During this hot summer, the number of nobles who would protect the capital of the empire was few.

Most of them had already gone to resorts or their territories.

“Since I, the Empress, am going to do it, what right do they have to refuse? It seems that the Crown Princess is still more comfortable with the place of a noble child, not a member of the royal family.”

It was nonsense.

I closed my mouth as I was about to say something to the Empress.

After all, this was something being done in hopes that the Grand Princess would catch Nathaniel’s eye, so it wasn’t something that would happen if I opposed it.

“I understand. If that is Your Majesty’s wish, I will do so.”

“So, the hunting party you hosted was very popular. I would like you to take care of this debutante ball too…….”

This is really too much.

I held back the urge to swear.

I expected the Empress to be annoying, but I didn’t know she would act so mean.

“I’m old, so I don’t really know the taste of young people. Ask Diana, and please cater to her taste.”

The Crown Princess catering to the obvious candidate for the future consort’s tastes….

The words were predictable, but it didn’t seem like refusing would help.

The Empress’s people had a tight grip on the social scene.

I decided to retreat for now.

“I understand, Your Majesty. I will do my best to prepare.”

As I obediently accepted, the Empress seemed surprised.

I quickly rose from my seat before she could add anything.

“Can I speak with the Grand Princess now?”

“Oh, yes. Go ahead. She should be in the garden.”

She said so and attached a maid to guide me.

Following the maid to the garden, I saw Diana sitting in a small marble gazebo.

As I entered, she rose from her seat and bowed.

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

Her manners were much more refined than last time, and her clothes and hair were stylishly changed, making her look different.

To have changed so much in such a short time.

The Empress had obviously caught her like a rat.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, thanks to your concern.”

But somehow, she looked shadowed.

I looked at her quietly and thought it was an unnecessary worry.

If I had come here for that purpose, I had to cut ties with her anyway.

I opened my mouth with a blank expression.

“The Empress wishes to prepare a banquet for your debutante ball. Is there anything you want?”

She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously opened her mouth.

“Do most of the noble men come to the ball?”

“Unless something is up.”

My answer noticeably brightened her previously dark face.

As if waiting for someone.

‘Is she so eager to meet Nathaniel?’

My insides were boiling.

I was angry at myself for having to sit in such a place and listen to that woman’s story.

I just had to bear with my emotions and listen to her words.

(This is a time separator.)

I called Anais to prepare for the ball.

It weighed on my mind to entrust the work to Teresa for a ball for the daughter of the Grand Baron’s house.
Fortunately, Anais came to help gladly.

We grasped the general concept and found what we needed.

It was a relief that there were more nobles who hadn’t left the capital than we thought.

Once we sent out the invitations, the interior decoration was the problem.

There was so much to do since the preparation schedule was short.

We worked diligently from morning to night.

Finally, Teresa stepped forward, unable to watch any longer.

“I’ll do it.”

“Teresa, you don’t have to help.”

“That’s right. The two of us can do it.”

Anais, who also sensed that something was up, stopped her.

“Look at the two of you now. You’re almost like walking corpses.”

At Teresa’s words, Anais and I looked at each other.

We were both completely exhausted.

Anais’s already pale face had lost its color, and the shadows under her eyes made her look almost like a sick person.

It seemed we really needed to rest.

Today, we had to go out and check the sculptures to be used as decorations.

Since we were only going to visually inspect the prototypes produced before mass production, it would be fine if Teresa went and came back.

“Haah……. Okay. I’ll leave it to Teresa today.”

“You two go rest.”

At Teresa’s urging, Anais and I stumbled out and returned to our respective rooms.

The bedroom, which I entered after a long time, was bathed in orange light from the evening sunset.

Seeing the cozy bed, I wanted to lay down immediately.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t properly seen Nathaniel’s face in a few weeks.’

I took a bath with the maid’s help and got a massage.

My whole body felt relaxed and ready to sleep at any moment.

I sent the maid away and threw myself onto the bed.

“Beep!”

“Eek! Nathaniel.”

I quickly pulled up the blanket.

A tiny black dragon looked at me with an angry face.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

Nathaniel stared at my face in silence and then abruptly turned his body away.

Huh?

“Nathaniel?”

Even when I called his name, he did not respond.

His tail stood stiff, and he clearly looked angry.

I recalled the past few weeks.

I had been so exhausted from work that I had fallen asleep without talking to Nathaniel.

“Are you angry?”

No, I shouldn’t have asked that.

“Nathaniel, look at me.”

When I tapped his back, he swiftly turned his head.

His round red eyes were so adorable.

Ah, I’m really weak when he’s in his little dragon form.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your face. But you’re not showing it because of that, right?”

He turned his head away with a snort, looking like a sulky puppy.

I hugged him tightly without thinking.

The slightly hard and cool body in my arms was comforting.

When did I become so comfortable treating him like this?

“Beep! Beep, beep.”

His floundering and chirping were adorable.

I kissed his forehead without realizing it.

With a coy sound, there was a thud, and I felt a heavy weight.

Nathaniel’s face had turned completely red.