Kisa absentmindedly mulled over the words the Count had just uttered. Seyerd would attend the charity banquet of Count Havertz’s family?

Thinking about it, it wasn’t particularly strange. The new Duke of Hillan was currently the most famous topic of conversation in the kingdom, to the point where hosts of various banquets were desperate to invite him.

Although Kisa was also talked about due to her broken engagement, it was nothing compared to Seyerd.

‘Right, it’s not strange. Lady Havertz must have wanted to invite him too.’

By the time Seyerd had officially started his social activities, invitations had already been sent out to the banquet attendees long ago, but there was no rule against sending a few more additional ones.

But…

“He’s attending as the Princess’s partner?”

When Kisa asked dazedly, Count Vanspelt simply nodded silently. She unconsciously gulped.

The Havertz family’s charity banquet required partners. And when an unmarried man and woman who weren’t relatives attended such a partner banquet together, it usually meant they were in a romantic relationship.

Of course, she wasn’t doubting Seyerd. Kisa knew better than most how trustworthy Seyerd was.

Although it was a contract marriage, he wasn’t the type to secretly make a lover without telling Kisa, whom he had agreed to marry. After all, he had proposed the contract marriage to escape the pressure of marrying the Princess. How could such a person be dating the Princess?

‘If they really are attending the charity banquet together, Seyerd must have some unavoidable reason for it.’

As if responding to Kisa’s faith, the Count opened his mouth with a somewhat awkward expression.

“In fact, the Duke probably had no choice. It wouldn’t be proper for a subject to refuse the Princess’s request in front of everyone.”

“Did the Princess ask him directly?”

“Yes, you know there was a banquet at the palace the day before yesterday?”

“Yes, I heard. It was a commemorative banquet celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the northern trunk railway, right?”

“That’s right. The Princess met the Duke there and made the request first. She asked him to take her as his partner when attending the Havertz charity banquet.”

Kisa inadvertently let out an exclamation of “Oh my,” unable to say anything more than that.

“…She’s very bold.”

It wasn’t common for a woman to ask a man to be her partner first, but what was more surprising was that she had made that request in front of many people. And she was a member of the royal family at that.

“The moment of rejection would be incredibly embarrassing. But that’s precisely why she won’t be rejected.”

How many people in this country could dare to embarrass the youngest princess who monopolized the affection of the King and Queen?

‘Princess…’

Kisa recalled the image of her that she had observed as a friend. Arta Debon Sorbi. Although people didn’t show it, there were quite a few who were secretly displeased with her overly free-spirited nature.

But while Kisa had been surprised by Arta’s unexpected actions at times, she didn’t dislike Arta. To Kisa, who had grown up under her father’s suffocating discipline, Arta’s freedom looked beautiful.

‘Even after the incident with Daniel was exposed, I didn’t come to dislike that aspect of her, but…’

She was overcome by a premonition that Arta’s freedom would now become an obstacle to her marriage with Seyerd.

Having lost her fiancé Viserk Hillan and been in low spirits for a while, it seemed likely that she wouldn’t want to let go of Seyerd, who was said to look exactly like his brother.

“Have you met with Duke Hillan in the meantime? What did he say?”

“I haven’t met him, but yesterday Hillan sent a letter through a messenger. He must have been concerned about how I would react to the news.”

The Count, leaning back loosely against the chair’s backrest, continued.

“The letter said not to worry as it was nothing serious. Although the Princess’s request was unexpected, his feelings remain unchanged from before to now.”

Although she had thought that would be the case, hearing it brought a sense of relief.

“That’s a relief. But, about what you said earlier about me attending the charity banquet, what…”

If Seyerd had confirmed it, wasn’t the matter settled? No matter how unpredictable Arta’s actions were, she couldn’t secure a marriage agreement in such a way. It seemed there was nothing for the Count to worry about.

“It means exactly what I said. Attend the banquet and observe the two of them.”

However, the Count’s thoughts seemed to differ. Sensing his subtle tone, Kisa carefully asked.

“Father, are you perhaps doubting the Duke?”

“You mean suspecting that he might back out now and abandon you to marry the Princess? Well. While I don’t completely trust him, if you ask whether I harbor doubts significant enough to call it suspicion, that’s not the case.”

He explained the reason with unexpected kindness, in a more composed voice than expected.

“In fact, the Duke and I have previously exchanged a written agreement regarding this marriage arrangement.”

Although it was the first time she had heard this information, it wasn’t particularly surprising. The meticulous Count Vanspelt wouldn’t have broken his daughter’s engagement without any guarantee.

“It’s legally perfect, and if he overturns the engagement with you without consent, he’ll have to pay us an enormous compensation.”

In other words, it meant that if there was consent from this side, or rather Kisa’s consent, it would be possible to annul the marriage relationship.

Otherwise, the marriage contract between Kisa and Seyerd wouldn’t have been established. But this was a secret agreement that mustn’t be discovered by the Count.

“Duke Hillan will keep his promise. This incident is probably the Princess’s unilateral action, as he said.”

“Then why do you want to send me there?”

“Kisa, are you satisfied with this?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, are you satisfied with simply not worrying as the Duke says, staying in your place and waiting for him obediently?”

Towards his daughter who remained silent, unable to grasp the intention behind the question, he cast a meaningful glance.

“Well, I’m not blaming you. I’ve raised you that way all this time.”

“…”

“But now that you’re going to form your own family through marriage, you can’t stick to just that attitude anymore. You’re going to be the mistress of the Hillan Duke’s household soon, aren’t you?”

“So you’re saying I need to adopt a more proactive attitude?”

“You could say that. Why that expression?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that it’s a bit sudden for me…”

There had never been such advice before, had there? The Count merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, if your marriage partner had remained Daniel, I wouldn’t have said such things. He’s quite strong-willed. Your marriage life would have been smooth only if you remained submissive.”

Kisa agreed with that opinion.

“But Duke Hillan is different. I felt it when I first met him here, but he seems to try to respect your wishes quite well.”

The Count’s eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin.

“He doesn’t seem to be particularly weak-willed… Anyway, as long as he’s that kind of person, you need to change accordingly. He’ll probably leave the internal affairs of the Duke’s household to your discretion.”

He frowned as he looked at his daughter.

“Above all, the gaze towards you, who has pushed aside Princess Arta and secured the position by Duke Hillan’s side, will not be kind at all.”

Kisa unconsciously bit her lip.

“Of course, they can’t openly attack you, who has normally married the Duke and become the mistress of the Duke’s household. But it will be difficult to avoid large and small conflicts with the Princess and her close associates. Even the Duke can’t always be by your side as a shield.”

Although she had anticipated this to some extent, hearing it from the Count’s mouth made it even more real. The hardships that lay in wait on the path she had chosen to break off her engagement with Daniel.

To have to confront the confident and unrestrained Arta. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. However, she had no intention of backing down.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll try to change as you say, Father.”

Melissa had said that Kisa had changed unrecognizably, but there was still a long way to go.

“I’m not sure, but is this why you’re telling me to attend the charity banquet this time?”

“Yes, although the Duke said he would handle it, so most likely nothing will happen, but Princess Arta is not to be underestimated. There’s a high chance she’ll try to advance her relationship with the Duke during this opportunity, or at least make it appear so to others.”

In Kisa’s opinion, Arta was more than capable of doing that. Although she didn’t distrust Seyerd, it seemed that if the Princess took a strong stance, even he would find it difficult to avoid an awkward situation.

“Father, please tell me.”

For some reason feeling urgent, she leaned towards her father with both hands on the desk.

“What should I do at the banquet? I’m sorry for asking so much. But this is my first time, so I don’t know what to do…”

To be honest, she couldn’t imagine herself confronting the formidable Princess.

In response to his daughter’s question, the Count opened his mouth without any particular sign of displeasure.

“Kisa, what you need to do is simple. Although it might be a somewhat difficult task for you.”

“What is it? If you just tell me, I’ll do my best!”

What could it be? Kisa felt her heart beating slightly faster with mild anxiety and tension as she waited for his next words.

“In the worst case scenario, that is, if you feel you absolutely cannot stop the Princess…”

“Yes.”

“It would be good to go to Duke Hillan and the Princess’s side and clearly imprint your presence.”

Imprint? That’s a somewhat ambiguous term. What exactly does he mean?

“Um, for example, how should I do that?”

“Well. If I had to give an example, why don’t you try clinging to Duke Hillan first?”

“Cling to him? And then…?”

“Kiss him.”

Ah, a kiss. So that’s the method.

For a moment, Kisa accepted her father’s words without question, but in the very next instant, her eyes widened.

“What?”