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SO, what happens now?
Alicia sat awkwardly on the couch opposite Clovis, who was munching on the sandwiches. At first, he had been hesitant to eat in Alicia’s presence, thinking it rude, but when she offered to leave the room, he resigned himself and picked up the food.
Now, she’d lost the chance to leave.
The pitcher held some grape juice, and Clovis had poured her a small goblet. Taking tiny sips from the cup, she stole a glance at her adviser.
He looked just like his usual self. Maybe he’d gotten a good rest already; he certainly didn’t look like someone on the brink of collapse from exhaustion.
Yesterday, and the day before, too, she was sure she hadn’t noticed any signs of fatigue in him. Maybe he’d just been that good at hiding his true feelings.
“You should have told me if you were tired…” she pouted.
“Huh?”
She hadn’t planned for him to hear her words, but as usual, nothing escaped Clovis, who stopped eating and looked at her. Trapped, she could only continue.
“I’m glad for your support, Clovis, but I’m also capable of doing much by myself now. If you’re busy, you don’t need to force yourself to attend to me.”
“Interesting. Is Your Highness joking, perhaps?”
“It’s not a joke. I’m just…”
“Worried about me? Is that why you’re preventing me from serving you?”
His words were polite, but a hint of dissatisfaction was mixed in his tone. Finishing up the last bite of the sandwich, he shook his head.
“I refuse. First and foremost, I am the princess’s adviser, which means my priority is to serve you, Your Highness. If my other duties at the office hinder my ability to serve you, then that is a big issue.”
“Th-That may be true, but this is the busiest season for the advisers.”
“Second, I… I want to see you.”
“Oh?”
Alicia gasped stupidly. Clovis frowned and turned away, a faint redness on his cheeks.
“I know it is unprofessional of me, but I find myself constantly looking out for you. Even today, when we have no formal plans to meet, I couldn’t help but want to see you.”
“…You’re being very honest…” Alicia muttered.
“It’s uncool, I know. I’m almost ten years your senior; I can’t afford to be like this, yet as your lover, I pray you’d want me just as much as I want you.”
Alicia lowered her eyes; the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. The urge to jump into Clovis’s arms again was just too strong.
As if reading her mind, he smiled shyly.
“I’m sorry I made you worry,” he said. “I’ve trained my juniors well, and I’ll do my best to entrust duties to them. So please, do not tell me to stay away from you.”
Clovis tilted his head imploringly. That sweet gesture, paired with his expression and voice, stirred up Alicia’s heart. Eventually, she croaked out a quiet yes, and Clovis smiled happily in relief.
Picking up the pitcher, he refilled his cup, gulped down its contents, and wiped his mouth clean with a white handkerchief. Then he looked at her again.
“By the way, what is that letter you’re holding? Is that why you came looking for me?”
With a start, Alicia remembered Riddhe’s letter. So much had happened in the past few moments that she’d forgotten about it.
“It’s a letter from Riddhe. I’ve only just read it myself.”
“From Riddhe?”
Clovis’s eyes widened in surprise as he took the letter from her, untied the string carefully, and unrolled the scroll.
“Dear Royal Highness Alicia, how have you been…”
Alicia watched as Clovis’s eyes skimmed over the rest of the letter. Her adviser put a hand on his chin, as if deep in thought, before rereading the letter again.
She tilted her head, curious about his response.
She had only glanced through it quickly herself, and it seemed like a simple report of Riddhe’s current situation. That was why she’d declined Ryan’s offer to summon Clovis back to the office, deeming the letter of low importance.
He’d written about being housed at the Crowne’s mansion in Kingsley upon his arrival in Erdal, that he’d been granted permission to enter and leave Kingsley Castle at will, and his plans to conduct inspection tours in several locations…
Certainly, nothing important enough to trigger the deep frown on Clovis’s face as he suddenly stood up and strode over to the bookcase. Picking out a book, Clovis walked back to the couch and held the book and Riddhe’s letter side by side.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“My personal records from the Erdalian inspection mission many years ago, sort of like a diary. The official records by the inspection squad are kept by the advisory office…”
The sound of flipping pages stopped as Clovis traced a slender finger along the text. Moving to stand beside him, Alicia peeked at the book and letter.
“These are the places Riddhe plans to inspect: Leger, Yeats, and Fainz. We visited all these places during the inspection mission, too,” Clovis explained.
“What’s special about them?”
Clovis looked up, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing.
“Orphanages. The largest in the empire,” Clovis paused. “All three sponsored by Chancellor Eric Yggdrasil.”
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CLOVIS had stood up from the couch and was donning his jacket, his hands expertly fixing his tie, all while quickly explaining his thoughts to Alicia.
“What bothers me is how Riddhe chose not to explain why he is visiting these three places in his letter,” he said. “Be it for good or bad, he has always been blunt with his words, so the fact that he’s leaving information out makes me think there is a message hidden in here.”
In no time at all, he was ready.
“Shall we go?”
On their way out, they passed the silver tray to a passing maid to bring back to the kitchens, with a note that Clovis would drop by later to give the chef his thanks. Then, the pair continued on, with Clovis elaborating on the situation.
“Does Your Highness recall my words about Lord Yggdrasil being the sponsor of several orphanages?”
“Yes. Charlotte and her elder brothers were adopted from those places.”
“Miss Charlotte was originally from Golton orphanage in Yeats, her older brothers from Blok orphanage in Leger, and Cerseth orphanage in Fainz,” Clovis elaborated. “Lord Yggdrasil may be the sponsor for other orphanages as well, but he is best known for those three, and that was why our inspection squad was invited to visit. Of course, Riddhe intended for me to read this letter, but there’s no indication of any link between these three places. Maybe he is still looking for proof to support his suspicions.”
“In other words…suspicion that the chancellor was the official colluding with Loid?”
Clovis stopped at Alicia’s question. Belatedly, she realized they were standing in front of the door leading to her rooms.
“We still don’t know. Is the chancellor someone to be trusted, or are our suspicions right? Riddhe will surely make his move to answer that soon, but he has left us the names of the places first, just in case,” Clovis said.
“Just in case…?”
Alicia’s heart clenched as she clasped her hands before her chest. Clovis gave her a gentle pat on the head and a reassuring smile.
“There is nothing to worry about. Riddhe is very persistent and bolder than anyone I know. He won’t put himself at risk for no reason and never does anything half-heartedly. You believe that, too, right? That’s why you requested he be stationed there?”
“…Yes. You’re right,” Alicia nodded vehemently.
Sutherlands always kept their promises. Riddhe had promised with a fearless smile that he’d come back to Heilland. She knew she was sending him into danger, and now she could only place her faith in him and wait.
That said, it was hard to squash the seeds of doubt in her heart. Clovis stared at Alicia while she was lost in thought. Then, before he could change his mind, he bent down and dropped a quick kiss on her forehead.
“I’m jealous. Are you that worried about him?” he teased, violet eyes dancing with amusement. Alicia panicked.
“O-Of course! But jealousy? I’m not…”
“I was only joking.” Clovis smiled. He pulled open the door to her rooms and gently pushed the still-reeling Alicia inside. “If my memory serves me right, the dressmaker should be here soon. Please wait for Lady Fourier here.”
“Huh…?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Your Highness. And I am honored and glad you came to see me.”
With a small bow, Clovis let go of the door, and it fell shut with a soft click. Mind still full of her lover, Alicia ran a hand gently along the wood of the door.
I just can’t with him…
The spot where his lips touched her skin still felt hot.
He’d successfully dispelled her anxiety with a few simple actions and words. And though she was so grateful to him, she didn’t know what she could do to thank him. In that manner, she still had so much growing up to do.
He’d said that he wished to be wanted by Alicia as much as he wanted her.
Yet she was the one pining for him the moment they parted ways.
“Your Highness?”
“What’s the matter, Your Highness?”
Noticing their mistress was back, her maids emerged from the back chambers.
“It’s nothing!” she squeaked, finally turning away from the door.