My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 106

Chapter 53.2 — Night Getaway (4)

Cain glanced briefly at the three people who were embracing and crying. It seemed that, instead of their father, it was their sister who had taught and raised them.

“Your Excellency, given your many enemies, I’m sure this will prove useful, no matter how you choose to use it. There’s nothing I’ve shared here that won’t be of value.”

“….”

“Haha. You flatter me.”

Cain responded with a completely expressionless face, showing not the slightest change in demeanor, no matter what Saint-Cyr babbled. He gave him a brief, unreadable glance before extending his hand.

It was a gesture asking for a handshake.

Saint-Cyr smiled lightly and shook his hand.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Your Highness the Grand Duke of Acheron.”

Then, all of a sudden, Cain stretched out his arm and wrapped it around Saint-Cyr’s shoulders. The gesture was full of goodwill, as one might expect from a lifelong friend. The bold action caused Saint-Cyr—and even the two sisters, who had been in the middle of a tearful farewell—to freeze in place and turn to look at Cain.

He whispered in Saint-Cyr’s ear.

“Prince Narkissis is behind the bombing at the opera house.”

“….!”

The gray-brown pupils behind the monocle briefly widened before slowly returning to their normal size. After finishing his words, Cain walked away from Saint-Cyr and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

“You must want to protect your woman, too.”

At Cain’s words, Saint-Cyr instinctively turned toward Bea. The two women, their cheeks glistening with tears, stared at them in confusion. He glanced back at the man in front of him and forced a smile, pretending they had just exchanged a simple goodbye.

“I’ll get in touch with you, Your Highness.”

As Saint-Cyr tightened his grip on the hand he was holding, Cain nodded briefly before pulling his hand back. He adjusted the two notebooks in his grasp and looked back at the princesses.

“We must leave now, Princess.”

Riette bit her lip and nodded.

It was time to say goodbye.

She closed the car door but stuck her head out of the window one last time.

“I’ll be back, Sister.”

“Don’t get sick. Don’t do anything dangerous. Let’s meet again in good health, Riette.”

As though such a thing was truly about to happen, Bea expressed her sincere concern and kissed her sister on the cheek.

“Ah, you shouldn’t say things like that. I’ll get there safely, and I…”

Riette smiled brightly at her sister.

“I’ll have a happy marriage, Sister!”

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

At dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

During the ride in the limousine, Riette had become downcast from the lingering farewell, but as soon as she arrived at the train station, her mood brightened as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t as if they were saying goodbye forever—she couldn’t spend the entire day feeling down.

If she could stop Narkissis from inheriting the title of crown prince, she’d be able to return safely to see her sister in one year.

‘So, for the next year, I’ll gather my strength and live my life well. Riette!’

Steeling her resolve, she arrived at the platform and opened her mouth in surprise.

“There are… so many people!”

It was even earlier than sunrise. The platform was as chaotic as a busy market, filled with the noise of the crowd, the sharp whistle of the railway police, the shouts of vendors, and the cries of children.

It was the first time she had ever experienced such a cacophony of sounds.

The nobles and commoners of Chalonné, whom she had only seen waving handkerchiefs from beyond the guards, now walked right past her, barely a meter away.

As she was held by Cain, Riette chatted excitedly, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

“Look over there! That person has five children, and they’re carrying a puppy. I wonder if they’re allowed to bring the puppy on board. Oh, and there’s someone selling things over there, too…”

Cain, holding Ian, who was asleep in his arm, clasped Riette’s small hand with his free hand as she became completely absorbed in the sights around her.

His sharp features and intense presence kept anyone from daring to get too close. Wherever they walked, the crowd parted like a school of sardines fleeing from a shark, leaving a clear path as they quickly moved aside. Thanks to this, Riette was able to enjoy the scene in comfort, feeling much more at ease than the packed crowd around her.

“Nobody’s greeting me. It’s so strange. What’s that outfit? It looks so comfortable… Are you listening, Grand Duke?”

Ack.

Riette quickly shut her mouth.

Even though they had arrived at a train station in a nearby city, not Montbéliard Station, it was still a large city near the capital. She wasn’t sure if anyone would recognize her, so she had to be extra careful with how she addressed Cain.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she quickly came up with a new title.

“No… Honey?”

Cain suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Baaanng!

Whether the ringing in his ears was the loud blare of a giant metal horn or just an auditory hallucination, he couldn’t tell.

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