(Chapter 41)
The group arrived at the Frostborne residence. People gathered immediately, welcoming their lord, the Duke of the North, Lorcan Frostborne, back. Among them was Crown Prince Kaelion Arvasyn, whose presence made the atmosphere tense. All eyes were on these two important figures. Beside Clarisse Faeloria, now known as Clarisse Faeloria Frostborne, Sasa could clearly see how nervous his mistress was at that moment.
Clarisse's emotions were growing more complicated, especially when she saw Lorcan's smile, which seemed more sincere than usual.
"It's been a long time since we've met. How are you now?" asked Kaelion warmly.
"I'm well, Your Highness. How about you? I hope everything is going smoothly," Clarisse answered politely, occasionally glancing at Lorcan.
Clarisse blinked, her feelings a whirlwind. She noticed Lorcan seemed displeased.
"Perhaps we should speak inside," Lorcan said in a slightly flat tone. Kaelion chuckled and nodded in agreement.
Inside the living room, Kaelion took over the conversation, recounting the resistance against the barbarians and their victory at the border. Meanwhile, Clarisse remained silent, occasionally stealing glances at Lorcan, who seemed lost in thought, his face reflecting the depth of his internal musings.
"By the way, I'm glad to hear you're doing well," Kaelion suddenly said. "But you look a little thinner. Have you been struggling with Lorcan not being around?"
Kaelion's question caught Clarisse off guard. She hadn't expected such a remark in front of Lorcan. Lorcan, appearing calm, waited for Clarisse's reaction.
"It would be a lie if I said I didn't feel that way," Clarisse answered quietly. "I often wonder what's going on there and if he's doing alright."
Kaelion smiled widely, glancing at Lorcan, who now appeared slightly embarrassed. Clarisse couldn't believe the change in Lorcan's expression, usually so cold.
Clarisse also began to realize how close Lorcan and Kaelion seemed. She wondered when they had become so close, concluding that perhaps their bond had formed while working together at the border.
On the other hand, Lorcan was lost in his own thoughts. He watched Clarisse chatting with Kaelion, and a slow, creeping jealousy began to wash over him. The longer it went on, the stronger it became, making him irritated and restless. His expression clearly showed he was struggling to contain his jealousy.
Kaelion, feeling Lorcan's sharp gaze, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. When he looked over, he found Lorcan glaring at him. However, Clarisse, still engrossed in conversation with Kaelion, hadn't noticed the shift in the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Sasa, standing not far from them, felt the tension in the air. He suspected Lorcan's mood was not a good one.
"Your Highness, how is Princess Caelira Duskthorn?" Clarisse suddenly asked, steering the conversation toward Caelira. Kaelion paused for a moment. Questions about Caelira always made him awkward, but he answered briefly, "She's well."
Clarisse knew, from his brief answer, that Kaelion was still the same as when they were at the Academy—always uncomfortable when it came to Caelira.
Lorcan, sitting in a corner of the room, felt like a neglected host. He merely sipped his tea, listening to the conversation. His longing for Clarisse was profound, but he could only feel content seeing her speak, even if not to him.
Every now and then, Lorcan nodded as he listened to Clarisse advise Kaelion to treat Caelira better. Kaelion scratched his head, promising to try harder.
Soon after, Lorcan stood up from his seat and left the room without a word. Clarisse froze, surprised to see him leave so abruptly.
"Don't be disappointed," Kaelion said, noticing the confusion on Clarisse's face.
"Why?"
"He actually misses you quite a bit."
"Misses me?"
Kaelion chuckled softly. "The Duke is a good man."
"Good...?" Clarisse was puzzled to hear Kaelion say that. Kaelion easily gave Lorcan a positive assessment, something Clarisse, who had been with him for so long, hadn't been able to do herself.