Chapter 24
“Prina, more importantly, what exactly were you being investigated for? Why were you suddenly dragged away?”
“You brats! What are you all standing around chatting for?! Stop bothering poor exhausted Prina and get back to work this instant!”
At the head chef’s roar, the workers grumbled and scattered back to their stations.
Except for one.
One worker remained beside Prina, busily scribbling something into a notebook.
“Hey! Why are you still standing there?!”
“…You told me to write down the names of the ones who ran off earlier so they could miss a meal, sir. I’m making the list right now.”
“You too, get lost already!”
In the end, that worker also left with a pout.
“Ahem. Prina, are you alright?”
“…I’m fine. Nothing happened in the interrogation room. Since I was the one who carried the ceremonial wine into the banquet hall, they just asked me a few formal questions.”
“Good. If things get hard, tell me anytime.”
After replying gruffly, the head chef left.
No one asked Prina what had happened inside the interrogation room. They were simply worried about her.
The morning passed like that, and Prina headed to the storage room to fetch some lacking ingredients.
It was just as she was returning to Daisy Hall.
“Miss Prina Crowell, correct?”
Someone approached her.
“His Grace the Grand Duke is looking for you.”
This was the imperial palace garden.
Flowers basking in sunlight bloomed everywhere as though breathing.
Why is Declan calling for me again?
Wasn’t the matter with Count Seighton already over? Suppressing the ominous feeling creeping over her, Prina followed one of Declan’s subordinates.
Well, even someone like Declan wouldn’t kill me in a place like this… right?
Then she arrived where Declan was.
Fwoosh—
He was blowing on a dandelion puff.
White fluff rested on his fingertips, and his lips parted ever so slowly.
…What is he doing?
Prina blankly stared at the white seeds drifting softly through the air when her gaze collided head-on with half-lidded crimson eyes.
The dandelion seeds still floated lazily in the air, and a faint smile lingered on Declan’s lips.
“Miss Prina.”
His voice was gentle like spring itself, yet Prina felt an inexplicable chill crawl over her skin.
“It’s been a while since we last met.”
You’re the one who summoned me, so why are you acting like this is a chance encounter?
At Declan’s gesture, his subordinate quickly disappeared. Prina stared after him in bewilderment.
Why did this feel like déjà vu from a few days ago…?
“Then shall we go now?”
…Go?
“The weather is lovely. A perfect day for a walk.”
A walk?
Unlike Prina, who was suspicious of whatever scheme he was plotting, Declan appeared perfectly relaxed.
Fine. For now, I’ll just go along with whatever Declan wants.
It wasn’t like she was in any position to refuse…
And more importantly, she had a reason to get closer to Declan herself.
And so, before she even realized it, Prina found herself taking a stroll with him.
“Have you been well, Miss Prina?”
Suddenly?
“Ever since I sent you away so abruptly from the interrogation room last time, I’ve been concerned.”
A few familiar workers carrying boxes came into view. The moment they saw Prina, their faces practically collapsed in shock.
She could almost read their lips.
‘H-Hey, isn’t that Prina?! Who’s that handsome guy next to her?!’
‘He looks like a noble!’
Their entire bodies screamed the question. Pretending not to notice, Prina deliberately looked away.
“The weather really is nice, isn’t it?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Miss Prina, which do you prefer more—sunny days or rainy ones?”
Why on earth was he asking something like this? She couldn’t understand his intentions at all.
“I prefer sunny days—”
“Ah, right. Snowy days are also an option. Even so, would you still choose sunny weather?”
Ah, can’t we just move on already?!
…Though despite thinking that—
“Yes. I like warm days.”
She still answered obediently.
Even after hearing her response, Declan did not speak immediately. Instead, a beat later, he simply studied the side of her face with relentless focus.
Just as Prina became conscious of the strange weight of his gaze, the corners of Declan’s lips curved once more into a graceful smile.
“…Your Grace.”
Prina looked straight at him.
“Did you need something from me?”
She had no idea why he had suddenly come looking for her.
“Did I perhaps make another mistake related to the banquet hall…?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t question you about that matter anymore.”
Then what?
Why had Declan sought her out first?
“Miss Prina Crowell, you haven’t completed your divine registration.”
Prina’s mind went blank for an instant.
“That’s illegal.”
Was he serious?
…He called me here over something like that?
Prina blinked in disbelief.
What happened if someone was caught without divine registration?
Simple answer: you just paid a fine.
My precious money…
It was regrettable, but unavoidable in this situation. Fortunately, it wasn’t an enormous amount.
“I-I’ve been living so busily that I’m ignorant about things like that.”
She had no idea why Declan was digging into this, but Prina hurriedly tried to explain herself.
“Really? Then you can just go register today.”
“Pardon?”
“I happen to have free time today. Shall we go together and have your divine verification done?”
…What?
Prina’s expression froze.
There was actually another reason why Prina had never registered.
All blood descendants of Orvannon were born with divine power, so they never underwent separate divine registration.
If I take the test, they’ll discover that I’m Orvannon’s illegitimate child.
They would undoubtedly detect the unique divine power flowing only through the Orvannon bloodline.
“…”
Faced with Declan’s languid smile, Prina completely stiffened.
Prina’s mind went utterly white.
If she underwent divine verification, it would all be over.
Sixteen.
She still vividly remembered the day she left the family. It had been a winter storm raging with snow.
“You are no longer a member of this family. Live quietly, like a dead mouse.”
The face of the family head who had looked at her so coldly.
“Do not recklessly speak the family name anywhere. The moment you stain that name even slightly, I will personally cut off your breath.”
Even the voice of the sibling who had despised her.
It all remained painfully clear.
The day she walked out through the family gates, Prina made a vow.
She had already carried the Orvannon surname for a lifetime to the point of exhaustion.
Why did those idiots arrogantly assume she would cling to the Orvannon name?
Laughing mockingly to herself, Prina left the family behind.
As they wished, she would live quietly.
That was the promise she made.
Which was why she rarely used her divine power.
Except for the occasional times she desperately needed money while raising her younger siblings.
“Are you hiding something, Miss Prina?”
Pulled back from her memories, Prina looked at Declan, who was now pressing her for answers.
“…H-Hiding something, Your Grace?”
“Then why do you look so flustered?”
Though he was smiling, his crimson eyes stared directly into her.
Why was he suddenly so obsessed with having her divine verification done?
…Could it be he noticed something?
