“As Rona did before.”

Upon Illeon’s words, Elysia was momentarily surprised.

She stared blankly as his long and handsome fingers delicately tore a piece of bread from the basket and dropped it into the soup bowl.

“Oh, try it.”

“Uh.”

As she opened her mouth in response to Illeon’s urging, he inserted a piece of bread soaked in soup into her mouth, wearing an incredibly happy expression.

Elysia’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“I can eat it alone.”

“I know.”

“But why…”

“I guess I don’t just do this for anyone.”

Avoiding Illeon’s gaze because of his overwhelming look, the piece of bread, untouched and soaked in hot soup, went down her throat.

“Uh, cough, cough.”

“Are you okay? You need to eat slowly.”

“Wa, water, please.”

Elysia drank cold water. Barely coming to her senses, Elysia picked up the chair, and Illeon moved to her side, taking the empty space where he originally sat.

Observing what Elysia was doing, Illeon narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you avoiding it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just looking at what you’re eating makes me feel full. I want to feed you.”

“Why, why?”

Elysia shivered slightly at Illeon’s eyes slowly scanning her.

“I don’t know. Why?”

Trying to guess the reason seemed like she had to give him something. Anything she could do for him had already been given verbally. Now, she had nothing to give, and there seemed to be no way to escape. Elysia looked down at the table full of food, feeling helpless.

“You must be hungry. It’s all cold now. You should eat before it gets cold. I’m hungry too.”

However, Illeon picked up the chair again and moved to Elysia’s side.

“It feels strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just by watching you eat, I feel satisfied. I want to feed you.”

“Why, why?”

Elysia trembled as she felt Illeon’s eyes slowly sweeping over her.

“I don’t know. Why?”

Oh no. This shouldn’t happen.

Until Mariela officially announced her engagement yesterday, it was an absolute taboo to do anything to tarnish the family’s name. It was strictly admonished by Mariela herself, who, as usual, with a serious face, laid her hand on my shoulder and gave me a lecture. Behind my mother’s shoulder, the princess, who could be seen, was standing with one leg twisted, in a bad posture. Elysia overheard her muttering to herself, ‘What nonsense she’s talking. I’d rather believe in my slipper than in kids,’ in response to Mariela’s serious talk.

How much does that lady actually know?

It was so embarrassing that I wanted to run away from the Grand Duchy.

“Feed me again. Huh? Rona.”

Even calling me Rona with such a affectionate nickname. The main problem was Illeon himself.
Mariela’s plea could be summarized as ‘Don’t cross the line,’ but Illeon seemed to have no boundaries. He had a style of casually breaking any unclear lines she created with an unsatisfied expression.

And, on the other hand, there was a lingering concern in his heart.

“Illeon, do you like Rona? How many times have I asked you to treat me like Rona?”

Hesitatingly, Illeon affirmed her words without any concern.

“Right. That woman is my first love.”

There were times before when Illeon referred to ‘Rona’ as ‘that woman,’ as if she were someone else.

“If so, you must be more loved than Rona. That woman has a record of running away.”

Even when she pleaded not to run away, it was like that.

At that time, it didn’t matter much, as Elysia herself thought separately about ‘Rona,’ who worked as a maid at the Grand Duchy while losing her memory.

“Rona’s laughter was really pleasant to hear. Every time Rona laughed, it felt like light shining in the darkness where nothing could be seen.”

Illeon grabbed Elysia’s chin and made her look at him.

“Her hair is blonde, but it’s not a common blonde. It’s a deep color like a well-ripened tea, not a dull shade. And her eye color is purple, but it’s not a very common purple. It’s dark, and whenever she laughs, it sparkles like stars. It gives a pure and cute impression.”

The butler had said that. Sometime Elysia thought people stared at her because she assumed they thought she couldn’t see, because of her blindness. Maybe because of me, she said. When Elysia was looking for a woman with her hair color pasted carelessly, thinking her unique appearance would stand out.

“It’s frustrating somehow. The butler hasn’t seen her smiling face properly even once.”

Illeon softened his persistent gaze and gently urged her.

“Smile, Elysia.”

“Ah…”

Elysia bit her lower lip from the inside.

It’s so awkward.

“Illeon, I like Rona, not me.”

Every time he separated Rona, the former Elysia, and the current herself when he spoke, something continued to bother her.

“Smile out loud like Rona. Is that so difficult?”

“We always speak quietly in the temple. I told you before.”

Even though it felt like the front of her eyes was getting dark, Elysia tried to justify herself.

“Also, because you were sick, and Rona was taking care of you. Sometimes, she deliberately made more noise or something.”

“Hmm, maybe. There might have been such a point.”