[SCR] 3 – Empty Prayer

The nanny put her hands on her hips and spoke.

“All right, my dear. It would be best if you did not get involved in this again. Do not say such horrifying things as having your heart stolen by a man of the Fontana family.”

“Horrifying things…”

“You have been deceived, young lady! I’m sure the heir is now proudly telling everyone that the precious princess of the Leveaux family is in love with him.

“What!”

“Forget about the Fontana man, or I’ll report you to the Master, and he’ll scold you!”

The nanny said with a fearful look and left the room with a sad sigh.

Idyllia stared in frustration at the door, which slammed mercilessly.

(He’s not that kind of a person!)

The nanny didn’t know him. That was why she said that.

“Sir Silvio ....”

Enraptured and happy, Idyllia uttered that precious name. He was the first to come to her when she was in trouble due to the carriage wheels falling off.

He smiled kindly at Idyllia, who was in her seat at her wit’s end. The smile on his face at that time was so beautiful that it almost melted my heart.

The crest on the side would have told him it was the Leveaux family carriage, but he took the initiative to help and even smiled kindly at Idyllia.

She had been frightened at her wit’s end in her seat.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you.”

“…ha…”

His smile at that time was so beautiful that it almost melted her heart. Just remembering it filled her with happiness.

However, her sister Beatrice, with her at the time, knew that the other party was from the Fontana family. She had showered with discourtesy.

Despite this, Silvio and his friends surrounded the carriage. They had lifted the tilted body of the carriage, fitted the wheels, and fastened it securely with clamps, even though their clothes were soiled.

In addition, he escorted them home.

What a proud, courageous, and caring man!

From the moment she had laid eyes on him, Idyllia’s heart had thumped loudly.

(Oh ..., what did he think of me? I hope he thought of me favourably, even if only a little…)

During the ride to the Leveaux estate, they had chatted idly.

But she was so nervous that she couldn’t respond without stuttering.

He might have thought she was a dull girl...

（Oh, unbelievable! I don’t know what to do. It’s not like that. I usually talk calmly with adults and make them laugh with my jokes... No.)

As she thought about it, increasingly worse possibilities came to mind.

(Maybe they didn’t want to talk to Silvio because he was from the Fontana family..., you didn’t misunderstand me to be thinking that did you?)

She was incredibly anxious; the worst scenarios kept popping into her head.

Idyllia got up, knelt on the bed, and clasped her hands tightly together.

(God! Please, please... give me another chance! I will behave properly this time....!)

She placed her forehead on her folded hands and prayed desperately.

But she knew it would be an empty prayer.

Her father would hear about this sooner or later. If he knew that the heir of the Fontana family had approached his daughters, he would surely tighten his surveillance and restrictions on them even more than before.

He might not even allow them to go and thank them….

(No! I don’t want that! I want to see him again... I want to meet that person. I want to see his smile as he speaks to me kindly…)

“Sir Silvio…”

She murmured with overflowing thoughts, and at that moment, she heard the faint sound of a pebble hitting the window.

At first, she thought it was purely her imagination, but she heard it again after a while.

While she was pondering on her bed – something hit the window again.

Idyllia’s chest shook with both anticipation and happiness.

“No way…”

She hurriedly got out of bed and opened the curtains. Beyond the ceiling-high window, she saw three pebbles on the balcony floor.

(No, surely not...!)

In a panic, she brushed her hair with her hand and put a woollen shawl over her nightgown. Idyllia slipped on a pair of fluffy indoor slippers and walked noiselessly onto the balcony. She then leaned against the railing and looked around.

“...Who? Who’s there?”

♔♔♔