Please Be Patient, Grand Duke

her.
He then noticed Tholin’s presence, who was listening attentively.

“Oh, Lady!  I’m sorry.
Excuse me.
I didn’t realize that you were the mother of Princess Rosina von Weize’s uncle third removed, the daughter of Duke Heron’s cousin third removed! Please excuse me, Lady,” Eddy said, loud enough for Tholin to hear.

Tholin then walked away as he heard Eddy’s made-up family tree for Lia.
As suspected, he seemed to have followed her out of suspicion.
Eddy himself admitted that this antic was absurd, but it worked and that’s what mattered.

Lia let out a scoff.
She played along and said, “I will accept your apology.”

“Thank you.”

Eddy dramatically opened his arms, crossed his legs in a bow, and then kissed the back of her hand.
Lia felt a chill run down her spine at the sensation of his lips on her skin.
She let out a cough, let go of his hand coldly, and then stepped back.

“I’ve heard from Sir Bryton.
You’re going to help?” Lia asked him directly.

“I know my ways around Louvre.” Kirkham lowered his voice, fixed his round glasses, and pretended to scan the books alongside her.

Her eyes unnoticeably trembled as she heard that he knew Louvre well.

“It wouldn’t be easy memorizing Louvre…”

“I’m from Louvre,” Eddy said as a matter of fact.

“Pardon?” Lia did not believe her ears.

“Anyway, you look beautiful, Sir Canillian.”

The principal caressed his own chin while carefully observing her from head to toe.
Lia decided to escape from his uncomfortable gaze.
She thought the best way to do so would be to go over the opposite bookshelf, just across from Kirkham.

Looking over the stack of books, Eddy Kirkham smiled at her and said, “I see why you’re making him uneasy.
You’re a sinful one, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean, but I want to hear about the plans for later.
I politely reject any personal conversations,” Lia replied monotonously.

“Well, alright.
As I just told you, I know my ways around Louvre very well.
And tonight, they’re going to kidnap you.
Let them take you.
The moment you arrive at their hideout, I’m going to send the police a signal.”

“You’re going to attack their hideout?”

“Yes.
Can you do it?”

Lia nodded her head instead of answering.

Going into Louvre herself was something she wanted.
She needed to catch people’s attention and rile up Louvre while in a woman’s appearance.
Then hopefully, some of them would recognize her.
It was a little dangerous, but there was nothing faster than this method.
If it went accordingly as she’d hoped, she might be able to find her mother faster than she thought.

Kirkham sighed heavily, after he failed searching for hints in her intelligent, bright eyes.

“Is your 18th birthday next year?”

“Huh? Yes,” Lia was confused but answered nonetheless.

“It’s going to be a long time then,” Eddy remarked.

Eddy’s dark gaze lowered.
As he made his way around the bookshelf, Lia calmly moved away.
She took out a few books while maintaining a safe distance from him.
The royal library was enormous.
There was definitely room for both of them there.

Eddy changed the topic all of a sudden, “Do you want to come back to the Academy after graduating? I mean, as a teacher?”

“I don’t know yet,” was Lia’s honest reply.

“Come train under my guidance.
It’s my dream to have an intelligent student,” he tried to convince her.

Their quiet conversation was effectively being drowned by the sound of pages being turned, pen scribbling down on paper, and clothing rubbing against chairs from other students.

“If you’re done explaining, I’d like to be alone.
I’ll see you at the agreed time.”

There was absolutely nowhere else to escape to.
Lia’s back was pressed against the hard concrete wall while she replied to Eddy.
Then the principal, with his head slightly tilted to one side, stepped closer to her and said in a soft voice, almost like a whisper, “One more thing, please help me with something.”