Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

It was strange that the Crown Prince was beside him, but as she could only think of it, she revealed her hostility, and then Asher, who was still, intervened in the conversation.

"Madame, please be a little angry. This is the Marquis of Piast of the Kingdom of Croa. Sorry for the late introduction."

"… Who?"

When Asher introduced him again as the Marquis of Piast, the Countess did not move. It was as if she had stopped breathing.

"The man you met, Chloe, is my eldest son, and I think you have guessed to some extent, but I was wondering if the blood had been linked to Lady Aria. I don't think she looks like him unless it does."

"So... Aria succeeds the blood of the Marquis family?"

"I think so."

"…"

The Countess's eyes wandered in disbelief, and she seemed to be embarrassed at the thought of how to take it for it was not bad, but it was something she had never thought of.

There had been several lower-class noblemen who had visited her, and she had thought that it might be possible, but she had never thought that he was a man of the Marquis family.

"My son was in trouble, and he couldn't come to see you, but… he still misses you. He'll be delighted to hear that he has a daughter."

"... Wait, wait, give me a moment to think. It's so sudden, and I don't know what to say. Besides, it's not certain, but you just came because she looked like…" The Countess put down her teacup because of what the Marquis said.

His beautiful appearance was uncommon, but it was difficult to confirm that because of her previous job.

"Don't worry about that, ma'am, I have a way to check it out."

At his words, the Countess and the Marquis looked at Asher at the same time.

'How could he confirm if the name was not written on the blood?' Then the Marquis opened his eyes wide as if he had realized something.

"... The pond of the Imperial Castle."

"Yes, if Lady Aria was the granddaughter of Violet, who drank the holy water, she could touch the pond of the Imperial Castle."

She didn't know what they were talking about, but the Countess nodded at the words that there was a way to check.

"... Then, if you're sure, tell me again. As for me, I'll have to sort things out by then."

The Marquis asked in an urgent voice as she finished the conversation. "If you don't mind, may we send you a letter?"

"… Will you send it to me or Aria?"

"I will send it to you… No, maybe Chloe…"

Chloe might want to get in touch with her, who he had been finding for a long time. He might even visit the empire by forging his identity.

The Countess rose, answering with a chilling voice. "Well, it would be a misunderstanding if another man writes a letter to a woman who has already been married, and if you're done, I'll excuse you first."

Yet the Marquis had a little hope for her unsure refusal; and the Marquis, who had the means to contact and some good news, left the empire without hesitation.

On the other hand, when he returned to the office, Asher was thinking, touching the ring in his hand.

* * *

At the end of the day, before going to bed, Aria screamed a little at Asher who suddenly appeared. It was fortunate that the maids were not there anymore, but she complained that he almost showed a great scene.

"Why didn't you talk and come to me?"

"I'm sorry."

Asher's apologetic gaze passed the ring in Aria's hand and headed for the box of the hourglass box in the cabinet. As he thought that the blood of violet flowed to Aria, he had a doubt for the box that she had always carried.

"Mr. Asher?"

Asher, who could not take his eyes out of the box, turned to her at her call. Then all of a sudden he told her why he visited her room.

"Why don't we take a night walk?"

"… But it's cold, right?"

As Aria's birthday was near now, it was not good to take a walk this late at night. Asher smiled softly at her question and put his coat over her shoulders.

"The pond of the Imperial Castle is not very cold."

"Yeah…? The pond of the Imperial Castle…?"

He suddenly talked about the story of the pond of the Imperial Castle, and she was embarrassed and was about to ask something when he grabbed her hand and used his power. Aria was lost in the picturesque landscape, which she had only heard in stories, without being surprised by the sudden change of view.

"It's the pond of the Imperial Castle. This is a place I often visit because of its mystical atmosphere and soothing landscape."

"… That's, that's awesome."

She didn't know why it looked like that. Maybe it was because it was late at night, but it was as if the stars in the sky were melting in a small pond. The flowers around it were also mysterious. As Asher said, the cold of winter could not be felt there.

Because of that, her look of surprise and embarrassment vanished, but she was carried away by the ecstatic scene. Asher quietly watched her for a while and led her inside.

"Well, my feet are on the grass…"

She thought it would be trampled, but strangely, the grass and flowers stepped on by Aria's feet did not bend or die, and they rose again. At the peculiar sight, she checked again the grass and flowers she stepped on, but they were still there. It was a strange place indeed.

"The water in this pond is called the holy water. It's because there's a legend that the pond was formed after the emperor of the empire died here."

"Ah, so there was such a legend…"

Aria's eyes were dull as she answered, and the stars in the pond gleamed in her eyes. She was already completely charmed by the pond.

Asher asked her what she really wanted.

"Would you like to touch it?"

"The pond? Can I touch it?"

"Yes, there is a myth that it brings happiness."

Even though Asher's permission had been granted, she hesitated, but she lost her heart at the words that it would bring happiness. So she bent over and reached out to touch the pond's water. She felt a cold sensation on her fingertips.

"It's cold, I think only this pond is affected by winter."

"… I see."

As he watched this, his eyes were shining, and Aria, who touched the water in the pond, straightened herself and came near him.

"I touched the water. Will happiness come now?"

Aria's face was a little flushed. She seemed to like Asher's sudden visit, and their walk in the middle of the night. Asher glanced down, saying yes. The ring on her finger was shining softly.

"Mr. Asher?"

Aria called Asher in a curious voice because he was not making eye contact. In time, as the light faded from the ring, Asher, who turned his eyes from her hand, met her eyes.

He was now convinced after seeing Aria touched the holy water. It was not a mistake that the ring had changed its color the other day.

"Is there something in my hand…?" Aria, who was aware that his gaze had been in her hand, asked, lowering her gaze.

She remembered he had mentioned the color of the ring the last time, and as she touched the ring, he answered as if it was nothing.

"No, I thought it was a butterfly, and I think it was an illusion."

"Butterfly? This winter night?"

'Is it because of this excuse that he looked at the butterfly in front of her?' She answered that she could not believe it.

Nevertheless, she seemed to be caught that she was hiding something. Asher stared at Aria, who was in disbelief and was lost in thought. On the other hand, he wanted to ask why the color of the ring had changed in the past, and what she was hiding, unlike how the color of the ring changed when she touched the holy water earlier.

But if he asked it here now, he had to confess that the reason why he brought her to the pond of the Imperial Castle was because he wanted to confirm her identity. He could not ask her honestly because he had lied to her, so he could bring her to the pond.

It would be best if Aria would tell what she was hiding, but since she did not seem to have any intention of doing so, it was better to wait for the right moment and ask it naturally.