The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

“… I was hoping to spend some quality time with my family…”

“Haha, I won’t take up too much of your time, I just wanted to talk to you briefly about our student Michael’s academic achievements. I came here unannounced, so I apologize in advance for that.”

His tone was insistent, as if he wanted to get inside somehow. Lucas delayed answering for a moment and looked at Lila.

She caught his glance and quickly put on her magic pendant. Michael stared at Lila’s face, eager to see what he had created.

He was surprised to see that Lila’s face was not what he had expected, but rather a grotesque transformation.

He could see why she hadn’t worn it on the way here.

“Um…”

Lucas will surely notice something strange if he faces him up close in that state.

It might be a good thing to avoid in a large group, but it seemed to backfire on someone in close quarters in a small group.

Lila looked at the two of them, both frowning at the same time, and thought to herself that they looked alike.

“I guess not…”

Michael said in a bitter tone.

He wanted to learn more about magic, but there were limits. He had to teach himself from books. There was no one to teach him.

“Duke?”

Alfonso, still waiting outside the door, called to Lucas.

“Give me a minute.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

Alfonso considered himself an equal at the Academy, even if his rank is lower than Lucas.

He even wondered if his nephew’s presence at the Academy should have made him more favorably disposed towards him, but he kept silent because he had a purpose.

Charlotte had asked him to find out the truth of the rumor.

When she was unwell and shut herself away, as soon as Count Pinatelli returned to the estate, he wandered from one tea party to another.

And as soon as she heard the rumors about Lila, she came to Alfonso. She couldn’t refuse her request to find out if the rumors about her were true or not.

He was curious, too. But the Dukedom of Montefeltra remained firmly closed.

He refused to accept any invitations and cited Lila’s care and nursing as a reason for his refusal.

One cannot be too persistent with a sick person. A nobleman was supposed to have such manners.

Of course, he was a very gentlemanly nobleman on the surface, but what could he not do behind the scenes?

Only a lowlife would pass up an opportunity like this.

Alfonso’s sky-blue eyes shone as he stared at the door, which was only slightly ajar. All he had to do was accidentally push it open.

All he needed to see was a face.

It was a ridiculous rumor, but it was a hot potato1an issue that makes everyone feel uncomfortable, so he waited patiently.

Lila watched the two of them contemplate the door with a serious expression on her face, then glanced away.

She couldn’t see Alfonso through the small opening because Henry was covering it with his body, but it was a strange feeling.

Despite the presence of one of the original male protagonists she’d tried so hard to avoid, her mind was at peace.

She didn’t feel anxious or afraid like before.

Should she just show her face?

Of course, there was still the lingering anxiety that she might go back to her original route.

But so what.

She’d decided she wasn’t going to hide and she wasn’t going to avoid, and she had these two men by her side.

“Lucas, I’m fine.”

With that, Lila removed her bonnet. Placing it gently on her lap, she looked straight into Lucas’s eyes.

Her regal cobalt eyes were as powerful and dynamic as the deep blue sea. At her determined gaze, Lucas glanced at Michael.

He looked at her with concern, then reached out a small hand. Feeling the small hand squeeze hers, Lila smiled narrowly.

“Don’t worry, Michael.”

Watching her, Lucas turned to Henry and ordered.

“Tell him to come in.”

The door swung open before he could give his permission. Before Henry could open it, Alfonso had flung it open.

It was a long wait.

His bright blond hair glistened in the sunlight. His gaze, like a reflection of the clear sky, swiftly traveled to Lila, and then split open.

Lila watched his expression change from a stoic face. For a moment, she remembered his true personality, the one she had only read about in fiction, and the one who had indirectly spoken ill of her, but then she pushed it out of her mind.

Now she was determined to live her own life, not the life of her possessed mistress.

The thought of Alfonso as her first port of call made her grip tighten, and despite her resolve, the pressure washed over her.

“… How are you, Duke?”

Alfonso, who stammered out a belated greeting in embarrassment, casually slid into the seat next to Lucas, who was sitting alone.

It shouldn’t have happened, but the fact that this was the Academy made them equals.

“Hmm, I can’t imagine I’ve been doing well, after all the injustice my wife has suffered. And I’ve been unable to legally punish her.”

“… I see, I’ve been busy with Academy business ever since the hunt ended, and I apologize for not attending to you.”

Lucas stopped listening to him and gestured to Henry.

“Bring me fresh tea.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Alfonso couldn’t take his eyes off the woman in front of him. His mouth was speaking to Lucas, but his eyes were glued to hers.

As their gazes exchanged a strange look, Lila spoke first.

“Hello, Marquis.”

“… Yes, hello. I hope you’re feeling better, you must have been quite shaken.”

Lila gave him a very formal smile as she spoke.

“Yes, I’m fine now. I wouldn’t say I’m cured, though.”

“…There is an excellent alchemist in the Marquisate. The potions he makes are quite effective. I will send them to you as a gift.”

Alfonso said, unable to take his eyes off Lila, like a man possessed by something. Anyone who knew the normally playful, childlike man must have been surprised.

She wondered if she had grown up too late.

“That’s fine. I appreciate the offer, but we have an excellent alchemist in the Montefeltra family.”

Lila dismissed with a wink, her use of ‘we’ caused Michael and Lucas’s eyes to deepen, and Alfonso’s to widen with embarrassment.

“That’s right, haha. I was so worried about you that I was rude. I’m sure the Duke was nice to you.”

Alfonso snatched the teacup from Henry’s hand and took a quick sip. He felt strangely thirsty.

He grimaced slightly at the hot steam, but soon straightened up and spoke of Michael.

“He’s been praised by the professors for his academic achievements. They all say he doesn’t look like a student who got in early, which is great.”

He waved Michael off to stay a little longer. Lucas had never doubted his nephew’s abilities, so he didn’t take the praise too kindly.

Lucas wasn’t one to fall for obvious tricks, but Lila was different.

“Is that so? Does the Marquis take classes, too? What are the professors like? I’m sure our Michael is a brilliant student. I’d like him to be taught by someone even better.”

Alfonso’s eyes widened at Lila’s quick change of demeanor, which only moments before had been a modest response.

His cheeks flushed again at her use of the word ‘our.’

“I don’t attend classes, but I can vouch for the faculty. We, at the Lupus Vassium Academy, with our long tradition and history, do not employ professors just for show.”

“And what about the sanitary conditions and dormitory facilities where they take their classes and eat their meals? I’m sure it’s a comfortable and cozy place for students to stay?”

“… Of course. It depends a bit on your status, but I’m sure our students like Michael have comfortable rooms.”

“What about the diet? Our Michael has a diet that he has to follow. I know I sent the paperwork in advance, is it being followed?”

“… Mmm.”

For the first time, Alfonso was speechless as he avoided her gaze, her eyes shining as she continued to speak.

As far as Michael’s diet was concerned, he didn’t know.

“Haha, wife.”

Lucas burst out laughing, unable to contain himself.

“I know you’re worried, but the Academy’s facilities are impeccable, so you can put those worries to rest.”

At Lucas’s interruption, Alfonso’s stony expression softened.

“Yes, my lady. But from now on, I will pay more attention. Don’t worry.”

Lucas’s right eyebrow shot up at his answer. It was Alfonso’s usual demeanor, naturally calling her ‘my lady’.

Everyone, whether it was this person or that person, seemed to be restless because they couldn’t address her as ‘my lady.’

“It’s a relief to hear the Marquis say that, but I don’t think it’s quite right to call me my ‘lady’.”

Smiling softly, Alfonso’s expression hardened for a moment as he understood her meaning, but then he lightened up and replied.

“That’s right… You said you were getting married.”

“Yes, that’s right, we’re going back up to the North and getting married in the winter.”

“… You’re moving pretty fast, don’t you think wedding planning usually takes a year?”

He asked in a questioning voice, and Lila replied in a sincere voice.

“I can’t wait to be a part of Lucas and Michael’s family.”

And with that, she smiled a smile that was full of happiness. As if she was happy just thinking about it.

In response, Michael swept her into a silent hug. Holding him tightly in her arms, Lila’s eyes flicked to Lucas.

With a face as soft as her expression, Lucas turned to Alfonso.

“I hope you’ve had a good look. I’m not a fool to think I don’t know what brought you here.”

For a moment, Alfonso thought he’d misheard him, his soft expression and words so different, his sky-blue eyes dilating slowly with panic, his lips curling upward.

Lucas had already done his research on Charlotte, and he was done with Alfonso.

As Michael and Lila spoke to each other, Lucas added in a low voice that only Alfonso could hear.

“For your information, I hate it when people mess with what’s mine the most. I’ll make sure you get what you deserve.”

His soft, mint-colored eyes burned with intensity. Alfonso stared at him, unable to contain his bewilderment.

This sight of Lucas was so different from the man he’d seen at the academy, so different from the man he’d seen with the crown prince. It made his throat tighten.

He felt as if he were being weighed down by an unknown strength.

It feels like he’s out of reach, like a Crown Prince…

Held in Lucas’s gaze like a prey in a trap, Alfonso let out a slow breath only after he turned his head away.

He barely looked away when he saw Lucas picking up his teacup with an unaffected, carefree expression.

The sight of Lila and Michael chattering happily made his head spin.

Something subtle stirred in him as he watched the three of them break away from the norms he knew.

What a tight-knit family.

Alfonso, who had entered this place with light-hearted thoughts, could only stare at them with a complicated expression.