Serena’s face brightened at the good news.

“So? Tell me what you’ve found out.”

Peter paused for a moment. About 80% of the conversation was Cedric unilaterally narrating his past wars and knightly exploits, so he had to be selective in his report.

“Your Highness, as you suspected, the letters were sent to His Majesty the Emperor at the imperial palace and His Holiness the Pope at the Vatican. The last one was sent to Duke Astel.”

Serena’s mind grew more complicated upon learning the destination of the third letter.

“How do you know where my father is?”

Serena asked, her eyes widening in surprise. Duke Astel was like the wind; he never stayed in one place. Even Serena, his only family, did not know his whereabouts.

“According to Lord Cedric, His Highness has placed informants all over the continent. Their information network is so tightly woven that the letter will reach the Duke eventually.”

Serena should have known when he sent three letters. To claim that their engagement was valid, the power of those who had officiated their engagement ceremony was needed.

That is, Lucas’s parents, the Emperor and Empress, and Serena’s father Roger, as well as the Pope who declared their engagement in the name of God.

“I apologize, but Lord Cedric was tight-lipped about the Crown Prince’s affairs, so I couldn’t find out the content of the letters.”

“It’s okay. I already know the content.”

“Eh?”

Ignoring the puzzled Peter and Anna, Serena shrugged her shoulders.

“He’s going to prove that our engagement is valid.”

For the first time in a long while, Serena felt she had met a worthy opponent. Lucas’s handling of the situation was intricate yet bold.

“All he needs to do is have the engagement recognized again and there will be no problem.”

Sigh. Serena let out a short sigh. If it had been yesterday, she would have cursed Lucas for his cunning tactics, but now she simply sighed. Watching this, Anna hid her puzzlement.

“Ah, Your Highness, there’s one more thing. The letter His Highness sent to the palace has already arrived.”

Considering the distance to the capital, it made sense that the letter to the palace was the first to return. But Serena couldn’t even guess what was written in it.

“Alright, everyone leave.”

Left alone, Serena did not immediately lie on the bed but went towards the window. Opening the window, the white curtains fluttered in the wind, emitting a fresh scent.

“Strange.”

Her muttering was tinged with much concern.

“Why me? Damn it.”

During dinner, during her bath, moments when she was in Lucas’s arms kept popping up, making her lips feel dry and her cheeks flushed.

“Should I be careful? No, is that even the right thing to say in this situation?”
Serena’s memory was vivid, of being tucked under one arm of his, hugging his back. His thick, sturdy muscles, his warm body temperature, even his breath were clearly discernible at such a close distance.

“I feel like I’m the only fool here.”

Yet Lucas acted as if nothing had happened, even staring intently at the standing Serena.

“So, did you catch me simply because someone was about to fall in front of you?”

Thinking this way, there was no problem with Lucas’s behavior.

Certainly, Serena should feel the same, but she couldn’t understand why every time the moment he caught her came to mind, her cheeks grew hot and she became angry at his composed demeanor.

“That’s right, I’m not some delicate young lady, it’s enough that you caught me roughly.”

There was no reason for Serena to be hurt, and even less reason to be angry.

In this world, young ladies are indeed delicate beings and should not be pulled so roughly into one’s arms, even in unexpected situations. However, she hadn’t refused to be vulnerable.

“That’s right. I greeted guests as a proxy for the duke, not as a young lady out for a walk.”

It was ridiculous to think so much about a small action from Lucas, but she couldn’t believe that somewhere in her heart, she felt hurt.

“Really, why?”

Her voice, grumbling in the face of the cool night breeze, echoed as delicately as a droplet. Serena briefly closed her eyes to feel the wind.

“Why indeed… why would a young lady?”

Serena turned her head with a puzzled expression. It must be an auditory hallucination. Lucas couldn’t be here.

“Did you perhaps feel hurt by me?”

However, the low voice still echoed clearly.