"Why are you crying here?"
Meanwhile, the Selby Marquis residence was brightly lit. Today was the day of a banquet held to celebrate Marilyn's recovery. All the prestigious noble families had been invited. Even Princess Rosina had come by invitation.
The venue was filled everywhere with congratulations on Marilyn's recovery, but Marilyn's gaze remained fixed on one person the whole time — young Duke Claude, the man she secretly loved and longed for day and night. There were even rumours that the two were about to be married.
Marilyn stepped forward and naturally linked her arm with the man's, but Claude rejected her without mercy.
"Since Miss is already well, then we will take our leave first."
But the party had clearly not even officially begun yet. It turned out that his friend Jaelan had returned, and they had already arranged to meet. But today was also the day of celebration for Marilyn's recovery.
Unwilling to accept it, she wanted to keep Claude there, but the only response she got was the man's disgusted gaze. She did not want to make him angry. Helplessly, she could only admit that she had spoken out of turn.
"Thank you for your understanding."
So Claude left after saying goodbye to the princess.
The crown prince had always been well informed. "I heard that young Marquis Jaelan brought back a guest. It seems to be the third son of King Luang Sigeo. Rumour has it that he is a war maniac. We absolutely cannot underestimate the barbarity of the people of Gear. That prince is surely just like King Luang Sigeo. If there is something he wants, he will obtain it at any cost."
But it just so happened that such a foreign prince was praised to the skies by his friend Jaelan. Just as the crown prince was handing Jaelan a good-person card, Claude, who had remained silent the whole time, suddenly spoke.
"He was the one who protected Jaelan in Gear."
The young duke's attitude shocked the crown prince so much his mouth could practically fit an egg.
"How come even you are like this? This is practically sleeping with the enemy."
"Jaelan is also a noble. He would not act based only on personal likes and dislikes. I hope you have not forgotten that you are nobles of the empire."
But Ian was, after all, a prince of an enemy nation. That was an undeniable fact. And now, because of the mining rights to the diamond mines, conflict had already broken out in the neutral territory. If anything happened to Ian Sigeo in the empire, war would be unavoidable.
But the Ian they were talking about was currently trailing after Callian like a little puppy.
"I'm here as a guest, Callian. Why do you keep avoiding me? It really hurts my feelings."
"I'm not Kallia."
Actually, just a moment ago Callian had already brought Ian back to the main hall, which was where a guest should stay. But Ian shamelessly said that he had come to see Kallia and did not want to tour the estate. What kind of image is it for a prince of a country to chase a girl around everywhere?
But the next second, Ian suddenly leaned his face very close to Callian's.
"Ian. Call me Ian."
As he said this, a beautiful curve lifted at the corner of his lips. Callian truly was not good at dealing with this kind of person, so she could only obediently comply and softly say the man's name. Ian instantly became as happy as a big dog.
"But I still have many things to do. If you keep following me like this, it will really trouble me."
Originally, she had wanted to use this excuse to shake Ian off, but unexpectedly that person directly said he wanted to help her. There was simply no reasoning with this person at all. It would be better to go and find her brother.
But because she stepped on some leaves, her whole body fell backward, and she was caught steadily by Prince Ian behind her. Even heaven seemed to be helping him. Callian, still not having come back to her senses, answered instinctively. Seeing the smile on the man's face, she finally realised she had said the wrong thing.
"See. You really are Kallia."
Callian stood up and pushed him away. "Honestly, you're completely hopeless."
"Callian."
Just then, a familiar male voice came from behind. When she turned around, she saw her brother staring at the two of them with a deeply displeased expression.
"Ian, I clearly told you to wait for me at the guest house."
This guy actually took advantage of my inattention to come and flirt with my sister.
Jaelan stepped forward and pulled his sister behind him protectively. Callian also immediately put on an angry glare. The way the brother and sister presented a united front was practically identical.
Seeing this, Ian quickly explained that he had just been a little bored, and it was because he had smelled a familiar fragrance that he happened to encounter Callian. That pervert-like statement made Jaelan shudder in disgust.
"Are you some kind of beast? You're actually sniffing people out?"
The man had even heard that this guy had secretly come to find his sister before. So he gently asked her whether he had harassed her. He was a prince of a nation, after all. Did he not need any dignity, being accused to his face of harassing someone?
But contrary to the expected answer, Callian not only did not say she had been harassed, she instead raised a brilliant smile.
"He only ate ice cream with me."
"Callian, are you an angel?"
Ian's heart was practically melting from how adorable she was. Since his sister had said so, Jaelan could not continue pressing the matter.
Meanwhile, more distinguished guests arrived at the house — the crown prince and the young duke. The crown prince had never thought very highly of the kingdom of Sigeo.
"While you all go and look for Prince Ian, I'll observe the stars together with lovely Callian."
The moment those words came out, Claude immediately refused. "Your Highness must stay by my side."
He was not at all comfortable letting the crown prince be alone with Callian. Although Callian was only Jaelan's substitute, every time Claude saw her he felt very happy, and also found her very interesting. The crown prince's gossip-loving soul instantly ignited.
A few days ago, Claude had suggested letting Callian come to the ducal residence to work as a butler, only to be flatly rejected on the spot. But that had not made him give up. Instead, it made him want even more to recruit Callian under his command.
Callian was a rare talent in noble circles. Compared with those fools who only relied on the family head's power while making no effort themselves, the difference was like heaven and earth. So how could he possibly not be tempted?
After the two princes exchanged simple greetings, Claude behind the crown prince caught Ian's attention.
"So you are the future master of the House of Hall?"
"Not yet. My father is still alive."
"But in the end, the one who'll sit in that position will still be you, right?"
The crown prince timely spoke up and stopped the childish clash between the two. But after Ian withdrew his gaze, his eyes fell on Callian. Being dragged into this sort of situation made her feel uncomfortable all over. Only when she heard that they were going somewhere else to talk did she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Madam didn't discover it this time, or there would have been another vicious beating.
The two childish men each had their own thoughts, and neither was willing to leave first.
"Hey, you go first. I still have something to say to Callian."
The moment those words came out, Callian instantly turned to stone. Jaelan only felt that one had become two.
"His Highness is waiting for you."
"That's right. Let's talk another time."
But another time was not the answer he wanted. Yet when Ian saw the troubled expression on Callian's face, not only did he not do as asked, he instead strode straight towards her. Seeing this, Callian was momentarily at a loss.
Ian then solemnly explained to her, "You misunderstood, Callian. To me, you are the most important. You still haven't answered me. Why were you crying just now?"
Claude was forcibly reduced to a background board just like that. Did these two people take him for thin air? How irritating.
Just then, her brother stepped in to save the situation again. "Prince Ian Sigeo."
Suddenly being called by his full name was still quite intimidating. Ian quickly and tactfully said he was only joking. Only then did Claude leave in relief.
Callian could feel that the young duke was obviously angry, and she could not help feeling a little guilty.