~Chapter 17~
The sound (or voice) of something being spat out — “bfoooh” — made Lilianna suddenly remember where she was. With movements so awkward it almost seemed to produce a creaking sound, she slowly turned her face toward the source while still stuffing her mouth full of sweets.
On the other side of the table stood Prince William, eyes wide in shock, frozen in place, and a muscular young man at the front of the table, covering his mouth with a trembling hand.
Lilianna forced the sweets in her mouth down with the slightly cooled tea left in her cup, returned the cup to the table, checked her clothing for any disorder, and then straightened her back, sitting upright.
Then she smiled gracefully like a proper young lady and spoke in a leisurely, calm tone as if trying to erase what had just happened.
“Have you finished talking over there?”
However, it was impossible to pretend nothing had happened, because the muscular young man could not hold back and burst out laughing.
What was more, tears even formed in the corners of his eyes.
And then Prince William, who had been frozen until then, also burst out laughing.
This time, the muscular young man who had been laughing explosively froze instead.
His eyes opened wide, his mouth hung slightly agape, and his somewhat handsome face turned into a very unfortunate expression.
When William noticed this, he frowned slightly.
“Danny, what’s with that face?”
“No, seriously, you— Will, you suddenly started laughing, right? Do you know? Just seeing Will raise the corners of his mouth a little would make people go crazy, thinking it’s the sign of a storm tomorrow. And now you’re laughing out loud… What is this, a sign of a natural disaster?”
“Making a big deal out of me laughing is ridiculous.”
“No, seriously. Even I, who have known you for a long time, think the last time I saw you laugh was several years ago. So, is this young lady the rumored fiancée you chose, then?”
The muscular young man called Danny walked toward Lilianna with a friendly smile.
Then he squatted beside the sofa where Lilianna was sitting, bringing his eye level close to hers.
“I’m Daniel, the childhood friend and subordinate of this guy, the ‘Ice Prince’ Prince William. You can call me Danny.”
“…I am Lilianna Villiers.”
“So you’re Lady Lilianna, huh. Well, thanks to you I got to see something rare. Seeing Will laugh… it’s been years.”
Daniel seemed to remember something and again shook his shoulders as he laughed, lowering his face toward the floor.
