Chapter 90
“…….”
Across the small, round table, Licaion sat with one leg crossed, exuding an arrogant posture. Cynthia slouched in her chair opposite him, unable to meet his gaze properly.
I want to run away……
As the oppressive silence in the reception room began to weigh heavily on her, Licaion finally spoke first.
“You’re pretty.”
“Pardon?”
Licaion was truly an inscrutable person. What on earth is he saying all of a sudden……?
“Your eyes. They resemble mine.”
Ah.
Now that she thought about it, Licaion’s eyes were reddish, much like Cynthia’s original eye color. However, his were much darker and more intense, evoking a sense of cruelty, while Cynthia’s were lighter and clearer.
Is that a compliment……? Should I at least thank him? She was lost in unnecessary worries when Licaion spoke again.
“Do you know? Noblewomen have a talent for driving people crazy.”
Suddenly? Me……?
Narrowing her brows in confusion, wondering if that was a compliment, Cynthia watched as Licaion lifted a small teacup from the table and took a sip of the warm tea, smirking softly.
“You don’t even glance at me. Ever since I met you, I’ve been completely focused on you. Ah, maybe I shouldn’t call you ‘noblewoman’ anymore?”
Focused only on me? Why……?
Cynthia remained silent, unsure what to answer. Licaion calmly studied her.
At first, his actions had been purely to torment Tession Romanov. To see that proud face frown even slightly, to see his usually composed demeanor falter.
But at some point……
“……It’s interesting.”
“Pardon?”
“I had no interest at all. You were just a toy meant to tease, nothing more, nothing less. So why do I keep finding myself intrigued?”
What is he even saying……? Speak clearly!
Unable to fully understand, Cynthia nodded anyway, pretending to comprehend. Licaion let out a wry laugh at her foolish reaction.
“Is it this silly response that amuses me?”
Sweeping back the hair that fell over his forehead, Licaion continued.
“I can categorize the people around me into two types.”
“…….”
“First, those who despise me as if I were a bug.”
So Licaion is observant. He knows very well that most people don’t like me.
“Second, those who despise me even more but hide it.”
Ah……
“But you, noblewoman, are neither. You don’t even dare to show interest in me.”
“…….”
“Well, maybe you don’t even care that you don’t care? Anyway, tell me now. Where is Elizabeth Bailey, the adopted daughter of the Castleton family?”
Having finally spoken, Licaion asked Cynthia the question.
It’s finally come……
Cynthia swallowed hard and raised her head to meet his gaze. Oh, so scary……!
Licaion’s eyes already held certainty that she was not Elizabeth Bailey.
There was no room for lying here. Besides, the truth was already known to both the Bailey family and Tession. Lying could only create bigger misunderstandings later.
Resolving herself, Cynthia slowly spoke.
“As you know…… I am not Elizabeth Bailey.”
“Then what is your real name?”
“C-Cynthia White.”
“Cynthia…….”
Licaion murmured as if savoring a sip of sweet wine in his mouth and nodded. He seemed to encourage her to continue.
“I dared… commit the crime of impersonating Princess Elizabeth Bailey in front of His Highness.”
Once spoken, the weight of the crime sank in.
He was the crown prince of the Dirotein Empire. She felt a crushing fear, imagining she might be imprisoned or severely punished.
“Did the Bailey family orchestrate this?”
“…….”
Though she couldn’t answer, Licaion seemed to grasp the situation perfectly.
“I’m truly sorry. I understand how grave the crime of impersonating a noble is… and if a proper punishment… is to be given, I will accept it humbly……”
Her voice grew smaller.
Fear mixed with anxiety, dread, and a hint of injustice. Tession, I want to see you, save me……!!
“Does Duke Romanov know of this?”
As if reading her expression, Licaion mentioned Tession.
Of course…… She nodded subtly, unable to speak, and Licaion’s expression shifted slightly.
“Even knowing this, he kept you here in the duke’s residence.”
Not exactly ‘kept’…
Cynthia rolled her eyes slightly at his surprisingly gentle tone. Perhaps he wouldn’t punish her severely.
“Then what are you planning now? Will you continue pretending to be Princess Elizabeth?”
“No! I have already nullified my contract with the Bailey family, and Duke Tession will no longer maintain the engagement with them either.”
“So, you are now free?”
“Pardon?”
Free……? At the strange remark, Cynthia looked up at Licaion. He raised a corner of his mouth toward her puzzled expression.
“Miss Cynthia, I have a hobby. A trivial one.”
“……What is that?”
“When I face a new problem I don’t fully understand, I bring it close and think over it for a long time.”
What does this have to do with the current situation?
As Licaion finished, he gestured subtly, and the guards by the door approached Cynthia.
W-what is this? Alarmed, Cynthia looked at him, and Licaion smiled faintly.
“Choose. Will you go kicking and screaming, or walk there yourself?”
“Pardon? What do you mean……?”
“I said I’m taking you.”
“N-no! I don’t want to go anywhere!”
“Really? Crimes of impersonating a noblewoman, fraud under the pretense of engagement with a duke, and even mocking the royal family. There are countless charges—what do you think?”
A playful gleam shone in Licaion’s red eyes.
Cynthia felt dizzy as the large knights approached, helplessly looking up at them.
“It’s so easy to communicate with you, Your Grace.”
Castleton leaned forward with a smile, looking at the young duke in front of him with satisfaction.
“Under the condition of returning the Ritemper Guild, we will keep everything regarding Miss Cynthia White a secret. That’s not difficult on our part. So now, is Miss Cynthia White under the management of Duke Romanov?”
“…….”
Tession said nothing to Castleton’s question, only calmly lifting his violet eyes to meet Castleton’s gaze.
‘……What?’
Surprised by the unexpected response, Castleton narrowed his eyes. That response……
Ignoring Castleton’s question, Tession prepared to rise and said:
“Then I will assume the conversation is over and take my leave.”
“Wait, Your Grace.”
Castleton grabbed Tession before he could leave. Tession glanced at him, and Castleton spoke, trying not to appear aggressive.
“But you must know that things are not this simple on our side.”
“……Explain clearly what you mean.”
Frowning, Tession’s expression was unusually stern.
Castleton had always believed Tession to be calm and easygoing. A man who quietly did his duties, giving the impression of being easy to handle.
‘Though not as simple as he seems……’
He hadn’t expected Tession to reveal such irritation so quickly.
Like negotiating with a stranger at a table, Castleton heightened his awareness and slowly spoke.
“Consider this. By making Miss Cynthia White the fake Princess Elizabeth, you hold leverage over us. Naturally, we are uneasy. Of course, we set conditions to return the Ritemper Guild, but there must also be a closer connection between our families……”
“Duke Bailey, I think you misunderstand.”
Tession spoke in a low voice, his cold eyes lowering on Castleton.
Castleton flinched, meeting the young duke’s gaze.
“I did not come here to negotiate with you.”
