Delina and Ashud’s dance was not only seen by the young nobles. From above, Duke Bellion and Felic, who were watching their dance, were silent for a moment.

“Cough…”

Of course, the only one maintaining the silence was Duke Bellion.

Struggling to hold back his laughter as befitting the place, Felic, with his head bowed and shoulders twitching continuously, looked at Bellion as he wiped his tears. Bellion didn’t say much, but his eyes were following Delina as she ran into the distance.

“Your Highness.”

“…….”

“I’ve never envied Your Highness so much before, this is really…….”

Not only was the audacious girl who suddenly asked for his patronage through the secret passage of the bedroom bold, but her master, who did not laugh in such a situation, was also a master.

The situation with Delina in front of him and Bellion’s face were in stark contrast, but Felic couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m thinking of gathering the children and sponsoring them sometime soon.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“True. Even if I sponsor, it will be hard to find a lady like her.”

I have to continue being an aide for the time being.

In a situation where the work had become terribly busy lately, and it was overwhelming to handle my unpredictable master’s affairs, Delina was like a ray of light to Felic, who had seriously considered retirement several times.

Compared to the few decades he spent in the Duke’s house, it was all the more fun since Delina came in.

Despite Felic’s words, Bellion’s expression remained the same. So Felic became more and more curious about Bellion’s inner thoughts. Even if he brought Delina under the pretext of sponsorship, she was different from other children.

“Are you here, Duke?”

The conversation between the two did not last long. Haier had approached them.

“I see your face after a long time.”

Slowly turning his head towards the suddenly appeared Haier, Bellion briefly met his eyes and then bowed his head. Those around them watched the two with tense, anxious eyes.

“I saw the young nobles who were with you at today’s debutante ball. Was his name Callix?”

“…….”

“Do you plan to raise him as the successor to the Duke’s house?”

Callix was a distant relative of Bellion’s, so his position was a bit ambiguous to become the successor of the family. Haier watched Bellion with sharp eyes, as if he would not miss a single change in the Duke’s house.

“If the child wants it, I will do so.”

“So you don’t have any thoughts on marriage?”

“…….”

“If you want, I can find some good young ladies.”

The young ladies Haier would recommend were obvious. Either the royal family or the imperial family. He was trying to gain the upper hand in his relationship with Bellion, so it was a predictable event. Of course, Bellion’s answer was also obvious.

“I don’t have any thoughts yet.”

“Even so, the Duke of Ulphrim not marrying isn’t a very good thing.”

“…….”

“Or are you doing this to pay more attention to the children you sponsor?”

The children Bellion sponsors.

The nobles were not unaware of it. They knew that Bellion was sponsoring talented children. And that the identity of some of them was not yet revealed.

It was annoying enough that Bellion was sponsoring talented children, but the fact that the identities of all the children were not fully understood was even more bothersome. The only ones that were currently properly identified were Callix and Vincent.

“I’m curious too. The talented children you sponsor.”

“…….”

“It’s interesting, isn’t it? There are rumors, but no visible children. If they’re commoner children, there’s no need to hide them, but maybe…….”

Haier’s eyes twinkled.

“Are they among the young nobles or ladies who came here today?”

(This is a time separator.)

‘Did he see? Didn’t he see?’

As soon as the dance ended, she left the banquet hall without even looking back. She certainly got out before Gideon arrived nearby, but she didn’t know if Gideon had seen her face or not.

‘Having come this far, could it be…….’
In the past, Niel and Charlotte, who had refrained not only from debuting but even from meeting other nobles, were the ones who had brought Gideon.

It was surprising that the two of them brought Gideon, but what was more surprising was Gideon’s attitude that he had seen a little while ago. Gideon was clearly not dancing and was looking for someone. It was obvious whom he was looking for.

‘He’s come to look for me, since various nobles come to the palace.’

Although he realized through the letter that it was not a kidnapping, he had come to the palace just in case, since he did not know where he had gone.

And from Delina’s perspective, that exactly coincided.

‘I think it’s hard to stay in the banquet hall any longer…….’

Gideon was dangerous. He was certain to recognize her. So Delina fixed her wig again. But just as she was about to move, someone was standing nearby. It was Gideon.

“……!”