IWJTETL 42

Episode 42

I heard a clear refusal, so I went to the lounge door where the voice had come from, worried something bad might have happened.

Talking with me in the room right next to Daphne’s? I felt this before—how thoughtless.

I was about to open the door, thinking useless thoughts, when I heard a name that sounded strange coming from Daphne’s mouth. I stopped naturally.

“That Killian or whatever is so rude. The one I chose is Felix!”

Who was she talking to? I wondered if she was speaking with the Duke and started to turn the knob—when an unexpected voice from Killian held me in place.

“Are you all right?”

Of course, the moment Killian’s voice sounded, Daphne’s complaining voice cut off.

For some reason, I had a strong feeling I shouldn’t let Daphne know I was here. I rushed into Killian’s arms and whispered urgently.

“Duke’s residence. Please, to the Duke’s residence!”

Thankfully, Killian understood at once and shifted space instantly. As we disappeared from the corridor, I saw Daphne fling open the door, and I let out a breath of relief.

What on earth were they talking about?

Even after we moved, my heart kept pounding for no reason, and I had to stay in Killian’s arms for a while.

I didn’t do anything wrong, so why did I run away?
Still, those bad hunches are rarely wrong. Better to be careful.

“Lydia…?”

Maybe I looked strange, clinging to his chest and gasping for breath. Killian called me with a questioning tone.

I finally came to my senses, stepped three paces away from him, and apologized.

“Sorry! I was just startled…”

“Did that man frighten you? I was worried because you didn’t come, so I went to find you. I’m glad I did.”

“No. There was nothing to worry about, and it wasn’t the Crown Prince who startled me…”

There was no need to explain everything to Killian.

From what I heard, it seemed someone was trying to push Daphne to get along with Killian, the divine beast representative, instead of Crown Prince Felix. Telling Killian would only make him feel bad.

I had already done something terrible to him—this contract engagement.

“It’s nothing. Daphne was in that room. If she knew I was talking with the Crown Prince in the next room, it would feel awkward.”

“I knew. But, Lydia, your heart is too soft and kind. Those people won’t even realize you’re being considerate.”

Am I soft and kind? Maybe he was politely calling me a pushover.

Anyway, what mattered now was keeping unpleasant talk out of Killian’s ears. I just nodded and smiled.

“Thank you for moving us right away. I would’ve been in trouble otherwise. But… where are we?”

I looked around. It seemed to be his mansion where we first met.

Killian scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and his red ears caught my eye.

“Sorry. You suddenly ran into my arms, and I panicked, so without thinking…”

That was understandable. If someone rushed at me with a startled face, I would panic too. My sudden hug must have triggered his instinct to return home.

We hadn’t moved to the Duke’s residence, but at least we got out of there, so it was fine.

Still, I felt uncomfortable, like I kept relying on Killian.

“I should be the one to apologize. You must have been startled. Sorry for using you like my personal teleport device.”

“You may use me as much as you want, Lydia.”

“Then I won’t hold back.”

I smiled like it was a joke. Killian gave a low laugh and held out his hand.

“Then I’ll take you wherever you wish.”

When I took his hand, a light breeze passed, and the view changed to somewhere near the Duke’s residence—far enough not to shock the servants by appearing out of nowhere.

I shouldn’t get used to Killian helping me like this, but somehow, I was getting used to taking his hand.

Well… for now, we’re bound by a contract engagement. Until then, it’s fine to be a little close.

“Thank you. I’ll go in now.”

“I’ll stay until I see you go inside.”

He was so excessively kind that maybe I kept relying on him without noticing. I didn’t want to refuse out of pride, so I accepted his escort and walked to the front gate.

The butler was standing there as if he’d been waiting for me.

“Good day, Your Grace. And, young lady. The Duke told me to wait for you—he has a message.”

“My father? What is it?”

“He asks that you use a hotel today because we must do repairs on the mansion.”

“What repairs all of a sudden? What about the annex?”

“We’re doing chemical treatment inside the house. The Duke and the Duchess will stay in the annex.”

“….”

“Miss Daphne said she would stay at the imperial palace. Shall I notify the palace for you as well, Miss Lydia?”

How could a mansion of this size have repairs arranged overnight? I was too stunned to answer, but I could see servants moving busily beyond the door, so the repairs seemed real.

“There’s no need to notify anyone. Lydia, there are many rooms at the hotel. Shall we… go together?”

Killian held out his hand to me again. I had no attachment to the Duke’s household, so of course I took his hand.

“Then I’ll go to the hotel today.”

“Understood, miss. And the Duke asked that you be sure to try the liquor he gifted you last time. He barely managed to get a bottle; he believes His Grace will like it as well.”

The Duke must have thought Killian would love that liquor. Thinking of how drunk he’d been when we first met, maybe that guess wasn’t completely wrong.

“Got it,” Killian said.

Still, something felt off. It didn’t seem like a simple, pure gift. But I couldn’t openly question it, so I gave a brief answer and left with Killian.

When we arrived at the hotel, the manager came out with a surprised face, looking between me and Killian. Killian cleared his throat and introduced him to me.

“This is the person who manages the hotel…”

“I’m Jeff. Hello.”

He looks oddly familiar. He kind of resembles Zeno.
His name sounded similar, too—maybe they were brothers. I didn’t ask.

“Why have you come together? Are you perhaps…”

“It’s not like that. Clear a floor for Lydia.”

“A floor? I only need one room.”

“I want you to be comfortable. There are many unused floors anyway.”

But what about Jeff, who has to clean them? Luckily, Jeff didn’t seem bothered.

“Understood. Then while we prepare, please dine together in Sir Killian’s room. I’ll have it ready.”

“Oh, that’s okay!”

“I’m only following Sir Killian’s orders to make you comfortable.”

“…Then, thank you. I’ll accept.”

After I answered, Killian nodded and told Jeff again:

“It would be good to clear the other rooms too. So it doesn’t feel chaotic.”

“What? No, that isn’t necessary.”

“There aren’t many rooms. Just provide them with other accommodations.”

“How will we…?”

Killian’s method was beyond my imagination.

Just to house me, he refunded the nobles using those rooms at three times the price and moved them to other lodgings in the capital.

Of course, he also paid for those other lodgings.

That made Jeff very busy, but as Killian’s servant, he seemed to use magic to move things; the work went extremely fast.

Meanwhile, I finished dinner with Killian and was resting in his room.

He used the entire top floor of the hotel as one space—it was so large you could hardly call it a “room.”

I had wondered how someone who lived in a mansion as big as a castle would stay in a hotel. As expected, he had no intent to leave things in their original state.

If Count Rogerton saw this, he might faint.