Chapter 268: Emperor Durand Found Out About Their Relationship?
Irene tried to suppress her nervousness as Emperor Durand looked at her with a smile. He was waiting for her answer, but her mind was occupied with the sudden topic of Aldrian. It seemed he had already met the emperor, and the emperor appeared to be interested in her son. She wasn’t sure what Emperor Durand’s opinion of Aldrian was, but she still decided to answer. "I really don’t know much about him, Your Majesty. After he saved me and talked a bit, he continued his journey, and I don’t know where his destination was."
She kept her composure in check, determined to ensure that the emperor wouldn’t notice anything unusual about her explanation—or her lie. However, the emperor’s persistent smile made her feel increasingly uneasy, as he seemed to be trying to read her. Unfortunately for Irene, Emperor Durand had already noticed several signs that she was, indeed, lying.
"She’s lying, and that nervous heartbeat is so obvious to me. She’s trying to reveal as little as possible about Aldrian. Interesting," Emperor Durand thought, intent on uncovering more about their relationship.
"Is that so? What a pity. Although, he did seem to talk about you and knows who you are," Emperor Durand said, his smile unwavering. Of course, he was lying.
Irene’s eyes widened, while Grand Duke Rivas frowned at the emperor’s statement. The stark contrast between the father and daughter’s reactions amused Emperor Durand, as it allowed him to infer how these two regarded Aldrian.
"Grand Duke Rivas doesn’t seem particularly fond of Aldrian, but his daughter appears to have a special relationship with him—enough to try and conceal it. I see, so the key here is Irene Rivas, not the Rivas family," Emperor Durand thought.
"No, I—" Irene began to respond, but Grand Duke Rivas interrupted her.
"Your Majesty, may I ask where this Aldrian is? I wish to see him myself, to look at him and determine what kind of man he is."
"Well, I can’t give you his location unless he wants to meet you himself. However, perhaps your daughter can help you arrange a meeting with him," Emperor Durand replied, his gaze shifting to Irene.
"Young Irene, I know you’re already an adult and capable of pursuing a relationship, so I think it’s perfectly fine to have a man that—"