The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

And she, as the hero who slayed the white whale, didn't seem out of place at all?

"Could you be... a princess who has fled from another country?"

Duke Karlsten returned to his seat, crossed his arms, and asked with a stern expression.

If Miracles Have Color (re0): Chapter 45 clearly features a misled Duke.

"Princess?"

Kiana was taken aback upon hearing this.

She didn't know what the other person meant.

Upon seeing this, Duke Karlsten frowned slightly.

"Was she frightened?"

Duke Karlsten said with a hint of surprise, while Kiana felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.

Is there some misunderstanding between us?

Honestly, how exactly did Felix explain this to his duke?

“I didn’t expect Your Grace to say that.” Kiana shook her head, then explained with a smile, “I was just a little surprised that you would address me that way.”

Upon hearing these words, Duke Karlsten couldn't help but smile slightly.

“Ha, after all, I know nothing about you,” Duke Karlsten said without any attempt to hide it, “so I don’t know whether you are an enemy, a friend, or… someone with ulterior motives.”

"Ok?"

Kiana was startled upon hearing this.

"Hidden motives? I didn't expect the Duke to think of me that way?"

Kiana looked at Duke Karlsten with disbelief.

"What, did I say something wrong? If so, then... please forgive my wariness."

Duke Karlsten looked at Kiana with a smile, but Kiana felt as if there was a murderous intent in that smile.

not good!

Kiana inwardly cursed at this situation!

Could this guy... be mistaking her for someone who's threatening her?

Although Felix hadn't explained it clearly to her, she could tell that the duke was hostile towards her, meaning she didn't want her to get too close to her, which was why she was acting this way.

but...

“I’m sorry, Duke Karlsten, I have no ill intentions or other motives. I just want to be your friend.”

Kiana slowly shook her head as she explained. At the same time, she gave a meaningful look to Felix, who was standing silently beside her, urging him to speak.

The other person, however, gestured vigorously with their hands towards their pockets, clearly implying something.

Seeing this, Kiana finally realized that this demi-human knight wanted her to hand over the letter.

"Heh, making friends?"

Upon hearing this, Duke Karlsten gave a cold laugh.

Do you think I would believe that?

Upon hearing Duke Karlsten's reply, Kiana's heart sank. Did this guy still consider her an enemy?

But that shouldn't be the case.

My attitude was very clear; I meant no harm. Why doesn't this guy believe me?

Kiana frowned, a multitude of terrifying thoughts swirling in her mind, but in the end she could only sigh softly.

Fine, since this is Felix's decision, I'll... trust him this once?

After thinking for a long time, Kiana slowly took out the letter.

Upon seeing the letter, the duchess's stern expression softened slightly.

She looked at the letter with some surprise.

"Huh? What's this?"

As he asked, the duke raised his hand: "Did that strange man ask you to deliver it?"

A strange man?

Kiana was puzzled after hearing this.

Could it be referring to Felix, one of her subordinates? Hmm...

Looking at Felix's extremely handsome appearance, Kiana inexplicably felt that the Duke was right after all.

Unfortunately, the other party wasn't referring to his subordinates.

Rather, he was a colleague, or a nobleman of equal status.

"That court magician can write letters? Ha. I thought he would..."

"Uh, actually that's not the case."

Kiana, realizing that Duke Karlsten had truly misunderstood, immediately gave an awkward yet polite smile.

“This was handed to me personally by Felix, who asked me to give it to you.”

"Felix?"

Upon hearing the name, Duke Karlsten paused for a moment, then turned to look at Felix, who was standing beside him.

"Uh, hehehe meow~"

Kiana's sudden outburst was so unexpected that Felix was completely dumbfounded.

However foolish he may be, all he could do was feel awkward and helpless.

"You?" Duke Karlsten muttered to himself, without choosing to open the letter to read it.

"He asked you to give it to me?"

The duke turned his gaze back and looked at Kiana calmly.

Kiana was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Felix suddenly sending me a letter—so you didn't discuss this beforehand?

“Yes,” Kiana nodded, then asked with some doubt, “So, Duke, are you now planning to accept the letter?”

"Believe it, why not accept it?"

Duke Karlsten replied calmly.

Kiana breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the Duke had finally accepted the letter.

After the other party finally finished reading the letter...

"You're Kiana?"

At this moment, Duke Karlsten spoke again, and the coldness in his tone seemed to have lessened somewhat.

Kiana nodded upon hearing this, then said somewhat nervously, "Yes. I am Kiana."

“Oh,” Duke Karlsten seemed to deliberately draw out the “oh,” before continuing, “I am Duke Karlsten, and my name is…”

"Kursh Karsten?"

Kiana blurted out.

Upon hearing the name, Duke Karlsten paused, then looked at Kiana.

Her gaze lingered on Kiana for a moment, but only for a fleeting instant before she looked away.

“Yes, I am Duke Karlsten,” Duke Karlsten said calmly. “Felix has already told me the basic situation in his letter. I didn’t expect you to be so capable. Killing the Demon Whale all by yourself has really saved the capital a lot of trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Kiana was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and responded modestly.

"It's nothing, it's what I should do."

As Kiana spoke, she glanced at Felix standing beside her and noticed that he seemed completely unfazed, which made her feel a little annoyed.

Judging from your behavior, you're definitely doing it on purpose, aren't you?

"I never expected you to possess such formidable martial prowess. Heh, I'm quite looking forward to your duel."

Duke Karlsten seemed to be saying this intentionally.

Upon hearing this, Felix, who had just looked relieved, suddenly became somewhat nervous for some reason.

After all, his own strength might be able to hold out against Kiana for a while, but it definitely wouldn't last long, right?

In that case, my safety would be in jeopardy.

"Uh, that..."

Felix thought for a moment, then decided he couldn't let his duke continue speaking: "My lord..."

"Hmm? What, you don't want to?"

She was about to speak when she suddenly heard Duke Karlsten ask her a rather stern question.

This sentence immediately amplified Kiana's doubts.

"What's going on? Is she perhaps trying to use her subordinates to undermine my authority?"

If Miracles Have Color (re0): Chapter 46 Duke Karlsten's Ambition

However, the reality is not so.

The duke, who was sitting in his seat in the face of imminent danger, sighed and then slammed the letter written by his subordinate onto his desk.

"The letter says that Felix discussed with you in detail the plan to defeat the White Whale. But you set off immediately after only a preliminary understanding. Is that true?"

The Duke spoke in a very amiable tone.

Kiana realized that her words were not meant to oppress or intimidate her.