Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 37

37.

Ibelin looked steadily at Seren beside her.

"What is it?"

"Are you good at following people?"

"Following?"

Despite the abrupt question, Seren answered dutifully.

"I'm not bad at it."

Since the vice-commander of the knight order said he wasn't bad, he must be rather good. Ibelin re-interpreted it as such and stepped behind a nearby tree, concealing herself. Seren, left alone, stared at her blankly before belatedly joining her.

"Look over there."

"Over there?"

"Yes—we're going to follow them now."

"From here?"

Seren lowered his voice awkwardly, glancing around.

"Yes."

"If you have business with them, why not just walk up and speak to them?"

That wasn't wrong—normally, that was how you met new people. But she felt that approaching now would reveal nothing. That intuition came from her innate talent—difficult to explain clearly to Seren.

While she pondered that, Seren's eyes changed.

"I'll follow."

He had decided to trust her without further hesitation.

"Are you sure?"

Ibelin was surprised enough to ask.

"I trust Lord Kite—so I trust you too, Lady Ibelin, whom he brought."

So this is what loyalty looks like. Ibelin admired it as she took the next step. Despite her cumbersome dress, she didn't stop.

Slipping between large trees, building shadows, and gaps in the crowd, she approached Letan.

As she drew closer, she could hear his voice.

"...Really?"

The man beside him nodded. She couldn't hear what was said, but even that small gesture excited Letan.

"Thank goodness—I was so..."

At that point, they turned around a corner. Ibelin counted to five in her head, then moved naturally with Seren—this time without hiding.

"I'll walk a bit faster."

She quickened her pace, then stumbled—or rather, Seren caught her before she fell. But her belongings happened to hit Letan's back.

"Huh?"

Startled, Letan turned with a flustered expression. Ibelin quickly composed herself and changed her expression.

"I'm sorry—I tripped."

Only then did Letan see the object that had fallen to the ground—a ring so valuable that if the jewel were real, it would be priceless.

"Lady Ibelin."

She had nothing to throw—no parasol, no bag, which were typical noble lady accessories. And a handkerchief or light ornament wouldn't have hit him.

"Oh my—such a precious thing!"

Letan bent down and picked up the ring. Even as he moved, the young man beside him didn't turn around.

I want to see his face.

As she thought that, Letan approached her.

"Fortunately, the ring seems undamaged."

"Thank you—it's an important ring. Given to me by my beloved."

It was strange that such a precious item had slipped off her finger in the first place. Letan seemed to realize that belatedly—but instead of pointing it out, he cautiously handed it back.

"I've caused you trouble—I'd like to repay you sometime."

"Oh, it was nothing—please don't worry."

"Nothing?"

Ibelin smiled gently and introduced herself first.

"I'm Ibelin El Frillie."

At the name, Letan's mouth formed an O. As a merchant sensitive to rumors, he must have heard about Kite's recent fiancée.

"I am Letan, deputy head of the Kraken Trading Company—honored to meet someone so distinguished."

"Distinguished?"

Ibelin made a shy expression and took the ring.

"I heard you're the Archduke of Gracias's fiancée—so yes, you are distinguished."

"Oh my—has news already spread?"

When she asked innocently, Letan nodded emphatically.

"Of course—it's well known that you commissioned the most famous dressmaker in the capital for your trousseau."

That was the dress she was wearing now.

"Goodness."

Ibelin continued her acting skillfully.

"By the way—who is this gentleman with you?"

She should offer her greetings. As she looked at him, a crack appeared in Letan's expression—subtle, but enough for her to notice.

"He's from the Eastern continent. I met him through trade—he's not fluent in our language, and he's very shy, so conversation may be difficult."

"That's fine—I've studied the Eastern language!"

Her grandfather had taught her a great many things.

"And I also know some of the Eastern language."

Seren added his support. Letan's expression grew more troubled. Now he was obliged to introduce the man to Ibelin.

But things didn't always go as planned.

A sudden gust of wind made her blink—and the man was gone.

"Huh?"

She hadn't even sensed him moving. Genuinely startled, she stared at the spot where he had stood.

"Oh dear—I told him not to wander off alone! I'm so sorry—truly sorry. If we meet again, I'll apologize properly for this rudeness."

Letan bowed repeatedly and ran off down the path. It was rude within the palace, but he seemed too urgent to stop.

"Oh dear."

Ibelin sighed and folded her arms.

"How strange."

Seren's expression wasn't much different.

"To vanish so quickly..."

Normally, those who could so skillfully conceal their presence had assassin training.

"Right? He must be good at hide-and-seek."

"Hide-and-seek?"

Ibelin looked up at him.

"Don't you usually learn that from playing hide-and-seek?"

Learn to conceal your presence from hide-and-seek? Seren opened and closed his mouth, then fell silent.

"What a pity."

"Is it? Shall we pursue them?"

"No—I don't think we'll catch them easily. Quite some time has passed."

It was time to return and change into her evening dress.

"We'll save it for later."

"Understood."

With Seren's escort, Ibelin returned to her room. The next place she might encounter Letan was inside the banquet hall.

---

She changed dresses and had her makeup redone. Unlike the daytime look, the evening makeup was heavier—and with her eyes lined upward, the simple provincial lady was replaced by a refined woman. No wonder people dressed up.

Nodding to herself, Ibelin left the room. Seren, both then and now, wore the knight order uniform—dark with golden patterns that suited his handsome face.

"Won't you change, Seren?"

"No—this is sufficient. I'm a knight of House Gracias."

Exchanging light conversation, they moved.

"We'll take a carriage to the central palace."

"Isn't it walkable?"

"It is—but here, the carriage isn't just transport. It's about dignity."

A display of power and wealth. So Ibelin had to board the carriage and head to the central palace.

Around her, other carriages moved in the same direction—each as lavishly adorned as possible, flying banners with family emblems.

So did hers.

Even inside the carriage, she could feel eyes upon her.

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