7.3 The Room in Early Summer and the Second Prince
After Dia uttered so, Jillreid seemed to ponder a little.
He looked a bit tired but also attentive.
āO, other than that, there was a mass for Bableclair this morning, which you didnāt attend.ā
āThatās originally only for the Royal Family and their relatives, yes? I wasnāt invited.ā
āā¦Is that so. Well, I consider you my cousin. I donāt think they didnāt invite you to imply that kind of thingā¦ thatās right, father was in charge of it this year.ā
āMaybeā¦ Lord Jillreid, is there something else you would like to say to me?ā
His appearance was very odd.
After she had spoken so, Jillreid looked at her with an indescribable gloomy face.
āDo you remember the old blessed painting in the church?ā
āYes, that one that depicts the fairies, dragons, monsters, and spirits that appeared in old fairy tales. Whatās with that?ā
āIn that story, fairies are like temptations while dragons would usually bare treasure. The demons find pleasure in brutalityā¦ while the spirits depict strong attachmentā¦ā
āYes, itās a story about the protagonist going to the Gate of Heaven, resisting temptations and overcoming the consequences of ruinā¦ did something happen regarding that?ā
āWell, you see, Diaā¦ā
It was when Jillreid tried to say somethingā
āhis eyes suddenly sharpened towards her. He slowly looked behind Dia.
āAh, if it isnāt His Highness, Jillreid. I didnāt know you were visitingā¦ā
āJoelā¦ā
Standing there was Joel, Prince Richardoās Guardian Knight. In his hand was a tray of teaāhe truly didnāt appear like a knight.
So heās still hereāDia thought.
From anotherās perspective, Joelās appearance might be thought of as a form of instruction from Richardo. After all, that former fiancĆ© of Diaās refused to let his brothers and sisters grow too attached to her.
āSince the maids are absent, I thought of preparing tea for Lady Diarashe and have a conversation, but since His Highness is also here, I shall increase the number of cups.ā
āā¦no, no need, Iām going home now.ā
āYour Highness Jillreidā¦?ā
Realizing how unnatural his panic was, Dia involuntarily called his name.
Jillreid wandered his gaze as if he was upset.
It was unusual to see her tall cousin behaving like that, as if he had been suffering mischief from a wolfā¦
āDiaā¦ uh, thatās right, do you still recall the first time you attended the ball?ā
āā¦A sudden topic change again. Yes, I do recall.ā
āā¦what about the first prince you ever danced with?ā
Iā¦
Have I ever spoken about this to him?
The only glorious and beautiful night in Diaās relentless hardship of a life.
Then, Jillreid smiled in a dazzling smile, silently staring at Dia, before reaching out and gently stroking her hair.
āI always thought it would have be nice if your feelings had come true, but such is realityā¦ I hope you arenāt having a hard time.ā
āYour Highness Jillreid?ā
āāYour Highness Jillreid, if you are going to stay long, after all, maybe itās better for me to re-brew the tea.ā
āā¦! N, no need! Iāll go home now! I, Iāve been a nuisance! You better talk properly to Marietta. Aafter all, sheās also concerned about you.ā
āYes, I shall write her a thank you letter.ā
Apparently, Jillreid wasnāt good at facing Joel.
His relationship with First Prince itself should be goodāwell, maybe there was a clash of personalities.
Jillreid treated Dia like a sister and often visited the Night Violet Wing at night.
Until the engagement was abandoned, Joel was the captain of the escort knight. There might have been some contact between them.
āā¦Is it acceptable for a mere knight to turn away the Second Prince in this country?ā
āIt matters not. So, you still have heart for that prince?ā
āā¦Noin? Ah, that last exchange. Well, thatās all I ever talked about when I was youngāonly to my parents and brothers, though? I never spoke to Jillreid about itā¦ Itās only a childhood sweetheart thingā¦ā
Dia said so, but Noin approached her and tilted her face up towards him using his fingertip on her chin.
The āJoelā disguise had been unraveledāhis purple eyes gleamed so bright, piercing straight into Diaās eyes.
Despite so, Dia couldnāt resist but to turn away from his gaze.
āā¦āOnly a childhood sweetheart thingā? We will see about that, after all, you just looked away.ā
āT, too close! At this kind of a distance, even those without guilty consciences would avert their eyes!ā
Dia hurriedly insisted as she took his finger off and looked at him.
His face was full of ridicule, its coldness further messing with Diaās depressed mind.
ā¦itās unforgettable for me.
She entwined her own fingers and thought back about that beautiful, gentle day.
A beautiful man dancing under a big chandelier. It was also the first time Dia saw the majestic throne. Her father told her it was intended for the Kingā
āthat was also when her gaze intertwined with his, who was said to be a member of the royal family.
Yes, that man who stole her heart was a prince.
That day, that brilliant person, whom Dia thought was far from her, gently stroked her head when she was sad. It all happened in a ballāa ball that later proved to be her own undoing.
That day, Dia fell in love with the Princeā
āand even though she knew said Prince wouldnāt save her, and instead let her march along towards her death, said feelings still persisted.
āI donāt know how youāre going to kick the bucket, but itās part of the contract for you to let me watch how it happens. Therefore, donāt let there be the slightest of mistakes.ā
āYes, Iām going to attain my wish.ā
āThat wish, is it for the heart of that Prince you fell for when you were a child?ā
āā¦No, it would only further make me miserable to want for someone that doesnāt want me back. All I want is for those who killed my family to get their just desserts.ā
Dia uttered in a quiet voice. Noin still stared at her, but he wasnāt as sullen as before.
āOther than that, since the room temperature has gone down. I might be able to eat something.ā
Did Jillreid instruct someone?
Diaās room temperature switched from early summer to a warm winter day.
Dia only said what flashed in her mind, but it resulted in Noin putting his hand on his waist with overshadowed eyes.
āā¦Iāve said it already, Iām not your chef.ā
āā¦mugu. If itās sweets, donāt you at least have any?ā
āGood grief, do something about that appetite of yours. Before the ball, you might turn into a barrel.ā
āM-my waist is just fine, thank you! Thatās rude of you, Noin. If youāre in doubt, just feel it! The corset fits perfectly!ā
Noin looked at her, astounded, but in the end, still give her delicious food.
Enjoying salmon baked in herbs and apple butter glaze, Dia thought about the painting displayed in the church mentioned by Jillreid and tilted her head.
Why did Jillreid ask such a thing?
He wasnāt the type to speak nonsense. Therefore, Jillreid was perfectly serious. Something serious probably happened.
She actually recalled the picture book of the King of the Nightāshe perfectly knew what he was referring toā
ābut, as if she would help the kingdom that intended to kill her.
However, she truly couldnāt comprehend why Jillreid brought up the painting of that church.
***T/N: Man their banters never get old, at least to me. LMAO, mad props to this King who willingly disguise himself as a knight (which is of a greatly lower status than, you know,Ā King)Ā and even serves tea to one of the assholes involved in cutting down his forest just for the sake of ensuring the safety of the maiden he consideredĀ entertaining.
Maybe the 2nd prince asked about that because the prince she dance first was with Noin?
Translation: Gtfo u mofo
Hhhmmmm………….I smell fear coming from the asshole.
Noin is such a nice guy to serve tea to the asshole but why do I feel like what he served isn’t normal tea? I feel like he may have added a whip of laxative or such in the tea for added flavour. Well I wouldn’t blame him though if he really did put something on the tea, cause if I were asked to serve the tea to the asshole I would probably use water that was boiled with used socks (one used by someone with athletes foot) to make the tea if I were in a good mood if not then will just outright use king cobra’s venom as flavoring. I will make sure the bastard dies even if it means my death…..
P. S.
Look at my girl Dia……going straight to begging for food without care about what just happened and Noin despiterefusing at first still gives in…….hahaha
mmmm… tastyyy
Their interactions are so cute. I love it.
AHHHH their banters are absolutely adorable! Some of the best I have ever read š thank you so much for translating this series!