Kardiel, who was lost in thought for a moment, soon returned to his usual expression.

“…I will keep it in mind. Since you said so, I will do my best.”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

It was truly a reliable answer.

I stroked the head of my admirable eldest son, who had now grown so tall.

Even the fact that a grown child quietly entrusted his head to my hand made me proud.

“By the way, it was your first time meeting His Highness Crown Prince Raphanel, right?”

“Yes, it was.”

Then the timing was good.

As if he had just finished preparing to depart, a large man with striking bright red hair was approaching from over there.

“That’s good. Since His Highness the Crown Prince is coming, go and greet him.”

Crown Prince Raphanel, who approached while exhaling white breath, was neatly dressed despite the early dawn.

Especially, there was no sign of fatigue on his bright face.

Rather, it was a face full of anticipation. At times like this, he still had some childlike aspects remaining.

“Lord Regent, Lord Joseph. Thank you for coming to see us off in this early dawn when frost has fallen.”

He shook hands with Lord Joseph and kissed my fingertips in greeting.

Then he first expressed gratitude to me for readily accepting his awkward request.

It was such a polite attitude that it made my conscience ache, as I had intended to use that matter as an opportunity.

“Not at all. Rather, we of House Daiern should say it’s an honor to be able to invite Your Highness the Crown Prince. Ah, this is my son, the young Marquis of Daiern.”

“Ah, I’ve heard a lot about him. I’m Raphanel Ordis Calant, young Marquis of Daiern.”

“I am Kardiel Diark Daiern, Your Highness.”

By the way, although Kardiel was quite tall compared to others his age, he looked quite small when standing next to Crown Prince Raphanel.

Well, Crown Prince Raphanel was taller and bigger than even Lord Joseph.

“It will be a long journey of over ten days to reach the Daiern duchy.”

After the two finished their greetings, I began to explain the route from the imperial capital to the Daiern duchy.

“Although we’ll pass through large and small cities along the way, there will still be days when you’ll have to sleep in the carriage, so it will be an uncomfortable journey.”

“That’s not a problem. I often go to hunting grounds near the capital with His Highness the Crown Prince, so I’m used to camping and not picky about food.”

Crown Prince Raphanel answered casually. His easygoing personality was pleasing, and an appreciative smile naturally leaked out.

“Oh, you’ve probably already heard, but I’ll be leaving for the duchy at least a month later, after dealing with remaining matters in the capital.”

Of course, it could take even longer than that.

“Until then, the young Marquis of Daiern here, Kardiel, will be responsible for taking care of Your Highness. Please understand that there may be some awkwardness as it’s his first time hosting an honored guest.”

“This is also my first time being invited to another domain, so I may unknowingly commit some faux pas. When that happens, please sternly point it out regardless of status.”

The conversation continued for a few more exchanges after Crown Prince Raphanel’s witty response.

The atmosphere was not bad at all.

Though Kardiel was originally a child without many expressions, Crown Prince Raphanel was very sociable.

That’s good. I thought the two of them could become good friends.

It was only regrettable that Euphemina and Chersion, who were sleeping in the carriage, were not present.

“Stepmother, it seems the preparations for departure are complete.”

“It looks that way.”

Not long after, the group heading to Daiern finished their preparations.

I hugged Kardiel one more time as he boarded the carriage last.

“Be careful not to catch a cold, and watch out for the frozen roads. Respect Sir Sergei and Teacher Ernestine’s words and take good care of your siblings. Never skip meals, and don’t do anything dangerous. Especially, you must never act alone, understand? Safety first, safety second, and health third.”

“…Stepmother, I’m not going to the battlefield.”

“What a frightening thing to say when the last war was over 300 years ago.”

Humorously, my farewell greetings took the longest time in the departure preparations. Finally, as dawn was breaking, the carriage procession set off for Daiern.

I watched for a long time as the long line of numerous carriages disappeared into the winter dawn mist. And then…

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence fell again between Lord Joseph and me who were left behind.

Phew. Anyway, I quietly swallowed a sigh of relief in the meantime.

‘I was really startled when Kar asked if something had happened.’

It’s not good for children’s emotional well-being to show them discord between their guardians.

So I thought it would be better to be with Lord Joseph at the children’s send-off, even if it was a bit uncomfortable for me.

I thought I did well. I had been by Lord Joseph’s side the whole time and made no mistakes in managing my expression.

But to think I’d be caught just for not making eye contact. I don’t know why he’s so perceptive.

‘Anyway, now I can go inside, right?’

It seemed all the tasks were done now that we’d seen them off. I turned my body to leave this awkward place as quickly as possible. Or rather, I tried to turn.

“My lady.”

“Ah, how startl…!”

…ing.

A low voice that made my heart flutter suddenly dropped from above my head.

W-why is he calling me? Cold sweat ran down my nape.

“Excuse me. Did I startle you?”

“…I was almost startled. I’m not startled.”

The words that popped out were brazen even to my own ears.

Well, of course, it didn’t work on Lord Joseph.

“You really do seem startled. You’re completely stiff right now. Even here…”

“…!”

His firm hand enveloped one of my shoulders. Before I could flinch or brush it off, his hand gently massaged my shoulder blade.

“What are you…!”

“Look. Isn’t the muscle completely tense?”

“It’s because… it’s cold! Because it’s cold!”

“And aren’t you deliberately avoiding eye contact?”

“That too, is because frost has fallen and the ground is frozen. I’m looking down to walk carefully so I don’t slip.”

“I see.”

It was such a clumsy excuse that I wondered if my improvisation skills had always been this poor.

However, Lord Joseph neither pointed out nor mocked that childish excuse. Instead…

“Is that so? Well, it is too early. Then we should go inside and talk.”

Lord Joseph nonchalantly turned me around by my shoulder.

That’s not all. He draped the edge of his cloak over my shoulders and started pulling me along.

Before I knew it, I ended up with my shoulder nestled against him like an affectionate couple.

It was such an overly intimate sight that I was afraid someone might see.

“Oh my…!”

“This should keep you a bit warmer.”

At this point, it seemed Lord Joseph was a level above me in brazenness.

“W-wait a moment. I can go by myself, so please let go of this.”

I fumbled with my heart rather than my mouth. I covered my mouth for no reason. It felt like something might burst out of my ticklish throat.

This chilling sensation with goosebumps all over my body must surely be due to embarrassment.

Of course, my feeble resistance would be nothing to him, but…

“Is that what you want?”

Huh? But an unexpected response came back.

Upon hearing those words, Lord Joseph released my shoulder that he had been pulling close without any lingering.

The funny thing is that when that brief contact disappeared, even the surrounding warmth retreated in an instant.

Instead, what filled the empty space was a cold chill that made my nape tingle.

The coldness weighing down on my shoulders was heavy. What is this…?

‘Why do I feel strangely disappointed?’

Meanwhile, he who was a step ahead extended his elbow towards me.

A gesture offering to escort me.

Ah, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to approach and entwine my hand with his elbow.

As if my mind had become tangled, I just alternated between looking at his arm and face for a moment.

It’s confusing.

I really don’t know why I’m feeling this strange chest pain.

Rationally speaking, it was I who pushed him away to prevent unnecessary contact.

He simply displayed the courtesy of acutely perceiving my refusal and maintaining boundaries.

There’s absolutely no reason for me to feel upset. And yet…

‘Why did he back off so easily? Was he always like that?’

It was truly a sudden doubt.

For the first time, Lord Joseph’s behavior, which had been as comfortable as the tongue in my mouth or the limbs attached to my body, felt uncomfortable and grating.

“My lady. Are you not going?”

My mood was very strange.

So much so that I found myself looking up at the red eyes gazing at me, forgetting the awkwardness from earlier.

“You’re finally making eye contact with me.”

It was then that my gaze finally overlapped with Lord Joseph’s.

He smiled thinly, narrowing his charming lips and alluring eyes.

That smile made my heart flutter painfully.

“There’s no need to keep such distance. I’m not asking for your heart, am I?”

Ah, is that so? It certainly seems that was the case.

I see. Only then did I realize why I had felt uncomfortable when thinking of him.