Cheston sighed while brushing his hair back. He frowned at Karl, who seemed to have lost consciousness.

“Aaron.”

“…I can’t take responsibility for this.”

“I know. I was wondering why you just watched without stopping it.”

“He was beating him up excitedly.”

“Watch your language. It was just a duel.”

“Isn’t it one-sided to corner someone with such a large skill gap like this?”

Even when nudged with a foot, there was no response. In the end, Cheston carried Karl on his back. Fortunately, there was no one else at the training grounds to make excuses to.

“We can just say he collapsed because he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Your Highness Prince Cheston. I will take him back.”

The knight commander came running.

“The knights?”

“Thanks to you, they’re fine. They’re receiving treatment from the physician, but it’s mostly minor injuries, nothing to worry about.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t report this separately to His Majesty the King.”

“Don’t worry. Thanks to Your Highness Cheston always covering for us, the knights have become much more at ease. We’re grateful every time.”

The knight commander bowed as he received Karl, then left the banquet hall. Cheston watched him go, then took off his jacket. After unbuttoning a few buttons of his stuffy shirt, he headed towards the annex.

“The young lady?”

“She’s been in the annex all day without coming out. From the looks of her reviewing documents, it seems she’s preparing for the upcoming family meeting.”

“…It’s progressing faster than expected.”

“Isn’t that good for Your Highness? According to the informant, it’s almost certain that Whitney Orlean will become the head of the family.”

Cheston fell silent at Aaron’s words. That meant their contract was coming to an end. His chest felt tight. The young lady had probably been waiting for this moment.

‘Somehow, her gaze towards me changed after that day.’

The eyes that had been full of guilt changed after the banquet. There was no trace of guilt in those green eyes. It was as if she felt she had fulfilled her duty.

From the moment she first met him, her expression was calm, as if she had been running towards that day, and she was no longer anxious. Rather, it was he who became impatient.

Whitney finished preparing for the family meeting. She stretched and got up from her desk, massaging her shoulders.

She hadn’t met anyone else since she had been holed up in her room since the day of the banquet. In fact, not many people were interested in her, so she was able to work comfortably.

Since she even ate in her room, she was able to finish earlier than expected.

“I finished a day earlier than Aunt said.”

Looking at the clock, it was already evening, so it was awkward to say she would go out today. She planned to say she would visit the duke’s mansion while having breakfast together tomorrow morning. He must have been busy too, as she hadn’t heard him coming and going.

“The problem starts after becoming the head of the family… Mother has caused more trouble than I thought.”

Because of how thoroughly she had exploited the Orlean duchy’s assets, there was a lot to sort out. Not only making up for the losses, but also the ruffians who had moved into idle lands. There were even rumors of a disease spreading in the territory, so she had to go check.

Nothing had been taken care of. It was just running on exploitation and extravagance. It was only possible because the Orlean family had vast wealth, but now less than a third remained.

Even if she were to hold Cecilia accountable, there was no way for her to come up with money. Her family was a lie, her whole life was a lie, so all that remained was her body. Thinking about it made Whitney’s head ache and her chest feel tight.

Her bottom hurt from sitting for too long. Thinking it would be good to walk a little, she left her room and headed for the corridor.

Although it was summer, a gentle breeze blew through the castle. Being by the sea, the weather cooled down at night, making it cooler than during the day. Whitney slowly walked along the corridor, massaging her shoulders.

“Hnngh.”

She stopped in her tracks. It would have been easier to think she had misheard, but unfortunately, the sound of a woman’s moan continued in her ears. Whitney froze and looked around, but all she could see were tall trees and blooming flowers.

‘Just naturally go the other way.’

It seemed a man and woman were passionately making love, befitting the social season. Surely the trees planted thickly in the garden weren’t meant to hide such embarrassing acts.

Moreover, this corridor connected to the end of the annex, making it difficult for anyone but upper nobility to come and go. Meeting them would only create an awkward situation for both parties, so she tried to turn back the way she came.

“Ah, more…!”

The woman’s voice grew louder, as if forgetting they were hiding. Whitney covered her ears and hurried her steps.

Then her head lifted at the figure blocking her path. Violet stood there in casual attire, her pink hair braided and swept to the side.

“You think they’re like animals, don’t you? Seeing how it’s the same in every country, humans don’t change, I suppose.”

“…I greet Your Highness the Princess. Have you come out for a walk?”

“I like summer. It makes people lively. I also like swimming on hot summer days. But I don’t like the social season. Because of things like this.”

Whitney agreed with Violet’s words. She didn’t like the social season either. It was a period of trying to showcase oneself everywhere as if one were a product.

“I didn’t know because I wasn’t at the palace, but I was surprised it was different from what I thought.”

“It’s not too late. There are still opportunities to escape the palace. Whitney Orlean. Lady Rubeness said there was a story I didn’t know. Could I hear that story?”

“I’m not sure what story you’re referring to.”

“The story between His Highness Cheston and the young lady that others don’t know about.”

Violet shrugged and looked at Whitney.

‘Could Aunt have told her about Cheston and me?’

She had previously told her aunt that what she had agreed with him would end when she became the head of the family. It seemed unlikely, but Violet’s face was full of certainty.

She clearly had doubts about the relationship between Cheston and her. If she told her the truth, would she be of help to Cheston?

Whitney was conflicted, but she couldn’t be sure if Violet, Karl’s fiancée, was trustworthy. She had helped Melissa by adding weight to her testimony and sided with Karl. At first, she thought that maybe it would be good for Violet to be by Cheston’s side, thinking she might be a better choice than herself.

Strangely, the thought of Violet being by his side made her feel down. Even though she would soon have to leave his side anyway.

“Your eyes are asking why I’m doing this when I’m going to be engaged to Prince Karl.”

“Yes, doesn’t Prince Karl need you more, Princess Violet? Petontrae would want a legitimate heir too, wouldn’t they?”

“That’s right. But it doesn’t have to be through engagement, does it? To love a man who has been with another woman. It’s absurd. Don’t I need someone to set my heart on too? Oh, Whitney. Don’t look at me like that. The palace is originally such a place.”

Whitney didn’t expect Violet to seem like the same kind of person. She thought she would be different.

“Hmm, did I seem different? Unfortunately, it’s because I was born and raised in the palace. But until just a few days ago, I had similar thoughts to the young lady. Do you know who changed that for me?”

“…Was it Her Majesty the Queen?”

“That’s right. Her Majesty the Queen gave me an epiphany. She suggested a different direction from what I had thought. Finding happiness where you’re given. That’s the most rational and satisfactory method for everyone.”

Violet spoke to Whitney with her hands behind her back.

“I’ve never lived a life where I couldn’t have what I wanted. Of course, I thought it was a fair price since I had to give up a lot. I don’t love Prince Karl, but I won’t refuse to become his fiancée. However, if the young lady is no longer by Prince Cheston’s side, wouldn’t it be alright for me to be there for him?”

“…You must understand the meaning of what you’re saying now, Princess. Please don’t insult Prince Cheston any further.”

“Insult? I’m saying I’ll be his strength, so it’s troublesome if you take it that way. Depending on the words used, the person receiving them might find it unpleasant, right?”

Her lovely pink hair fluttered in the wind. Whitney bit her lip. Regardless of her leaving this place, it seemed Violet would push Cheston one way or another. She didn’t seem much different from the people here who didn’t care about others for their own happiness.

“Is it unpleasant that he receives my love? He could use me to establish his foundation, and I could be of help in dangerous situations like last time. What can the young lady do for Prince Cheston? If he wants, I…”

Violet took a step closer to Whitney. Smiling innocently, she spoke.

“I’m willing to hand him the throne. I have that kind of power, so it’s simple to understand that I can do anything for him if he wants. So I’ll ask again.”

Whitney swallowed hard. Her hand clutching her dress skirt trembled. She took a deep breath in and out to calm herself. She shouldn’t get caught up with her.

She had no intention of letting Cheston be treated that way by her.

“Whitney Orlean. What kind of deal was made between you and Prince Cheston? You two don’t seem to be in love, so don’t think about deceiving me.”

A strange light gleamed in Violet’s eyes. This time she seemed determined not to back down. Whitney parted her lips to answer.

“It’s a shame it doesn’t look like we’re in love. We were just clumsy in expressing it.”

Whitney turned her head at the touch of hands wrapping around her waist. The wind carried his body scent along with the smell of sweat. Sweat was trickling down below his slightly open shirt and sharp jawline.

“You said we’d bathe together, but it’s troublesome if you run away.”

He tilted his head slightly and whispered to Whitney.