Chapter 38

This is the third chapter.

Tanya was momentarily surprised at Dean's face, but quickly composed herself.

"Welcome, Lady of the Duke of Armenia."

In response to his words, I plastered a smile on my face.

"It is an honor to be invited."

"...Let me introduce myself again. I am Alfred Dean Tasmiria, the first prince of this country."

...Those words were a declaration of separation.

Perhaps not to him, but to me, they sounded that way.

"I am Iris. Iris Lanna Armenia."

Even if we knew each other's faces, we introduced ourselves when we spoke for the first time.

Furthermore, the subordinate could not state their name until the superior did, and even if they knew it, they were not allowed to call the other by name.

At that moment, Dean was just a royal, and I was just a noble.

The past was not present here.

"I have caused great trouble to the Duke of Armenia and the duchy. I would like to apologize here."

"It is an honor, Your Highness. Our family merely fulfilled our duty as nobles."

"You are... no, the Duke of Armenia is the most noble of all the nobles I know."

I couldn't tell if it was praise, but he smiled as he said it.

My heart ached again, for the umpteenth time, at that smile.

Silence fell between us.

It was a stark contrast to the times when we always felt time was precious and talked a lot.

He gestured for the servants who were waiting to leave.

"Tanya, you may also withdraw."

I conveyed this to Tanya, who didn't move.

"But..."

She looked back and forth between me and him, confused.

"It's alright."

Being alone with a man wasn't good, but this wasn't a private room; it was under the open sky.

Moreover, although they were out of sight, many people were likely waiting nearby.

"...Understood."

And so, only he and I were left in the place.

"...Were you surprised?"

Only then did his tone change.

"...Yes, I was. I was surprised to see 'you' there, at that time and place."

Even though people were present but out of sight, he didn't use a subject, and neither did I.

"But, at the same time, I understood. I understood why someone like you would appear before someone like me."

I knew very well that Dean had received a high education.

His merchant background couldn't explain it.

That's why, when I learned he was the first prince, I was more convinced than surprised.

He was probably here for an inspection.

The lady who had been expelled from the academy had taken the position of acting lord and had started doing various things.

He smiled wryly at my words.

It seemed my guess was correct.

"...Is something wrong?"

Unconsciously, I had been smiling.

Surprised by my sudden change, he asked me.

"No, nothing is wrong. I was just thinking."

It really was nothing.

...I had been thinking about what intentions he had in coming to see me.

But in the end, I concluded that it didn't matter.

It wasn't that I was blaming him or disappointed.

In fact, I had no resentment or anger at him for hiding his true identity.

After all, I had accepted him without knowing his true identity.

There were many things that seemed odd for someone from a merchant family.

But I had accepted him because Grandfather and Mother knew his background was reliable.

...No, that was just an excuse.

I had long since stopped caring about such things.

No matter who he was, I had closed my eyes to it as long as he was by my side.

I had cast my doubts to the wind.

So, I had no intention of blaming him.

I had laughed, thinking about it.

Even now, I was still captivated by him.

What a troublesome illness love is.