GMYB Chapter 30

Chapter 30. The Northern Grand Duke has become strange

Jaina was flustered at the sight of tears welling up in her large eyes. Lilian came closer to her and grabbed her hands tightly.

“Thank you so much for living.”

It felt a bit ironic to hear the words of thanks from the person who caused all the saints to die. Jaina awkwardly smiled and said that it’s fine because it seemed like there was no lie in the way she spoke with tears in her eyes.

Leo, who had been silently watching the two, grabbed Jaina’s wrist that Lilian had grabbed and pulled it away, saying to her.

“Let’s go in.”

Lilian immediately stopped Leo and shouted.

“I’ll show you inside!”

Leo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as if he was displeased.

Lilian tried to smile brightly and said to him.

“His Grace the Grand Duke is visiting the palace for the first time in a long time. So His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to treat you with the utmost care.”

“No need.”

When Leo firmly expressed his refusal to her, Lilian’s expression hardened for a moment.

“Yes?”

“It’s not like the palace path is so dark that I need guidance. Even if I’m not familiar with the palace’s geography, there’s no reason for a guest who isn’t the owner of the palace to guide me.”

Lilian’s face, which had been stiff at Leo’s words, instantly turned pale.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. The reason His Highness sent me is because I asked him.”

Lilian, who immediately blamed herself for her thoughtless actions because she wanted to see the saint who survived the forest of Elim. She smiled awkwardly and said to Jaina.

“I did it because I wanted to see the saint as soon as possible. Please be generous and understand.”

Jaina, who was taken aback by Lilian’s behavior of apologizing to her, waved her hands. Lilian thanked her for understanding and wet her eyes.

‘Why is this person like this?’

No matter how much she thought about it,sbe  couldn’t figure out why Lilian was the one who guided them around the palace. Also, since she even apologized to her, she didn’t know what to do.

‘Why are your eyes tearing up again?’

Sbe couldn’t keep up with the situation at all, so she just blinked her eyes. But Leo grabbed her wrist and said.

“Let’s go in.”

Suddenly, she looked at Lilian, who was being left back and bowed her head toward her and Leo.

Jaina’s eyes quickly blinked as she felt sorry for Lilian, who was left alone at the entrance.

***

The ball celebrating the upcoming hunting festival was bustling with all the nobles of the empire in attendance.

As soon as Jaina followed Leo into the ballroom, someone loudly announced that Leo and her had arrived. She was startled and her shoulders trembled.

“His Grace the Northern Grand Duke and the Saintess who protects the North are entering.”

The announcement drew the eyes of many people to Leo and Jaina.

Leo walked to his seat in front, completely ignoring the nobles who glanced at them or whispered.

After seating Jaina first, he picked up the wine glass on the table and offered it to her.

Jaina accepted the wine glass and slowly looked around.

Many nobles’ eyes were still focused on her and Leo.

They seemed most curious about whether the rumors about the eunuch Leo were true or false, seeing that he had brought the saint.

And then.

“His Highness the Crown Prince and the saint who protects the empire are entering.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the entrance with the man’s shout.

Lilian, who they had met at the entrance of the palace, was holding the Crown Prince’s hand and was about to enter.

Crown Prince Adel, with his dazzling blond hair and jewel-like blue eyes, had an extremely beautiful appearance. Just like the main male protagonist in a reverse harem novel.

Of course, she liked Leo much more than Adel, but there must have been a lot of people who liked the Crown Prince’s appearance.

He seemed like a pure nobleman who resembled the sunlight.

Jaina was thinking such pitiful thoughts while watching Adel coming this way with Lilian. She naturally widened her eyes when Adel called Leo.

“Leo.”

Leo nodded instead of answering.

‘Does the crown prince usually speak informally to the Northern Grand Duke…?’

It was strange that the Emperor’s son could call the Northern Grand Duke by his name so casually. 

“You pretended not to know my birthday, but you came this time.”

“You said everyone had to attend.”

Leo said with a calm expression at his words, and Adel smiled faintly.

Jaina stared at him without realizing it because his smile was so pretty.

When Adel turned his head to look at Jaina, Jaina flinched and quickly lowered her gaze to the floor.

“Is this woman the Saint of the North?”

Adel stared at Jaina and asked Leo.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Haha. For now, I’m busy preparing the Emperor’s congratulatory speech, so let’s talk leisurely later.”

In response to Leo’s harsh answer, Adel walked with Lilian to the Crown Prince’s seat.

That was when Lilian stared at Leo.

Jaina, who felt a strange sense of anxiety because her gaze never left Leo, unconsciously bit her lower lip.

“If it’s not fun, let’s go to the garden behind the Crown Prince’s Palace as soon as the congratulatory speech is over.”

Leo said as if he noticed Jaina’s expression.

“The garden?”

When Jaina asked with wide eyes, Leo nodded and looked at her.

“There’s much more to see than the artificial garden of the Grand Duchess’s residence.”