PBPGD

CHAPTER 89

Staring at the ice wall beyond the lush forest of flowers, snow, and
greenery, a man blew out a long smoke.

Ian has been in this state ever since he returned from the Empire. He felt somewhat dazed and seemed to be contemplating about something. Having a serious look on his face, his secretary couldn't even talk to him.

The secretary approached Ian, he cleared his throat and held out two letters placed on a silver tray.

"It's from the Empire. One appears to be addressed for His Grace's guest."

Ian compared the seals stamped on the two letters.

One has a crest from the Imperial Palace.

Another has the House Vale's crest.

Written in front of the letter is the name 'Canillia'.

"Is this all that Canillia sent?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"What did you come to me for?"

Instead of giving him an answer, the secretary points to a letter from Prince Wade. Rubbing the cigarette in his lips, Ian ruffled his hair irritably.

It's already been 15 days since he came back from the Empire. And in the end, Canillia didn't accompany him.

Ian knows well enough that his sincere feelings doesn't reach Canillia.

So he made such a cowardly move, but he didn't regret it.

However, Canillia refused even to that.

Ian was certain that Ihar had stopped her.

Because Canillia would have tried to follow him right away.

Back then when Ian infiltrated Louver in guise to pull Laura out, the only word that made the rebellious woman docile was 'Canillia'.

Upon hearing that her child was in Gaior, the woman took Ian's hand without hesitation.

The woman looked awfully lot like Canillia. But of course, there are traces in the woman's face of aging and troubled history, nonetheless her beauty wasn't hidden.

Ian could now see the reason why Marquis Vale and his wife went insane.

"Have you read it?"

"Yes. It's just a plain regards letter."

"Anything about me?"

"There is, but..."

'Are you saying there's almost none?'

Ian didn't wait for the secretary when he blurred the end of his words and dismissed him.

He slowly grazed his thumb on Canillia's name written on the letter. Ian laughed at the thought that even the handwriting was so like Lia.

With the letter in hand, Ian left the room. The past few days, while the restoration project was going well after the war, the garden was also a mess because the Grand Duke was planning for its expansion.

As Ian passed through the garden full of all kinds of materials and entered the annex where his guests are staying, the sound of children's laughter welcomed him.

'Being surrounded again today.'

Under the sunlit pergola, the children and Laura were laughing while their hands are in their stomach.

The children were family members of the workers mobilized for the restoration project.

The children that had been hiding in the corner of the Grand Duke's residence and waiting for their parents' work to end, got fond of Laura for being kind and affectionate to them.