“Guide me.”

Valion, sensing the servant’s unusual expression, took a step forward. The others, excluding Delina, silently watched Valion, wondering what was happening. Delina, on the other hand, turned toward the window.

“……”

Whether it was on Valion’s orders or not, the servants gradually approached, and the woman came closer. Seeing her, Delina unconsciously took a sharp breath.

It was a woman with calm black hair and blue eyes. Moreover, the woman’s appearance, unmistakably elegant, proved that she resembled Valion.

Celine.

‘This woman, she’s His Grace’s daughter…’

In fact, Delina had only heard rumors, and seeing Celine this close was a first. Clenching both fists, Delina turned and quickly left the restaurant.

“Miss?”

Felix’s surprised voice came from behind, but Delina swiftly passed through the corridor and headed toward the main gate. Soon, Valion’s figure appeared beyond the gate, and the woman standing right in front of him was visible too.

“Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I’m Celine.”

While Delina was hesitating, standing next to the two people, Celine, unable to get close, took a necklace from her bosom.

“Do you know what this is?”

It was an ordinary necklace, but the pattern engraved in the center was by no means ordinary. It was the symbol of the Ulfreum Duke’s residence.

“My mother gave it to me just before she passed away.”

“……”

“She asked me to come here with this.”

Between Valion and Celine, the necklace swayed in the wind. Valion, after silently looking at Celine’s face for a moment, glanced briefly at Delina, who was a little away.

“Let’s discuss this in the room.”

People who had approached along with Delina still had bewildered faces. However, they already understood the situation to some extent. It was evident by the appearance of Celine, who closely resembled Valion, and the necklace in her hands.

“Bring her in.”

“Yes? Oh, yes. Please come this way.”

Upon Valion’s words, Felix, who was watching Delina’s reaction, guided Celine into the mansion. Meanwhile, Delina, without saying a word, continued to watch the three figures moving away.

“Would you like to go back to the room?”

Betty approached and asked, but Delina shook her head.

“No, just a bit surprised… Shall we go back to the restaurant? Let’s try the cake. It must be delicious.”

“……”

“Yeah? Let’s go quickly. We should eat it soon. I’m hungry.”

Trying to change the mood, Delina grabbed the arms of Calix and Zen, and eventually, the two of them followed Delina to the restaurant.

Of course, returning to the restaurant didn’t bring back the atmosphere from before. They were laughing, but Delina was still confused. She vaguely thought that such a day might come, but facing Celine like this, she found herself speechless.

“Chew, chew.”

“Right, you were surprised too? Look at her face.”

“Chew!”
“I was surprised too. She looks even more alike than I thought.”

Even after finishing the cake and returning to the room, there was no news from Valion and Celine. Delina sat on a chair, petting Bosco’s fur, lost in thought.

‘She had such a face.’

Due to being confined in the attic after becoming an adult in her previous life, Delina had heard numerous stories about Celine through Eilie. Celine was known by various titles such as the Duke of Ulfreum’s daughter, the most prominent flower in society, and more. However, the most famous thing about her was different.

A woman who could make all the men in the empire kneel at her feet.

Delina thought it might be somewhat exaggerated rumors, but there was a reason for such rumors. It was because the men with the most influence in the empire would listen to anything Celine said. Those were the five.

‘And two of them are here now.’

Delina hadn’t seen Calix and Zen’s faces properly when she first saw Celine. However, Calix would have recognized her as family at once, and Zen might not have known about Celine, who had recently arrived at the Duke’s residence.

‘If that happens, what about me…’

Celine beside Calix and Zen. And herself, being ignored.

In a situation that could really happen now, a shadow fell over Delina’s face.

“Chew!”

“Yeah, that’s right. Comforting me?”

Whether Delina knew she was in a muddle or not, Bosco continued to stroke Delina’s hair. In fact, it was quite messy.

Regardless of how Bosco handled her hair, Delina, with a pensive expression, looked around her room again.

‘It’s a room used by members of the Duke’s residence.’

The situation was completely different from the past. In the past, she only heard about Celine, but now she faced her at the Duke’s residence. Delina felt her mind becoming complicated.

“……Bosco.”

“Chew?”

“Do you want to play in His Grace’s office?”

“……Chew?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Do you want to go? Let’s go.”

“Chew! Chew!”

At the mention of Valion’s office, Bosco raised its head, but Delina, holding Bosco, left the room. Bosco struggled in her arms, but it was a futile rebellion.

‘By now, the conversation must be over.’