The Life of Maria Lewellin - Chapter 32

“He looks exactly like him. What is he doing here? Am I mistaken?”

After rubbing my eyes, I looked at the end of the hallway again.

I’m not just seeing things. I’m sure it was Gerard who came down the stairs leisurely with his hands in his pockets.

At that moment, Gerard’s gaze turned my way.

“Ooh!”

With his eyes wide open like mine, he soon came to where I was with long strides.

A welcoming smile came out of my mouth. I was the first one who got the chance to speak.

“Is it Gerard?”

“Of course. Where else in the world could there be such a handsome person as me?”

“Haha, even after a long time, your shamelessness still remains.”

Gerard really is sly in nature.

By the way, it was really nice to see that he’s fine. I suddenly remembered the last day I saw Gerard.

He told me to go first, so I did as I was told, but he didn’t show up.

I was really worried. Since then, I felt heavy whenever I thought of it, but it was a relief to see that he was safe.

“What are you doing here?”

“That sounds like something I should ask.”

Gerard’s smile seemed to deepen.

I smiled back as well and Gerard looked at me for a while, but my smile froze at his next words.

“What are you doing in the Imperial Palace, Miss MA-RI-A? “

There were many places in the Crown Prince’s palace that I had not yet been to, and one of them was the reception room for the guests.

Compared to the spacious area, the interior was decorated quite simply.

However, it was only on the outside. I’m pretty sure that everything in this place is only of the highest quality.

The same goes for the sofa. The dark green antique couch, was extremely soft.

But because of my mood, it seems that there were thorns in the cushions. The reason was, of course, Gerard sitting across from me.

“Maria. “

*flinch*

“Maria.”

“…….”

“Ma-ri-a? “

“Why do you keep calling me! Why!”

I eventually looked at Gerard with a sour look on my face.

I feel sorry for deceiving him about my real name, so I tried to keep quiet, but he didn’t even gave me any room for that.

“Why? It’s because I’m glad to see you.”

Oh, my God. Why don’t you just say it?!

I glanced at his smiling sly face and picked up my share of tea.

I wanted to drink my tea in one shot, but sadly, I can’t because it’s still steaming hot.

“How did you know my name?”

I asked in a half-hearted tone. Only after I asked that questions did I realize that I was really curious.

The answer was in Gerard’s hand.

“Would you believe me if I said that I came all the way to Adella to see you?”

“…..what? Adella? “

It was a very familiar place. It’s Maria’s hometown. The place where everything started before, I decided to head to the imperial palace.

I asked again with an impressed look.

“You really went there?”

“Don’t mention it,”

Gerard shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly. On the other hand, his face is still full of unwavering smiles.

“As soon as I got off at the port, I approached the villagers and asked them. Do you happen to know a lady named Rose? And that was the beginning of the high road.”

I averted my eyes from his. Rose is the fake name that I gave him.

But I also find it ridiculous. He’s not indebted to me or anything, so how did he think about getting there?

“And then luckily, I heard a crucial information. A lady who heard the description of your appearance told me that it was probably her daughter. So I went to their house, full of expectation then I found a girl that is called Rose but it’s not you, what’s going on?”

I raised my head for a moment, unknowingly.

“Did you meet Rose?”

“Yes, her atmosphere is quite different from yours.”

Then I poked around to find out what the house Gerard visited was like and what the girl he met looks like.

Gerard answered me in a gentle manner but now I’m sure. He must have really met Rose.

“So, what did you do?”

“What do I do? When I asked if she knows anyone who had red hair like yours, she answered with an irritated look on her face. The person you’re looking for seems like my sister who ran away from our house.”

It’s so obvious. It must have been annoying to have a stranger come and ask her where I am.

“Thanks to her, I got to know that the runaway girl’s name is MA-RI-A.”

*flinch*

I was speechless at the moment, but soon I raised my head and protested.

“I did it because I thought you’re suspicious! The first time we met, you were creepily smiling at me, who wouldn’t find you suspicious if you do that to a stranger?”

Then Gerard smiled.

“Well, that’s true. But did I push you like that?”

“Yes. A lot.”

Actually, it wasn’t that bad, but I decided to count it.

“What the hell happened that day? Why didn’t you get on the ship?”

“Well, something came up.”

“Did something happen with the thieves?”

“No, it’s not like that…I was just dragging my feet and missed the ship, haha.”

He seemed to think that it’s embarrassing because he’s smiling shyly.

Well, even if he’s lying, I’m still glad that nothing bad happened to him.

“But why did you come to the palace?”

“I told you. I’m a regular here, so going into the Larson Imperial Palace is as easy as eating to me.”

I’m sure he said that before, but I laughed it off, thinking it was a bluff.

But seeing him today at the Crown Prince’s palace, I thought it might be true.

“You said you knew the Crown Prince, right?”

“That’s right. “

“Are you friends? “

“You can say it’s something like that. How about you? How can you be here?”

He looked really curious. There was no reason to lie any more.

“I’m staying here as the leopard’s personal vet.”

“What? Leopard vet?”

Gerard widened his eyes.

“Are you the one who cured Glick?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you came to Hardel?’

“Yes.”

I tilted the cup of tea as Gerard looked at me in admiration. But that didn’t last.

“Wait a second.”

I turned my eyes towards him again.

I could see a strange smile on his face. Some unknown anxiety struck me, and my hunch was right.

“Didn’t you tell me you were going on a trip with your family?”

*flinch*

Unknowingly, I rolled my eyes and looked somewhere else.

“……well, I’m not sure.”

“Why doesn’t your face match your words?”

“You heard it wrong.”

He tilted his head slightly as I grumbled internally.

‘Why is he so good at remembering useless things?’

“Well, I think I need to go to see Ains right now.”

“Why are you going to see the crown prince?”

“Why? To tell him to be careful because the leopard’s vet is a liar.”

This guy, seriously.

“I didn’t lie to his highness. And the one who approached* me first was His highness, the Prince himself.”

(t/n: the word used here is actually translated as ‘caught’…)

“Ains was the one who approached you?”

“That’s right. “

My heart was pounding slightly, but I faced Gerard proudly on the outside.

“He was the one who asked me to take care of Glick, so I stayed in the palace. I wrote a contract with him.”

That means don’t even think about shaking me with it.

“Really?”

“Yes, you don’t believe it? Do you want me to show you the contract?”

“No, thanks. It’ll probably look real anyway.”

“It doesn’t just look real, it IS real.”

“Okay, okay.”

Gerard nodded and laughed. I stared at him then continued my words.

“By the way. Even if it’s just us two, isn’t it too rude to call the Crown Prince by his name?”

What if he gets arrested for profanity?

Gerard who heard my question replied with a smile.

“It’s okay. We’re that close.”

Hmm. I can’t tell if it’s a bluff or a fact.

In the meantime, Gerard, who had a sip of tea, looked at me and asked.

“By the way, when is the working time? I don’t think you’re taking care of Glick all day.”

“He spends the rest of his time sleeping and resting after we go for a walk in the afternoon.”

“So that means you’re free right now?”

“That’s right.”

Then Gerard grinned, putting the ends of his hands together.

“That’s great. How about winding up with me? I know a good place.”

It was a tempting offer. In fact, I was thinking of reading a book in a library after a long time, but of course I liked playing more than that.

And I owe Gerrard something as well.

“Okay. Let’s go together.”

“Really?”

I laughed at the surprised look on his face.

You’re the one who brought it up first, what’s with that reaction?

“Yes. I’ll get ready. Let’s meet in the front of the detached palace.”

“Okay. I’ll go out right away and wait.”

“Alright. “

When I came out of the annex, Gerard was already waiting for me as promised.

We soon got on the carriage side by side. A familiar scene flashed across the window, and sooner or later, Granlottea Square appeared.

Normally, I would have gotten off here, but not today. Before departure, Gerard approached the coachman and told him the destination.

After traveling for quite a while, the carriage stopped. Gerard, who came down first, reached out his right hand towards me.

I grabbed the hand with a smile and got out of the carriage.

He’s got good manners, too.

“Where are we?”

“We’re in a small town near Hardel.”

I could see a trail just ahead. The tall, leafy trees were planted along the road, making it a perfect course for a walk.

“Shall we go?”

We walked side by side on the forest path, talking about this and that. Gerard’s talk remained the same.

He told me about his journey to the palace, including what happened after he handed over the thieves to the shelter, and other funny and interesting things that I couldn’t stop laughing.

How long did we walk? Suddenly, the view opened wide and an amazing view unfolded before my eyes.

“Uwaaa…!”

There was a very large lake at the end of the forest trail.

The water was so clear and clean that the sky and clouds were shining on the surface of the water.

I could see some ducks gliding by. The flowers blooming around the lake create a picturesque scene.

“Did you like it?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

I could see Gerard smiling happily as if he was satisfied with my response.

“Then it’s worth coming here. Shall we walk a little?”

“Okay.”

If I knew this would happen, I should have brought a mat and some food.

There were beautiful trees all over the place, so it was good for resting and taking a nap.

While walking, the chatter continued.

“So, where are you from?”

“Me? I’m from Kepler.”

It was a very familiar name.

Struggling to remember, I thought of a passage from the history book, and soon looked up at Gerard with a surprised look on mt face.

“Do you mean the capital of the Kingdom of Brittany, Kepler?”

“That’s right.”

That’s where you’re from….

“So you’re from another country?”

“That’s right.”

“But how can you speak Larson so well?”

“My home tutor was very competent. Of course, that’s also because I’m smart.”

“….ah. yeah.”

I gave a lukewarm answer and turned my head toward the lake.

I saw the flock of ducks passing by from afar earlier.

[Mom, my legs hurts]

[Me too, it hurts.]

[Me too.]

[That’s how you grow up.]

*splash*

I unconsciously heard the duck and her ducklings’ conversation.

I can’t see it because it’s under water, but I laughed when I thought of the ducklings tiredly moving their feet to swim in the water.