For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 18 - Unexpected Visit
#18. Unexpected Visit
Both of them were taken aback by Alfonse’s sudden words. Even Perth, who was standing casually in the back seat, had a strained expression.
“Your Highness. I have already explained that.”
Although he knew he shouldn’t interrupt while he was talking to Lia, he spoke first. But Alfonse didn’t care. He leisurely lifted his teacup and took a sip of tea.
“I didn’t ask you.”
It was Lia’s turn to explain. It was embarrassing to have to explain to the prince when nothing had happened. To calm her startled mind, she took a sip of tea like Alfonse and then calmed her surprised mind.
“As Mr. Perth said, it’s just a rumor.”
“Just a rumor…”
There was an expression of disbelief. It seemed as if he sincerely doubted that there was something between Lia and Perth. It was understandable that May, who didn’t know the situation, would doubt it, but it wasn’t reasonable for Alfonse to doubt it since he was the one who had asked Perth to investigate Lia.
“Surely Your Highness doesn’t believe the rumors circulating in the palace?”
“I heard you met separately with my aide.”
“As you know, Mr. Perth specifically made time to investigate me thoroughly.”
Alfonse stared penetratingly at Lia. It felt like he was examining her reaction from her eyes.
“Is that all?”
“What else should there be?”
Lia didn’t avoid his gaze. She deliberately picked up a cookie and slowly brought it to her mouth. The hard cookie made a crisp sound as it broke in half in her mouth. Normally, she would have eaten it quietly, but now she deliberately made a sound.
She had nothing to do with Perth. She didn’t understand why he was saying such nonsense. Whether he understood the intention in her clear gaze or not, Alfonse avoided her eyes and nodded slightly. The doubt in Alfonse’s mind was further reinforced as Lia added.
“Mr. Perth and I are just friends.”
At that moment, their eyes met. Neither of them thought of each other as more than friends. Perth nodded slightly as if to say she had spoken well. Alfonse found the word ‘friends’ strange. He didn’t think a friendship could exist between a man and a woman in the first place.
The relationship between the two was not properly understood. But both of them, the parties involved, calmly denied any affection. Whether they were friends or not, they didn’t seem to have feelings for each other.
“I see. My aide is a bit indifferent, so I was curious when you two spent time alone.”
Alfonse’s indifferent attitude was even more annoying. Suspecting everyone. So Lia deliberately spoke more sharply.
“Could you also tell me the reason why you investigated me through busy Mr. Perth? You seemed to want to know about me.”
“Of course, I want to get to know you better. As more than just friends.”
More than friends. It was deliberately mentioned. Moreover, someone with a fiancée openly mentioned a relationship beyond friendship. Lia was perplexed, trying to suppress a frown. Perth also looked down at him with a cold gaze.
“Friends with the prince. It’s an honor, but it seems too much for me.”
Deliberately, Lia intensified the relationship as just simple friends, pretending not to hear. There was a concern that she might be misunderstood as having an affair with the prince. She didn’t want to just be simple friends. If it weren’t for the conditions of the Count, if it weren’t for Perth’s introduction, they would never have met.
“If it’s Lady Penelope, that’s qualification enough. Don’t you know how much influence the young lady’s father has in Psychedelia?”
In the end, it was about keeping her close because of her father. She knew it, but hearing it directly made her feel worse. Lia didn’t want to benefit from her father. She wanted to be recognized for her abilities and entered the palace for that reason.
But perhaps she didn’t know that even entering the palace might be because of her father’s fame and position, not her abilities. Whether she liked it or not, he was her father. It was harder to think of him separately.
“Is there something you want from my father?”
Lia asked honestly instead of beating around the bush. The way nobles conversed had never suited her personality, especially the hiding and twisting. But perhaps Alfonse found the question welcoming, for he smiled brightly.
“I can’t deny that. Since the young lady asked honestly, I’ll give an honest answer. Although I have the right to inherit the throne, my current foundation is weak. There’s no guarantee that the nobles who were loyal to the king will be loyal to me as well. That’s why the neutral power of Count Penelope is even more necessary.”
Alfonse, speaking about the current situation, was completely different from the playboy image he had before. He was serious, and there was strength in his voice. Lia was secretly surprised that he was such a person. So she responded sincerely as well.
“Your Highness, there’s a misunderstanding. My father doesn’t listen to me at all in political matters.”
Count Penelope loved her daughter dearly. Even Lia herself knew that well enough. But that didn’t mean her father would listen to everything she said. On the contrary, they clashed in every aspect. She said ‘in political matters,’ but in fact, the Count had hardly ever listened to Lia’s opinions properly.
Just take the example of entering the palace. No matter how much she said it was her lifelong wish, the Count opposed it. Because of the marriage she had heard about a thousand times. Because of the Count, she had to continue the unwanted encounters with Alfonse.
“If I could offer Lady Penelope a higher position, wouldn’t your father listen?”
What nonsense is that? Lia found herself demanding an explanation from Perth at his nonsensical words. She knew it was unreasonable to confront Alfonse, the person involved, but somehow it all seemed to be his fault.
“Your Highness, perhaps there was a bit of a misunderstanding. The young lady seems puzzled by the current situation.”
But whether he anticipated all this or not, he was casual about it. Seeing his demeanor, Lia was convinced. Perth already knew what Alfonse was talking about.
“If the Count speaks well of it, I will give the lady a high position in the palace. I can take you off your apprenticeship immediately.”
It was a promise of promotion. Working in the palace had been Lia’s long-standing dream. It would be great if she could remove the ‘apprentice’ label immediately. But it wasn’t fair to do it this way. Despite not fitting in with her father in every aspect, there was one thing she respected him for. He always tried to be honest and maintain neutrality.
“You don’t need to bring the Miracle of the Desert to life.”
Alfonse added to Lia, who was hesitating. Hearing his words made her more determined. The prince hadn’t summoned her to the palace to bring the Miracle of the Desert to life for the queen. He had simply chosen her as an excuse for his need for power.
“I… am grateful for the invitation to the palace.”
She was speaking to Alfonse, but her eyes were on Perth. She resented him for not telling her despite knowing all this. But when she met his cold gaze behind the glasses, she realized he had never been on her side. He was just Alfonse’s aide.
“But I want to be officially employed as a palace staff member by proving my abilities to bring the Miracle of the Desert to life.”
“Isn’t it very difficult to revive that plant? I heard the chances are slim.”
“Isn’t it Your Highness who called me to the palace for that? Even if the chances are slim, I want to do my best for the given mission.”
She felt embarrassed for misunderstanding Alfonse’s intentions at first, thinking he deeply cared for his mother. She just wanted to end the meeting with the prince and return to the greenhouse to focus on her work. After all, it had been almost a month, and she thought she could just lie and end the meeting with a lie.
Lia looked back at Perth, who was still standing behind Alfonse. She couldn’t read any expression from him. There was no sign of apology or embarrassment.
Alfonse was also taken aback when Lia firmly refused. It was the first time he had been so blatantly rejected despite offering all the conditions so openly. It was also disconcerting that she didn’t come to him, even after he had offered to help her get a job in the palace, as Perth had advised.
Clearly, from what he investigated, she only wants one thing: to work in the palace. It was peculiar, but it piqued his interest even more. Initially, his approach was simply for the sake of his relationship with Count Penelope. However, he found it interesting that she didn’t behave as intimately as most noblewomen would.
When he heard rumors about his aide Perth, his pride was slightly wounded. With the prince in front of her, he couldn’t believe she was seeing eye-to-eye with his aide. Thankfully, they clarified that they were nothing more than colleagues. So, he went ahead and presented all the conditions he could offer.
“If what you want from me is to convey your message to my father, I can do that. However, as I mentioned earlier, my father doesn’t listen to me. I can’t take responsibility for that part.”
Alfonse nodded unknowingly. He took a sip of tea with trembling hands. The tea, already cold, tasted bitter and sour. He couldn’t help but grimace.
“Then, may I return to work now?”
In place of Alfonse, who didn’t respond, Perth stepped forward. He walked over to Lia’s side and guided her to the door. As she received a natural escort like flowing water, she glanced at Perth.
“I enjoyed the meal.”
Before stepping out of the room, Lia politely bid farewell. She hoped she wouldn’t have to visit the prince’s palace again.
Thunk. The heavy door of the reception room with the prince closed. As she realized she was finally out of the prince’s sight, she let out a long sigh. There couldn’t be another uncomfortable dining experience like this.
“Are you okay?”
Perth’s voice sounded concerned from the side. However, Lia doubted whether he was genuinely worried.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you didn’t ask.”
Perth replied quietly to Lia’s questioning tone. His usual tone only fueled her anger further.
“I thought we were friends.”
“It was part of the deal.”
“Still, I thought we had become somewhat genuine friends! You didn’t seem so obligatory, Mr. Perth.”
As Lia’s eyes bore resentment, Perth hesitated. What was she so angry about? He had been clear from the beginning that it was a transaction.
But still, what did she want from him exactly? Did he unintentionally show an emotional attitude that wasn’t obligatory, as she said? He couldn’t be sure of anything even when he questioned himself. Perth clenched his fist and pondered. He closed his eyes briefly and took off his gloves.
“What are you doing here?”