“do you really have to go right now? can’t we have a cup of tea?”

    baron knew she had decided beforehand to stay in franto before the conference. however, he felt he was going crazy if she’d go right away now. his instincts roared to hold her by his side, whether it was his pride or not.

    “there is something you must know,” baron hurriedly added, “after you disappeared… of course, aven will report to you, but there are things he doesn’t know too.”

    “…”

    “huh? seira…”

    seira, who stared at baron silently, finally said to noah, “will you tell franto’s man to wait for half an hour?”

    noah also seemed quite surprised to see his master begging, and there was a hint of embarrassment in his voice as he answered.

    “ah… i see,” he stuttered, “i will tell him that.”

    even before noah finished his words, baron got out and stood up from his seat.

    “let’s go to the greenhouse. i have prepared the place.”

    “don’t get too excited, baron,” seira warned him, “i’m just curious about what you said.”

    “yes. ask me anything. i’ll answer everything you want to know.”

    it was merely thirty minutes, but baron’s face was full of joy.

    ‘what am i going to do with him?’

    shaking her head, seira stood and quickly followed suit.

    “… your excellency.”

    noah, who stood by the door waiting for them to exit, spoke carefully, “if you decide to leave franto, we’ll take care of you, so feel free to spend your time here comfortably.”

    “i’ve caused too much trouble already.”

    seira answered him with a sheepish smile, and then left the main building with baron.

    * * *

    at the beginning of spring, the greenhouse bathed beautifully under the sunlight to the extent that it didn’t match the image of the family with a whole armory of iron weapons that owned it.

    in the middle, baron and seira sat facing each other. the table between them was littered with various kinds of desserts, but neither of the cakes and chocolates were looked at.

    “you went to see louis yourself?”

    seira, who had just learned about the situation while she was held captive, was surprised and asked again.

    “is that such a surprise?”

    “no… you obviously didn’t like him.”

    “your safety was at concern, so i didn’t bother to argue about it.”

    seira looked at him with gentleness in her eyes.

    it was never easy for a family member, let alone the family head, of an opposite faction to approach the other family. of course, no matter what would happen, baron was skillful enough to get out, but it didn’t matter. people would see it as if jeff has bent its knees to franto.

    baron told her everything about franto, regardless of how petty it looked to her.

    “if he didn’t tell you directly, think about it carefully. it bothers me that the fox even knew of aven’s ability. besides, he knew instantly where you were trapped by just hearing a few words.”

    “well…”

    baron’s argument for her to be wary of louis was reasonable. she, too, had been embarrassed more than once by his intelligence.

    but what was more troubling was the fact that he wasn’t afraid to hide it at all.

    didn’t he know it was much more natural to ask her measurements instead? what about aven’s power? what was his reason for openly saying those words and acting suspiciously?

    ‘as if he’s telling me not to blatantly trust him.’

    in the first place, louis and she were only contracted to gain what they wanted from each other. not only did she have no room for useless affection, but she only believed in the contract she signed with duke franto, not louis himself.

    ‘is he encouraging everyone around him to suspect him?’

    baron’s warning meant to keep in mind the possibility that information might’ve leaked from within askan.

    her whereabouts, her measurements, her weakness, her taste. who would be the person to hand it over to louis’ hands?

    “that’s everything i wanted to say,” baron added, “the decision is yours, so i won’t say more.”

    “yes. thank you, baron,” seira smiled and looked at him, “you tried hard to find me, you told me everything.”

    he answered her heartfelt words with a faint cough, “i just did the obvious thing.”

    the man that sat in a chair too small for his size looked at her passionately with his red eyes was cute. even during their serious conversation, she wanted to stroke strands of his hair that stuck out.

    “what did you want to ask me?”

    “ah…”

    after thinking several times who to ask, seira decided to ask baron.

    “did emperor laud have any brothers? prematurely dead or missing.”

    it was an imperial affair, but she thought as calrad’s cousin, baron would know. after thinking for a while, he nodded.