Softly whispering to each other, the other Youngaes conveyed everything they wanted to say. The noble lady, who had grown up well, seemed to have nothing to criticize.

“Then, Youngae must also be considering Emperor’s side.”

“Why should it be one of the two?”

Lou, wondering if lightning might strike outside again, asked involuntarily.

“Oh, then is there a third gentleman?”

Our brother is in big trouble. Catherine grinned.

“It’s not that. It’s just that not all conclusions should end up choosing gentlemen.”

“That’s right.”

Catherine’s expression, as if questioning when she had smiled, suddenly cooled.

“Whether it’s me or my parents, the decision is final. Everything starts and ends with a choice.”

Everything begins with marriage and ends with marriage.

Even if you are of very high status, choosing a spouse depends on the parents’ will. Among them, it is the father who decides. Marry, connect both houses well, and establish tradition. It is the fate of the Youngaes to play the role of parents in the next generation.

She looked at Lou as if observing an alien presence.

“Isn’t it the same for you, Youngae?”

Instead of answering, Lou looked directly at Catherine. She stared at the noblewoman with eyes that hid nothing. For a moment, Catherine’s eyes slightly clouded.

“…I see.”

Lady Alanka was very clever. Even though Rustica Genus didn’t give a direct answer, she sensed her freedom.

“Envious.”

“Everyone carries different burdens. Marriage doesn’t apply to me.”

“For the ladies here, marriage is everything. You could say it’s better to meet a future son-in-law to continue the family.”

But Catherine had lost one from above, and below, she had four or more younger brothers. She had no obligation to continue the family.

“So, please don’t say, ‘I’m fine not marrying the Emperor, it doesn’t matter.'”

“Is this advice?”

“Yes, advice. I apologize for giving advice right from the start, but if the most likely candidate, who is considered the strongest, has that attitude, then everyone…”

They might think it’s unfortunate. Lou didn’t care either way, but anyway, the others were one or two, or even six years younger. Whether those kids turned out well or not, there was no time or intention to deal with them seriously.

“Do you think it’s unfortunate?”

As Catherine hesitated, wondering if she could say such things, Lou spoke first and she smiled unintentionally. It was a bright smile.

“Yes. I think it’s unfortunate.”

“I often hear that kind of talk.”

“Don’t you care?”

“If I say I don’t, it would be a lie. But I try not to.”
In the Knight Academy, it was a common occurrence. Lou, who always ranked first in the orphan category, was flawless and even beautiful. There were plenty of those who surpassed others through restraint, deception, and pretending to be kind.

“But what if it doesn’t work?”

“Run away.”

Catherine was genuinely surprised by the unexpected words.

“Run away… run away?”

“Yes. Abandon everything and run away. If you don’t like noisy people, you have to avoid them. What else can you do?”

“How do you abandon everything?”

“You can’t have everything. If you can’t live like that, you have to leave.”

“Those people might include family, and also, honor…”

Catherine was genuinely bewildered, forgetting to control her expression and carefully choose her words.

“You can abandon them.”

If those who restrain you are family, isn’t that an unhealthy relationship? Lou thought it was better to abandon them.

“Very… very selfish choice.”

Catherine murmured in shock rather than blame. It seemed like she heard such a story for the first time in her life.

“People are inherently selfish. Compromising with reality, or running away and pioneering a new life, it’s all for one’s own safety.”

Was it too provocative a story for the well-bred young lady?

Still, at that time, Lou did not regret leaving Katart when she lost all her strength. It was seeking a place to die, but she had no regrets.

There was no reason to be in Katart. There was no one she loved there.

“Well, maybe it’s a very… very selfish choice, but that doesn’t mean you have to blame me. Tremendous courage may not come no matter how hard you try. It’s each person’s choice.”

When she finished speaking, the young lady who had argued with Lou in front of Ophelia came and pretended to know Catherine.

“Oh, hello, Eluise. Long time no see.”

“Karing is waiting over there. Let’s go quickly.”

The intention of going to the place where they were playing together without even greeting Lou was obvious.

Lou turned her gaze to Karing Yang, who was waiting over there.

The beautiful young lady with flowing black hair, who radiated a brilliant glow, was quietly watching this way.

When their eyes met, she blinked her eyes. Lou also blinked. It seemed that she was the daughter of Marquis Svenya, who was shoulder to shoulder with the Duchess Alanka in the Alsmone Alliance. It was probably the daughter of Marquis Svenya with the last name Kaling, maybe.

“Eluise, this is Flache Viscount Youngae Rustica Genus.”

Thinking they would just go, unexpectedly, Catherine grabbed Lou’s arm and pulled her.

“Miss Genus, this is Eluise Capelle, the Premontier Viscount Youngae, whom Eluise also knows.”

“Hello, Miss Capelle.”

Eluise Capelle, who tried to ignore Lou but failed, reluctantly had to greet Lou.

“Hello, Miss Genus. Nice to meet you for the first time.”
Catherine seems younger than her, but there is already a look of contempt in her eyes. She was saying to Lou, ‘We are different from you!’ Lou wondered what would happen if her head stiffened at this age. Lou thought there would be many others like the still-young Eluise on that side.

“Miss Genus, just stay here. You haven’t been here from the East for long, and you’re not tired? Oh, there are my friends. Let me introduce you.”

But why does Catherine stick to her and not leave?

The giggling girls play among themselves, and Ophelia, who left early, looked at Lou with wide eyes when she returned after the gathering ended. Then she smiled.

“Oh my.”

“Don’t say anything.”

“Isn’t she cute?”

“She’s cute, but she’s not purely innocent, and she’s also good at fighting. It’s the same as the knights. The only difference is that after it’s over, instead of the smell of sweat, there’s the smell of perfume and desserts. Oh, in that sense, I guess this side is better.”

When Lou shivered, Ophelia burst into laughter.

“So, did you do your homework?”

Homework? Oh, finding the Northern Sage! Lou stared at Ophelia with a frozen face.

“Wasn’t she among the young ladies I just saw…?”

“I couldn’t find her. It’s okay. There’s still plenty of time. I’m fine, but someone else seems not okay. I’ll have to give in then.”

Ophelia smiled broadly and put her hand on Lou’s shoulder.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Oh, come in.”

After greeting, Lou shook her head and walked further inside. Imperialle kept directing her to go inside.

Is there more to do? Where and how do I find the Northern Sage? Is there no shortcut? Should I ask Hayden? Oh, but it’s the first homework, so I really wanted to do well.

Does the Northern Sage like snow and winter? Would they love the cold? What kind of person are they? It was a moment when her mind was filled with thoughts of the Northern Sage, and her steps moved mechanically. Suddenly, the wind blew as if the field in front of her opened up.

“Oh, Youngae.”

A tall man, wrapped in a thin, long coat, was smiling at her.

“Oh, Your Majesty.”

Lou instinctively showed respect for the time being, wondering who might see. The bright smile deepened.

“I specifically told her not to do that, but she did.”

The low voice immediately seemed suspicious.

“Oh, well, he’s not particularly handsome, and he’s not someone I think of as a marriage partner. Is he someone who doesn’t listen?”

What kind of excuse is this? Lou lifted her head. Hayden, who was far away, was suddenly close.

“Our knight is very good at drawing lines.”

He’s also very irresponsible.