“In any case, backing away like that serves no purpose.”

From a corner of the Duke’s garden, a man’s voice filled with dissatisfaction erupted. It was Handel.

“Is it really that difficult to bring up such a topic at home? Or are you perhaps considering marriage?”

“How could that be? I’ve been someone who devoted their entire life to experiments and have never been interested in social gatherings or ceremonies.”

Lomie responded to Handel’s words. Soon after, the secretive conversation between the two couples continued.

“In any case, this matter needs to be settled quickly. Do you know if we’ll have to pay a dowry if we get married?”

“Well, it’s better to do so. After all, we’re part of the Duke Elphias’ house, so paying a dowry is more respectable.”

They were speaking in hushed tones, but they didn’t see the small tube hidden beneath the bushes. And that long tube extended along the wall up to a window above.

“May I come in?”

Meanwhile, Delrina was in the process of entering Bancent’s room. Bancent, who had been leaning against the window, looked at Delrina.

“You haven’t left yet.”

“The Duke said I could stay a bit longer. He said you’d be here.”

Delrina then took steps towards him.

“Is this your room?”

“No, it’s my laboratory.”

“Really? Then what’s that?”

Delrina asked, looking at the long tube awkwardly fit into the window, and a voice came from the tube.

“What’s the point of our investment in the child if he can’t even become the heir to the Duke?”

“Exactly. Who else could become the heir? Our Bancent is a genius.”

Upon hearing Handel and Lomie’s voices from the tube, Delrina’s eyes widened. However, Bancent remained indifferent.

“I made it to transmit sound from the first floor to the upper floors for experimental purposes. Turns out you’re the first subject.”

“…”

“You heard it well.”

Bancent wrote something on a piece of paper, seemingly noting down the results of the experiment. Delrina cautiously asked,

“… Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“… But it must not feel great.”

“I’ve heard such things more than once, and I already knew.”

It was a lie.

Though Bancent’s expression remained unchanged, the red characters hovering above him blinked faster than before.

Even as the youngest son with siblings, Bancent, who was often praised as a genius, had felt alienated within his family from a very young age. Estel told him so. Bancent stopped writing.

“In any case, emotions are just a type of hormone.”

“Hormones?”

“Something secreted by endocrine glands in the body. They’re transported all over the body through fluids or blood…”

“…”

“You wouldn’t know.”

“So, that… Anyway, that’s what hormones are?”

When Delrina pretended to understand, Bancent looked as if he had expected it.

“Anyway, it’s pointless to let your mood be influenced by such trivial emotions.”

Delrina refuted.

“Why? Why are emotions useless? There are also positive feelings, like love.”

“Even love has a shelf life of less than two years. Yet people still engage in such foolish activities.”

A moment of silence fell within the room. Delrina rolled her eyes.

“Ah, um, yes. So, even the ‘hormone of love’ has an expiration date?”

“Yes.”

“… What about couples who have been together for more than two years?”

“It’s impossible for human brains to focus on perpetual, fiery love. So, that’s all a lie too.”

Bancent cut her off. By then, Delrina had become defiant.

“If, as you say, hormones play a role in generating emotions in the body, then even you can’t physically prevent those emotions, right?”

“…”

For the first time, Bancent was at a loss for words, but it was only momentary.

“It doesn’t matter. It will end in less than two years anyway.”

“…”
“Rather, it proves even more that the expiration date of that love is within two years.”

With that, silence returned to the room. Soon, Delrina moistened her lips.

“Why do you only think that way?”

“…”

“Look, I may not be as smart as you, so I don’t understand hormones, chemicals, and all that, but I believe that human feelings and emotions are not solely defined by those things. Besides, even if your parents don’t, there are clearly many people who like you.”

As soon as Delrina finished speaking, another sound came from the hall.

“Ah, there you are. I was looking for both of you.”

At Estel’s voice, Delrina and Vincent’s eyes turned to the window sill. Then they saw Estel walking towards them.

“Estel? What brings you to us?”

“I have something to say to both of you. Including the earlier meal.”

Estel’s voice was no longer as cheerful as it was initially.

“Of course, with Vincent’s consent, he will soon move to the viscount’s estate. Still, I’d prefer if you focused on other conversations when you’re together.”

“What have we done?”

Confused, Romie spoke.

“So what’s the big deal? It’s all for Vincent’s education. I’m doing it to make things easier for you later on.”

“Vincent is doing well enough. He’s too mature for his age, which sometimes worries me.”