After a busy morning, I heard urgent footsteps in the hallway.
'What is it?"
I opened the door quietly.
A knight came and knocked on the door of the castle lord, whom Theodore had temporarily guarded.
"Master, it's a watchman's report..."
Presently, Theodore led the gibberish soldier into the room and closed the door.
'Where did you come from, and why are you breathing so fast?'
I became even more curious, but Dorian offered me tea with a nonchalant face.
"Let's have some tea, baby."
It was a moment when I sat down and paid attention to the gap in the door that was slightly open.
Theodore came out of the room with the soldier who had just entered and hurried through the hallway.
"What is this? (What's going on?)"
I tilted my head and muttered, and Dorian smiled.
"Master Theo is busy taking over the work of the lord of the castle instead of your father. I would like to play with you."
No, the nanny thinks it's because I want to play with Theodore.
Oh, of course, I'm three years old, so it might seem like that... It's unfair.
It has been 16 years since I lived in Lausanne.
Just as small animals that can't speak flee first when a tsunami or earthquake occurs, I, too, have developed a sixth sense.
'I feel like I'm feeling something thick.'
However, I couldn't describe it exactly, so I had no choice but to sip the tea Dorian gave me.
The need to spy on the cracks in the door soon disappeared.
Theodore came back earlier than I expected, knocking on my door instead of going into the castle's room.
I expected him to come for me, but he stood outside the room and nodded to summon Dorian.
The smile he gave me was soft, but it was fake.
'What is it...?'
They stood in the door for a long time, whispering, but their voices were so low that I couldn't hear the content well.
I couldn't stand it anymore and got up from my chair.
I tilted my head as I slowly approached him, and Theodore smiled sweetly and bowed down to me.
"Liana, how did you spend your day?"
"Hmm, what's going on? (What's wrong?)"
When I asked him bluntly, he laughed softly.
"Hmm... That's what I mean."
Then, he and Dorian exchanged glances suspiciously.
"It's dinner time soon.. Why don't you play a fun game with your brother?"
"Um... Is it far away?"
He whispered, lowering his voice even more.
"I'm playing a game. A bad villain is coming to get us on horseback."
"What...?"
I asked him back in absurdity, but Theodore just kept saying what he had to say.
"The villain is going to sleep in our castle for a day. In the meantime, Liana, I, and Shion are betting on who will be able to breathe for a long time. The one who doesn't get caught by the villain until the end wins."
Why... villains sleeping in our castle?
I frowned, unable to understand what he was talking about, but Dorian quickly intervened and caught the wind.
"Of course you're going to win, right? The baby is small, so if you stay still in the room, you won't even hear the sound of breathing. The villain will never know that you are here."
What the hell are you talking about?
Why are they doing this?
I tilted my head, but Theodore said as if to put a period at the end.
"Ah, then our Liana will be number one. Liana, it's a deal that offers a substantial prize to the first person to arrive. You might get chocolate like a mountain."
What the hell is he saying...
Even if you give the chocolate like a mountain, Dorian will take it all away.
As I sighed heavily, I heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance.
'What is that sound again?'
At the same time, Theodore jumped to his feet and said to Dorian.
"Please, Dorian."
Then he kissed the top of my head.
I was stunned by the unexpected attack, and when I saw the worry in his gray eyes, I changed my question.
"...Are you okay?"
Theodore chuckled.
"Of course, it's fine."
Then he asked me affectionately.
"Liana, what was the first thing your brother promised you?"
There was a strange atmosphere.
I held his hand tightly.
"Take Dibe... (I'll take you home...)"
Then Theodore withdrew the smile from his face.
"Yes, but it was pushed back 17 years. So I have to protect you until then."
Then he clasped my hand together and hurried out of the room.
Dorian found the bonnet she had taken off and put it on me.
I couldn't understand the situation, so I was in a daze for a while, and the sound of horses' hooves got closer and closer.
I climbed onto the bed and jumped all over the place.
I thought I would be able to look out the window by myself, but I was.
What I found were a few horses and a royal herald.
***
Why did they come again from the royal family?
Did they know I was here?
I bit my lower lip nervously, and Dorian lifted me up and hugged me.
"Baby, do you understand the rules of play that Master Theo has mentioned?"
I nodded slowly.
"... If you get caught, you'll be angry."
"Yes, this Dorian can't live without the baby anymore. You know that well, right?"
This time, I nodded my head in agreement.
I don't know why they came from the royal family.
But it was clear that they shouldn't know about my hidden existence here.
It's a pity that this happened when Alseid left the castle, but fortunately, my room is officially the Grand Duchess' room.
There was no way that an outsider would enter the room of the late Grand Duchess.
When I was embraced by Dorian and looked out the window, I saw the butler outside the castle greeting the messenger.
Knock, then I heard a knock again.
When I opened the door, Suzy was standing on a large tray with a mountain of food.
"Master Theo told me to bring as many as I could. But everything will cool down."
Suzy put the tray down on the table and took out some clothes from her arms.
"I heard that if Meridy's blood was discovered, the royal family would take her away. But you said you didn't want to go to the royal family. This is my opinion, but I thought it might be useful."
Dorian put me down and opened the clothes Suzy had prepared.
It was the clothes of an ordinary baby boy.
"The Kaufmanns, who work in the kitchen, have a son. He's just about your age."
Suzy explained that, and then she came up to me and sat down with her knees on the floor.
"You must never take off your bonnet, baby. I promise you. Baby Liana is the fairy of our castle."
I can't be a fairy, but I can understand Suzy's concern for me.
I nodded quietly, and Suzy hugged me.
"Parvati, please protect the poor little baby."
After Suzy left, we locked the door and muffled our breathing, just as Theodore had told us.
Soon, when I heard several footsteps, I thought of Alseid's voice.
"As long as your brother and I are away from the castle, you are the acting lord of the castle."
Since he said so to Theodore, perhaps Theodore will receive the instruction.
The castle's room was close, so I could eavesdrop on the door as before, but Dorian wouldn't let me get close to the door.
To be honest, I was a little scared, too.
Dorian said it was just in case, but she changed me into the clothes Suzy had given her.
When it was time for dinner, I sat across from Dorian by the window, far from the door, and instead of chewing bread, I melted it in my mouth.
The closed door reminded me of the meditation room, but I quickly shook my head to dispel the bitter memories.
It is completely different from a meditation room.
I have the worry doll Ce, that the Guardian gave me, and above all, I have Dorian.
Here, right within reach.
***
Theodore disguised his peaceful face and guarded the lord's room.
It didn't take long for the butler's voice to be heard.
"The royal messenger has arrived. Viscount Thomas Manfred."
The door opened, and a stocky chamberlain appeared.
Theodore bowed his head briefly, and he began to read the text.
"Look at the eternal friend of Jantar, Grand Duke Halias. I have something urgent to discuss regarding the recent tragic accident in Meridy, and I ask you to come to the royal family as soon as possible. King Medad."
Theodore replied as politely as possible.
"I understand the royal family's intentions. However, since both my father and brother are on the road, I beg you to give me some time."
The messenger shook his head.
"But the matter is important, Young Master Hallias, I would have come myself."
At that moment, the butler of Halias Castle interrupted, ventilating the atmosphere.
"It must have been a hard journey, but let's go to the banquet hall first. I will do my best to serve you."
The butler left the room with the royal chamberlain, and Theodore stayed for a while to read the King's decree once more.
"I have something to discuss about the recent tragic accident at Meridy..."
If he had known this, he should have followed Meridy instead of Caliph.
It was difficult for Theodore to understand the royal family's intentions.
[...I ask you to come to the royal family as soon as possible.]
He couldn't guess how long he could keep the King waiting.
His father, Grand Duke Halias, never bowed to the royal family, but he also hated unnecessary dissension.
"But the matter is serious."
According to the chief of the chamberlain, there would not be much time left, and if so, the timing was not good.
His father and brother must have just arrived at Meridy, so it will take a long time for them to return.
'Shall we send a message in Meridy and go straight to the royal family...'
However, there was also a chance that the messenger sent to Meridy would cross paths with his father's group.
Then the King will have to wait for quite a long time.
"It would be nice to send Kai."
Theodore thought of his father's hawk, but then shook his head.
The white falcon, the symbol of Halias, Kai, who was tamed by his father, is capable but threatening to everyone.
The reason why his father left Kai behind must be because of the views of others.
Theodore sighed and headed for the banquet hall.
Since young Liana could not be kept precariously locked up in a stuffy room, it was urgent to send the chief of the chamberlain back.
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