Siena Dating Agency - Chapter 32

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

32.

 

It was really strange.

 

‘Besides this, it was also puzzling that Violet knew the Crown Prince’s face and liked him.’

 

I pondered seriously for a moment.

 

“How on earth does she know…?”

 

Then I quickly shook it off.

 

“Really, what am I doing speculating about this stuff.”

 

I suddenly remembered the fact that I was a ‘loner.’

 

I was a homebody who found social interactions bothersome.

 

I’d been like that since I was young, and I still was.

 

‘Actually, if Chase hadn’t given me such generous allowance, I would have quit the Counseling Center job long ago.’

 

But Violet was popular.

 

She was the ultimate… ultimate ultimate popular girl.

 

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday she’d chat with friends at the Tea Salon, and regularly attended tea gatherings where noble daughters met.

 

As such, the stories Violet heard were probably twice as many as mine.

 

“I guess stories about Castillian do circulate among the nobles. Violet must have heard about it there.”

 

Also, since Violet liked the Crown Prince, I had assumed she must have met him.

 

But thinking about it again, that was my prejudice.

 

‘Johan also likes Violet even though they’re complete strangers.’

 

Even though he knows nothing about her.

 

Of course, Johan and Violet’s situations were different.

 

Even if Johan fell for Violet’s appearance, Violet liked Castillian without knowing his face.

 

But didn’t Isadora say this?

 

“Violet Bringer is 18 years old, and since she’s become an adult, she’s probably considering marriage.”

 

“…”

 

“Then she’ll look at a man’s conditions along with what attracts her heart.”

 

Instead of appearance, Violet had prioritized Castillian’s other ‘conditions.’

 

‘Even if she doesn’t know his face, she likes the wealth and honor of royalty.’

 

I finally reached a conclusion.

 

“I guess that’s just how it is.”

 

Whatever the case, there was nothing I, as a third party, could definitively judge.

 

I turned my eyes to the window.

 

Lian’s shameless face suddenly flashed through my mind.

 

“Center Director.”

 

Come to think of it…

 

“…I’ll finally see him today.”

 

I would be meeting Lian for the first time in three days.

 

After today, I’d go back to work at the Center and spend time with him again.

 

Even though I hadn’t seen Lian yet, I could clearly picture how he’d act toward me.

 

“He’ll pour out words like crazy for the few days we haven’t seen each other. All useless talk, no doubt.”

 

“…”

 

“Lately he’s been calling me ‘you’ a lot instead of Center Director… I wonder if he’ll do that at the Imperial Palace too.”

 

“…”

 

“He’s really a strange person who doesn’t know shame at all. If he calls me ‘you,’ I should step on his foot.”

 

I grumbled to myself.

 

But… my feelings were strange.

 

‘Clearly I’m annoyed that Lian casually calls me ‘you.”

 

The way he keeps talking to me, and how everything he says is nonsense.

 

But when I pictured his smooth face, somehow the corners of my mouth tickled.

 

Also, my feet trembled, and I could feel my heart beating fast.

 

“…Is this arrhythmia?”

 

I crossed my arms.

 

I deliberately tensed my shoulders and curled my toes.

 

But my body still kept trembling as if anxious about something.

 

Meanwhile, the carriage entered a thick forest.

 

The sun was blocked by tall trees, making the inside of the carriage dark.

 

Only then did I face my reflection in the window.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Strangely, I was smiling.

 

* * *

 

The carriage that had been racing for hours finally began to slow down.

 

Siena, who had been dozing while sitting, woke up.

 

Outside the window, which had only shown dirt roads and trees, the luxurious scenery of the Imperial Palace was now reflected.

 

“I’ve finally arrived.”

 

The time when I’d have to send Johan away again… with my own hands.

 

The carriage soon stopped.

 

Siena raised her arms and stretched.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Then the hawk that had been sleeping in the opposite seat also woke up.

 

“Screech.”

 

Siena gave instructions to the hawk.

 

“You know, right? At our house, you weren’t allowed to wander around anywhere except my room.”

 

“…”

 

“But this isn’t even our house, it’s the Imperial Palace. So you absolutely cannot go outside the carriage.”

 

“…”

 

“Stay quietly in the carriage while I’m gone. You understand, right?”

 

The hawk, who had been staring at her intently, tilted its head with golden eyes gleaming.

 

“Screech?”

 

…It was a completely unreliable response.

 

‘It’s definitely pretending not to understand because I didn’t give it a treat while talking.’

 

Though they hadn’t been together long, it seemed she had spoiled her companion hawk’s habits.

 

Siena got out of the carriage and patted her waist.

 

“Ow, my whole body… Sitting for so long made my body stiff.”

 

She was nineteen this year.

 

But maybe because the soul inside wasn’t nineteen.

 

Sometimes she acted as if there was a grandmother inside her.

 

But then it happened.

 

“…Screeech-!”

 

The hawk let out a loud cry.

 

Siena’s eyes widened.

 

‘Huh…?’

 

Why is it acting like this?

 

Something felt ominous.

 

“Screech, screech!”

 

“What’s wrong…? Did your claw get caught in the carriage seat?”

 

“Screeech!”

 

And my premonition was right.

 

The hawk, which had been flapping its wings anxiously, suddenly burst out of the carriage.

 

It passed by Siena and began flying somewhere.

 

Panicked, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted.

 

“No, where are you going! Hey…!”

 

Clearly, despite his fierce appearance, Hawk had a gentle personality.

 

He seemed to understand most of what Siena said, and when he was with her, he never left her shoulder.

 

‘So why is he suddenly acting out like this…!’

 

And in the Imperial Palace, no less.

 

“This is driving me crazy.”

 

Siena looked around frantically.

 

After confirming there was no one nearby, she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

 

“…B-Butterfly…! Don’t go!”

 

…’Butterfly’ – that was the name of the fierce-looking black hawk.

 

Actually, she had given him that name quite a while ago.

 

“What should I call you? I’ve never named an animal before, so this is awkward…”

 

“…”

 

“Hmm… But…terfly?”

 

Of course, after blurting it out unconsciously, she was shocked at herself.

 

“Good grief, how embarrassing can this get.”

 

Calling a black hawk with such an intimidating appearance ‘Butterfly’…

 

But she couldn’t help it.

 

‘The only other names I could think of were things like Happy or Maru.’

 

She used to wonder why adults always gave their pets such similar names…

 

Turns out she was exactly the same.

 

Anyway, even after naming him, she hadn’t been able to call him properly until now.

 

‘It’s too embarrassing!’

 

She had only timidly called out “B-Butterfly…” a few times when they were alone together.

 

But now she had to shout it.

 

“Butterfly! Butterfly, stop right there! I’ll give you treats…! Come back!”

 

Butterfly was smart.

 

He seemed to understand most of what Siena said, and appeared to recognize the name she had given him.

 

And perhaps sensing that Soren disliked him, he was particularly quiet in front of him.

 

But not right now.

 

‘He’s distracted like an excited puppy that’s been let outside…!’

 

If she just stood here calling his name, she would lose Butterfly for sure.

 

She had no choice but to follow the hawk.

 

“I mean, is it really okay to wander around the Imperial Palace like this…”

 

She was worried, but there was no other option.

 

But then, a thought occurred to her.

 

‘There must be a reason he’s suddenly acting like this…’

 

Could he have caught his owner’s scent?

 

Butterfly was an animal with a more developed sense of smell than humans.

 

And today, the Imperial Palace was filled with various scents.

 

‘Countless nobles from all over the Empire have visited the Imperial Palace.’

 

So Butterfly’s owner might be here.

 

‘Right, there must be a reason why smart Butterfly is acting out.’

 

Siena gripped her dress hem tightly and quickened her pace.

 

“B-Butterfly! Let’s go together!”

 

She didn’t forget to occasionally shout out the embarrassing name.

 

How long had she been walking?

 

She passed through the garden and entered the rear section of the Imperial Palace.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Then she was shocked.

 

She had encountered a completely unexpected scene.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————