Hertian was missing.

The time had come to meet the Emperor, and yet he was nowhere to be found.

At this point, I realized it wasn’t simply a matter of Hertian avoiding me.

He wouldn’t jeopardize important plans over minor discomforts.

After dressing alone, I hastily left the palace. Oddly, the palace courtyard was empty.

The knights from Blandiche who had come with me, as well as Hertian and Osen, who were supposed to arrive early in the morning, were all missing. A growing sense of unease crept up my legs, like being left alone in the middle of a forest.

“There’s no way something could have happened to Hertian.”

He had lived under the shadow of death since birth. He wasn’t someone who could be duped by the likes of the Empress.

So where the hell had he gone?

“Your Grace, the Duchess, shall we depart?”

The carriage I had summoned to go to the Emperor’s palace had arrived. There was little time left to find Hertian.

“I wish someone were here.”

Though I had brought only a few knights, who would have thought they’d all disappear?

Even under these circumstances, I couldn’t just grab anyone and ask for Hertian’s whereabouts. Word getting out that Hertian was absent could risk even the opportunity to meet the Emperor.

Then, someone’s voice brushed past my mind.

“Secondincommand of the royal knights, Elenore Creya. We’ve been close since before Hertian became a Duke, having trained under Calix.”

Elenore was in the royal palace!

I could also seek out my father, who was an official in the royal administration. But there wasn’t enough time for that. Moreover, if it came to light that Serdis and the Empress were involved, there was no telling what decision my father would make.

“I must first ask Elenore to find Hertian.”

“Let’s depart.”

“Will you go alone?”

“The Duke will come separately.”

The palace where the Emperor resided and the training ground for the royal knights weren’t far apart.

“I should have enough time to make a quick stop.”

I checked the clock and changed course. That’s when I felt lighter, yet the uneasy feeling persisted. Unsurprisingly, golden locks of hair caught my eye.

“Anette!”

I had momentarily forgotten.

There was someone who would suddenly appear and turn my mood upside down.

“Ah, Lord Serdis. We meet again.”

The last person I wanted to see.

“He must have found out that we’re going to the Emperor.”

I would have to postpone going to Elenore. There’s no telling if Serdis will grab onto the fact that Hertian is missing.

“I heard you were in the palace, but you were nowhere to be found. I thought you might be hiding.”

Serdis’s eyes narrowed. I replied sarcastically.

“Why would I hide? We must have just missed each other.”

“Is that so? I was sad thinking you might be avoiding me even after marriage.”

Of course I’d keep my distance. You were almost my fiancé, and you already bought an engagement ring.

Reading my thoughts, Serdis added,

“Anette, you said we are now family. Families live without secrets and reservations, right?”

How dare he talk about family.

He doesn’t even consider Hertian family, yet he considers me family?

The sun might as well rise from the west.

“Yes, that’s right.”

As I said this, someone approached from behind him. A man with shining silver hair and fair skin, with refreshing green eyes. A face I’d never seen before.

When I glanced that way, Serdis immediately introduced him.

“Ah, this is Michael, a junior Count from Valosone. He’ll temporarily be assisting me. Anette, is this your first time meeting him?”

I looked at him, puzzled.

Michael Valosone.
He was a character who had never appeared in the original work. If he were Serdis’s aide, even temporarily, he would have had some importance. I didn’t remember him at all.

“Could this also be a change because I altered the original?”

I quickly dismissed the doubt because there was that possibility.

“Nice to meet you. I am Anette Blandiche.”

At my greeting, he slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Very nice to meet you, Anette.”

“It took quite a long time to bring you here, given your renowned skill.”

Come to think of it, I had vaguely heard that the House of Vallosone had been a family of geniuses for generations. Their family was so secretive that there was little information available.

“I know Anette quite well.”

“You know me well?”

He nodded lightly.

“Aren’t you curious how I know Anette so well?”

With a smile that seemed dangerous.

“Um, not really curious.”

However, it wasn’t enough to pique my interest. Neither then nor now, due to the harsh realities.

“Why? Most people would be curious.”

“Because I’m not the only one like that around. I was quite popular.”

I swept back my hair and answered cheekily. Normally, people would sulk at that.

I met many kids like that when I attended the academy. Those who stalked me sneakily from behind, claiming they liked me.

I wondered why Michael felt uncomfortable. Maybe it was that unique creepiness.

“Well, I’ll be going.”