“Daisy, Daisy! Can’t you pull yourself together?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll correct myself!”

Andersen, who had returned to his position as a butler, sternly reprimanded Daisy, who was receiving training to become a formal maid.

However, Daisy only glowed with joy without a hint of resentment. She didn’t want to lose the golden opportunity she gained thanks to Yuri Hsien’s kept promise.

The Duke’s house was noisy from early morning.

Yuri Hsien came out of her room, hearing the bustling noise. Wearing a shawl, she came out to find Ulgen, who was already leaning on the railing, looking down at the noisy lobby and greeted her.

“Oh, Yuri. You’re up early.”

“Yes, I expected it to be noisy, but it woke me up earlier than I thought because it’s worse than I expected.”

“Well, I was about to complain that it’s too noisy, but… working hard isn’t a bad thing, is it?”

“Yes, of course. Rather, we should be thankful that they are working so hard for us.”

With that response, Yuri Hsien yawned languidly from a lack of sleep. As she looked embarrassed, Ulgen came up, hugged his daughter’s shoulder, and comforted her lightly.

Yuri Hsien leaned on him, smiling softly, enjoying his pampering early in the morning.

A faint smile was hanging on Ulgen’s face, but worry quickly clouded it.

“But… will you be all right? Really, going to the capital alone?”

The reason the Duke’s servants have been making a fuss since early this morning was that in three days, a banquet would be held to welcome the Crown Prince’s return to the Imperial City from his recuperation at the shrine.

The Duke’s territory was quite far from the capital, and as the banquet would last for a whole week, they had to set off for the townhouse today to be on schedule. The servants were checking the travel luggage for the last time before departing for the townhouse.

But Ulgen was not going with them.

“Of course. Going to the capital alone isn’t just a day or two’s work. Father, you know too. I’ve stayed alone in the capital before, even stayed at the Imperial City’s welcome palace, having frequent meetings with Empress Greta.”

Ulgen may not remember, but he had heard enough stories about her through conversations with Yuri Hsien. And today’s reason for not going to the capital with Yuri Hsien was precisely because of this.

“Yes. Now I know most about you, but… others do not.”

Ulgen still hadn’t found his memory. He was only pretending that nothing had happened, fearing confusion. But this act was slowly becoming precarious.

Meetings with the nobles, assisted by Andersen and Yuri Hsien, were difficult with those who had been close to Ulgen privately.

So far, they had avoided meetings, feeling guilty for not having looked after Yuri Hsien during Ulgen’s threeyear absence.

“Yes, you’re right. If we go to the banquet, we’ll certainly have to face many nobles. Then, even if Andersen and I assist you as much as we can, there will be limitations.”

That’s why Yuri Hsien suggested that Ulgen not attend the banquet at all. Yuri Hsien had become the head of the family in place of Ulgen, who had just returned and had mountains of work to do.

“Besides, Empress knows you lost your memory. We don’t know what might happen. Cali is still not fully recovered, so…”

“Yes. Even if I’m on high alert outside, there’s bound to be a gap, so it’s safer at home. But I’m still not comfortable sending you alone. If you leave today, it will be almost two weeks before we meet again.”

“Don’t worry too much. Thanks to the selfdefense techniques you taught me, ordinary spirits can’t even touch me. I’ll write to you from the capital.”

Yuri Hsien had to leave earlier, too, but she dawdled because she wanted to be with Ulgen a little longer, so she finally left today. Yuri Hsien leaned into Ulgen’s arms, hugging her father’s broad back. Ulgen whispered.
“There’s no guarantee that the one who attacked Cali won’t sneak into the feast. So don’t go anywhere alone, and don’t eat anything alone… Be careful, and be careful again. You understand your father’s words, right?”

“Yes, I will be careful and be more careful. And if anything happens, I will come down right away. I will not stay against my will, bound by the name of a princess of Windsor.”

“That’s right. I wish you would do that. You must be healthy and safe for there to be a princess of Windsor. It’s not that the princess of Windsor was born first.”

Ulergen firmly spoke once again, releasing his daughter from his embrace. Yuri Hsien found it wonderful but strange that Ulergen could speak without hesitation.

Even if Ulergen loved Yuri Hsien as much as he said, he had lived his entire life in Windsor and had raised Yuri Hsien as the princess of Windsor for over twenty years.

‘Is he considering me because I grew up as a princess… He rarely speaks such words.’

As the years passed, Ulergen became more cautious in case he might hurt Yuri Hsien’s pride. But the absence of memory meant no accumulated courtesy.

“Always put Yuri Hsien first. Not Yuri Hsien Agate Windsor, but Yuri Hsien.”