Chapter 4.7

“What do you mean there’s no reservation? That can’t be right. Check again.”  

“I’m truly sorry, but no matter how many times I check, there’s no record of a reservation.”  

The hotel manager, who had double-checked the ledger at Dean’s insistence, was at a loss and visibly flustered.  

Feeling wronged, the manager cautiously asked, 

“Could it be that you’ve mistaken the hotel? There’s no way we would have missed a reservation for none other than His Grace the Grand Duke.”  

“That’s strange. That shouldn’t be the case. In any event, you’re saying there are no rooms left at all?”  

“Unfortunately, that’s correct. I believe the situation will be the same at other places as well, given that it’s peak season.”  

Leaving the dispirited manager behind, Dean approached the Grand Duke and asked, 

“What should we do?”  

“There’s no choice. We’ll have to rely on the Lord of this region.”  

Unlike everyone else, who was flustered by the sudden lack of accommodations, the Grand Duke remained calm and composed, even in this situation.  

From his outward appearance alone, he didn’t seem troubled at all.  

‘So this is what they call a poker face.’  

Due to the situation turning out this way, they had no choice but to rent a carriage again and head to the Lord’s estate.  

The Lord, who had received the news belatedly, rushed out to the main gate in a panic. His face clearly showed his extreme discomfort.  

“I am Philip Cradle, the Lord of Anes Island.”  

The Lord gave a hasty and half-hearted greeting, then scanned the group with a somewhat unpleasant gaze.  

“How could you come so suddenly without any prior notice… If you had sent word in advance, I would have made appropriate preparations. It’s hard to believe that the Grand Duke would be unaware of such basic etiquette…”  

He didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding his dissatisfaction.  

While it was understandable that the unannounced visit might have been inconvenient, openly lecturing about manners in this way was extremely rude, especially toward a Grand Duke of the Empire.  

Elena, watching from behind, felt her anger boiling, but the Grand Duke remained composed as ever.  

“My apologies. It seems there was a mistake with the hotel reservation. In this unforeseen situation, I’d like to impose on you for a while. I hope you can understand.”  

“For a while, you say… How long are you planning to stay? There aren’t many spare rooms, and the accommodations here are lacking in many ways. It might be uncomfortable for you.”  

“In such a large estate, you’re saying there aren’t many spare rooms? But it seems you must have as many servants as the Imperial City.”  

At the Grand Duke’s sarcastic remark, the Lord’s face visibly twisted.  

“Judging by the looks of it, the annex seems to have been expanded not too long ago… I’ve heard the island’s finances have been struggling lately, but that doesn’t seem to be entirely true.”  

“Oh dear, it seems there’s been some misunderstanding. Of course, there are plenty of vacant rooms. I only meant that those rooms might be inadequate to host you, Your Grace.”  

When the topic of finances came up, the Lord’s expression changed, and he quickly tried to redirect the conversation. However, the Grand Duke’s previously gentle tone turned icy in an instant.  

“Well, that doesn’t matter to me. But it does seem that the way Anes Island receives its guests is rather lacking.”  

“Th-that’s because…”  

Normally, he should have invited them inside first and then explained the situation. Ironically, the Lord, who had just lectured about etiquette, wasn’t observing it himself.  

The Lord glanced nervously behind him, repeatedly looking over his shoulder.  

He seemed restless, but he showed no intention of inviting them into the estate.  

At first, Elena thought he was simply annoyed by their sudden visit. But his behavior suggested there was something else he was hesitant about.  

It was then.  

“Lady Adelina!”  

Adelina collapsed.  

Melissa, the maid standing next to her, quickly tried to catch her, but she couldn’t hold on and ended up sinking to the ground with her.  

Unfortunately, to everyone watching the commotion, their reaction was only, ‘Again?’  

Whenever there was a chance, Adelina would faint in front of the Grand Duke, only to get up as if nothing had happened once he disappeared. This had already happened more than ten times.  

Moreover, according to the doctor’s examination, Adelina’s body wasn’t as frail as it appeared. In short, it was all an act.  

She might have been trying to emphasize her frailty, but didn’t she realize that such frequent attempts were having the opposite effect.

However, the Lord, seeing this for the first time, couldn’t remain as composed as the rest of them.  

Not inviting the Grand Duke and his party inside after they had traveled from afar, and now having a noble’s daughter faint outside?  

It would be impossible to avoid not only responsibility but also moral criticism.  

“This, what is this… Someone, call a doctor immediately and bring her inside!”  

The Lord, his face drained of color, frantically shouted toward the interior of the estate.  

For the first time that day, Elena felt like applauding Adelina’s acting skills. It seemed even acting improved with practice.  

Her timing was impeccable, and her realistic movements showed no hesitation in throwing her body into the role.  

Wait… Was it really acting? Her face looked far too pale for it to be fake.  

Adelina, who hung limply as she was carried inside by the Lord’s servant, showed no signs of life.  

“She’s been in a carriage and on a ship since early morning, without any rest, and then stood for a long time. It’s no wonder she’s overexerted. Are the others all right?”  

Dean seized the opportunity to steer the atmosphere.  

“Adelina is already frail, so this is concerning.”  

Lady Diana added in a voice full of worry.  

“Of course, anyone would collapse if they were left standing under this blazing sun.”  

Elena chimed in.  

“How much longer do we have to stand here? This kind of thing would never happen in the capital.”  

Finally, Bianca drove in the nail.  

Given her personality, it was impressive that she had held back until now.  

“…Everyone, please come inside at once. Your Grace, you as well.”  

At last, the Lord seemed to resign himself to the situation and led everyone inside.  

* * *  

Everyone except Adelina was guided to a large hall. At the center of the hall was a large table that could seat many people.  

The Grand Duke, naturally taking the seat of honor, was the first to speak.  

“There’s no need for you to go out of his way for us, Your Lordship. We’ve come here simply to enjoy the sea and relax. If you could just provide a few vacant rooms, we’d be grateful.”  

“…”  

The Lord had been sitting silently for a while now, wearing a sour expression as if he were chewing on something unpleasant.  

His so-called son had initially appeared with an extremely anxious look, but now he sat beside the Lord, gazing at Lady Diana with a dazed expression.  

Well, it’s probably the first time he’s seen such a beauty.  

It’s understandable. Understandable, but at this rate, he might start drooling.  

The Lord, seemingly exasperated by his son’s behavior, turned to glance at him and let out a deep sigh.  

The silence was broken by the Grand Duke’s voice resounding once again.  

“I originally planned to stay here for about a month, to relax and spend the summer…”  

“A-a month?”  

A month? We didn’t even pack enough clothes for more than a week.  

“But of course, I wouldn’t want to impose for that long. We’ll enjoy ourselves moderately and then leave.”  

The Lord, who had been shocked by the mention of a month, let out a sigh of relief at the Grand Duke’s following words.  

As expected, starting negotiations with an exaggerated demand always worked best.  

“But that person over there…”  

The Lord cast a wary glance at Lennon, who was seated at the far end, and asked cautiously.  

Come to think of it, he’d been so quiet that even they had forgotten about him.  

Lennon Ruicen. Ever since disembarking from the ship, he had been accompanying them, though she wasn’t sure what he and the Grand Duke had discussed earlier.  

Not that he did anything in particular—he simply observed the situation silently, almost as if he didn’t exist.  

“Oh, since he’s not exactly part of my group, so he can feel free to introduce himself as he wish.”  

“How coldhearted of you.”  

At the Grand Duke’s indifferent response, Lennon quipped with a playful smile before bowing politely.  

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Lennon Ruicen, the second son of the House of Duke Ruicen. While traveling near Castia, I happened to meet His Grace the Grand Duke at Aden Port, and I’ve joined this trip by chance. I hope you don’t mind me imposing as well.”  

“Ah, so you’re the second son of the House of Duke Ruicen. I’ve heard much about you.”  

The Lord, who had instantly dropped his guard, smiled slyly with narrowed eyes as he greeted Lennon.  

It was probably just a harmless pleasantry, but it sounded so oddly suggestive.  

“Haha. It seems my reputation has reached even here. What have you heard about me?”  

“What?”  

When Lennon asked with a cheerful laugh, the Lord stammered, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.  

“I’m just curious. What have you heard so much about?”  

Lennon didn’t seem inclined to let the matter slide. Though his expression carried a smile, the atmosphere felt undeniably cold.  

When the Lord failed to respond, Lennon spoke instead.  

“Is it because I’m rumored to be a parasite who clings to his parents even at my age? Or is it because I’m known as a loafer who idles away without even holding a proper title? Oh, could it be both?”  

“What are you saying? Haha.”  

The deep blue of his eyes gleamed with a chilling light. The Lord awkwardly laughed, averting his gaze.  

She hadn’t known. She had always been dull to rumors, but only now did she realize.

The Lord’s words hadn’t been mere pleasantries. The peculiar atmosphere she had sensed was, in fact, a mix of condescension and sarcasm.  

“Ahem. You must be tired. Let me show you all to your rooms. Take some rest, and we’ll meet again at dinner.”  

Noticing the reproachful gazes directed at him, the Lord quickly changed the subject and hastily excused himself.