Only after the crown princess pointed it out did the crown prince seem to realize that he had been keeping a close eye on me. However, he showed no intention of averting his gaze.

“Lady Pennel.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Were you at the recent banquet held by Count Enehaz?”

I reflexively glanced at Justin, thinking he must have used his power carelessly. Justin, meeting my eyes, shrugged as if he knew nothing about it.

“I…”

Just as I was about to answer, Ricardo intervened to block my response.

“Your Highness, Crown Prince.”

At his call, the crown prince’s gaze finally shifted away from me. Phew, I let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

“The lady I was with on the second floor that day was not my fiancée.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, if it had been my fiancée, how could I not have recognized her?”

The way he quietly concluded with “Don’t you think?” while lifting his teacup conveyed an unspoken request not to mention this matter further.

“But I seem to recall seeing you running towards that lady like a madman…”

True to his curious nature, the crown prince did not stop despite Ricardo’s clear answer.

Hmm, his nasal tone carried a hint of playfulness. Despite the light-hearted conversation, an indescribable tension lingered in the air surrounding the two.

“It was for another reason. And that day, my fiancée entered the banquet with me late in the evening. You can verify this if you wish.”

After briefly showing a meaningful expression, he lowered his gaze as if it were nothing and smiled slightly. With that single gesture, the frozen atmosphere in the room completely changed.

“There’s no need to verify, Lady Pennel, if I’ve offended you, please understand. I only said that because I thought I saw a lady who looked very much like you that day.”

“I’m fine.”

After awkwardly smiling and barely managing to reply, I was able to catch my breath for a moment.

Ricardo mainly led the conversation, and their topic soon turned to the upcoming luncheon meeting between the emperor and his close associates. Walter maintained silence throughout, while Julian occasionally exchanged light jokes with the crown princess while observing the surroundings.

This alone made their difference in status quite clear.

Although I wasn’t sure exactly what caused this difference, Walter remained silent and Julian avoided engagement. Their unusual atmosphere continued until someone arrived from the Grand Temple within the Imperial Palace.

“The High Priest has just departed for Hademia.”

The news that came was not particularly welcome. After all, meeting the High Priest was clearly included among our visit’s objectives.

Hearing this news, confusion appeared on the faces of the other two dukes, while anger clouded the crown prince’s face. What was incomprehensible was the crown princess’s reaction.

What filled her eyes was fear, as if not knowing what to do. As if all the composure she had shown until now had been mere bravado on thin ice.

Crack, as if the ground beneath her feet had given way, she floundered.

Hademia was the name of a region located on the border between Dermayer and Lesotia.

That vast land was a sacred sanctuary where only priests resided, beyond the reach of Dermayer’s laws and regulations.

That’s why people referred to the Grand Temple as Hademia itself.

It was still a world where gods existed, and where humans specially loved by the gods existed.

Although they didn’t reveal themselves to ordinary people, to a very select few chosen individuals, the gods were a closely living presence.

Hademia was the only channel connecting the gods with such chosen humans.

The divine revelations received at the temple were solemn commands and prophecies that even the emperor, or indeed the entire empire, dared not defy.

Literally inviolable.

Hademia, a holy and noble land that no human authority could carelessly intrude upon, was also a place where one could hear the voice of the gods first and seek their will.

Since the founding of the empire, Schneider and Hademia had maintained peace without a single moment of conflict. For over 1000 years, the Grand Temple had never mentioned any name other than Schneider as the sun of the empire.

The Grand Temple strictly follows the will of the gods.

This is precisely why Ricardo of Rochester can hold his head high before the emperor. Hademia already regarded Ricardo as the next master of Dermayer.

It was natural that the High Priest of such a Hademia would not recognize me, who was not a saint, as Ricardo’s partner. But this was a promised meeting. The High Priest was also aware that Ricardo had made a temporary engagement to protect the one who had awakened him.

“Even the High Priest cannot act so arbitrarily.”

At the crown prince’s words, Ricardo smiled slightly. He then brushed off his clothes and stood up. There was no sign of embarrassment anywhere.

During the time I was meeting with Walter, Ricardo had met with the High Priest. I think I had heard that they had discussed something important…

“It seems things have been settled to some extent, so I will take my leave with my fiancée.”

As he stood up and looked down at me, I awkwardly rose to my feet. At that moment, I realized that Walter was staring intently at the shawl draped over my shoulders.

Just as I thought our eyes had met for a moment, a large arm appeared in front of me, blocking my view. Ricardo naturally pulled me towards him as he grasped my shoulder while I was standing up.

“I’ll see you at the engagement ceremony.”

Ricardo flashed an overflowing smile and then left his seat. From beginning to end, he maintained the attitude of a flawless and affectionate future fiancé.

And so, that breathtaking meeting with all the humans specially loved by God seemed to conclude. At least until I learned that dinner with the Duke and Duchess remained later that same evening.

Only the clattering sounds of dishes and utensils could be heard inside the dining room.

The sight of the Duke and Duchess sitting across from Ricardo for a meal was something I had never seen since entering the Duke’s residence.

The place where the Duke and Duchess invited us to dine had a view of the central garden’s grand fountain outside. On the day I first saw this fountain, which looked like it belonged in a public square, in this mansion, I circled around it for a long time like a child, fascinated.

Now that the fountain had become somewhat familiar to my eyes, I could take in the entire garden of the Duke’s residence, where everything blended harmoniously.

While the Duchess’s touch could be seen everywhere in this ducal residence, the place she put the most effort into was undoubtedly the garden.

Despite it being an inevitably uncomfortable dining situation, my gaze naturally drifted outside. The flowers, beginning to bloom in preparation for summer, created a gentle atmosphere under appropriate lighting. As the sun began to set, dyeing the sky a crimson hue, the greenhouse-like interior seemed to grow warmer.

It was still a suffocatingly difficult situation, but being able to look out at the open view seemed to provide some comfort to my oppressed feelings.

The Duke didn’t utter a single word even as the courses were served one after another. The Duchess interfered with her husband’s plate at every turn. Each time, he would smile only towards his wife.

“From now on…”

Surprisingly, it was Ricardo who broke the silence that had settled over the table. As he opened his mouth, even the sound of clinking cutlery that had been audible until then ceased.

“Please have all of my fiancée’s dresses go through my approval.”

At this command-like order to the Duchess, gulp, the food I hadn’t fully chewed barely made it down my constricted throat. Without realizing it, I kicked his polished shoe with my foot. Then, gritting my teeth, I spat out:

“My lord. What… are you saying?”

“Yes, I will make sure to get your approval for your fiancée’s engagement dress.”

The Duchess’s flustered voice immediately responded. There was a hint of anger mixed in, but it was also clear she had taken a step back.

But Ricardo was not satisfied with this.

“No, all the dresses she will wear from now on must prioritize my fiancée’s wishes above all else.”

“My lord, I’m fine. I’ve liked all the clothes the Duchess has chosen for me so far.”

“I had no idea our son was so interested in women’s affairs.”

What is this sense of déjà vu? Excuse me, can’t you hear me? My voice isn’t even that quiet, can’t you hear what I’m saying?

“It’s not women’s affairs, it’s my fiancée’s affairs.”

“What exactly displeased you so much?”

Ricardo, this isn’t right. She’s going to be your mother-in-law… well, not really, but still, there’s a problem with your behavior right now.

“They don’t suit my fiancée. And her own wishes weren’t reflected at all.”

“Huh!”

The Duchess was left speechless, and it was ultimately Ricardo’s victory. I could only lower my head towards my plate repeatedly, feeling like someone who had committed a crime.

“I just wanted to help a bit since your fiancée might not be familiar with Dermayer’s social circles yet.”

I nodded my head vigorously in agreement, but froze mid-nod at Ricardo’s following response.

“If you want to play with dolls, I recommend having another daughter even now.”