“My lord!”

Startled by Abel’s unexpected words, Jacey, momentarily forgetting the fact that he shouldn’t use the original title where Irene was present, shouted.

Then, belatedly realizing his mistake, Jacey looked back at Irene.

“…….,”

Fortunately, Irene didn’t pay attention to Jacey’s words, being focused on Abel.

Jacey, feeling a deep relief, spoke firmly to Abel.

“Please refrain from saying strange things, Lord Abel. To the young lady.”

This time, he called correctly without making a mistake.

Abel, as if he couldn’t understand, raised his head, smirking at Jacey.

“Saying strange things? I was just trying to protect her rights as a woman.”

“Why would Lord Abel want to protect her rights?”

“Well, because I’m on the side of all women in this world.”

“…….,”

Jacey’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

How did that nonsense never become familiar after hearing it dozens of times?

“Please stop saying strange things!”

Abel, finding it amusing that Jacey was getting annoyed, chuckled and turned to Irene.

“What do you think?”

Suddenly taken aback when an arrow of a question was directed at her, Irene blinked her eyes in surprise.

Abel’s eyes curved prettily like a crescent moon.

“Since it’s related to you, if you want to know, I’ll tell you.”

“…….,”

Irene remained silent, looking down at the table.

The reason Carlos saved her.

The reason he brought her to Esper Castle and took care of her so carefully.

She had wanted to know so badly, but now that the opportunity was there, she hesitated to hear the answer.

Why? Was it because Abel, the one revealing the truth, was the problem?

Yes. That’s it.

How could she trust a man who gave off the feeling of a cunning fox?

What if what he told her was a lie?

Then what about Carlos? Could she trust him?

“…….,”

Irene’s expression became clouded.

She, who was supposed to willingly provide reasons if it was her right to know, found Carlos, who created countless secrets without revealing anything, suspicious in her eyes.

Yes, that was normal… But why was she thinking the opposite?

Despite deepening doubts, Carlos remained firm in Irene’s mind, probably because she had received a lot of help from him.

He had saved her life twice.

After losing her parents and having nowhere to go, he provided her with a place to stay.

“Unexpected. I thought you would immediately ask for the reason.”

“…….,”

Irene looked back at Abel.

“Aren’t you curious why Carlos brought you here?”

“…I am curious.”

Irene hesitated for a moment and then honestly replied, “But… I don’t want to hear the reason from Lord Abel. Since we are not well-acquainted….”

Choosing not to trust him explicitly, she tried to tone down the statement as much as possible.
“So if I hear the reason, I want to hear it directly from His Grace, the Duke. Since His Grace saved me and has been taking care of me until now… Even though I’m curious, it seems right to wait until he tells me.”

Irene expressed her opinion with a small but firm voice.

“Miss…”

Jacey looked at Irene as if deeply moved.

“…”

Abel, somewhat perplexed, glanced at her for a moment, then chuckled and looked at Irene, smiling.

“This time, you’ve trained her quite well, Carlos.”

What…?

Surprised, Irene turned around.

Then, she saw Carlos, standing at the entrance of the greenhouse, fists clenched and standing askew.

When did he arrive?

No, more importantly, did I make a mistake in my words?

Irene, forgetting to breathe, quickly went through her memory.

No, there was nothing. Instead, she received praise, not criticism.

‘Fortunately.’

Irene, unintentionally relieved that she had rejected Abel’s proposal, swept her chest with relief.

“…”

Carlos, indifferent to Irene, spoke to her.

“I warned you not to say strange things.”

Even with his cold voice, Abel laughed without a trace of hesitation.

“I just wanted to test if there would be the same result as last time. Don’t be too upset about it.”

“…”

Irene’s pupils shook slightly.

Does that mean… there are others like me who came here?

As if he found Carlos ridiculous, Abel asked, “Why are you testing that?”

“Well, it involves the life of my dearest friend in the world.”

“Abel Padrick.”

At the borderline statement, Carlos called out Abel’s full name, reprimanding him.

Upon this, Abel, seeming to lose interest, shrugged and stood up.

“I’m tired, so I’ll be going now. Tea time today was interesting.”

Although there was a faster way to leave, Abel deliberately passed by Irene, whispering to her in a voice small enough for only her to hear.

“If you want to know the reason, come find me anytime.”

After Abel left, the greenhouse garden fell into stillness.

Irene was greatly concerned about Abel’s last words, which seemed to leave the door open for any time.

She wasn’t planning for this, but she was thankful that she had rejected Abel’s suggestion.

“…”

Carlos, indifferent to Irene’s thoughts and doubts, said abruptly, “I’m leaving now.”