“Your Majesty!”

Startled by Abel’s sudden words, Jessie forgot that she shouldn’t use the original title where Irene was present and shouted.

Then, realizing her mistake belatedly, she turned to look at Irene.

“……”

Fortunately, Irene was so focused on Abel that she didn’t pay attention to Jessie’s words.

Jessie, feeling deeply relieved, spoke firmly to Abel.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t say strange things to the young lady, Lord Abel.”

This time, she addressed him correctly without making a mistake.

Abel tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand and looked up at Jessie.

“Strange things? I was just trying to protect that woman’s right to know.”

“Why are you trying to protect that, Lord Abel?”

“Because I’m on the side of all women in this world.”

“……”

Jessie’s brow furrowed deeply.

How is it that no matter how many times I hear that nonsense, I can’t get used to it?

“Please stop saying such strange things!”

Abel chuckled as if he found Jessie’s irritation amusing, then turned to Irene.

“What do you think?”

Irene blinked her eyes wide in surprise as the arrow suddenly flew to her.

Abel’s eyes curved prettily like a crescent moon.

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

“……”

Irene silently looked down at the table.

The reason why Kalos saved her.

The reason why he brought her to Esper Castle and cared for her so attentively.

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

Why? Was it because it was Abel who was offering to tell her?

Yes. That must be it.

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

What he tells her could be a lie.

Then what about Kalos? Could he be trusted?

“……”

Irene’s expression clouded.

It would be normal to be more suspicious of Kalos, who didn’t tell her anything and just created a lot of secrets.

Rather than Abel, who readily offered to tell her the reason, saying she had a right to know.

Yes. That would be normal, but… why am I thinking the opposite?

Even as her doubts deepened, her firm belief that Kalos could be trusted was probably because she had received so much help from him.

He saved my life twice, after all.

He also provided a place to stay when I lost my parents and had nowhere to go.

“Unexpected. I thought you’d ask to be told right away.”

“……”

Irene looked at Abel again.

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

“…I am curious.”

Irene hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“I’m curious, but… I don’t want to hear the reason from you, Lord Abel. Since we don’t know each other well……”

It seemed too blatant to say outright that she couldn’t trust him, so she softened it as much as possible.

“So if I’m to hear the reason, I’d like to hear it directly from the Grand Duke. Since the Grand Duke saved me and has taken care of me until now… even if I’m curious, I think it’s right to wait until he tells me himself.”

Irene stated her opinion in a small but clear voice.

“Young lady……”

Jessie looked at Irene as if deeply moved.

“……”

Abel looked at her with a somewhat bewildered expression, then soon chuckled and looked behind Irene.

“You seem to have tamed her quite well this time, Kalos.”

What…

Irene turned around in surprise.

There, she saw Kalos standing askew with his arms crossed at the entrance of the greenhouse.

When did he arrive?

No, more importantly, did I say something wrong?

Irene quickly retraced her memory, forgetting even to breathe.

There’s nothing. If anything, she should be praised, not scolded for what she said.

‘Thank goodness.’

Irene breathed a sigh of relief, considering it a great fortune that she had rejected Abel’s offer, even if it wasn’t intentional.

“……”

Kalos glanced at Irene, then spoke to Abel.

“I warned you not to say strange things.”

Despite his cold voice, Abel smiled without a care.

“I was just testing to see if there might be the same result as last time, so don’t get too angry.”

“……”

Irene’s eyes wavered slightly.

Does that mean… there was someone else who came here like me?

Kalos asked incredulously.

“Why are you the one doing the testing?”

“Because it’s a matter of life and death for the friend I love most in the world?”

“Abel Padrick.”

At this statement that dangerously crossed the line, Kalos called Abel’s full name to restrain him.

Abel then shrugged as if he had lost interest and stood up.

“I’m tired, so I’ll be going now. Today’s tea time was fun.”

Despite there being a quicker way out, Abel deliberately brushed past Irene and spoke in a voice so low that only she could hear.

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

*

After Abel left, silence fell over the greenhouse garden.

Irene was very bothered by Abel’s last words, which seemed to suggest that the opportunity was always open.

It would have been better if he had left without saying anything, why did he have to say such things to shake her heart?

Still, she remained determined not to hear the reason from Abel.

Yes. Let’s wait until Kalos tells me someday.

… Will I be able to wait?

“Let’s go.”

Suddenly, a voice that suited the darkness well pierced her eardrum, and Irene looked at Kalos in surprise.

Kalos, who had turned towards the door, gestured for her to follow quickly.

Irene set aside her swelling worries and questions, and hurried after Kalos.

*

There was no conversation between them until they returned to the main castle.

Amidst the somewhat awkward silence, Irene, who had come up to the 4th floor, bowed her head to Kalos.

“Good night.”

Kalos’s bedroom was at the west end of the 4th floor, and Irene’s bedroom was at the east end of the 4th floor, so it was right to part ways here.

“I’ll take you to your room.”

But when Kalos said something strange, Irene shook her head in alarm.

“Ah, no. I can go alone.”

“Abel might suddenly appear, so I’ll take you.”

Abel suddenly appearing. That’s a bit scary…

“Are you not going?”

“I-I’ll go.”

Kalos turned around abruptly and walked on, never looking back at Irene who was following.

Irene looked at Kalos’s broad back walking ahead with slightly awkward eyes.

Judging by the atmosphere, he seemed angry.

But since Kalos often exuded this kind of atmosphere, she couldn’t tell if he was really angry.

Finally, when they arrived in front of the bedroom, Irene inwardly heaved a deep sigh of relief.

“Huh?”

But that was short-lived, as Kalos opened the bedroom door and went inside, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

Wasn’t he just supposed to take me to the door?

While Irene stood there dumbfounded, Kalos quickly scanned the inside of the bedroom.

‘There’s nothing.’

He had worried that Abel, who left first, might have played some strange trick, but it was an unnecessary concern.

No. Considering that guy’s usual behavior and personality, it’s more strange that he didn’t do anything.

Abel was excessively curious, and had an annoying personality that had to satisfy that curiosity no matter what.

“……”

Maybe he didn’t think of doing anything else because he had used up a lot of energy and accumulated fatigue while repairing the barrier.

In any case, it was good for him if Abel behaved himself.

After confirming that there was nothing unusual, Kalos turned to Irene.

“You can go in.”

“……”

Only then did Irene come to her senses, looking at the wide open bedroom door and then turning to Kalos.

“Was there… something inside?”

“Nothing.”

“But you thought there might be something, right?”

Kalos answered with silence.

“Did you think your… friend might have done something?”

“……”

Kalos maintained his silence again in response to the following question.

Then he patted her shoulder lightly.

“That guy might play too many pranks, but he’s not the type to do harm, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

That’s why he often overlooked Abel’s occasional excessive behaviors without saying much.

He wouldn’t listen even if he did say something anyway.

“You must be tired from dealing with Abel, go in and rest.”

As he was about to pass by Irene, she suddenly grabbed his arm.

“……”

Kalos only turned his head to look down at Irene.

Irene’s eyes were round like a rabbit’s, as if surprised by her own action.

But her golden eyes were steady, holding Kalos’s gaze without wavering. It was a look that suggested she had something she was curious about.

Is it because of what Abel said?

The reason why I brought her here.

I was planning to tell her everything truthfully someday, but not yet.

I should tell her when the flower blooms a bit more, and when I’m certain she won’t leave.

… Though I’m not sure if that time will ever come.

“Um… there’s something I want to ask.”

“Speak.”

Kalos knew what Irene wanted to ask, but he pretended not to know.

Irene hesitated for a moment, then carefully continued.

“Tomorrow… can we have dinner together?”

“What?”

He had expected her to ask about that part, but a completely unexpected question came out.

When Kalos asked back as if bewildered, Irene, seemingly embarrassed, rambled on with her ears slightly reddened.

“It seems like you’ve been going out without having dinner lately, so I was worried… Ah, I’m sorry if it was unnecessary meddling. But it’s important not to skip meals. So, I was just curious if you were having dinner…”

This wasn’t what Irene had actually intended to ask.

She had meant to ask when she could hear the reason why he brought her here, but when she got the chance, the words wouldn’t come out, so she asked a different question.

She was curious about this too, though.

But Kalos’s reaction was rather lukewarm.

Thinking that her excuse was poor even to herself, Irene closed her mouth.

And she sneaked a glance at Kalos’s expression.

“……”

He was looking down at Irene with an unreadable expression.

Irene, her face now reddened, covered it with her hands and bowed her head deeply.

“I guess I said something unnecessary. I’m sorry. Please just forget what I said.”

“……”

“Then I’ll just…”

“I’ll eat.”

A nonchalant voice resonated softly above her head.

Irene raised her head to meet Kalos’s eyes.

“We’ll have dinner together tomorrow.”

There was a rare hint of laughter in his purple eyes.

“We’ll have dinner together from now on, so you don’t have to worry about my meals.”

Even without being reminded, it was embarrassing enough…

But strangely, her mood improved, and Irene nodded with a faint smile.

“Yes. I will.”