“Thank you for your concern, Duke Spencer.”

After examining Lorencia’s complexion one more time, Teishar released her hand and began carefully inspecting the sofa where she would sit once again.

“Lady Lorencia, please sit here. I’ve brought a soft cushion in advance. If it’s uncomfortable, please let me know. I’ll change it to a different cushion or pillow. Please sit, Lady Lorencia.”

“Thank you for taking care of me, Duke Spencer.”

Adrian looked at Teishar’s face with a strange expression. It was the same for Charlotte.

Usually, Teishar’s neat black hair, red eyes, trained body and tall stature attracted people’s attention, but the pressure that enveloped his body naturally intimidated ordinary people.

But now, Teishar was no different from a mother bird taking care of a baby bird trying to leave the nest.

“But is it alright for me to sit first in front of the Princess and Crown Prince? I apologize, Your Highness Crown Prince. And Princess Charlotte. I’m lacking in etiquette. I would appreciate your understanding.”

“It’s fine for you to sit, Lady Lorencia.”

Sitting on the sofa, Lorencia’s heart was pounding with tension. No matter how much she had seen of future situations, experiencing them in reality was different.

“I plan to protect Lady Lorencia in the palace for the time being. But after the duel of honor between Lord Lorirolls and Prince Ruans ends, you’ll have to return to the Count’s residence.”

“Yes.”

Lorencia nodded and replied to Charlotte, who spoke coldly.

“I suppose it would be right for me to return to the Count’s residence once Lady Anne is punished and sent to the convent. And the image of the palace that protected me will improve greatly as well.”

“That’s right, Lady Lorencia.”

Charlotte became interested in Lorencia, who accepted her situation better than expected.

Someone who has been severely abused would be uncomfortable in this kind of setting or act timidly. But she looked like someone who had been waiting for this moment.

“I have no intention of sending Lady Lorencia back to the Count’s residence, Princess Charlotte.”

Teishar flatly refused Charlotte’s words. He couldn’t imagine sending her back to that harsh place when he was thinking of taking the young tree to the Spencer Duke’s residence in the Polroid Empire.

“Duke Teishar. Did you perhaps fall in love with Lady Lorencia at first sight? I’m asking because this is the first time I’ve seen you take care of a woman like this.”

At Charlotte’s question, Teishar recalled what his father had said.

It wasn’t love at first sight. He just wanted to protect the visible young tree so it could grow strong. This is the natural instinct of a snake. Of course, though he had only become aware of being a snake less than a day ago, he knew enough to faithfully follow his instincts as a snake.

“It’s not something like falling in love at first sight. I just want to take care of Lady Lorencia so she can live well.”

Teishar’s heart beat irregularly at his father’s words that kept echoing in his mind. It seemed his heart was racing anxiously at the thought that Lorencia might return to the Count’s residence again. He thought he should soon tell Charlotte and Adrian about the red eyes of the Spencer family and the child of Goddess Ella.

“Lady Lorencia will not return to the Pol Heredian Count’s residence.”

“Even if I say I’ll go back?”

“Even if you say that, I absolutely will not send you back.”

Lorencia slightly avoided Teishar’s gaze, which was looking down at her anxiously. She couldn’t understand why he was looking at her so sadly. But she could feel one thing again.

That she was related to the child of Goddess Ella. She guessed that was why Teishar was trying to keep her by his side somehow.

Yes. That’s why he’s being nice to me.

Because she had painfully learned that only a mother’s love is unconditional, every moment and every person was suspicious.

What she needed to do now was to save the people before her eyes and prevent the war that was about to happen.

To do that, Lorencia needed to take control in this situation.

“Princess Charlotte.”

“Yes, Lady Lorencia.”

“The reason you called me here is because of Prince Ruans, right? If you have any questions, feel free to ask comfortably.”

Adrian was somewhat surprised by Lorencia’s unexpected statement. It was the same for Charlotte.

Apart from the fact that Lorencia had been abused and confined, they didn’t know well what kind of relationship she had with Ruans, so they were planning to ask carefully or guide the questions to get the answers they wanted.

But she asked exactly what they wanted, as if she had seen right through their intentions. By bringing up the desired question first, Lorencia took control of the conversation with them.

“Why do you think that, Lady Lorencia? We could have just called you here to help after hearing the rumors, out of pity.”

“Because this meeting was created because I wanted it.”

“Created because you wanted it, you say that as if you were the very person who made those rumors.”

“Yes, I am indeed the one who made those rumors. Thanks to the rumors, Prince Ruans and Illina gained a lot of favor from people. But on the flip side, it also held them back.”

“I’d like to hold them back too.”

Adrian raised his eyebrows playfully. He had been wondering where the talented people of Duke Greycan were, but one was right in front of him.

“What is it that Lady Lorencia wants?”

At Adrian’s question, Lorencia smiled faintly. Did he ask knowing what she wanted?

“I think you’re asking about something too unreasonable when you ask what I want, Your Highness Crown Prince.”

“‘Unreasonable’… But wasn’t it Lady Lorencia who created the rumors to make this meeting happen? Doesn’t that mean you have something you want?”

Adrian asked sharply. But Lorencia had no intention of revealing the truth. If she said that an illegitimate daughter of a Count’s family she’d never met wanted to save their lives, would they really believe her?

No matter how extraordinary a person might be, they would think she was ‘crazy’ or ‘strange’. So she would keep the truth only she knew to herself.

“Of course, it’s true that I created this meeting because there is something I want.”

What she needed to do was to stay in the palace and make sure Charlotte and Adrian could avoid the future where they might die.

For that, she endured Ruans’ harsh violence and created the current situation. Although she suffered physical pain she never wanted to experience again, she would think of it as the consequences of her own actions.

“But why do you think it’s unreasonable? Lady Lorencia.”

Charlotte asked Lorencia.

“I’m saying it because what I want is unreasonable, Princess Charlotte.”

“Saying it’s unreasonable makes me want to know what Lady Lorencia wants.”

At Charlotte’s light question, Lorencia paused for a moment before opening her mouth.

“What I want is to find my mother’s grave, who passed away 7 years ago.”

Adrian was slightly surprised by Lorencia’s unexpected answer. It was the same for Charlotte. Honestly, considering the abuse she had suffered as an illegitimate child, they thought she would want revenge against the Pol Heredian Count’s family or the position of the head of the Count’s family.

But her answer was that she wanted to find her mother’s grave.

“No one tells me where my mother was buried. Even if I ask, they won’t tell me. Since I can’t know… That’s why I’m saying it’s unreasonable.”

Lorencia remembers her mother the day before she passed away, 7 years ago when she was 11. Her mother took off the amethyst necklace she was wearing, put it around Lorencia’s neck, and hugged her tighter than any other day.

The words whispered lowly in her ear were incomprehensible at the time. But now she understood all those words.

Lorencia quickly wiped away the tears that were flowing without her realizing.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m sorry for making you recall painful memories.”

Teishar glared at Adrian and Charlotte in turn, then took out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and carefully dabbed at the tears on Lorencia’s cheeks.

“It’s alright, Duke Spencer.”

“I’m not alright.”

As soon as the topic of her mother came up, another branch of the young tree behind Lorencia broke. Teishar’s heart sank.

The breaking of the young tree’s branches happened in an instant, making the few hours spent carefully nurturing leaves and branches seem futile. Teishar felt like crying.

“Duke Spencer. I’ll wipe them myself. Please give me the handkerchief.”

“No. I want to do it for you. It’s time…”

“Time?”

“It’s time for you to have a snack.”

No matter how much Lorencia said she was fine, Teishar insisted on attending to her. Teishar brought warm cocoa and a cake full of chocolate and sweet marshmallows to the table in front of her.

“Lady Lorencia. Please eat.”

“Thank you. But am I the only one eating?”

“Yes.”

Lorencia looked at Charlotte and Adrian with a reddened face.

“Lady Lorencia, Adrian and I have already had our snacks. Please don’t feel burdened and enjoy.”

The mouth-watering chocolate scent stimulated Lorencia’s nose. Since Teishar had gone out of his way to prepare it, she should eat it, right?

“Try drinking the cocoa first, Lady Lorencia.”

“Thank you for taking care of me, Duke Spencer.”

“I will continue to take care of you. Let me cut the cake for you. If you find the marshmallow and chocolate together too sweet and rich, you can leave them out if you don’t want to eat them.”

With Teishar’s kind explanation, Lorencia took a sip of cocoa. She was grateful for his excessive care, but it was a bit burdensome.

After eating the snack, Lorencia continued with what she hadn’t been able to say.

“There is one thing I want now.”

“Tell me, Lady Lorencia.”

“There’s a letter that Lord Lorirolls has. I would like it if you could get that for me.”

“A letter?”

“The exact letter I want is…”

Lorencia’s gaze met Charlotte’s.