How About a Refill? ~The Elegant Tea Party of the Grand Witches~ - Chapter 56

To Trust or Not to Trust

“You can use the bed, Your Highness. I will be fine on the sofa.”

“No, how can I let a lady sleep on a sofa? What’s more, my brother will kill m… uh! Ahem! Sorry. I’ll sleep on the sofa so you should take the bed.” 

It had been about half an hour since the palace and the Caparoni house began looking for the two. Miriam and Ivan had spent that time arguing back and forth about who should sleep on the bed.

“I cannot do that! It’s the height of impropriety to make someone from the royal family sleep on the sofa! I won’t allow it!”

“You’re quite stubborn! You’re going to be a part of the royal family too! So that point is moot!”

“No! I’m still just a Marquess’ daughter!”

“Is that so? Then I give a royal command to this ‘just a Marquess’ daughter’! Go! Sleep on the bed!”

“Well! Now you’re just being unreasonable!”

‘Then what if we both used the bed?’

“What do you mean they’re sleeping together!_”

“_I’m not!”

Miriam and Ivan’s eyes widened at the voice of a third person that suddenly interrupted their back-and-forth banter. They both looked at each other, pointed towards the other to see if they were the one who spoke, and then both shook their head.

The door that was supposed to be locked opened from outside. It revealed a silver hair and gold eyed man, Gilbert Dala de Feline, standing there holding a sleeping child.

“Robin!”

Gil placed Robin on the sofa and pulled up the gauze blanket wrapped around him to cover his small body. He patted the small child’s soft golden hair. 

Miriam, feeling a bit cautious of Gil, rushed up to Robin. She let out a sigh of relief after looking him over for injuries.

“He seems to be fine, Your Highness, Prince Ivan. Oh and I believe this is the first time we’ve met. Mis Miriam Farina Caparoni. I’m Gilbert Dala de Feline.”

Gil bowed politely. Ivan gave a yell and grabbed him by his collar as he hounded on him. 

“You have guts showing up in front of me! What are you scheming!?”

“Come now, restrain yourself please.”

Gill effortlessly dislodged his hand, and straightened the rumpled collar with an aloof expression as he stepped away.

“You’re the one who kidnapped my sister! What are you doing here?”

Miriam stood up in front of Robin to shield him, and turned to Gil with a resolute expression. Gil made an amused expression as he gazed at her.

“I didn’t think you resembled her when I first saw you, but the way you calmly face things, or not backing down in this situation when a normal lady wouldn’t even be able to speak, actually resemble her a lot.”  

“Eh?”

Gil passed by Miriam and smiled fondly as if thinking of someone.

“I came to get you guys out of here. You can think of me as your ally now.”

Gil grinned widely as he spread open his arms.

“Do you think we can believe that!?”

“Hmm. I suppose it doesn’t seem believable. But I’m not lying. I want to leave the True Salvation religion and start living as myself. I want to return you guys back to the Palace. That’s why it’ll be nice if you can cooperate.”

“Cooperate?”

“Yeah. I will send you guys safely back to the palace. In return, you guys will turn into my means for a negotiation. What do you think?”

Looking at Gil’s still smiling face, both Miriam and Ivan got troubled expressions and turned to talk with each other.

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

“No, there is no way we can trust him. He might trick me again or use his magic to manipulate me.”

“Yes, that’s true… But he also brought Robin here.”

“What! Are you an idiot! It might just be a ploy to make us lower our guards!”

“But even if we stay here like this nothing will happen. Should we allow him to lead us just to the outside of this mansion?” 

“Hmmm. But…”

“He’s just one person. We’re three if we also include Robin. He’s outnumbered. If push comes to shove we can tie him up with my ribbon.”

“You’re… unexpectedly aggressive. Does your brother know…?”

Ivan slightly drew back from Miriam who had unwound the ribbon tying her hair. Gil laughed as he watched the two.

“Hahaha! Miss Miriam is quite funny! No matter what you can’t subdue me with a ribbon!”

Miriam grimaced as he laughed while clutching his sides.

“It’s fine if you can’t trust me. But still, come with me for now. I’ve put the guards to sleep so we should leave before they wake up.”

Gil opened the door and pointed to the corridor. The young maid, and 2 people in red robes were lying down in front of it. 

“Don’t worry, I haven’t killed them. So, are you guys coming?”

Gil had knocked out the red robed people who were supposed to be on his side. He’d even knocked out the maid who had brought them here. Wasn’t that the same as going against the True Salvation Religion? Miriam and Ivan still couldn’t trust him completely, but looking at each other they came to the agreement that it was better to have a temporary truce with him than to keep staying locked up here. With that decided, they commenced their escape attempt.