How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 51

Miriam Captured

“Ah….”

When Miriam opened her eyes she found herself lying on a couch in an unfamiliar room.

“Where am I?… Robin! Robin, where are you!?”

She looked around the room but couldn’t find Robin. There was a large bed with a canopy in the room, along with a single sofa and two doors. There were no windows except for a dome on the ceiling. 

“The doors are naturally locked.”

She checked the doors to find both of them were locked. Miriam looked at the walls without any windows and deduced this might be a room to lock in nobles of high class.

She sat down on the sofa for the moment when the sound of someone unlocking the lock came from one of the doors. The madi who had brought tea in the Ruby palace stepped in.

“So, you’re awake?”

The maid smiled sweetly and beckoned Miriam to come to the adjoining room.

“Wait! What have you done with Robin! And where is this place?” Miriam asked the maid.

However, the maid just stood there silently as she waited for Miriam to come to the other room. Seeing no response, Miriam hesitantly stepped out of the room. She stepped out into a room that looked like a sitting parlour. There were two sofas facing her with a low table placed in between them. 

There was a familiar man sitting on one of the sofas.

“You…”

“Hey, Miss Caparoni.”

“… Prince Ivan. I hope you’re well…”

Miriam dropped to a curtsy as she greeted him. Ivan nodded and gestured for her to come closer.

“I’ll apologise in advance. I really apologise for this.”

Miriam was dumbfounded at Ivan who had bowed his head to her.

“P-please raise your head. What is Your Highness apologizing for…”

“For this abduction. The mastermind behind this is my uncle, Duke Saint Angelo. I was also just recently brought here from the manor I was under house arrest in.”

As Ivan finished speaking, the door opened and a well-dressed middle aged man came in.

“Prince Ivan, I’m glad you were able to arrive safely.”

The man greeted Ivan respectfully.

‘He entered so rudely without even knocking, yet he’s treating him so respectfully now… what a contradictory man’

Miriam glanced at Ivan who just nodded and smiled. She guessed he must be the Duke of Saint Angelo. She decided to greet him for now and was about to speak up when the Duke opened his mouth and spoke first. 

“I just heard Lady Tatiana’s beautiful voice and came running here in joy. So, where is this Miss Caparoni!?”

‘I’m here. Right in front of you.’

As was usual in society, he didn’t recognize Miriam as a member of the Caparoni family… and asked where she was right in front of her.

“Uncle, this young lady here is the second daughter of the Caparoni family, Miss Miriam Farina Caparoni.” 

The duke turned to her and frowned.

“Hey, don’t make fun of me. Yes, she is quite pretty in her own way but she cannot be a daughter of the Caparonis. Prince Ivan, have you ever seen Lady Tatiana or Miss Alessia? Even the son, Leonardo is handsome! They are on another level compared to the average person!”

Miriam sighed as Ivan looked at her awkwardly.

“There’s no mistake. I am the second daughter of the Caparoni family, Miriam.”

Sain tAngelo’s eyes widened when he heard that voice.

“You don’t resemble her at all, but your voice! Your voice is exactly like Tatiana’s! Ah! What a shame!”

Miriam froze at the rude remark while Ivan gazed away with a resigned sigh.

“Prince Ivan… I don’t usually speak ill of one’s relatives but… the Duke is quite rude.”

Miriam whispered to the prince. Ivan also nodded with an apologetic look on his face.

“All I can do is to apologize for him.”

The Duke laughed scornfully as he watched the two.

“It’s good that you seem to be getting along. Looks like it was worth it to go to the trouble of slipping past the First Prince’s guard. If that child from another world is important then we won;t do anything bad to him.”

Hearing about the child Miriam suddenly flared up and ran up to the Duke in anger.

“Robin! Where is Robin! Is he alright!?”

The Duke closed his eyes as he listened to the voice, his face twisting in pleasure. 

“Ah, it feels like Lady Tatiana is drawing near to me when I close my eyes…”

Both Miriam and Ivan recoiled in disgust at his whispered words.

“He will surely be alright. As long as you cooperate.” 

“You! To use a child like this! Let me see Robin right now!”

“Ah, say whatever you want. In the end, it’s important to develop your relationship with Prince Ivan. For when the First Prince dies, you will be marrying the Second Prince!”  

Miriam lunged at him but Ivan quickly stopped her. The Duke left the room soon after saying such a preposterous thing.

She watched as a guard stood in front of the room and locked the door from outside.

“What the hell is he… Ah, Prince Emilio…!”

Miriam covered her face with both hands and crumpled to the floor. Ivan, looking flustered, patted her head and then led her to the sofa to sit down for now.