“So… it seems like something has come up, and I need to go?”

At Odette’s question, Louis heavily nodded.

“It’s difficult to explain in detail, but it’s about a joint investment. Since I’m not doing it alone, it’s hard to back out of this matter.”

“……I see.”

Louis continued to explain, but Odette’s response was somewhat cold.

If his attitude had been fine up until now, she wouldn’t have reacted this coldly.

But he had overtly avoided her, and then unexpectedly had to leave the place because of unavoidable circumstances.

It looked too intentional.

‘…It seems a bit fishy.’

If he had rather offered to help, or had not been alone, it wouldn’t have felt this empty.

The wordy Regis and Louis, how different could they be, she thought, but feeling too negative, Odette stopped thinking.

‘Earl Clovis’s offer to help was out of goodwill, after all.’

It shouldn’t be taken for granted.

But it is indeed questionable whether Louis is really leaving because of a ‘busy matter.’

Hence, Odette’s reaction became somewhat chilly.

“Your lordship must really be in trouble. Your Highness will understand fully.”

“……”

If it weren’t for the incessant Elodie sticking around and talking nonsense, perhaps even colder words might have come out.

“I promised to help you… I’m sorry. I’ll finish as quickly as possible and come back.”

Perhaps noticing Odette’s cold reaction, Louis, too, came out humbly.

And Elodie, feigning ignorance, took that opportunity to butt in.

“Don’t worry too much, my lord. Or I can help Your Highness. How about it, Your Highness?”

“No, that’s not[Dash].”

“Alright. It’s not such a difficult task, and I don’t mind who helps me.”

“……Your Highness.”

“It’s not like I’m not going because you told me not to, so since it’s come to this, don’t worry about me and just go.”

At Odette’s reply, a complex emotion swept over Louis’s face.

And Odette could feel a definite relief mixed in.

‘It seems the fact that I’m uncomfortable was true.’

What had he heard from Duke Ertman?

‘Should I ask him directly?’

Sighing inwardly as she watched Louis, who kept apologizing, moving away, Odette let out a soft sigh.

In contrast to Odette’s complex feelings, Elodie seemed to have completely recovered.

Perhaps deluded by the fact that she had come between the two.

“So, Your Highness, what can I help you with? You gave me ‘advice,’ so I really want to help you.”

Odette quietly looked at the buoyant, lively Elodie.

The conclusion was quickly reached.

“……It’s not a difficult task. I have someone to meet personally, and I want you to watch the place for me then.”

If she left Elodie alone, she would undoubtedly follow her to meet Regis.

Or why she was meeting him, she would obsessively dig into.

It was better to shake her off and use her as a guard in that case.

Above all, there was a part of her she could trust.

“It’s not a difficult task. When will you go?”

“That is……”

Thinking she needed to get in touch with Regis, she turned her body, and at that moment.

A servant carrying a tray of finger food approached Odette.

“Excuse me. I have brought a message.”

“……!”

And the servant handed Odette a note.

The sender was, of course.

‘Regis.’

Odette folded the note and handed it back to the servant, then spoke.

“It seems I have to go now.”

(This is the time separator.)

“You look happy, Liji.”
With a sharp sound of stone colliding, a woman, Lizaina, with pink hair elegantly laid out, lifted her head.

“So, can you see it, Brother?”

“You see it? … It seems like you can’t see the chessboard we were playing on, can you?”

Blake snickered, raising his fingertip to tap the chessboard.

“While you were mesmerized, only one bishop and two knights were left for you to use. If it had been as usual, you would have quit a long time ago, wouldn’t you?”

Blake said so and then reached out to sweep away the pieces on the chessboard.

His pieces were mostly intact, so the victory and defeat were clear.

Usually, Lizaina would throw the chessboard if she thought she was going to lose, so it was an outcome no different from usual.

“You’re probably brooding like you stuck your mind in a stable because you have something to expect, Lizaina. Right?”

“Hmm, I was going to keep my mouth shut until the results came out. But I can’t fool you, can I?”

Lizaina crossed her legs, leaning against the sofa, with an attitude of not caring about the chessboard, and then spoke, giggling.

“You know there’s a banquet at Count Saviere’s today?”

“Of course, I know. I was wondering why you weren’t going to such a big banquet.”

“Count Saviere, that scoundrel, is going to be humiliated by Odette today. The excuse is sufficient, so I will enjoy it when the results come out.”

Lizaina said so and plucked a grape from the bunch beside her, popping it into her mouth.

The sweet scent of the grape spread through her mouth, and the conversation she had with Regis came to Odette’s mind.

…

…

…

“So, you’re going to drug Odette with a sleeping pill and create a scandal?”