As if to demonstrate that the years he’d lived were not in vain, Arnolt had an excellent eye for people.

Of course, that didn’t mean he could entirely read someone’s inner thoughts, but at least he could determine what kind of disposition a person had with close observation.

In Arnolt’s opinion, Walter was a terrible fatalist.

The reason for this, even Arnolt could not know.

Usually, parents would know such things, but all of Walter’s parents had left Ertman.

So it was regrettable for Arnolt, who found Walter a step too late, to see his grandson steeped in such bitterness.

Though, most of the conversations with Walter were less regrettable and more filled with resentment.

‘Even someone I wouldn’t normally give a second glance to gets angry like this just because he had tea with the woman who will be my wife?’

It was a sight he wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

Now that he saw it, Walter seemed to have changed somewhat.

‘Did he learn something on the battlefield?’

Perhaps he had regained a bit of the character he lost when he left home.

No, perhaps it’s a distortion created by my own perspective.

Arnolt hid his bewilderment and furrowed his brow.

“It was a coincidence, you fool.”

“If it could be a coincidence to sit here alone with Odette, I would have done it long ago.”

With a frigid mockery, Walter gestured to Russell, who was following clumsily behind him.

“Any further excuses will only demean you, Grandfather. Take him away, Russell.”

“…To think this is my grandson…”

“What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

Arnolt muttered a few more complaints afterward, but Walter brushed them off as if he were used to it.

After all, such quarrels between a grandfather and his grandson were practically a form of affection.

As Arnolt left, handcuffed, as it were, by Russell’s hand, Walter finally approached Odette to check on her.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he found no signs of physical abuse on Odette and her clothes intact.

“Don’t take my grandfather seriously. He has a rough tongue and is not particularly fond of the royal family. He probably doesn’t have anything against you specifically.”

“Ah, are you worried about me? Don’t be. Nothing happened.”

Only then did Odette realize why Walter had been examining her so closely.

“Lord Arnolt, I mean… the Count of Puar, was quite a gentleman.”

“A gentleman, you say?”

“Indeed. He could serve as a role model.”

Though a skeptical expression crossed Walter’s face, Odette chose to ignore it.

“More than anything, it was a coincidence that we met, just like your grandfather said. There was a little disturbance at the tea party today. The Count happened to be there and assisted me.”

“Then why are you having tea with my grandfather here?”

“Because they got some good tea?”

“…Is that your answer?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but it’s not often that one gets to drink expensive tea.”

At Odette’s proud declaration, Walter responded with a grimacing smile.

He noticed that Odette was deliberately skirting the issue.

“In the future, you’ll have more than enough opportunities for that. You can refuse next time. There’s no need to hear unnecessary things.”

“Don’t worry, really. There’s nothing wrong. And… I don’t think there’s anything to worry about?”

At Odette’s words, Walter arched an eyebrow.

As if asking, ‘what do you mean?’

But Odette only gave a faint smile.

“Really.”

Because it seemed like he quite took a liking to me.

“About when you met Lord Arnolt. Were you really okay, Your Highness?”
Upon hearing Ellie’s question, Odette looked back.

After the disorganized tea party hosted by Countess Patrice and the sudden meeting with Arnolt.

It was already dusk, and Ellie could be seen lighting the candles around the room.

“Lord Arnolt is famously not fond of the royal family.”

Ellie’s expression appeared to be quite worried.

People already knew Arnolt was not fond of the royal family, and after seeing him argue with Valter today, Ellie was concerned he might have also said something harsh to Odette.

Valter had similar concerns as well.

Despite Odette saying not to worry, he repeatedly expressed his concerns.

At that time, Valter thought he was the overly concerned one, but seeing Ellie also worry, it seemed he was not the only cautious one.

‘Did they think Lord Arnolt cornered me and threatened me or something…?’

Of course, Odette also hadn’t anticipated this turn of events at the beginning of teatime.

However.

“Really, it’s fine. He seemed to like me.”

Odette could say it with confidence.

Arnolt remained skeptical until the end about whether Odette had caught on, but she knew well that the questions thrown at her were tests.

Well, it’s not like she had lied either.

‘But tea… that’s easy to get caught on.’

Arnolt was not an easy person.

When he had abruptly asked her to explain the taste of the tea,

Odette almost laughed without realizing.