# 25
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Episode 25
Ayla's expression reflected her genuine astonishment.
Does the Duke, in her eyes, see someone not even worthy of comparison?
“No, he is not. The Duke may look cruel on the outside, but he is not so on the inside...”
Ruelia's voice gradually faded. I felt a little upset.
'What's wrong with my lord duke?'
He is much better than the Crown Prince.
“Isn’t it better to be a cruel person only in the eyes of others, rather than a womanizer? Someone who takes care of those he loves when others don’t see it.”
She said it in a somewhat challenging tone.
Ayla laughed with round eyes.
“I prefer someone who knows how to express his love for me, whether in front of people or behind them, someone who is sweet.”
“Even if he was a womanizer?”
Ruelia felt frustrated by her biased tone toward the Crown Prince, so she said so.
But the more she did, the more Ayla smiled as she looked at her. She replied in a calm tone, as if she were talking to a thoughtless little sister.
“No, a womanizer is impossible. I may not know much, but a womanizer cannot be reformed. He must be eliminated immediately.”
Ayla looked out of the carriage, shaking her head. Gallion was, without a doubt, where her gaze rested.
"truly?"
“Of course. So, Miss Ruelia, be careful. If you feel that the person will not change, break off the relationship immediately. There is no need for us to sacrifice ourves, right?”
Ayla's firm words rang in Ruelia's ears like fireworks. Ruelia danced inwardly with joy.
“Never change your mind.”
Stay away from womanizers.
Ruelia held Ayla’s hands tightly, her eyes shining. Ayla agreed, closing her eyes excitedly.
“Of course. By the way, if we are to be careful, the Duke is not my taste.”
Ruelia's jaw dropped slightly.
Not only Galeon, but Caelis is also off the list.
Is this a good thing? But she wasn't sure if that put Kyles at a disadvantage.
It was a variable that could not be calculated.
At that moment, Caelus and Galleon returned.
“Well, shall we come in now, lovely ladies?”
Galion extended his hand very gently.
Ruelia felt as if she was eating buttered bread with buttered milk.
But Ayla laughed cheerfully at the Crown Prince's flattering words.
'truly? This can't be her taste, can it?'
Everything else is the same, so why do their tastes differ only in men?
'Well, I also like a nice person...'
Ruelia hid her complicated feelings and stood up. Then she noticed Kyles, who was standing a step back.
He looked pitiful.
He was staring at the back of Gallion's head.
How he felt his pride wounded.
Ruelia followed Ayla towards the door, lost in thought.
‘Is there a way to have the Duke accompany Ayla?’
If they had gotten even a little closer, Ayla would have had a greater chance of discovering Caelis's true gentle side...
But no matter what she thought, nothing suitable came to her mind. It seems that Ayla's previous words affected her.
'I have to think fast, fast.'
In her haste, Ruelia tried to get off the cart quickly.
“Ruelia!”
Suddenly, Kyles' nervous voice was heard.
Ruelia looked in front of her. At that moment, the Crown Prince was approaching the carriage to hold Ayla's hand.
Ayla, standing on the ladder placed by the servant, was to Ruelia's left and slightly in front of her.
In other words, Ruelia had extended her right foot into the void.
"What?"
Her shoe fell first.
At the same time, Ruelia leaned to the side. She realized that she would soon hit solid ground.
It is said that the person you call in moments of crisis is the person you trust most.
“Ah, my lord duke!”
Ruelia shouted her master's name with all her might.
Her deep faith reached her master. Instead of the hard ground, Ruelia felt a soft touch, and she opened her eyes in surprise.
"Your Highness? Sir the Duke?"
Both men extended their arms towards Ruelia at the same time.
Galleon was closer, but the one who held Roelia safely was Caelis.
In return, Galion grabbed Ruelia's shoe, and it swayed like falling leaves after Caelis pushed him.
"Are you well?"
Caelis's voice sounded both close and distant at once.
It seemed that she was very afraid, her heart was beating like crazy.
“Wearing high-heeled shoes and getting distracted can lead to serious injury.”
“I'm sorry. I made a stupid mistake.”
Ruelia lowered her head at Cales' rebuke. She felt embarrassed and wanted to run away somewhere.
"Caelus, stop scolding her. Falling off the wagon won't kill her."
Galleon said, adjusting his stance.
“Miss Ruelia, are you okay?”
Suddenly, Ayla's voice was heard from the top of the stairs.
Ruelia suddenly realized.
Had Ayla just seen Caelus scolding her harshly?
Ayla said she likes someone who is kind and careful.
“I, I'm fine.”
Ruelia's face flushed.
She felt angry with herf for making this stupid mistake.
But there is still a chance for compensation.
“Your Highness, I'm sorry, but the shoes...”
“Ah, yes, just a moment.”
Galion walked towards Ruelia, holding her shoe.
This opportunity should not be missed.
“And my lord the duke.”
“Did you catch something?”
“No, not that.”
Kyle's brow narrowed.
"Miss Emile is still on the stairs. Could you just walk her down?"
Even for a short moment, let them get closer.
Ruelia smiled sweetly as she asked, and Caelce's frown increased.
But he walked without objection.
“Listen, Ruelia.”
After Galeon placed the shoes at her feet, he whispered in her ear.
"What? Your Highness?"
“Why are you talking to Kyles so formally?”
"What? Me?"
Ruelia looked at Gallion in astonishment.
I? when? where?
Her eyes reflected incomprehension.
“Yes, that is a tone used by knights.”
“Isn’t this what the Duke prefers and feels comfortable with?”
“There's no need for that.”
Galion laughed as he answered.
He glanced furtively at Caelus who was accompanying Ayla. He shrugged, but he did not lose his amusement.
“Did the Duke say that my tone bothered him?”
Ruelia's eyes widened.
Galion approached her ear again, and offered gentle advice.
“No, but you're not a knight, are you? You're someone who can share his concerns, so if you talk like them, will he open his heart? Just talk gently like you usually do.”
“Right...”
It was compelling advice. She was proud to be an excellent assistant, but she didn't seem to consider her master's feelings.
Her cheeks were red with embarrassment.
Galion smiled and moved away from her ear.
At that moment, Caelus and Ayla stood in front of them, eyes full of tension and threat.
* * *
When they entered the concert hall, the four of them formed perfect pairs.
Gallion and Ayla, Ruelia and Caelus.
“I don’t understand why you insist on entering together. Enter last, as befits the Crown Prince.”
Kyles said in a complaining tone as he looked at the pair next to him.
Ruelia, hugging his arm, looked around cautiously, opening her mouth without a sound.
'Ah, this is embarrassing.'
She wasn't used to standing next to a man holding his arm at the entrance to a concert hall. Galion's advice made her hesitant to speak up.
'From now on, I must talk to the Duke normally…'
The more she resolved to do so, the more she lost control of her mouth. Her vision also narrowed.
So, she was satisfied with short responses.
“I think using you as a shield will reduce attention to me?”
Galion answered calmly.
Suddenly, the door to the concert hall opened wide. Everyone turned towards the door to see the last guests.
Ruelia, nervous, tried to expand her narrow vision, and looked at the audience.
"Who is this?"
Her gaze stopped at a person wearing a gray robe. Kyles leaned closer to her ear.
It was the same place where Galion had whispered just before.