Chapter 68………………..
Eid suddenly choked as if the tea had gone down the wrong pipe and barely managed to compose himself before asking with a dazed expression.
“W-why do you ask that?”
“I just want to have a brief conversation with him.”
“As Steward Lawrence has already told you, my lord is rather…”
“I know. He hates meeting people. Even in front of me, a princess, he wears a mask and doesn’t say a single word.”
At my careless muttering of complaint, Eid’s shoulders twitched.
Ah, it wasn’t like I was asking him to badmouth his master along with me.
I hurriedly added,
“Sir Mente. I have a favor to ask.”
“…What is it?”
Eid asked uneasily, and of course, his worries were right on target.
“Please let me meet Duke Eckhart.”
“T-that is…”
As expected, Eid looked troubled, unable to outright refuse, and only let his words trail off.
I knew it.
Since it was the reaction I expected, I wasn’t all that disappointed.
“It would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
When I asked weakly, as though giving up, Eid looked apologetic but relieved at the same time.
Of course, it was a trap.
I heaved heavy sighs with as sorrowful a face as I could muster and said,
“I too was troubled when I had to take care of Ayla… But since he saved our lives, it’s only fair, isn’t it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Ah… If not for Aslan and me, Ayla would still be…”
Eid hadn’t expected me to stoop so low, and his face showed it.
I hadn’t intended to pressure him with Ayla’s case in such a petty, childish way, but I had no choice.
Parents weren’t the only ones who needed to protect their children.
Even if it made him angry, I had resolved to accept that risk.
But Eid, after a brief moment of fluster, sensed the oddity in my behavior and saw through my real intention.
“You have something to tell him and him alone.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Eid was quick-witted. He must have already guessed what kind of conversation might take place.
He closed his eyes, took a breath, then opened them again with a look of decision.
“…I will inform him of your request.”
Good, it worked!
Mars had seriously picked the wrong person to provoke.
A man who couldn’t even compare to me, let alone the real Minerva, dared to…
He should’ve been satisfied while I stayed quiet.
I hid my rising fury behind a smile and urged Eid earnestly.
“Tell Duke Eckhart that it won’t be a loss for him either, so please, I beg you to pass along that I want to meet him.”
That night, exhausted from the journey, Minerva and Aslan fell fast asleep before evening was over.
Hearing that, Lloyd first felt relieved.
‘Now I can think.’
He had to figure out how to tell Minerva that meeting the duke would be difficult, before she woke up.
But no matter how much he racked his brain, no good idea came to him.
‘This is bad. What should I do?’
He never imagined Minerva herself would want to meet the duke.
He thought she only wanted to stay hidden and raise Aslan safely and peacefully.
But after the recent attack, it seemed she now wished for reinstatement.
Minerva was persistent and sharp.
If he kept rejecting her with the excuse of the duke’s social phobia, she would eventually grow suspicious.
Fortunately, this helpless Lloyd had a wise daughter.
“Father.”
Ayla came to Lloyd’s office.
As expected, he was clutching his head in worry.
His fear doubled when he thought of his daughter, who must have been deeply disappointed in him for hiding his identity.
“What is it, Ayla?”
“Since I already agreed to keep your secret, I thought I’d help you think it through.”
Ayla sat lightly on the sofa with a faintly sulky look.
It would’ve been best if Lloyd revealed the truth himself, but Ayla had already glimpsed a side of him he hadn’t meant to show.
Above all, Lloyd was still her father.
This was something Minerva could resent Lloyd for, but it shouldn’t affect her feelings toward Ayla.
Still, things could get awkward.
Ayla only wanted them all to live together peacefully like they had in the countryside just a week ago.
Naturally, Lloyd was touched that his daughter wanted to help him, and he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you so much, Ayla…”
Then came Ayla’s round of questioning.
Exactly when and how many times had he met Minerva?
What had they talked about?
Had they exchanged letters?
She made him recount every little detail.
And then Ayla came to a conclusion.
“…Couldn’t you use a stand-in?”
“A stand-in?”
“You only met her for the first time five years ago, didn’t you? Then she wouldn’t know if you used a stand-in…”
A stand-in! Why didn’t I think of that?!
Lloyd leapt up unconsciously in admiration.
“You’re sharp, Ayla!”
Though in truth, it was a fairly obvious idea anyone might come up with. Lloyd had simply been too panicked to think clearly.
“As it happens, there’s someone with a similar build.”
Lloyd’s face lit up brighter than it had all day, as though he’d found a way out.
Minerva barely cared about the man named Lloyd Eckhart.
Since they’d only met once, if he brought someone of similar stature, put on a wig and mask, she would surely believe it was the duke.
“If I put up a stand-in and listen to the conversation together…”
Watching her father scurry around busily, Ayla felt something inside her admiration shatter.
‘Will he really be able to pull this off tomorrow?’
She sighed in worry.
At Mente Manor, Lloyd had been the perfect, admirable father figure. But here in the Eckhart estate, he seemed clumsy.
No—it was more that his nerves made him fumble in ways he usually wouldn’t.
Compared to him, Minerva was always sharp, wise, and quick-witted.
If things kept going at her pace…
‘Huh?’
Then, as if recalling something from long ago—though it had only been a few weeks—another memory popped up.
“My mom and Ayla’s dad are going to get married!”
Why am I only realizing this now?
A big picture suddenly formed in Ayla’s mind. Well, big for her—about the size of a sketchpad.
‘If Father and Madam get married, everything might be solved!’
If the two truly loved each other, then Lloyd’s lies would become a touching story. Her mother would gain a dependable partner, and Ayla herself would feel more secure.
Nothing but advantages!
‘Aslan, I’m sorry! You were right! Them getting married really is the best way!’
If Minerva came to like Lloyd, Ayla wouldn’t be hated for his deception, and Lloyd would gain a reliable partner.
It would be good for Minerva too—she’d gain a powerful ally as family!
Ahh, she should’ve realized sooner and conspired with Aslan!
Ayla regretfully smacked the floor.
But no, it wasn’t too late.
Without hesitation, she jumped up and shouted to Lloyd,
“Father, I want to be part of tomorrow’s meeting too!”
“Huh?”
“I mean it! I have to be there! I don’t trust you on your own!”
Her eyes burned fiercely.
Her determination to storm in if she wasn’t allowed was just like Aslan’s.
So the weak-hearted Lloyd had no choice but to nod in confusion.
“Ugh, I slept so long.”
Though I’ve always been someone who sleeps a lot, I’d never slept this much in one stretch. I guess the trip really did tire me out.
I’d only meant to lie down after dinner for a bit, but I’d slept soundly until morning.
I must’ve slept well—my face was practically glowing.
Thanks to that, I was only now finally seeing the faces of my attendants.
As soon as I finished bathing, Luisa began reporting what had piled up.
“While you were asleep, Sir Mente left me a message. The duke has cleared time for you three days from now.”
Tsk. I clicked my tongue and crossed my arms and legs.
Even if things were like this, I was still a princess. And yet, I could only see him if he made time for me?
Most nobles, no matter what they grumble behind closed doors, would lay down their liver and gallbladder before royalty. This Duke Eckhart was certainly an odd one.
Even my maids, including Luisa, nodded in agreement.
But since I was the one asking, I had no choice but to go along.
I sighed heavily.
“Fine, let him know I understand.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Really, such a precious face… Ugh, ow.”
“Endure it a little longer, my lady. Your muscles are badly knotted.”
Jane, standing behind me, was mercilessly pressing into my shoulders.
The pain was so severe my twisted limbs unwound on their own.
They say the more it hurts, the more it means your muscles are loosening—but it had been so long since I’d last felt this kind of ache that I just couldn’t get used to it.
I forced my mind elsewhere.
“Do you know what Sir Mente is doing right now?”
