The interior of Viscount Valrossone’s mansion was a mess, just as I had expected. Broken decorations were scattered on the floor. I walked through the lobby with an awkward expression, thinking, ‘Is it really okay to come in?’ In the lobby, there was no place to step, and a maid was hastily clearing the area.

“Just in time for dinner. How fortunate,” Mikael’s brother said, stepping over the scattered decorations as if nothing was wrong, and went inside. Mikael followed with an annoyed expression. Hesitating on whether to return to the tense atmosphere, I eventually followed them.

In the dining room, there were only Mikael, his brother, and me. Soon, the door opened, and the butler entered, addressing Mikael’s brother.

“Lord Kamel.”

His name was Kamel. He asked the butler, looking through the open door, “Where is Mother?”

“She will be resting inside.”

“It’s a pity when we were about to have dinner. Well, it can’t be helped.” Kamel glanced at me, raising his eyebrows. It seemed inevitable.

“It’s okay. I just came to say hello before leaving. I didn’t come to meet the lady of the house.” I had no intention of meeting her. In fact, I had many questions for Mikael, my long-time friend. I had always been curious about where he grew up and what the earlier conversation was about. Before asking Mikael directly, I thought it would be good to understand him a bit.

“Earlier, I didn’t hear the family name, only the given name. Which family are you from?” Kamel asked me. However, Mikael immediately cut me off.

“We’re just here for a quiet meal. Don’t bother asking unnecessary questions.”

“I’m just asking a guest who entered my house.”

“Do we need to discuss family matters over a simple meal? Let’s just eat.”

It was hard to breathe. This uncomfortable meal setting was the first since the incident at the palace. Of course, it was easy to guess the reason. ‘It’s because Mikael, the younger brother, will become the heir.’ Family fights were either about the successor or property. It was polite to pretend not to know about family matters.

“I am Blandyche Annette.”

However, I didn’t want to witness a fight over a mere name. Mikael let out a deep sigh.

“So, you’re the famous Duchess?” Kamel immediately addressed me. “Feel free to call me by my name. I’m here as Mikael’s friend.”

“Alright then,” Kamel said with a faint smile. It seemed he was just curious about the name. “But what does it mean to be famous?” The famous Duchess? I wondered if the rumors of the duel had already reached the Marquisate. “You’re from Marcarba Academy, right?” Kamel nodded briefly. “It’s harder to find someone who is not from Marcarba Academy.” Most noble children in the capital attended Marcarba Academy, which had the largest and best professors. It was only natural for them to be drawn to that school, especially since even Prince Serridus had attended. “I wasn’t famous. I lived confined to the laboratory.” “You became more famous by not going out. A princess living in the laboratory.” “I’ve never heard such a thing…” Ograd was inv
Because he is my long-time friend,

I had always been curious about where he grew up.

And what was the story from earlier?

Before directly asking Mikael, I thought it would be good to understand him a bit.

“Earlier, I heard the name, but I don’t think I heard the surname. Which family are you from?”

Kamael asked me.

Then Mikael immediately cut me off.

“We’ll just have a quiet meal and send you away. Don’t bother asking annoying questions.”

“It’s a question to a guest who entered my house.”

“Do we need to discuss family matters over a simple meal? Let’s just eat.”

I felt suffocated.

This uncomfortable meal setting was the first since the incident at the palace.

Of course, it was easy to guess the reason.

‘Mikael, the younger brother, will become the heir.’

Family fights were either about the successor or property.

Pretending not to know about family matters was the proper etiquette.

“I am Blandyche Annette.”

However, I didn’t want to witness a fight over a mere name.

Mikael let out a deep sigh.

“So, you’re the famous Duchess?”

Kamael immediately addressed me.

“Feel free to call me by my name. I’m here as Mikael’s friend.”

“Alright then.”

Kamael smiled faintly.

It seemed he was just curious about the name.

“But what does it mean to be famous?”

The famous Duchess?

I wondered if the rumors of the duel had already reached the Marquisate.

“You were famous at Marcarba Academy. You.”

It was an unexpected answer.

“Are you from Marcarba Academy?”

Kamael nodded briefly.

“It’s even harder to find someone who is not from Marcarba Academy.”

Most noble children in the capital attended Marcarba Academy, which had the largest and best professors.

It was only natural for them to be drawn to that school, especially since even Prince Serridus had attended.

“I wasn’t famous. I lived confined to the laboratory.”

“You became more famous by not going out. A princess living in the laboratory.”

“I’ve never heard such a thing…”

Ograd was involuntarily attracted to the nickname.