Chapter 226

“Come, come, have a seat. His Highness, the Crown Prince, was just sharing some stories about the Duchess from her childhood.”

Count Nigel greeted Iona and Leroy with an exaggeratedly bright voice.

The two offered a brief greeting to their host before making their way to the empty seats.

Unlike usual, Count Nigel and his wife had yielded the seat of honor to Richard and were sitting directly across from the Duke and Duchess.

Their faces were beaming with joy, their smiles so wide that they didn’t seem entirely insincere.

It was clear that the Count and Countess considered this visit from the Crown Prince a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After all, even the central nobility of the capital had difficulty securing an audience with such a distinguished figure.

For someone of that status to voluntarily step into their home as a guest—it was no wonder the count and countess were beside themselves with excitement.

Richard dining with a noble couple he barely knows…

It was an awkward gathering, to say the least—bordering on uncomfortable.

Iona already felt as though she might get indigestion, but she decided not to hold any grudges against the innocent couple, who likely had no idea of the situation’s awkwardness.

Rejecting a visit from the Crown Prince was simply not an option for a noble of their standing.

Perhaps an Archduke could, but even that’s only because they belong to the royal family.

Rather than dwelling on the situation, Iona chose to focus on the present.

She unfolded her napkin and smoothly picked up where the conversation had left off.

“I’m curious to know what kind of stories were told in my absence. Though I have a feeling I should be a little worried.”

“Haha! Only good things, I assure you. His Highness was just telling us how fearless you were, even from a young age.”

“She was quite the mischievous child, full of curiosity.”

Richard swirled his wine glass as he chimed in to support the count’s words.

Just from that, Iona could guess what kind of stories he had been telling.

Richard had a set repertoire when it came to talking about her childhood.

Not wanting Leroy to feel left out of a story he didn’t know, Iona immediately clarified the details.

“I suppose he told you about the time I snuck into the royal palace’s kitchen?”

“You sneaked into the palace kitchen?”

“The head chef let me off because I was just a child. Otherwise, I would’ve been dragged out and spanked. Back then, I had only recently met His Highness and hadn’t been formally assigned anywhere yet.”

At Leroy’s amused question, Iona candidly shared the memory.

They had spent days locked in a dimly lit room together, seeing each other at their worst.

There was no reason to be embarrassed about her childhood appetite in front of him.

Well, in most cases, at least.

Sure enough, Richard made a pointed remark.

“My, my, so this was a story you intended to keep from your husband?”

His teasing words made him seem surprisingly familiar with the duke and duchess.

Leroy, still smiling, reached out and took Iona’s hand.

Lifting it gently, he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and replied,

“There’s nothing to hide. It’s an adorable story.”

Even though she knew he was simply defending her, Iona felt her cheeks grow warm.

They were undoubtedly a close couple, but showing affection in front of others was a different matter entirely.

Of course, the count and countess, who had long grown accustomed to their affectionate displays, merely observed with calm expressions.

The countess playfully pretended to scold them.

“Oh my, Your Grace, I think you ought to restrain yourself a little. Our head chef has been quite troubled—he says the Duchess, who once had such a healthy appetite, barely eats anything at our home.”

“Well, love requires stamina, does it not?”

The count replied with a sly grin, effortlessly playing along with his wife’s teasing.

It was an indirect way of pointing out that Iona and Leroy barely left their bedroom—or rather, that they only pretended not to.

Since it was a misunderstanding they had deliberately allowed to persist, there was no way to correct it now.

More importantly, this playful banter subtly established a clear boundary between them and Richard.

Yet, from Richard’s carefully controlled expression, Iona detected an unmistakable flicker of emotion.

He was hiding something.

And she knew exactly what it was.

“It feels like only yesterday that I introduced the two of you, and now you look like a well-matched couple.”

Richard’s lips curved into an impeccable smile.

The count and countess, oblivious to the underlying tension, eagerly agreed.

“What a beautiful pair.”

“It’s rare to see a noble couple so deeply in love.”

“His Highness truly arranged a perfect match…”

Though Count Nigel and his wife surely had no ill intent, every word they spoke felt like a deliberate provocation to Richard.

Not that he was the type to lose composure over something like this.

Just then, the arrival of the servants bearing the appetizers provided a timely distraction, shifting the atmosphere toward a more neutral state.

Dinner proceeded more smoothly than expected.

Count Nigel and his wife made every effort to keep the conversation lively, and none of the other guests actively attempted to dampen the mood.

After indulging in the chef’s carefully prepared meal and finishing off with dessert, everyone naturally rose from their seats, ready to move to the next setting.

They moved to a more comfortable place to continue their conversation.

Count Nigel boasted about his wife’s exceptional piano skills, and the countess shyly suggested playing a piece she had been practicing.

Richard readily accepted the offer but added one condition before the performance.

“But before that, I’d like to have a word with the Duchess. It has been quite a while since I last saw her after she left the capital.”

Understanding the situation, the count and countess tactfully excused themselves.

In truth, it wasn’t particularly strange for Richard to speak privately with Iona.

Even though she had resigned from her position as a royal knight, the count and countess still believed she was working under Richard in some capacity.

The only one who found this situation unacceptable was Leroy, who remained by Iona’s side, his expression filled with discontent.

Richard turned to him with a composed smile and asked softly,

“Would the Duke mind giving us a moment alone?”

“Is this a conversation I shouldn’t be hearing?”

“I’m simply trying to catch up with a former subordinate after a long time. Wouldn’t it be awkward to do so with her husband present—for either of us?”

Under normal circumstances, the natural grouping would be Iona and Leroy together as a couple. Yet Richard, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, excluded Leroy from the equation entirely.

Leroy’s gaze turned sharp and cold.

Sensing the brewing tension, Iona gently grasped his arm, silently telling him to stay calm.

After all, she also needed this time to have an honest conversation with Richard.

Leroy could undoubtedly provoke Richard into revealing his true emotions, but today, what Iona needed was quite the opposite.

Leaning in slightly, she whispered so that only Leroy could hear,

“Go on ahead. I promise there’s nothing to worry about.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about. The problem always lies elsewhere.”

His voice was soft, in stark contrast to the menacing look he directed at Richard.

When Iona smiled reassuringly, Leroy finally stepped back, though with clear reluctance.

She watched him go, feeling a small pang of guilt.

Leroy had never denied her anything she truly wanted.

Unlike someone else—who had always demanded things be done their way.

As Leroy’s figure disappeared beyond the dining hall, Richard sighed, his voice laced with boredom.

“He’s become an even greater nuisance.”

“What brings you all the way out here?”

Iona cut him off sharply.

She had no intention of sitting idly while he made disparaging remarks about Leroy.

Perhaps because her question was deliberately curt, Richard’s response was just as indifferent.

“I had some business nearby, so I decided to stop by.”

It was the same vague explanation the maid had given earlier.

His dismissive attitude, his refusal to elaborate—Iona couldn’t help but doubt whether there had been any real business at all.

She fell silent for a moment before pressing him again.

“Is it something you can’t tell me?”

Richard gazed at her in silence before finally stepping forward, closing the distance between them.

The grand dining table had felt like a barrier during the meal, making their presence feel distant. But now, standing so close, the reality of their reunion sank in.

Looking directly into her eyes, Richard spoke.

“No matter what excuse I give, you’d see right through it. You know better than anyone that they’re all just that—excuses.”

-- End Of The Chapter --

 

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