Chapter 114: A Battle of Sincerity [unedited]
When the delegation arrived at Viscount Arden’s estate, where they were supposed to stay, it was already night. They quickly unpacked their luggage to rest. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren didn’t really care where he slept, knowing they would set out early in the morning. However, he accepted the lord’s invitation to stay at the castle. It was also hard to say no. His honest reason was that he didn’t want Fiona to stay at a regular inn; Viscount Arden’s castle would be much more comfortable for her.
“Your Highness, it is an honor to have you here.” Viscount Arden was a middle-aged man with a very ordinary appearance.
“I’ll owe you one,” Sigren replied.
“It is an honor for us to have the opportunity to serve you.”
The Viscount introduced his family; it was a routine procedure. For a moment, Sigren saw Fiona greeting the Viscount’s daughters warmly. They seemed to be around the same age. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
After some time, Sigren noticed Fiona trying to head to her assigned room. They hadn’t had a proper conversation all day.
“Have you been having a hard time getting here?”
“It was okay.” Fiona grabbed his arm and pulled him into her room.
Sigren was slightly taken aback by her defensiveness.
“What about Gunther?”
“Of course, he’s in town. It’s not like anything dangerous would happen in the lord’s castle.”
“I asked about him because he is your escort.”
“The only time I need him as an escort is when we’re fighting monsters.”
Well, Fiona was strong. She didn’t need Gunther’s help except when battling monsters. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Are you okay being alone with Gunther?”
“Yes, it’s more fun than I thought.”
Abel called Gunther a “shitty dog,” but when Fiona looked at him, she was reminded of the golden retriever she had seen as a child. He might not be as cute, but his unique relaxed demeanor was roughly the same.
“….”
Sigren gently placed his hand on Fiona’s cheek.
Fiona rubbed her cheek against his hand. “Sigren, what’s wrong?”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Well….”
Fiona’s eyes widened for a moment, and she then licked her lips slightly, appearing worried.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Pardon me, I want to inform you that dinner is ready.”
“I’m going out,” Fiona said suddenly.
At this point, even fate seemed to be trying to distract them from their relationship. Sigren sighed regretfully.
**
A splendid meal was served in the dining hall, clearly showcasing the effort that went into it. The unexpected hospitality caught Sigren off guard. Though he was a member of the Imperial family, his position remained ambiguous, leading him to believe they would only serve a decent meal and not neglect him entirely. However, that was not the case in the dining room. The Viscount himself even handed Sigren a glass of what he claimed was a precious wine. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren drank in moderation, mindful of the Viscount’s feelings and determined not to appear rude. As an illegitimate child, he had to make an effort to avoid rumors about his lack of etiquette.
To Sigren’s surprise, the Viscount seemed more interested in him than he had anticipated. In fact, it appeared that the Viscount was eager to catch Sigren’s attention. Following the recent scandal that had caused the crown prince’s reputation to plummet, it seemed some nobles were attempting to align themselves with Sigren, and this Viscount was certainly one of them.
As bedtime approached, Sigren returned to his room. He wanted to talk to Fiona, but she must have been resting.
“Your Highness, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Sigren was momentarily speechless when he entered his room and saw the scene before him. A woman wearing thin lingerie was lying on his bed. He recognized her; she was the first daughter of the Viscount, though he couldn’t recall her name.
Objectively, the woman, with her white, supple skin and alluring lingerie, was quite attractive. However, for Sigren, it was an extremely unwelcome sight.
“Young lady, please return to your room. Don’t act this way just because of your father.”
He despised those who sought to profit by selling their children.
The woman replied in a sweet voice, “It is entirely my own choice, Your Highness. Please, embrace me.”
She wore a confident smile, as if she were certain she wouldn’t be rejected. It was clear she was the type of girl who had rarely faced rejection—a common trait among the fine-bred nobility. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“….”
Sigren had a headache. Of course, this was bound to happen when he got closer to power. If she had been an assassin, he would have split her in two.
He recalled what Fiona had said:
[“You have to be kind to the ladies.”]
Determined to follow her advice, Sigren decided against kicking out the absurd woman and chose another approach.
“If you don’t leave, I will.”
“Wait, Your Highness—”
Without hesitation, Sigren closed the door behind him. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
‘Where should I go?’
Although he acted decisively, he was actually a bit tipsy, and amusingly, this tipsiness only made him miss Fiona more.
He wondered how Fiona would react if he complained about this ridiculous situation: a woman in lingerie lying on his bed, trying to seduce him. Would it make her jealous? It would be wonderful if that were the case.
Then he thought, if the roles were reversed and a man was in his position, he would immediately throw the guy out of the window.
With that thought in mind, Sigren lightly knocked on Fiona’s door. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
***
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