Side Story 7
After Llewellyn and Garnethia left,
“Oh my. Ahaha! Really?”
Philemon, who happened to visit Elonia’s room, burst into laughter after hearing about the two weeks of misunderstandings. Then, realizing she was laughing too much, she quickly covered her mouth and apologized.
“Ahaha, sorry. You both must have been so stressed. Ahem.”
Her laughter, however, didn’t completely disappear. Lucius, embarrassed, his eyes turning red, looked down. While Philemon was trying to compose herself, Elonia, suddenly curious, asked,
“But Lucius, why did you think I would be shocked?”
Lucius blinked, his red eyes meeting Elonia’s, then he quickly covered his face with his sleeve, glancing nervously at Philemon before whispering,
“You know Young Master Llewellyn’s personality.”
“Huh?”
“Even though he’s your cousin, Lady Garnethia is too good for him. I thought you would be furious.”
Ah. Elonia understood.
Lucius had been right. Her first reaction, upon hearing they were dating, had been,
That bastard is trying to trick my friend?
Llewellyn might be kind and easygoing towards Elonia, but he was different towards others. And Elonia knew that better than anyone.
“You…”
Elonia, unable to resist the urge, patted Lucius’s head.
She was touched that he had been worried about her reaction for two weeks, even while dealing with his own shock and confusion.
“D-don’t do that!”
“Ah, you don’t like it? Sorry.”
“Th-that’s not it…!”
Lucius’s face turned as red as his eyes and lips. Philemon, watching their interaction with a fond smile, couldn’t help but tease them.
“My, my, you two are already so close?”
Lucius felt like he was about to explode. Both Elonia and Philemon burst into laughter. Philemon, resting her chin on her hand, said,
“Ahaha. Garnethia is too good for Llewellyn, anyway. I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared.”
“D-did you hear that?”
Lucius flinched. He disliked Llewellyn, but he was still Philemon’s nephew. He quickly apologized for his disrespectful remark, but Philemon and Elonia didn’t seem to mind.
“Right, Mom? Trying to steal Garnethia’s ribbons because he couldn’t find any for me? Llewellyn will never grow up.”
“That’s right. I wonder how Sister Zelda raised such a child?”
“Exactly!”
“Come to think of it, Sister Zelda was worried about the succession issue. She must be disappointed. Right, Elonia?”
The two burst into laughter again. They looked alike, but their smiles were different. Philemon, clutching her stomach, which was starting to show, continued,
“Well, Garnethia is such a sweet girl. Sister Zelda wouldn’t approve. And I wouldn’t let Llewellyn hurt anyone, especially not Garnethia.”
Philemon often heard about Garnethia from Sarah. Sarah had been working with Garnethia since becoming Marquis. And she always praised Garnethia.
And Philemon herself liked Garnethia. She was Elonia’s friend, had always supported Elonia, was efficient at work, and had a surprisingly assertive side, despite her usually shy and flustered demeanor around Philemon. She was like a little hamster.
Elonia nodded eagerly.
“Me too, me too. She’s making me and Alberich worry about her future husband! If there had been any romantic development between her and Llewellyn, he would have been killed by Mom, Aunt Rosalyne, and me.”
“Ahaha!”
“…”
Lucius couldn’t understand. Llewellyn… how had he managed to make his younger cousin, his aunt, and even his mother worry about his nonexistent love life?
Philemon, snapping out of her amusement, suddenly asked,
“By the way, Lucius, why are you still here? Are you staying the night?”
“What?”
Lucius, startled, looked at the clock. The hands were pointing at a time much later than usual.
“It’s already this late…”
He jumped up, flustered, and Elonia, surprised, asked,
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, it’s getting late.”
Lucius, avoiding Elonia’s gaze, gathered his things. He could reach home before midnight if he hurried.
Just as he was about to leave, his clothes slightly rumpled, seemingly oblivious to Elonia’s disappointment,
“Why not stay the night since it’s so late?”
Philemon, smiling sweetly, suggested. Both Lucius and Elonia looked at her. Philemon, her voice filled with concern, said,
“It’s dangerous to travel at night.”
“B-but…”
“Lucius, you’re volunteering at the temple tomorrow, right? You must be tired. Why not get some rest? You can sleep a few more hours if you stay here. And it’s closer to the temple.”
‘Mom, you’re a genius.’
Elonia, who had been slightly annoyed by Philemon’s earlier comment about the late hour, now realized her mother’s cunning plan. She joined in, her voice filled with concern,
“Yes, stay here! I’ll have Rica escort you to the temple tomorrow.”
But her eyes, despite her worried expression, were shining a bit too brightly.
“…Your Highness, your expression…”
“Ah.”
Elonia quickly touched her face and glared at Lucius, slightly annoyed that he had seen through her act.
Lucius, seeing her disappointment, his heart filled with guilt and regret, said,
“I appreciate your concern, Your Majesty, Your Highness, but I should leave before it gets any later. My mother will be worried, and the coachman is waiting for me.”
“B-but…”
Elonia, her ulterior motives exposed, looked at Philemon pleadingly. Philemon, amused by her daughter’s clumsy attempts at seduction, chuckled inwardly.
‘She’s so cute.’
Even Artius hadn’t been this adorable at nineteen.
‘She’s my daughter, after all.’
Artius was overly protective, but Philemon knew nothing would happen, even if they spent the night in the same room.
‘Don’t worry, my dear. Mother will help you.’
She winked at Elonia and put on a worried expression.
“But Lucius, it’s dangerous at night. And you don’t have any guards.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Are you avoiding Elonia?”
Lucius flinched and turned away.
He would love to stay. He could spend the night in the same building as Elonia!
But they weren’t even engaged yet. Spending the night together would be inappropriate.
Elonia, seeing his hesitation, her heart pounding with anxiety, waited for his answer. Philemon, her voice calm and reassuring, continued her persuasion.
“Lucius, don’t overthink it. Garnethia, Alberich, and Llewellyn sometimes sleep in the room next door. There’s no reason why you can’t stay.”
“B-but I’m not family.”
“Not yet, but soon. We’re practically family.”
“S-still…”
He was persistent. Elonia, growing impatient, knew she would ruin everything if she intervened. She looked at Philemon pleadingly, and Philemon, understanding her silent request, said,
“Lucius, I’m saying this because I know you wouldn’t do anything inappropriate. And I’m worried about you going home alone.”
The Empress, the mother of the Empire, had lowered herself to address him with such familiarity and concern.
It was the final blow. Lucius surrendered.
Elonia looked up at him. He bit his lip, then nodded reluctantly.
“…Then allow me to contact my mother and the coachman.”
He left his coat and left the room briefly.
Philemon smiled at Elonia.
“See, my dear? With boys like Lucius, you have to shock them first, then gently persuade them.”
“Oh.”
Lucius wouldn’t have imagined Philemon sharing dating advice with Elonia. Philemon chuckled and left the room.
“Don’t stay up too late, you two.”
“Mom! That’s not what I’m planning!”
“I know, I know. You’ll let him sleep in the next room, right?”
“Ugh…”
Elonia, her face burning, glared at her mother, who simply smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Good night, my dear.”
“I’m telling you, that’s not—”
Philemon hugged her flustered daughter tightly, then left the room.
Lucius returned after contacting his mother and the coachman, his overnight bag in hand.
“Yawn.”
The next morning, Elonia woke up to the sunlight streaming through her window. She stretched, then snuggled deeper into her blankets, wanting to sleep more, when a sudden thought made her sit up abruptly.
“Is Lucius awake?”
She remembered last night.
They had chatted in the tea room after he returned, and then she had fallen asleep first.
“Your Highness? Are you asleep?”
“No… not yet…”
“You are.”
“I’m not…”
“Yes, you should go to bed.”
Lucius had chuckled at her sleepy mumbling. She vaguely remembered him carrying her to her bedroom, then leaving.
She mentally scolded her past self, then quickly changed her mind.
‘At least I managed to convince him I’m harmless.’
She hadn’t intended to touch him without his consent, but she had successfully lowered his guard. The first step was always the hardest. Would he stay the night more often now?
Elonia, her heart fluttering with anticipation, got out of bed.
‘I should go say good morning.’
It was surprising, actually. She had expected Lucius to wake up before her and come looking for her.
‘So he does sleep in sometimes.’
Or perhaps he had been exhausted lately. Elonia, imagining Lucius still asleep in her palace, her heart pounding, walked towards his room.
Knock, knock.
“Lucius, are you asleep?”
There was no answer. He must be asleep. Elonia smiled.
It wouldn’t hurt to peek inside, would it? She carefully opened the door and froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Lucius was gone. He had already packed his things and left.