IDHGA 08

Chapter 08

**”Release my hand and speak, Your Highness.”**

The one who stepped in front of me, committing near-insolence toward the Crown Prince, was truly an unexpected figure.

Freed from his rough grip, I cradled my aching arm and stepped back a few paces.

**”Marquis Wellington. And what, pray tell, do you think you’re doing?”**

My uncle, Marquis Anton Wellington, who had swiftly approached and struck aside the Crown Prince’s hand, bowed his head politely at the Crown Prince’s sharp words.

**”Forgive my rudeness. However, Your Highness—I could not help myself, as my niece appeared to be in visible pain.”**

**”What? Are you saying that if your niece appears pained, it gives you leave to treat a member of the Imperial Family with such disrespect?”**

The Crown Prince’s tone grew increasingly harsh.

It was good that his hand had been released, but now I grew anxious that my uncle might be punished for this.

Startled, I grabbed my uncle’s sleeve—and he, as if to say it was all right, patted the back of my hand reassuringly.

**”I apologize. However, I was unaware that His Highness the Crown Prince would be gripping a delicate young lady so forcefully, and in my urgency, I committed a discourtesy. If you wish to punish me, I will accept it gladly—but I beg you to consider that this was done not only for my niece’s sake, but for Your Highness’s sake as well.”**

**”For my sake? Do you really think I would be swayed by such words—!”**

That was when it happened.

The Crown Prince suddenly stopped speaking and closed his mouth.

And once he fell silent, faint murmuring came from behind.

**”No, why did His Highness suddenly…”**

**”What on earth is going on…”**

At the small sounds brushing my ear, I turned around—and saw that people had gathered, whispering among themselves.

*’There was definitely no one here just a moment ago.’*

Seeing the people clustered at the entrance of the building, I suddenly understood why the Crown Prince had fallen silent.

He likely didn’t want word to spread that he had threatened a frail young lady in front of so many people.

The Crown Prince gazed at the gathered onlookers for a long while without speaking, then slowly opened his mouth.

**”It seems I was too hasty and committed a discourtesy. I had no intention of frightening you, my lady. Please forgive my rudeness.”**

**”…It’s quite all right, Your Highness.”**

Aware of the surrounding eyes, he offered me a polite apology and then took his leave.

And so, the matter appeared to be settled.

**”Are you all right, Eloise?”**

**”Ah, yes. I’m fine, but…”**

Once the Crown Prince had departed, my uncle turned to check on my condition.

I nodded, saying I was fine.

The throbbing pain in my wrist was slowly subsiding.

My startled heart had quickly calmed as well—but what surprised me more was that everything had been resolved far more neatly than I had expected.

I never imagined my uncle would show up here of all places.

**”Weren’t you with Aunt just a moment ago?”**

**”I was with my wife when I saw you enter the building. I thought you might have gone to the lounge, but when you didn’t come out…”**

**”You came to look for me because I didn’t come out? It’s perfectly normal for ladies to spend a long time in the lounge, resting and touching up their makeup.”**

He found it strange that I had spent a long time in the lounge.

Considering the average amount of time a noble lady spent in the lounge before returning to the party, it hadn’t actually been that long.

After all, I had been caught while trying to escape for a rest.

If anything, it was a short time for a visit to the lounge.

*’Granted, my uncle has always been kind to his niece… but was he always this attentive?’*

Unable to hide my bewilderment, I stared at my uncle—and he cleared his throat lightly, avoiding my gaze ever so slightly.

Then he cast his eyes somewhere else, and I quickly followed his gaze—only to see, for some reason, Asiard at the end of it.

…Surely not. Had he been watching the whole time?

When my gaze met his, he seemed to gesture somewhere before pausing, then—as if sensing my eyes on him—he naturally turned his back. My uncle, too, patted my shoulder as if nothing had happened.

**”Come now, Eloise. Let’s go home. You must have had quite a fright—it’s best you go back early and rest today.”**

Right now, I had the distinct feeling the two of them were conspiring behind my back… or was I just being paranoid?

Something felt off, but for now, I followed my uncle, who was tugging at my arm, and left the premises.

Only the lingering murmurs of those who remained followed us like an echo.

To help me calm my nerves on the way back to the Marquess’s residence, my uncle arranged for me to ride in the same carriage as my aunt.

My father, who had supposedly gone on ahead, climbed into the carriage that had brought my father and me, and set off for the mansion first.

Following behind, the carriage carrying me, my aunt, and Idris Wellington slowly set its wheels in motion.

**”You certainly did something rather audacious.”**

The moment the carriage departed, my aunt spoke—her tone sounding both like a scolding and like amusement.

I blinked at her.

**”…Did I do something wrong?”**

**”Well, I wonder if one could even call it ‘wrong’.”**

My aunt gave me an unreadable smile.

Whether she was blaming me or not, I couldn’t tell.

She was always like that.

My aunt, who had married into the Marquess of Wellington’s family in the capital when I was too young to remember, had always been neither warm nor comfortable toward a niece she was seeing for the first time in nearly fifteen years.

In my previous life, my aunt had regularly sent letters to the estate, inquiring about the territory’s situation and my father’s well-being.

They were more like brief business directives than letters—perhaps the question about my father’s health appeared once per letter at most.

Because of those letters, and because of how she treated me, my aunt had never been a particularly easy person to be around.

And on top of that, she always spoke in these riddles…

Gazing at my aunt, I let out a sigh-like breath and spoke.

**”If you’re saying this because I dragged my uncle into that commotion earlier, I apologize. It wasn’t my intention, but I inadvertently caused him trouble.”**

**”You think I’m saying this because of the ruckus that just happened?”**

My aunt’s eyes widened, then she let out a soft laugh.

Looking again, it wasn’t a sneer but more an expression of intrigue—and I found myself furrowing my brows without meaning to.

**”If not because of my uncle, then why are you saying this?”**

**”My, my. You think the only thing that happened to you today was that incident just now. Is this why they say the one who struck doesn’t remember?”**

**”Aunt.”**

A more openly amused expression appeared on my aunt’s face as she continued the conversation.

What on earth was she talking about?

After a moment’s thought, I let out a hollow laugh.

**”Surely you’re not talking about Father?”**

There were two incidents that happened to me today.

One was what happened at the ball just now. And the other was the argument with my father in the carriage.

It was surprising that my father had told my aunt about that—but it was equally surprising that my aunt was bringing it up with me.

That was because, in my previous life, my aunt had never shown much interest in whatever my father and I did.

When I defied my father’s orders and continued my relationship with Asiard, she neither supported me nor interfered—she simply left me alone. Even after I married, when we occasionally crossed paths at balls or parties, we exchanged only light nods and moved on.

She was just a distant relative living in the capital.

That was exactly the feeling I’d had.

When I asked, half-doubting, my aunt let out a short scoff.

**”So you think it’s because of the party incident? I also know that wasn’t your fault. How would your uncle know how long women spend in the lounge, anyway?”**

**”Huh? Then you’re saying you sent my uncle?”**

At my aunt’s words, my head spun with confusion.

Had my aunt been watching over me that closely? Well enough to know where I was at the party?

It seemed far more likely that my kind-hearted uncle was simply the more attentive one.

In the midst of my confusion, the exchange of glances between my uncle and Asiard came to mind.

The direction he’d been gesturing toward had looked exactly like my uncle. But perhaps it was just my imagination.

**”Don’t dwell on it too long. It seems you’ve now realized that what I wanted to say wasn’t that.”**

**”…I didn’t know Father would tell you such things.”**

**”That blockhead would tell me something like that? That man who’s busy wagging his tail for the Imperial Family? Since he went home early for once, I did a little digging. You should have made sure the coachman didn’t overhear, at least.”**

**”Ah.”**

After hearing the explanation, I understood.

Of course—knowing my father’s personality, there was no way he’d share such trivial matters with my aunt.

I leaned back comfortably into my seat.

**”Father keeps telling me I must marry His Highness the Crown Prince. I had no choice.”**

**”Why? If it’s His Highness the Crown Prince, you’d live in comfort for the rest of your life. Incomparable to that cold, desolate North.”**

**”Should marriage really be decided that way? Didn’t you marry my uncle because you had feelings for him?”**

They said it was my uncle who had fallen for my aunt at first sight when she came from the North for her débutante without parents or guardians.

My gentle, kind-hearted uncle was drawn to my steadfast, unwavering aunt, and he clung to the hem of her dress, determined to win her over.

No matter how handsome my uncle was, how consistently gentle his manner, and how he was considered one of the finest matches in the capital—the fact that my aunt, the younger sister of my father, traveled all the way to the capital to marry him must have involved some measure of feeling on her part.

When I pointed this out, my aunt nodded without hesitation.

**”I won’t deny that I’ve been fortunate. But not everyone is so lucky. And especially not with someone like the Crown Prince.”**

**”Aunt. You know how cold and desolate the Imperial Palace can be. Beyond the wealth and glory, what use are status and titles if one’s heart remains barren?”**

When I shook my head firmly, my aunt stared at me for a long moment.

I had never paid much attention to what my aunt was thinking, nor had I ever observed her closely—but I had always thought of her as someone who didn’t easily reveal her inner self.

She always maintained a certain distance from me and my father, and aside from her husband, the Marquess of Wellington, she didn’t show much intimacy with anyone.

But contrary to my impression—

**”Aha! Ahahahaha! You—you’ve got quite the audacious streak, don’t you!”**

Suddenly, my aunt burst into loud laughter.