Chapter 82: Igor's Clumsiest best

Chapter 82: Igor's Clumsiest Best

Igor fidgeted around awkwardly and only then did Rihannan notice that he was trying his clumsiest best to communicate in his own way. It did not look like he was forcing her to eat, though it did come off as one. He had a difficult time speaking his thoughts out.

Rihannan was amazed, her lips parted slightly.

After a moment's bout of hesitation, she placed a slice of meat on a plate and cut it into small pieces before putting it in her mouth. It was not too bad but it could be better.

"....." Igor looked up and his aura brightened. A faint smile spread around his lips. "Um... how's the Duchess? Tell me if she isn't qualified. I'll recommend someone else."

"No," Rihannan shook her head, "it hasn't been long since we met but I've grown to like the duchess. You need not worry."

"I'm glad to hear that. Though she'd been away from the capital and from noble society for a long while, her status and connections remain. She'll be a great help to you," he said, twirling the fork around in circles.

Rihannan smiled lightly. "Yes. I think so too."

She thought of the thick book, wondering whether to ask the duchess of the name Leticia Olbach. Though the possibility exists that the Duchess may not know either, but knowing her wide array of connections, she might find out a thing or two.

"Rihannan, how... how's the wedding preparation?"

"It wasn't too difficult. The Duchess really helped me out. I plan to make it as simple as possible and throw out all that I don't need to save..."

"No." Igor immediately objected to her words. "You don't need to worry. Clothes, accessories, whatever it be, there's no need to worry."

"But I can't afford it all... besides, spending so much for temporary marriage is..."

Igor flinched at her words.

"If it's about preparation," he hesitated on what he would say next and gave her a furtive glance with a slightly perplexed look before letting out a sigh. He continued, "there are a few things we've already prepared."

"Prepared in advance? What is it?"

"...You'll find out when you see it and if there is anything else you need, don't worry about the cost and buy them without a thought in mind."

Rihannan could not resist his words. He was adamant. Stubborn, too. If so, there was no need to refuse his goodwill.

"Then, I'll do that."

Igor nodded. "And as you can see, the Queen's Palace has been repaired and renovated extensively. If there is anything that does not fit your liking, feel free to change it as you see fit."

It sounded as if she would continue to live in the palace long after their scheduled divorce, but Rihannan paid it no mind and said, "Of course."

A faint gloomy aura hung around Igor at her brief and short answer. Confused, Rihannan looked at him.

"You don't like it?" Igor raised his brow, the pitch of his voice slightly higher.

"What?"

"The... the change... you don't like it?"

"No. I like it. I talked about it with Basil."

"Ah, okay. I see. I did see you laughing and enjoying your time with him..."

At his remark, Rihannan blinked.

'Huh?'

Was he sulking or something?

She remembered Basil's words of Igor wanting to show off the changes to the Queen's Palace only to be disappointed with the unfinished renovation. So... had he been sulking in the corner all along? Did he need comforting?

"...Thank you. I really like it."

"....."

Igor raised his head and looked at Rihannan with lips wide open and quaking eyes.

"Really. I like it. Thank you."

"I'm... glad."

At that moment, his face loosened and he wore a freeing smile.

"Also, I'll be leaving the palace for two days," he said hastily with a tinge of nervousness. "I'll need to visit the State Department of Estate. It had been pre-scheduled and I did not expect you'd come to Arundell with me..."

"It's fine. I don't mind," Rihannan replied.

"I'll only be away for a short while. Don't hesitate to ask the Duchess for help should you need anything. And in the meantime, there will be people wanting to approach you. Decline all of them. We don't need to rush."

That, too, was fine. She had no prior thoughts of integrating with noble society till she gained an understanding of the current political scene. She knew the dangerous intricacies and complexities when dealing with political proponents unprepared.

She recalled the letter she received from the Mother Queen and sighed faintly. The sufferings she faced when caught in the middle of Hertia Cesca and Igor Cesca's battles were troublesome indeed. Should she step on the wrong path, the end result will remain the same.

But regardless, her reasoning was not enough to ignore the Mother Queen. Despite all things, the Mother Queen had been the only figure who stood by her side time and time again. This was a fact she could not ignore.

She was the Mother Queen's goddaughter and she thought it wrong to turn away from the person who treated her well despite her many faults.

And most of all, Igor and his mother surely would not have a deep, fractured relationship despite their estrangement.

"Rihannan, do you have any other concern?" Igor asked cautiously, noticing a slight crease on her forehead.

Rihannan expressed a melancholic smile. "It's nothing."

Later on that day, Rihannan wrote a letter to the Queen. It was formal rejection and that she expressed her deep apologies for her inability to visit her right away. The next part stated her excitement and how she looked forward to visiting her in the near future.