After finishing the conversation in the parlor, Serena reluctantly excused herself and returned to her bedroom. Her jaw felt sore from forcing a smile for the first time in a long while.

“What, only 20 minutes?”

Glancing at the bedroom clock, Serena made a disbelieving expression. It felt like two hours had passed, but their time alone was only 20 minutes.

“Miss, did the meeting go well?”

Anna, who happened to pass by, spoke warmly and naturally straightened Serena’s disheveled clothing and hair.

“Of course not. It was terrible.”

As Anna repositioned a slightly skewed hairpin, Serena pouted. Even at twenty-seven, she always became docile under Anna’s careful touch.

“Communication is impossible. He won’t even accept that our engagement is null and void!”

Sighing deeply as if venting, Serena spoke. With the Harvest Festival approaching, she couldn’t understand why she was stuck dealing with Lucas.

“Do you remember Peter saying that His Highness had sent three messenger pigeons?”

“Yes? Of course.”

“He seems to have some faith. He said we would discuss it again when the messenger pigeons arrive.”

Biting her lip, Serena reflected.

She hadn’t expected this day to come, first thinking that he had abandoned her and later that she had abandoned her fiancé.

“Well, it’s good that I prepared for this situation.”

It had been quite a tedious task, but Serena, who was thorough once she set her mind to something, had prepared adequately.

Given that her noble soul had been neglected by her fiancé for six years, it was almost like a form of punishment, so she could expect some sympathy.

“No need to worry too much, Miss. So please don’t furrow your beautiful brow.”

“I still have annoying matters to attend to. No, they just came up.”

“Annoying matters?”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, wishes to study and inspect the Astel duchy along with the ruling lord.”

While not an exact quote, the essence was the same.

“The Duke is away, isn’t he?”

“I gave that answer, but he said it’s the same since I am the acting Duke.”

Serena had learned a lot from working in the Duke’s office ever since she arrived in the Astel territory. Even though she was frustrated and angry, she couldn’t deny that Lucas was right.

“Our Astel’s prosperity must seem quite impressive.”

Serena’s face, both annoyed and subtly proud, looked adorable to Anna.

“So, we have an uninvited guest for all the tasks, starting from lunch.”

Could Lucas’s purpose really be the management secrets of Astel?

Anna somehow felt that Lucas’s objective lay elsewhere, but she didn’t express this to Serena right now.

“I should notify the kitchen.”

“Leave it. Just add one more serving.”

“But His Highness the Crown Prince…”

Serena’s eyes were firm.

“If he is curious about Astel, he should see it as it is. I will obey a royal command, but he won’t receive any special treatment.”

Anna nodded with a puzzled look. Failing to properly entertain the Crown Prince was a serious offense, but in this situation, it hardly mattered.

“Perhaps it’s for the best. Maybe he’ll give up after following me around for just one day and seeing how busy and exhausting my life is.”

“However, His Highness the Crown Prince has had strenuous wanderings, training, and battlefield experience.”

Slumping on the sofa, Serena flicked her index finger left and right.

“Anna, everyone has their own battlefield.”

Serena, with a smug smile, was as eccentric as ever.

“He may be of noble birth, but His Highness has never received the same treatment as others. Even on the battlefield.”

It wasn’t to belittle Lucas’s training or battlefield experience. Looking at how he had changed, one could see he had lived with strong resolve and will.

“Even if he wandered the entire continent in heavy armor, he would have always received special treatment. It’s necessary.”
“Miss, it’s not appropriate to be disrespectful to His Highness, no matter how much you dislike him.”

“I know. But His Highness said he wanted to experience life like mine, so isn’t this simply following orders?”

Her blue eyes sparkled with particular mischief.

“Rather, treating His Highness specially would be disloyal.”

Serena’s interpretation was thoroughly self-centered. She also saw the entire situation as a fight that Lucas had initiated.

“His Highness wants to know the life of a lord, so avoid special treatment except for the basic courtesies due to royalty. This goes for meals, travel, and official duties.”

“If that is your wish, Miss…”

Serena, seeing Anna trailing off, suddenly seized upon a thought.

“Anna.”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t it be better for the palace guard to step aside if His Highness truly wants to experience the life of a lord?”

What is she trying to say now? Anna looked at Serena with anxious eyes.

“Sir Cedric, the knight of His Highness. If he happens to be free today, we might have an opportunity.”

“What opportunity?”

“Peter exists.”

At that, Anna slowly nodded her head.

“Wasn’t Peter originally a knight? And even the captain of Astel’s knights.”