“It's great to see both of you together...”

Count Modrov let out a loud, boisterous laugh, perhaps wanting to erase the commotion that had preceded before. Then he started to sort out the situation and said.

“Now then, let's go inside…”

“Then shall we go outside?”

Iona cut off the Count's words in a sonorous voice.

The count's eyes widened for a moment as if he had heard something out of his mind.

Leroy, who had intended to have a chat in the living room of the count's residence, was a little taken aback.

It's embarrassing, but he couldn't deny that he was stunned by Iona's appearance for a while who had been wearing a street hat since she first appeared.

“It's a nice day, so going outside wouldn't be a bad thing. Jonas, get the wagon ready again.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Thinking of the commotion that had just occurred, Leroy could roughly understand why Iona wanted to go outside. So he silently decided to follow her opinion.

Since they had just entered the front door, the carriage was still parked in front of the door.

Leroy gesture Iona permission than escorted her outside.

Count Modrov followed in a bewildered manner, but the appearance of seeing them off was only made up.

"We will come back before sunset. Then see you in the evening.”

After greeting the Count, Leroy leisurely climbed into the carriage after Iona.

Jonas locked the door from the outside and sat down next to the coachman, and soon the preparations for departure were complete.

The wheels accelerated and the wagon quickly moved away in the opposite direction to the count's house.

A moment of silence passed in the enclosed space.

Since Iona didn't say anything to start the conversation, it was Leroy who spoke first.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

At Leroy's question, Iona blinked like a person who finally came to her senses and replied.

“It would be nice to go to a date spot in the suburbs.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, before Leroy made a severe misunderstanding, Iona herself added the reason for the request.

“There may be prying eyes, so it’s best to be outdoors as close to the level as possible.”

Her voice was so businesslike that it was hard to believe that she was a woman who had come to see her soon to be husband. But considering the priority of their relationship, Leroy thought it might actually be right attitude.

Iona and Leroy were arranged to be married by someone else's will.

There was no room for the individual will to intervene in this flow. Especially if the opponent was the henchman who claimed to be the prince's loyal dog.

'But why do I keep trying to read other meanings from her?'

“Is there any reason you insist on going outside?”

Leroy was still confused so he stared at Iona and asked. The other person's answer was still cautious.

“Because I’m going to tell you something that shouldn’t leak out.”

“It must have been a message from the crown prince.”

“No, this is a personal matter.”

“…Are you trying to ask me 20 questions now?”

[Your Noona: 20 questions is the name of game in which you could ask twenty questions to identify what thing the other person was thinking about.]

Leroy asked as if he was dumbfounded.

No matter how much he put together the fragmented information in his head, it was difficult to figure out what she was thinking.

In the meantime, he was only moving according to the taste of the other person, so he couldn't help but feel frustrated.

The woman sincerely apologized as if she understood Leroy's position.

"Sorry. The atmosphere is also very important.”

Having nothing to say, Leroy sighed inwardly. He said, knocking on the window leading to the driver's seat.

“…Go to the lake south of the old town.”

While talking to others, Leroy's eyes were fixed on Iona.

He looked out the window to see if she was dissatisfied with the location selection.

Her head was slightly turned to the side, and her parched left cheek stood out in his field of vision.

The skill of covering up the bruises with makeup was flawless, but Leroy remembered the traces hidden in it in great detail.

'As much I know it's also her brother's work.'

Leroy knew it was not uncommon to reject and be jealous of their adopted family member's talent. So he thought that it was probably the bullying that started from childhood that she doesn't even remember.

If there was one question Leroy wanted the answer of, it was, why did she still put up with them even after becoming a full-fledged imperial knight?

'Maybe even that was just an annoying noise to her.'

As if resolute over the unfair treatment she had received, she sat upright like a wooden doll in this uncomfortable air.

Even the maid sitting next to Iona was so quiet that she gave the impression of being imprisoned to Leroy.

Thanks to this, when they arrived at their destination, Leroy got out of the wagon and saw the maid tidying Iona, he got very unfamiliar feeling with it.

“If you don’t mind, can we move separately, just the two of us? I have something to tell you.”

After tidying up with the help of the maid, Iona asked an unexpected question.

'Why does she want me to call off my subordinates?'

Leroy wondered if she would even attempt an assassination in the presence of just the two of them. There seemed to be enough space under her puffy skirt to hide the sword.

“Okay. I will do that.”

Leroy, who brushed off his absurd imagination with a laugh, extended his arm to her.

Iona, relieved, responded to his escort.

The two of them started walking slowly in the direction of the lake.

Even though she was more familiar with escorting herself, she accepted the situation surprisingly naturally.

Because of that, Leroy couldn't help but think of a man who remained like a shadow behind her.

“I will say it straight-forward. I cherish that child of mine.”

When the prince said that in a private meeting, Leroy immediately understood what it meant, but turned away as if he didn't know.

"Is there anyone who doesn't know that Your Highness cares for Dame Iona?"

“Of course, she is a loyal servant. But she is also a woman to keep and cherish.”

“You are making a joke about giving your dear woman to another man. Either that or Dame Iona had a bad taste.”

In response to Richard's proud declaration, Leroy did not hide his thorns and made a sarcastic remark.

Even so, he was feeling troubled by the marriage discussion that the other party had arbitrarily arranged. But the crown prince even tried to commit unbearable rudeness.

“Emperors usually govern in this way.”

"The duchess, that's an excessive position to give to a single mistress."

Leroy sneered coldly. Richard said as if to reassure Leroy.

“I have no desire to publicize my relationship with her. So the prestige of the ducal family you're worried about will be kept fairly safe. Isn't that a pretty good deal for those of you, who want to restore your family's prestige to what it was before? It’s like getting me, the soon-to-be emperor, as a backer.”

So, by giving the position of the duchess to the crown prince's lover, Leroy would obtain the protection of the imperial family.

Richard sounded like it was a very tempting proposition, but the idea of ​​a disgusting transaction did not change.

“No matter how the child is treated at the public house, I will not be involved in that part at all. But she's going to live as before, even after her marriage; there should not be the slightest difference in her body.”

Leroy didn't answer. Suddenly, he wondered if this was the way the prince's lover agreed.

Taking advantage of the silence, Richard picked up a cigar with dry fingers. He lit the end of the cigarette and smoke spread in all directions.

Richard said, staring at Leroy through the haze of smoke.

“I have a strong desire to monopolize… …If she gets married to someone else I will not like that.”

“…”

“Aren’t you a person with a good stomach enough to embrace my woman?”

There was a clear lust in the eyes of the man who said that.

Leroy intuitively realized that what he had looked into was the biggest secret the prince had hidden.

This was not a reward or a gift to a beloved government.

The prince was trying to put the shackles on his lover so that she wouldn't escape.

Since he could never marry his lover, he was trying to fill the other person's marriage path in advance.

In order to choose the most suitable husband, the crown prince even took into account Leroy's ill feelings toward the imperial family.

After thinking over the conversation with the prince, Leroy began to guess what the woman in front of him was trying to say.

Maybe it's something about that they'll have to kiss in the future, or maybe she is trying to negotiate their opinions about life after marriage.

Thinking about it made him feel very tired.

Because of that, when Iona stopped in place, looked at him and said something unexpected, Leroy thought he was dreaming. Either he or she went mad without even knowing it.

“Lord Leroy, I will formally propose to you. please marry me I will definitely make you happy.”