“Have you ever heard the story that I went to the estate when I was young?”

“The estate, Your Highness?”

At the abrupt words, Phailin raised her eyebrows in confusion. It seemed like she was trying to recall something from her memory.

Ibelia eagerly waited for Phailin’s answer with a fluttering heart. However, after much contemplation, Phailin shook her head.

“No, I don’t remember hearing such a story. Did Your Highness go to the estate when you were young?”

“Oh, really?”

Ibelia couldn’t hide her disappointment. The more disappointed she looked, the more bewildered Phailin became. It seemed that the matter related to the estate required memory. If that was the case…
“If it’s Lord Layton, wouldn’t he know something?”

“Huh?”

“Lord Layton entered the marquessate much earlier than I did.”

At Phailin’s words, Ibelia’s eyes widened momentarily. Now that she thought about it, Layton was there. Why hadn’t she thought of him until now?

Ibelia urgently caught Phailin.

“Phailin, tell Layton to come to the reception room. I have something important to say…”

“I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Before Ibelia could finish her sentence, a familiar voice suddenly interrupted between Ibelia and Phailin.

Both of them turned their gaze to the source of the sound. There stood Caliph, who knows when he arrived.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Phailin quickly bowed her head. Nevertheless, Caliph’s gaze was still fixed on Ibelia.

“When did you… come?”

Unconsciously, Ibelia casually uttered the words. Awkwardly, she exchanged glances with Phailin, then changed her tone awkwardly.

Caliph chuckled briefly. It was a laugh directed at her mistake. Ibelia, who had become momentarily embarrassed, puffed up her cheeks. In the meantime, Phailin’s pleasant voice continued.

“Your Highness, shall I prepare some tea for you?”

“Yes, please.”

Ibelia nodded. For a moment, Caliph seemed annoying, but anyway, she was glad to see him. If it was something she could offer, anything, she wanted to give it.

Phailin quickly vacated the seat. Only then did Ibelia look at him with a much more relaxed expression.

“He seems to be becoming more like Felice.”

“Who are you comparing now?”

“That’s right. It’s just that they look so much alike, appearing in front of us without a sound.”

“Is he here so often to be compared like that?”

At the unexpected sneak attack, Ibelia’s body momentarily stiffened. Based on her experience, she knew how jealous Felix was. If she spoke the truth, Felix would be exhausted, not to mention annoyed.

“Not that often, just a few times… By the way, what happened yesterday? I heard something came up suddenly.”

Ibelia quickly changed the subject. She didn’t think it would work, but surprisingly, it had more effect than she thought.

Felix’s work had been completely forgotten. With a somewhat stiff face, he nodded.

“Something unexpected happened.”

“Unexpected? What happened? Is it something bad?”

Ibelia asked with a serious expression. Her actions made Caliph involuntarily smile. He had become much more comfortable in the past few days. Although she used to be afraid even of small things due to countless wounds, now Ibelia, who was closer to the young Ibelia that Caliph remembered from his childhood, made him incredibly happy.

He approached her with a much brighter face. Then, he gently took her hand with a quite familiar touch.

“No, it’s not like that. By the way, have you been looking at this all day again?”
Holding her hand, Caliph pointed to the cherry blossom branch in front of the table. Ibelia nodded approvingly.

“Seeing this brings back quite a few memories. I wonder if there’s anything more that I can recall.”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“I said I would remember even if I had to go that far.”

Ibelia said firmly. Despite that, no matter how beautiful she looked, Caliph’s heart pounded as if it would burst.

It was unbelievable—the fact that such radiant happiness had come into his life. Therefore, he wanted to savor this moment to the fullest.

“If it’s a memory that requires borrowing another man to find, it’s better not to know. I hope you didn’t make that much effort.”

Caliph, still sitting at the table, caressed her hand wrapped in his arms. He ran his determined thumb over the smooth skin multiple times.

However, she was still hanging on to memories of the past, seemingly oblivious to his touch.