Chapter 284: Being spoiled and being sheltered are different things
The first thing I did when I met Natha for luncheon was ask him about the Lust situation.
"Nat! Is it true that Aleena is now--haa..." I paused to breathe because I was running to meet him halfway in the garden.
"Calm down, take a breath," he patted my back. "Why are you running?" he asked me first, before glancing at my back and repeated. "Why are you running? It’s dangerous."
I heard the clunk of the guards’ armor as they straightened their backs in dread. I grasped his sleeve and grinned sheepishly. "Because I want to see you quickly," I told him before he glared at my attendants more. "Anyway, the Lord! Is Aleena the Lord now?"
"So Zidoa told you?" Natha smiled and took my hand to lead me toward the greenhouse where we would have our lunch.
"Yeah, so..." I peered at his face; I knew he would have received the report right away yesterday, so it was not weird that he knew. But I have a strong feeling that he didn’t just ’know’. "Did you... plan all this?"
His lips stretched easily, but he didn’t answer my question. Instead, he threw me a test like Eruha always did. "Why do you think so?"
Oh, well--I could humor him. "Because Zia said your bank and the merchant association support Aleena," I said. "The merchant association probably doing it because the bank did, but the bank wouldn’t be able to do it without your endorsement."
His smile stretched a bit more, which told me I was right about it. "Also, Zia said Aleena started gathering support after she came back from here, after the banquet," I added.
I looked down at the ground hardened by the cold in contemplation. There was another thing, but...it was kind of embarrassing saying it out loud.
"Go on," Natha nudged me with a gentle gaze that told me my opinion was safe here; that I wouldn’t be mocked even if it sounded silly and conceited.