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When Idris finished dealing with the mountain of documents, it was already ten o'clock.
As Idris rose, feeling stiff, he paused, noticing the detached building visible through the window.
'……She must be asleep by now.'
He had planned to visit Leticia, also to see the little guest, if he finished early.
But it was already past the little guest's bedtime.
Idris was about to turn away after staring at the detached building for a moment, when a knock sounded.
"Your Highness, may I come in?"
The door of the office opened and Heather entered.
As soon as he saw Heather's serious expression, he seemed to know what his business was.
Idris sat on the desk and asked.
"How did it go?"
"We have been watching the mansion and Lady Leticia for the past few days, but there have been no new tails."
It was about the tail they had caught at Amon's shop a few days ago.
"Did you find out who was behind it?"
"Whether they've already taken action, we couldn't find any connection to the stalker from either the Farnese ducal family or the Zahir grand ducal family. We're going to keep an eye on it for now."
"……I should have killed him then."
Idris belatedly regretted his actions that day.
It was an emotional action that he would not have normally taken.
He was simply enraged by the fact that Leticia was in danger.
"They must have received Your Highness's warning, so they will be lying low for a while, but they will move more cautiously with a time lag. We'll catch them by the tail then."
"I suppose so."
"But with that big guy always by her side, nothing dangerous will happen."
When Wieg's story came up, Idris's eyes, which were already cold, sank even more coldly.
"That guy is useless. He just follows his master around like a dog. He hasn't even noticed the tail until now?"
Heather noticed Idris's suddenly sharper energy and flinched.
'I think he's gotten on his bad side……?'
As a result of watching Idris by his side for nearly a decade.
It was rare for Idris, who was equally indifferent to everyone except the late Empress, Deon, and Aria, to visibly dislike someone.
And…….
'I think he's overly worried.'
Of course, it was worrying that she had been tailed, but the fact that she had been tailed in the first place also meant that he had no intention of doing anything to the other party for the time being.
Then suddenly, he remembered that all of Idris's recent unusual behavior was related to Leticia.
The way he often had meals with Leticia and the genuine smiles he showed that he didn't show in front of others, those actions.
It was like…….
'It's as if Your Highness likes Lady Leticia!'
Heather, who reached that inference at the end of his question, shook his head.
'No, that can't be. Your Highness has been looking for a woman named Aria for years.'
In fact, Idris had also told him that Leticia was an 'excuse to avoid the Emperor's nagging about marriage'.
But in any case, it seemed clear that Idris was worried about Leticia's safety now.
Whether it's a business relationship or for other reasons.
Heather, guessing Idris's thoughts, offered him some advice.
"Um……. If you're so worried, why don't you tell Lady Leticia the truth and assign a guard?"
But Idris didn't like his advice, and frowned and asked.
"……Am I worried about Leticia?"
"Aren't you?"
It was a perspective he had never thought of.
Idris, momentarily caught up in confused emotions, ordered him to leave.
"I'll talk about that issue, so go home for today."
Heather greeted him quickly as if he had been waiting for those words, and left the office.
Left alone again, Idris pondered Heather's words earlier.
'Am I…… worried about Leticia?'
Thinking about it, it was true.
Swept up in a moment of emotion, killing the stalker.
Worrying that Leticia would be tailed again.
They were all actions that were unlike him.
'Why am I…….'
As Idris pondered the reason, the face of Aria came to mind.
At the same time, Idris frowned and stopped thinking.
'……Leticia is not Aria.'
His actions were just a momentary mistake.
That's how he concluded it.
'Hmm?'
Suddenly, he felt someone's presence by the door.
Turning in that direction, he saw a pair of eyes peeking at him through the slightly open door.
'I guess Heather didn't close the door properly.'
The child who met eyes with Idris, who sighed, gasped and hid her eyes.
If he was piled up with work, it might have been a little annoying, but he was free now.
Idris cautiously spoke to her.
"Hello."
But the child did not react.
Judging by the fact that he could still feel her presence, it didn't seem like she had run away.
"Little lady, weren't you coming to see me?"
The large eyes slowly reappeared outside the door.
"I was told not to disturb you……."
"I'm done with work now, so it's okay."
"Really?"
Only then did the child rush into the office as if she had been waiting.
Idris chuckled at the sight.
He generally liked children.
Unlike adults who judged him by his status or the rumors around him.
Children didn't measure or calculate anything, and were only faithful to their feelings.
"But isn't it time for little ones to sleep? Why did you come to see me instead of sleeping?"
"I have something to tell the prince."
"Tell me?"
Aria, who was looking up at him with a nod, looked quite determined.
"You know, I……. I want to marry the prince."
"Oh."
Unlike the short exclamation, Idris didn't react at all surprised despite receiving the surprise proposal.
"Why do you want to marry me?"
"Um, if I marry the prince, I can become a princess."
"Ambition is important."
"And…… I can eat delicious things here every day and live here."
"Wealth is also important."
"And just because I like you!"
Idris, who had been interpreting the child's words one by one as serious and playful, burst into laughter at the child's sincerity.
"Can I marry the prince when I eat a lot and grow up?"
But the rejection was firm.
"I'm grateful that you think so highly of me, but I don't think that will work, little lady."
"Why?"
"Because there's someone else I want to marry."
"Boss unnie?"
Idris, who had naturally thought of Aria as if he had only thought of Aria all his life, paused at Aria's question.
Yes, he has Aria.
But why…….
'Why does Leticia keep coming to mind?'
Just as Idris was about to correct Aria's answer.
"Aria!"
Leticia entered through the open office door.
Idris stared blankly at her wet hair and pajamas for a moment, then frowned.
Leticia, thinking it was Aria's fault, hurriedly explained.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you. She secretly went out while I was washing."
"It's okay because work is over. More than that……."
Idris put the outerwear that was draped over the sofa on Leticia's shoulders.
"You'll catch a cold if you walk around like that."
"Ah……. Thank you."
Leticia was about to take Aria out when she turned back to him as if she had remembered something.
"Good night, Idris."
It was just an ordinary good night greeting, but strangely, the voice sounded good.
Idris quietly added.
"……You too."
Leticia took Aria out, and the voices of the two were heard faintly beyond the closed office door.
I told you that the prince is busy, so he won't like it if you bother him, right?
Ee-ing, so I stayed still without disturbing him…….
Anyway, you're so small but your memory is so good. It's only been here once, but how did you find this place?
Idris, who was listening to the fading voices of the two, chuckled.
He had never imagined hearing other people's voices in this mansion.
'Even these small disturbances are surprisingly welcome.'
Idris, who was watching the two walking through the corridor connecting to the detached building through the window, got up.
It was time for adults to sleep now.
But something hit his foot as he left the office.
"This is……."
It was a small rabbit doll that Aria had.
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