“Was it delicious?”

“Pardon?”

“The apple pie.”

Alicia blushed as she noticed Killian’s gaze directed at the empty plate in front of her.

“I-It was delicious.”

“I went out to buy that and found Your Highness.”

“…The Duke personally, apple pie… Why, why?”

“Well…”

Killian smiled meaningfully, in a way Alicia couldn’t understand, then changed the subject.

“What kind of help did you receive from the Viscount?”

“Ah, that…”

Should I tell him about asking about the mutants and that I’ll be receiving new information through the Information Guild whenever it becomes available?

‘No, I can’t.’

Killian was sensitive about his domain.

His territory, his people, his affairs.

He would ruthlessly cut down anyone trying to intrude and unconditionally protect what was within his boundaries.

If I told him I was trying to find out about the beasts, mutants, and black crystals that belonged to ‘his affairs,’ he would surely become furiously angry.

Recalling the words Killian had said to her in the previous life, Alicia swallowed dryly and desperately racked her brain.

“R-Rumors.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes, I was curious about how far and how the rumors had spread, so I requested the Information Guild.”

“Why was the Viscount’s help needed for that?”

“I met him by chance and received his help, and I happened to hear that he knew how to contact the Information Guild.”

“Everything was by chance?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It wasn’t entirely untrue.

She had left the Imperial Palace to meet Reilly, but she got lost and was coincidentally saved from danger with his help.

And then she happened to learn that his friend was the guild master of the Information Guild.

It was a lie created by combining several facts.

‘Will he believe it?’

Alicia raised her head to gauge Killian’s reaction and found herself face to face with his smiling face.

“The rumor that you’re going to marry me? Or the rumor that Your Highness rejected me? Which one were you curious about?”

“Ma-Marriage? Not engagement? And what’s this about me rejecting you?”

“My, it seems the person who wanted to know about rumors didn’t hear them properly.”

A sarcastic voice.

But that arrogant demeanor suited Killian so well.

Even as Alicia watched Killian mocking her, she cursed her rapidly beating heart and silently waited for his next words.

“At first, there were rumors that Your Highness’s one-sided love had ended.”

That was true.

She had said she would give up her feelings for Killian in a place where all the nobles of the empire were gathered.

So that was a rumor that could spread here and there.

But…

“The rumor that started as a one-sided love somehow changed into a rumor that I had been rejected by Your Highness.”

…Do people these days call it being rejected when someone unilaterally likes someone and then gives up?

No, if that were the modern interpretation, Alicia should have been the one who was rejected.

But Killian being rejected?

If she could meet the person who first spread such a rumor, she would like to ask them to say it again after seeing Killian’s face.

Does that face look like one that would go around getting rejected? Seriously?

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why the rumors spread like that…”

“Well, rumors don’t usually spread reflecting the will of the people involved.”

“But still…”

Alicia couldn’t raise her head in front of Killian, thinking about how she had clung to him, ignoring the gazes of others, saying she liked him, and even after giving up her feelings, she had tired him out by being involved in such ridiculous rumors.

“The other rumor was… that Your Highness and I are getting married soon…”

The content of the rumor that Killian was now delivering in an amused voice, which had replaced his sarcastic tone from earlier, was astounding.

It was definitely an engagement when she first heard it, but when did it change to marriage?

“This rumor is quite specific. It says that the date of Your Highness and my wedding will be announced after the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration.”

Amy’s words that it would be a rumor that would die down quickly were wrong.

Amy must have known about this rumor, so it must have all been a lie to comfort Alicia.

“I’m sorry for that too, Duke. Although it wasn’t what I wanted… Anyway, since it’s a rumor that spread because of me, I’ll try to somehow clean it up.”

“How?”

“…Somehow…”

The answer was awkward because no immediate method came to mind.

If only he would look at her with his usual cold face, she could at least make an excuse that she couldn’t think of an answer because his face was scary.

However, Killian, who seemed to be in a strangely good mood since seeing the empty plate in front of Alicia, had been smiling consistently.

Until now, she would have recorded in her diary if she had seen Killian’s smile even once a year…

‘It’s, it’s burdensome.’

It’s really burdensome.

How did her past self endure such burdensome situations and long for his smile again and again?

They say ignorance is bliss, and her past self must have been such a brave person.

It was a moment when she was desperately wishing for time to pass, unable to raise her head due to embarrassment and burden, fiddling with the empty teacup.

A commotion broke out outside the reception room.

Someone was shouting that they needed to see Killian immediately, while another was blocking them, saying that an important guest was present and it was impossible at the moment.

Perhaps sensing that Alicia’s attention had shifted from herself to outside the reception room door?

The smile that had been on Killian’s face was gradually disappearing.

And a moment later, when the butler entered the reception room with a troubled face and bowed his head, Killian had returned to the cold-faced Killian that Alicia knew well.

“What’s the matter?”

“I apologize. I tried to stop her, but she was so insistent…”

“Killian! I have something to tell you!”

The protagonist of the commotion roughly opened the door of the reception room and raised her voice as she entered.

Even without turning her head, she could tell who the owner of that voice was.

“I believe I told you to ask for permission before entering my house, Cheryl.”

“It’s urgent!”

“You’re noisy.”

“You really…!”

Cheryl, who had been spitting out her words without paying any attention to the fact that there was already a guest in the reception room, only realized the situation inside the room after seeing the butler’s face, who had been trying to stop her, stiffen with embarrassment.

“Ah…!”

And belatedly noticed Alicia’s presence.

Why was the Imperial Princess, who should be in the Imperial Palace, here?

And why in Killian’s mansion?

Unable to find answers to the consecutive questions that arose, she stood there staring at Alicia with a blank face. It was only when the butler cleared his throat that she finally regained her senses and gracefully bent her knee to greet the Imperial Princess.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“…Lady Lewis, it’s been a while.”

“I apologize. I caused a disturbance without knowing Your Highness was here.”

“I’m just a guest, so that apology might be better directed at the host.”

“I’m truly sorry.”

Alicia’s heart, which had been beating rapidly earlier while looking at Killian’s smiling face, now felt like it was being torn apart.

Yes, this pain is more familiar to me than excitement.

Thinking this, Alicia turned her eyes away from Cheryl and looked at the empty plate in front of her.

It seems this apple pie was meant for Cheryl.

Of course, apple pie that the master doesn’t even like in the Duke’s mansion where guests rarely visit.

‘It must have been prepared for Cheryl.’

Why couldn’t she realize something so obvious?

Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable.

“I told you we wouldn’t meet today, didn’t I? Leave.”

Killian’s tone became sharp as he noticed Alicia’s darkening expression.

Cheryl let out a disbelieving laugh at this change.

“Do you think this is the time for such talk?”

“Didn’t you hear me say leave?”

“Killian Diaz!”

“This is a place where Her Highness is present. Lower your voice.”

Alicia, who had been unable to hide her discomfort as if she had intruded on a lovers’ quarrel, quickly shook her head at Killian’s words.

The intruder was Alicia.

‘Should I excuse myself?’

Not knowing the layout of the Duke’s mansion, Alicia stood up from her seat, thinking she should ask the butler if there was a place where she could spend time after leaving the reception room.

“It seems I’m causing a disturbance. I’ll leave so you can talk comfortably.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”

As if she had been waiting for those words from Alicia, Cheryl quickly responded and bowed her head.

Alicia smiled bitterly at her greeting and was about to leave the reception room.

“Miles. Escort Her Highness to the carriage.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Your Highness, would you please wait in the carriage for a moment? I will change clothes and come right away.”

“Pardon?”

“Killian?”

Both Alicia and Cheryl tilted their heads simultaneously at Killian’s sudden words.

Wait in the carriage? Why?

“It’s time to go to the Imperial Palace. If you have something to say, come another time.”

“Killian!”

“I warned you not to raise your voice in my mansion, didn’t I?”

At Killian’s sharp voice, Cheryl seemed to be scared into silence.

Alicia, who had been watching the two of them without understanding how the situation was unfolding, blankly looked up at Killian as he received a cloak from the butler and personally wrapped it around her.

“You just need to wait for a moment.”

Saying this, he gently pushed her back.

Unable to refuse that touch, Alicia started moving her feet and left the reception room.

Killian, who had been waiting for Alicia to disappear outside the reception room, turned his gaze to Cheryl, who was glaring at him.

His cold, deep green eyes were fixed on Cheryl’s figure.

“You’re not trying to break your promise with me, are you?”

“It’s not a promise, it’s a deal. Speak correctly.”

“…I have something I absolutely must discuss with you.”

“Later.”

“Please come back. I’ll be waiting.”

“Do as you please. But nothing in my mansion will accommodate you. You said you’d stay despite my words, so I assume you’re prepared for that much?”

“…I’ve been prepared since the day I first came to this mansion.”

“Good then.”

Killian coldly replied and left the reception room without any lingering attachment to Cheryl.