Chapter 10

The next day, Hailey arrived at the mansion in time for the aides’ work hours. Latrian had told her not to come in as his aide tomorrow because he had personal business, but she couldn’t trust a word he said, even if he claimed the sun rose in the east. Thanks to that, Hailey witnessed a rare sight.

A middle-aged woman with platinum-blond hair and sky-blue eyes was entering the mansion. Dressed in an antique gown covered in fine embroidery, she exuded elegance from her fingertips to the smile on her lips. Even her steps were so graceful that the hem of her dress brushing the floor looked like waves.

The one greeting her was Latrian. He didn’t wear his usual look of irritation, annoyance, or distaste. Amazingly, he was smiling radiantly. He kissed the back of the woman’s hand with flawless, formal noble etiquette.

“Mother.”

“Latrian.”

The middle-aged woman affectionately took her son’s hand, and Latrian skillfully escorted her.

The mother and son disappeared down the hallway. Next to the shocked Hailey, Denny yawned and stretched.

“Take it easy today. Lord Latrian won’t call for you until the Madam leaves for the Landhill Mansion. Every time the Madam visits, Lord Latrian tends to her personally.”

“That’s… unexpected.”

“Hahaha. He’s not a bad person.”

“……”

“I get it. It’s hard for you to believe from your perspective.”

Denny waved his hand and headed toward the central mansion. Left alone in the garden, Hailey clenched her fist as she watched them walk away, steeling herself for something.

* * *

It was late afternoon by the time Latrian saw his mother, Karinasian Akrender, off. Descending the mansion steps, he grumbled sincerely.

“You came after so long, you should’ve stayed the night.”

“If I did, your father would come all the way here looking for me.”

“That thing about not being able to sleep without you, it’s just an excuse.”

“He really is like that.”

Latrian clicked his tongue at his smiling mother. Even for parents, this couple took things to the extreme. How could anyone yearn for just one person for over twenty years? Having never experienced love himself, Latrian simply couldn’t understand.

He looked up at the hand pressing his brow. Karinasian was gently smoothing the frown from his face.

“It’s better than being as unreadable as Arcitina, but if you keep frowning like this, people might misunderstand you.”

“I don’t care how others see me. It’s not important.”

“So stubborn.”

Karinasian walked slowly, lost in thought for a moment, then asked Latrian in passing,

“The child beside Denny—she looked unfamiliar.”

“She’s a retainer who joined recently.”

“How did she get in here?”

“As always, by recommendation.”

Although he left out the fact that it was his own, Latrian told the truth.

“Really? What kind of child is she?”

“She seems talented as a navigator. I heard she did well at the Academy.”

“If you were hiring based on grades, wouldn’t it have been better to get recommendations from the Academy professors?”

Latrian nearly said, ‘Those idiots?’ but barely stopped himself. If he said something so unrefined in front of his mother, she’d surely launch into a long lecture starting with, “Even if you’re from a collateral line, as one with royal blood, you must maintain dignity.” And then his father would summon him for round two, just because he made his mother frown.

Choosing his words carefully, Latrian continued,

“She’s quick-witted and responds fast. Knowledge can be taught, but intuition and initiative are innate. That’s what caught my eye.”

Karinasian clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

“So, you did recommend her?”

“……”

Latrian pressed his lips with long fingers. He felt tricked, but it was too late.

Seeing her son’s unfamiliar reaction, Karinasian’s face lit up.

“As far as I know, you’ve never recommended anyone before. Did you really like her that much?”

“No!”

Latrian, who had raised his voice without realizing it, ran a hand down his face.

“Sorry for shouting. It’s not like that. She just happened to catch my eye. Arcitina keeps complaining that there aren’t enough skilled navigators, so…”

“I see. That makes sense.”

Thankfully, Karinasian didn’t press further and boarded the carriage. Just before departure, she lowered the window slightly. As Latrian approached to bid farewell, she smiled and spoke.

“Get along well with your first aide. She seemed like a good kid.”

Latrian squeezed his eyes shut. As expected, she already knew everything.

“… Have a safe trip. Please give my regards to Father, too.”

“Are you flustered? Even saying polite things now. Haha.”

“Mother…”

“All right. I’ll pass on your regards. But next time, you come to Landhill.”

“Yes, I’ll visit with Aris.”

The seasoned coachman, who had driven the family carriage for over ten years, tipped his hat to Latrian in farewell. Latrian bowed in return to the family’s long-time retainer.

He watched the carriage until it was nothing more than a speck in the dust. Only when it was completely out of sight did he rub his neck with a complicated expression.

“Like her, as if…”

‘Akrender never regrets.’ It was the lesson he’d heard since birth and the family motto he’d memorized as soon as he learned to read.

Yet Latrian was now regretting giving Hailey the brooch, to the point of ignoring that belief. His regret only deepened after returning to the mansion last night.

Why did she just sit there, listening to those disgusting advances? Where did the nerve go that let her dump tomato juice on his head to wake him up? If she couldn’t win with force, she could’ve just kicked the root of all problems between his legs and ended it. It’s not like she doesn’t have the guts.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He’d told Luisen to take care of it, so surely things were cleaned up, but for some reason, his anger wouldn’t subside. Was that not the real reason he was angry?

‘Don’t pretend to be rational and considerate when you know nothing.’

‘It’s sickening.’

Scowling, Latrian kicked a harmless stone on the ground. The stone bounced off a tree and rolled violently under his ragged breath. Then, someone’s voice called from behind.

“Lord Latrian.”

What timing. Latrian scowled deeper and turned his head. Hailey’s ponytail swayed in the breeze as she walked across the garden. His mother’s words from earlier came to mind.

His mother was usually right, but this time she was completely wrong.

Did he like her? Not at all, and he never would. Unless he hit his head or went completely mad, there was no way he’d like a woman like that.

His reply was more curt than usual.

“I didn’t call you.”

“Do I have to wait for you to call me to see my superior? I’m your direct aide, so I could come first.”

Suppressing his irritation as fitting for the heir of a great noble family, a royal by blood, and an adult, Latrian answered calmly.

“Fine. What’s your business, coming when I didn’t call you?”

“Are you going to try escaping starting tonight?”

“……”

When faced with such shamelessness, people are left speechless. Latrian was experiencing that firsthand.

Regaining his composure, he finally spoke.

“Are you really asking me that directly?”

She couldn’t possibly be that crazy…

“Yes.”

…She was. And she was even confident about it.

Latrian was dumbfounded.

“And where did you get the idea that I’d try to escape starting today?”

“I heard from the Head of the family that you are very devoted to your mother. So I thought, if you were going to try escaping again, you’d do it after seeing your mother. Was I right?”

“Sounds plausible.”

He snorted and bent down to meet Hailey’s eyes.

“If you were trying to catch me off guard, it was a good attempt. But you missed at the end. Saying that makes me want to answer that I’m considering it.”

Hailey’s expression grew serious, and Latrian found himself amused.

She’d probably snap back or argue, he thought. He waited, fingers behind his back, actually looking forward to her response. But—

“Understood.”

Her answer was still obedient and her reaction simpler than expected.

“That’s it?”

“What do you mean, that’s it?”

“Shouldn’t you say, ‘Hey!’ or ‘What?!’?”

“Do I have to?”

Latrian was disappointed. Then he was shocked at himself for thinking that way.

Wasn’t it better not to fight? Wouldn’t it be nice if things stayed quiet?

Hailey replied in a completely uninterested tone.

“Why? Are you disappointed that I’m not jumping at you?”

“…Of course not.”

“Right. Otherwise, that’d be perverted.”

Once again, she succeeded in etching a crack in Latrian’s brow. Without a word, he headed for the annex, with Hailey following behind. When he reached his door, he waved a hand without even looking at her.

“Go.”

“Yes.”

Hailey bowed her head and turned away obediently. Latrian was left feeling bewildered.

Did she really act like that after he hinted he might escape? If she was that careless, maybe he should try escaping tonight after all.

But he soon shook his head. He already had a date set with Luisen. It would be best to act decisively and finish it in one go rather than making a clumsy attempt.

Latrian’s routine from then on was simple. He finished a light dinner in his room, changed into pajamas, and picked up a book.

As night deepened, Latrian, who had been absorbed in his book, listened toward the hallway just in case. Realizing that he could hear nothing, he shrugged his shoulders. So, she’s finally giving up. If she gave up quietly, he was thinking of letting her work as the family’s navigator.

But he didn’t want her in front of him, so he’d have to put her on a ship bound for a long voyage. Humming cheerfully, Latrian picked up the glass of water in front of him and drank it in one go, then turned his gaze back to the book.

Somehow, his eyelids felt a bit heavy, and he rubbed them.

‘Am I a bit tired? I’ll just finish this and sleep.’

But as soon as he turned the next page, something seemed to pull his consciousness into a haze. And that was the end.