âI didnât hear. Yeah, I didnât hear anything.â
As I entered the parlor at a quick pace, unlike myself, a large man smiled at me.
A large man looked at me and smiled innocently.
âLady Karinen, how have you been?â
âOh? Sir Tregosnan?â
First of all, I donât know why this gentleman came from the Faroy family, but it was a good opportunity.
âThe original male and female main characters meet!â
Iâll have to light a fire between them and get them engaged.
I peeked at Theodore and smiled.
âTheodore must have fallen in love with Lafesch at first sight.â
How did you know? I donât care which part Iâm looking at or looking at him, but my eyes are fixed on him.
âBy the way, brother-in-lawâs relatives are strangely intertwined.â
I didnât pay much attention because I would come in as Darylâs son-in-law anyway, but as I looked at the documents carefully, I knew why Theodore came.
A relative of his motherâs side is Lafesch Celeste and a relative of his own is Theodore Tregosnan.
âWas it like that in the original?â
While I was thinking, Theodore spoke to me as if I had come to my senses.
âOh, come to think of it, I heard from Gideon. Young Lady is helping to get ready for the wedding.â
âYes. My older sister is very busy, so I am in charge.â
âYou are trusted.â
It was no wonder Theodore was surprised. Usually, when there are three or more big-headed brothers in a noble family, a quarrel will start from that point on.
âBut in our family, the abilities of my older sisters are already certain.â
First, sister Elga was a knight who inherited our motherâs abilities. The next Grand Duchess was her.
Second, sister Juella made the top of our family, the first in five years, with her brilliant idea and common sense. The top is already hers.
âAnd their love is mine.â
All I needed to do was to be loved with full of wealth. Every birthday, you get a manor, a farm, and an island as a gift, so why would you scratch it?
Every birthday, you get a manor, a farm, and an island as a gift, so why would you scratch it?
So I just laughed and said.
âOf course, itâs a family.â
Theodore, with a little admiration, focused on Lafesch again. Now he started to tell her whether he had a little courage, but her reaction was unexpected.
âYou must like tea. If you have time next timeâ¦â¦â
âNo, I canât sleep well when I drink tea.â
âUhhâ¦. What youâre drinking now isâ¦â¦â
âThis is herbal tea.â
âThatâ¦â¦â
It was red. We were all dumped in the same kettle in the first place, but Lafesch said
âHerbs, tea.â
âYesâ¦. Oh, do you like opera by any chance? Next time if you have timeâ¦â¦â
âNo, I hate it because I have claustrophobia. Iâm a little tacky.â
It was a huge iron wall. Theodore, who spoke up at the end that did not allow any rebuttal, was even more embarrassed.
âOh, no. Itâs a matter of taste, what do you mean tacky? Thatâs not the intention at all.â
âYes.â
Oh, my. I never thought the day would come when I felt sorry for Theodore.
âBut I was never going to forgive you for making fun of me as a raccoon.â
After Theodore returned, I asked Lafesch carefully.
âLady Lafesch, did you not like Sir Tregosnan?â
âYes.â
Wow, youâre so firm.
âI like a man who will only look at me for the rest of his life.â
Thatâs right, as well as me, but Lafeschâs tone seemed convinced that Theodore would have an affair.
âHow do you know that, Lady Lafesch? Can you tell by just looking at his face?â
At that question, Lafesch was visibly perplexed. It was completely different from the way she hit the iron wall against Theodore with a blunt face.
âUh, ah, yes. Somehow I had a feeling it would be. Ohohohoâ¦. Itâs a foreboding.â
âI see. You must have a good feeling.â
âOh, I think it fits once in a while.â
âThe feeling is important.â
âYes, Lady, thatâs right.â
But why are you sweating so much, Lafesch.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Lafesch. But she didnât open her mouth any further, fixing her gaze on the papers.
***
The Imperial Familyâs tea time comes back every week.
The Emperor, the Crown Princess, and Esadien were sitting around a round table and spending quiet time.
âMy baby is not seen these days. You said you wouldnât come anymore?â
The Emperor, who had been slurping lemon tea, suddenly started to rhyme, saying, âItâs summer, so Iâm going to lose my appetite.â
âWho are you referring to, Your Majesty?â
Twenty years have already passed since no baby was born in the Imperial Family.
When Esadien, who had been agonizing for a while, finally gave up and asked, the Crown Princess clicked her tongue and said.
âOf course, he means Minuelle.â
Baby, baby. Of course, she is small, and her skin is as soft as a peach, but to call her a babyâ¦.
âHmmm.â
Esadien, who unconsciously thought of Minuelle, was surprised by the Emperorâs cough and straightened his posture.
âOh, she said she couldnât come for a while because she was busy preparing for the second Princessâ wedding.â
As soon as he heard Esadienâs answer, the Emperor shook his head.
âHave you ever seen such a dull fellow?â
âYes?â
âIf you canât come from there, shouldnât you go and show your face? Esadien, how many times have you visited the Grand Duchessâ residence?â
âI visited once last time when she was sick.â
The Emperor and the Crown Princess looked at each other at the same time and sighed.
âIt was something that you had to do, of course! At least, people around you pushed you to visit. You havenât been there since, have you?â
Esadien bowed his head silently. His Majesty always knew everything.
Nagging poured out like a lament over the top of his head.
âI knew it. Esadien, I donât know why you live as if youâve locked yourself in the Imperial Palace.â
The Emperor, who had drunk his tea, continued.
âBe aware of this. There is no one-sided relationship in this world. Any sublime heart is worn out just by pouring it out.â
âIâll keep that in mind.â
âIâm glad you understand. Now you can just go out and ride the carriage.â
âYes?â
Surprised, Esadien raised his head, which had always been bowed.
âFrom the beginning, you were going to send me to the Grand Duchessâs residence.â
Sweat trickled down Esadienâs spine.
âHowever, I didnât even write a letter to visit in advanceâ¦â¦â
âItâs a surprise visit, dear. In addition, you canât help it because you can see that youâre going to quit after thinking about it for days alone.â
Hahahahaha!
Recalling the roaring sound of the Emperorâs laughter, Esadien stepped into the entrance hall of the Grand Duchessâs residence.
As much as Esadien, who visited without a plan, the butler of Grand Duchess Karinen hesitated whether he was embarrassed or not.
However, the butler was an expert who was used to welcoming all kinds of guests. He soon came to his senses and spoke carefully to Esadien.
âThe humble one asks, Lady Minuelle is busy and has only just started eating, but would you like to join if the Prince hasnât had lunch?â
As I had tea a little while ago, I didnât feel hungry, but Esadien nodded willingly. I didnât want Minuelle to be disturbed with her meal.
âI will.â
Minuelle was on a fairly large terrace with a parlor on the first floor.
As soon as he followed the butler into the parlor, Esadienâs eyes flashed into Minuelleâs side face.
The embarrassment felt by the mischievous Emperor disappeared as if it had evaporated when I saw her still closing her eyes and smiling languidly.
âYou must have been well.â
However, as I got closer, I heard a loud noise.
âStop playing with your feet and focus on eating.â
âI donât want to.â
âBefore I tickle you.â
âIf you tickle me, I canât eat more.â
There was a man across from Minuelle. It was a face I had seen.
âDid she say he was a Priest?â
It was so natural to see him playing with Minuelle.
âLady Minuelle, the Third Prince is here.â
âWhat?â
Whoâs here?
Her eyes widened, and a happy smile appeared on Minuelleâs face, who saw this side. The strength was released from Esadienâs hand, which was tightly gripped by the brightly shining image of the sunlight.
âEsadien!â
Minuelle shouted his name warmly and stood up. But the next moment, Esadien reflexively stepped forward as she stumbled over the hem of her robe.
But Ramande was faster than him.
As Ramande quickly grabbed her and supported her, Esadien stopped.
ââ¦â¦â
Esadienâs eyes were attached to the arms of Minuelle and to Ramandeâs hand, which was tightly attached to her waist.
âAgain, again. What would you have done without me?â
âIâm in trouble. How can I live without Ramande?â
âOh, Youâre good at talking anyway.â
Both Ramande and Minuelle were calm, as if this had happened once or twice.
I reflected on the word childhood friend, but somehow Esadien cared so much about the hand.
âOh, Iâm surprised. Esadien! Wow! Is this a dream?â
Fortunately, Minuelle quickly broke away from Ramande and came to Esadien.
Normally, she would have rushed to him and hugged him as soon as she saw him, but it was quite hard to believe, so he stared at her face.
âIf you had sent me a message in advance, I would have gone out to meet you.â
âIâm sorry I came all of a sudden.â
Minuelle shook her head with her face buried in Esadienâs chest.
âNo, I missed you a lot.â
When I heard something ringing in my chest, I felt like I was full of energy.
Esadienâs lips softened. He raised his hand and gently swept down Minuelleâs back, and asked.
âBut Minuelleâ¦. Why are you so skinny?â
âPlease tell the Youngest Lady that she needs to increase the amount of her food, Prince.â
At this time, as the butler rang next to him, Minuelle hurriedly refuted.
âNo! Iâm eating a lot!â
âYes, I see, so Iâll just finish it.â
It was a gentle way of speaking for Esadien. Minuelle pouted her mouth, but clasped her arm tightly and went back to her seat.
âIt is an honor to see you again, Prince.â
Ramandeâs gaze, which rose from Minuelleâs arms, collided with Esadienâs eyes in the air.
âNice to meet you, Priest of Flendena.â
For a moment, there was unusual eye contact, and the two exchanged seemingly very ordinary greetings.
Not noticing the tension that passed by, the butler said to Minuelle again.
âMy Lady, the Prince will eat with you, so you have to eat it all slowly.â