unusual, Jesarado—His Highness the Crown Prince—also has unusual hair and eye color, but the curse is just a rumor."

"Yes, that's true."

"Because of the continuous misfortunes around him since childhood, the rumors became even more rampant. But it's all just coincidence. Please don't believe them."

"Understood."

"Indeed, on the battlefield, his appearance of cutting down enemies one after another is feared as if he were the Grim Reaper. But I, unfortunately, am a coward who can't do anything in battle."

"Is there… a war coming soon?"

"No, no. I apologize. I shouldn't be telling you such things. But even if there is a war, as long as His Highness is here, this country will be safe."

Hearing about the war, Lillith's face turned pale.

She was worried that her marriage had heightened the tensions between this country and the Fontae Kingdom.

As if to comfort her, Conrad smiled gently again.

"Please rest assured. Nothing will happen to you, Your Highness. But if you have any concerns, please feel free to talk to me. I am truly happy that you are here in this country. So, I will do my best to ensure that you do not suffer."

"Thank you, Conrad. I am truly grateful to hear you say that."

He looks like Arnaud, but he seems a bit weak.

Despite these unnecessary thoughts, Lillith smiled and thanked him.

Although she seemed to have worried him, Lillith was genuinely pleased by Conrad's welcoming words.