When Hestia refused to wait inside, worried about her catching a cold, he had brought out warm tea at regular intervals.

Thanks to that, she could withstand the initial cold. However, Hestia, having a small appetite, felt full after drinking just a few cups of tea.

Feeling unwell, she tried to politely decline.

But hearing her words, the butler lightly shook his head.

“Princess, I didn’t prepare any tea.”

“Then, what does that mean…?”

Hestia’s voice trailed off as her eyes widened. There could only be one reason for Robert to speak to her.

“Have you gotten a response from the Duke?”

Desperate, the butler didn’t delay any further and immediately nodded.

“Yes.”

“Ah… Thank goodness.”

Hestia placed her hands over her heart, exhaling a long sigh of relief.

She had planned not to move an inch until Aslan agreed to meet her.

Now that he had agreed to see her, it felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off her chest.

‘I’ve eased a big worry.’

Although she had waited for hours, it seemed a bearable hardship.

She glanced up at the lit room.

Behind the curtains, a dark silhouette vanished – undoubtedly Aslan.

‘Thank you.’

She would convey her gratitude properly when they met.

Biting her pale lips with strength, she lowered her gaze again.

As if waiting, the butler respectfully gestured towards the inside of the mansion.

“Please follow me. I will lead you to His Grace.”

“Thank you.”
Following the butler who had turned first, Hestia tried to step forward but stumbled for a moment. Fortunately, he seemed not to have noticed.

‘Pull yourself together. It’s just starting now.’

Hestia internally scolded herself, dragging her heavy legs as if they were weighed down.

“Where is the Duke?”

“He asked you to be brought to his room.”

“…To his room?”

Hestia’s voice slightly lowered.

‘I thought he wouldn’t want to let me into his personal space…’

With various thoughts in her mind, she climbed the stairs and walked down the slightly dim, long corridor. Soon, the butler stopped.

“His Grace is waiting for you here.”

After showing Hestia the location of the room, the butler respectfully knocked on the door.

“Your Grace, I have brought Princess Hestia.”

No answer came from inside, but the butler, familiar with such silence, quietly opened the door.

“Please come in.”

Acknowledging with a slight nod, Hestia cautiously stepped through the door.

Entering, she saw Aslan’s back as he stood facing the window, unaware of her presence.

Hestia glanced around his room, which seemed surprisingly spacious.

‘The room is so large, but…’

There were hardly any furnishings, giving off a desolate feeling.

At that moment, Aslan, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, spoke without changing his stance. He didn’t even glance her way, yet it seemed as if he was aware of everything happening behind him.

“Robert, you can leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After the door closed behind her and the sound of footsteps faded, Hestia finally gathered her thoughts.

In her past life, and even in this one, she had never been alone with an adult man in a room that could be considered private.

She felt a sudden tension in every cell of her body.

‘It’s okay.’

Swallowing dryly, she calmed her agitation.

‘Aslan dislikes me…’

He surely would not want any physical contact.

While she was lost in these thoughts, Aslan’s voice reached her again.