Lilian flickered away from Arthur's room, afraid that he would scream at her. Lilian also avoided Marianne. Seeing the expression that was ready to scratch Lilian's face, she thought the best thing now was to avoid her.
Well, Lilian also really didn't care if she confronted her openly. She just want to keep away from getting headaches with other problems. Lilian kept thinking about the next thing to do. She looked back toward Arthur's room that she had left far away.
There were no screams directed at her but a few moments later she saw Marianne coming out from the same door she left awhile ago.
Lilian hurried to speed her pace so that she didn't face Marianne.
"Miss Lesnarg!"
Lilian had to put the brakes on her footsteps if she didn't want to hit the man in front of her. But unfortunately Lilian could not stop on time. Lilian reflexively closed her eyes.
At the same time, Lilian noticed her shoulders being held tightly and precisely stopped her face from landing on that person's chest.
Lilian peeked out of one eye, before finally exhaling in relief that there was no collision. Imagining her bumping into this person, Lilian flinched There was no way her smooth face would be fine against that shiny silver armor.
"Are you hurt?"
Ian instinctively caught the woman who was running towards him without looking. Upon seeing the familiar face, Ian frowned. He raised his face and looked straight behind Lilian. Curious what makes a duke family lady run without paying attention to the road. His intuition says the first thing that makes a woman run is danger. But what made Ian's forehead frown even deeper was his point of view that fell on the figure of Marianne.
Ian, in certain matters knew Marianne was not a bad lady, besides her possessive attitude towards the young duke, she acted like any other respectable aristocrat.
"Miss, you-"
"Shhh!"
Ian widened his eyes again. Ian's body was arguably not a small body. His body and Arthur were almost the same, but he was more muscular to the fact he was more in the field than Arthur.
Based on that, even though his body was bigger than Lilian, Lilian easily dragged him to a corner.
No, that's not true.
Ian was too surprised thus Lilian easily overpowered him.
"Lady, wh—"
Nothing could make Ian widen again when Lilian's delicate and small hands covered his lips and part of his nose. He could smell Lilian's soft scent.
Ian noticed Lilian did not pay the slightest attention to their closeness and instead focused on something else. Ian ran his eyes and all he saw was Marianne again.
Lilian heaved a sigh of relief as she managed to avoid the armor body in front of her but immediately thought of Marianne who was walking towards her with a horrible face.
She involuntarily dragged the person who nearly hit her into a corner and forbade him to speak. Lilian returned to her sense when something warm touched her hand.
Lilian could barely contain the cry of admiration for this man in front of her. Lilian didn't know who this man was, but she often saw him with Arthur. Lilian probably didn't pay attention because she was too focused on Arthur, but looking closely like this, she clearly saw his red eyes and brown hair that were brighter than Arthur's handsome look.
Lilian really appreciates anyone or anything that has beauty. She cleared her throat to cover her interest, pulled the hand that was sassy perched on his face then took a step backward. She held her dress with one hand and one hand in front of her chest. Lilian bowed.
"Forgive my impoliteness, Sir ..." Lilian fled her eyes here and there, thinking hard whether she had read about him, but Lilian could not find the description. This possibility happened if he had never related to her character.
"Ian Griffiths, Milady, this is the first time I greet you. I'm the second child of Count Griffiths and Mr. Arthur's personal knight."
"... Griffiths ..."
Lilian felt familiar with that name. She thought for a while and immediately knew who it was.
"Edmund!"
"Yes ... he's my cousin from my father's side." Ian smiled as Lilian realized his relationship with Edmund, the knight in the duke's house who was now appointed as Lilian's personal knight.
Ian heard from Edmund that the person appointed as his master was the young Miss Lesnerg and disheartenedly accepted his position. But not long ago, Ian met with Edmund and his cousin did not speak ill of Lilian as he thought. But instead, flattering Lilian.
"Edmund is truly a good knight. I'm also sure Mr. Count is kind too and forgives my impoliteness, right?" Lilian grinned, nervous. What if he complains to Arthur?
"No, Milady. There's nothing to forgive and please just call me Ian." Ian waved his hand. "But if you don't mind, I want to know what made Milady run. Is there something dangerous?"
This time it was Lilian who waved. "No, nothing." But a second later changed her words. She lowered her voice as if to tell a secret. Ian naturally bowed his head and lent his ear. "Actually, I saw Miss Epheryl. I didn't like her and offended her. I think she would strangle me if she met me, so I hid ..." Lilian lowered her hands from her lips. "... and involuntarily dragging you."
Ian laughed. Not one or two people who didn't like Marianne, but only this time someone had openly said it to someone else.
"Well ... I can't say the same thing ... but I understand your feelings."
Lilian smiled broadly. There was no harm in being open to the person closest to Arthur. Who knew he could help Lilian in the future. Lilian took his hand.
"Now you are my accomplice in this matter Mr. Count! You know my secret, so I hope you can tell me if Marianne comes to see my brother."
"Uhh ... that's kind of ..."
Ian was having a hard time resisting Lilian's request. The same clear and blue eyes Arthur had looked at him expectantly. He had never seen Arthur smile kindly, if that happened, maybe this would be his gaze later. But he had made a promise to dedicate his life to protecting Arthur, as a knight and as his master. And he shouldn't be leaking any information about Arthur or anyone around him.
"Sir Count?"
Lilian patiently awaits Ian's inner struggle.
"I know this is not proper, but I want my brother not to be disturbed by such things anymore. As his younger sister, I want Arthur to be in a safe situation. If that woman is near Arthur, I'm sure he will get sick in the near future ."
Lilian fabricated nonsense but said it as if it were rational. Lilian saw Ian's doubts began to waver. She let go of her hand before speaking again.
"I'm sorry, just because I was too worried I made Sir Count in a completely awkward position. It's really a shame to ask a knight to break his oath."