ILOIML 41

Chapter 41

A blonde woman I had never seen before was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“Bella! No, I mean, Your Grace the Duchess, what brings you to such a shabby place?”

She lifted her dress slightly and gave a playful greeting.

I thought Bella didn’t have any close friends. But one person came to mind…

“Eliza… beth?”

“Did you come with the Duke? Can I speak informally?”

Seeing she didn’t deny it, it was definitely Elizabeth. This was a reunion with my former creditor.

“Of course, of course. We’re friends, right?”

I nodded like a fool and answered.

“You two really look like a perfect couple just by appearance.”

Elizabeth glanced between Leon and me and muttered quietly.

“Who is she? Bell-bell?”

“Bell-bell?”

Elizabeth repeated Leon’s nickname for me and burst out laughing.

“Bell-bell, huh? You don’t call him ‘Lele’ too, do you?”

Leon’s eyes started to flash dangerously.

“Who are you?”

Leon asked her challengingly. Elizabeth pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter and looked at Leon.

“Your Grace, I am an old friend of the Duchess…”

“You’re ugly.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You. Your face is full of mean little pouches here and there. You look completely nasty.”

I sighed at the childish exchange. Then my eyes were drawn to his hands. His tightly clenched fists were trembling.

Leon was that angry?

I started to feel proud of him. Was he saying such childish things without shame, just for me?

“Your Grace, that was rude.”

Elizabeth said, trembling with anger.

The young lady beside her covered her mouth with her hand and watched the situation with a shocked expression.

“Elizabeth, you were the rude one. You didn’t even greet us when you saw us. Sure, I owed you money, but that doesn’t give you the right to be this disrespectful.”

I emphasized the part about having no money, hoping Leon would catch on.

“Elizabeth, you should apologize. There are many eyes watching.”

The young lady beside her whispered to Elizabeth.

At least someone sensible was by her side.

“Right, it’s a relief someone with sense is standing next to you.”

I nodded and smiled. Elizabeth’s face turned red with anger.

“Apologize, apologize now!”

Leon shouted, adding to my words like a chant.

Because of that, even people who weren’t paying attention before stopped and looked at us.

Elizabeth glanced at the people whispering around her, then slowly bowed her head to us.

“Your Grace, please forgive my rudeness.”

“I won’t forgive you!!”

Leon yelled loudly.

Elizabeth slightly lifted her bowed head, her face twisted in anger.

“Leon, she’s apologizing. Please accept it.”

“Not to me! She has to apologize to Bell-bell!!”

Elizabeth bit her lips.

Reluctantly, she apologized to me.

“Your Grace the Duchess, I’m sorry for being rude.”

“Understood.”

I replied gracefully to her apology.

When she was done, she looked at me with resentful eyes, then turned around and left.

“Why did you borrow money from someone like that?”

Leon asked with a pure expression, but he couldn’t hide the look of disappointment in his eyes.

“I told you earlier. I had no money, so I borrowed it from Elizabeth. Please try to remember things I say.”

“Wow, I hope your wish comes true.”

After hearing that, Leon suddenly said something completely unrelated.

Listen to me properly. Stop ignoring what I say.

“Leon!”

I stared at him, watching as he looked up at the sky with his hands together like he was making a wish.

His eyes looked surprisingly serious.

What kind of wish was he making?

Then he turned to look at me with a playful smile.

I stopped scolding him and quietly stood by his side, mesmerized by the sky filled with countless lanterns.

Leon’s grip on my hand tightened, and I didn’t mind.

I squeezed his hand tightly in return.

* * *

The next day, we got up late and rubbed our sleepy eyes as we ate breakfast.

Leon had pouted ever since I scolded him for complaining about eating vegetables.

He ate quietly without saying a word.

“As I said, I’ll be going to meet Walter this morning.”

“Okay, have a good trip.”

Leon still looked sulky and replied with a pout.

I smiled and placed a few pieces of meat I had saved for him on top of the vegetables on his plate.

Leon looked at the meat and then at me, surprised.

“You know what it means when I give you meat, right?”

“No, but I kind of get it.”

“It means we’re close. Got it?”

“Really?”

Leon happily stabbed the meat with his fork and ate it.

“But Bell-bell, you had more meat from the beginning, and I…”

“Ah, shush! Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Leon quickly closed his chewing mouth.

I watched him fondly, then after we finished eating, I turned down his suggestion for a walk and went upstairs to get ready to go out.

Once I was ready, I took the traditional liquor from Aster I had prepared and headed to meet Walter.

I absolutely didn’t want to go to the marquis’ house where his mother was, so we agreed to meet at a tea house with private rooms halfway.

Walter was already there, waiting outside.

“Bella!”

He called my name brightly as soon as he saw me.

I wasn’t unhappy to see him, so I greeted him warmly and went inside.

“I expected you to choose your mother, but I was still surprised.”

Walter smiled weakly at my words.

Seeing that, I felt soft-hearted and quickly added,

“That look doesn’t suit you at all.”

Walter chuckled at my words.

“Be nice. I just feel bad in front of you.”

“Well… you should. How’s your mother? I heard she wasn’t doing well.”

“…Yeah, she’s not.”

Walter sighed and looked off into space.

Knock knock.

At his call to come in, a server entered, placed the tea on the table, and left.

“I ordered ahead. It’s the tea you used to like.”

I lifted the cup and smelled the fragrance.

A sweet scent tickled my nose.

I looked at Walter instead of drinking it.

“My sister Bella hated this tea. Who are you, really?”

I imagined Walter suddenly standing up and shouting at me.

If that happened, I’d really regret helping him.

That thought was ridiculous, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

These things often happened in dramas and novels.

“My taste changed a lot after going to Aster. I don’t like it that much anymore.”

Walter raised an eyebrow and nodded.

“You’ve always been fickle.”

“Didn’t you say you felt bad? And now you’re starting again?”

“Did I? Well, it’s true.”

His tense face slowly relaxed.

He fiddled with the cup and continued.

“But Bella, how did you find out all that information?”

I put the teacup down.

“How much do you trust His Majesty the Emperor?”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“Just… keep your distance from him. That man saw your father as nothing more than a tool, and even treated his death like it was just a nuisance.

He’s the kind of person who would cut off his own hand if he thought it would get him what he wants.

You saw what happened, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“We agreed you wouldn’t ask about my sources. Don’t do this.”

“Sorry, I won’t ask again.”

Walter quickly tried to calm me and added,

“If life in Aster is too hard, why don’t you come to the capital and live with me?”

I frowned at his words.

I didn’t even want to see his mother, which is why we were meeting here.

“You know why I don’t want to go to the Marquis’ house.

And even if Leon is a bit of a fool, he treats me well.

He gives me a lot of money and doesn’t nag.”

So why am I crying?

I took a deep breath and continued.

“So treat him like my husband.”