Serena didn’t know, but the dress Anna had asked Lady Heily for was exactly 25 sets. Including hats, gloves, shoes, and fans, today would be a long day.

Abigail got up from her seat after receiving tea and exchanging a few polite words at the request of the Duchess.

“Um… Ma’am, I’d like to hear your thoughts on Lora.”

Without saying a word about Lora, Miranda who felt offended, finally spoke as they reached the entrance.

“The tea was fragrant. I enjoyed it.”

Abigail only repeated similar words.

“Is there anything lacking in Lora? Is there a better teacher than you, no matter how strictly we educate her? The Duke’s young lady is here, so if she could study with someone, it’d be helpful…”

“Duchess.”

Miranda cut her off firmly, despite the kind smile.

“I’m already old and in retirement. I’ve simply come to advise the future Crown Princess due to my relationship with the Empress.”

“Of course. But the Duke’s young lady is very clumsy with etiquette, so if Lora could study with her, it would be helpful.”

Miranda had only one child, Lora, who unlike her past, now deserved the best education and culture. Particularly, the stature of the marriage would change if it was known she received etiquette education along with the Crown Princess.

“Ma’am, I think the Duke’s young lady…”

“Oh, would you look at the time.”

Ignoring the desperately clinging Duchess, Abigail looked at the setting sun.

“It’s difficult to stand for long when you’re old.”

It was a polite rejection.

“Please contact us again when the Duke’s young lady is ready. Goodbye.”

Though offended, Miranda had no choice but to see off Abigail with a forced smile.

“A pearl necklace on a pig.”

With a sarcastic remark, Miranda looked up at the third floor. It was ridiculous that a dress fitting for the royal wedding was just now happening in this house.

Returning to the palace, Lucas was restless, constantly feeling discomfort. He was 16 when he left the palace, and now he was 20. All the things he needed while growing up, he obtained outside this palace.

“Sedric, was the palace always this boring?”

“Probably… yes.”

Sedric answered honestly even to the sarcastic question.

“Do I have to live in a place like this for the rest of my life?”

“Yes.”

Sighing deeply, Lucas had a reason when he first left the palace. It was to fight on the empire’s battlefield.

It was a duty that anyone in line for the throne had to go through at least once, and even the engagement ceremony had been part of that, making it easy to leave.

“I can understand her feelings now.”

“Yes?”
The Emperor and Empress had urged him to return time and again, but Lucas Thern’s wandering had only ended after six years. Therefore, he could not leave anymore.

“My fiancée, Serena.”

Lucas conjured up the vibrant image of Serena from Astel. He then mulled over the boundless freedom he had promised her. Could that promise truly be kept by Lucas’s will?

“In Astel, she was beautiful running freely. I… promised her that I would preserve that image.”

“Then, you just need to keep the promise.”

Sedric was a man stubborn to the point of foolishness, but at times he spoke rightly.

“Yes.”

Lucas, who had been lying down languidly, abruptly sat up at those words.

“I have to keep my promise.”

If the woman Lucas was smitten with was with him, then this palace would inevitably change. For Lucas, who had to live the rest of his life here, that fact felt like a lifeline.

“Even if she has no choice but to become the crown princess… if it’s what she wants, she’ll be free to do anything…”

“Uh? That’s impossible.”

Once again, Sedric only spoke the truth.

“It would be impossible in the usual way.”

Lucas’s black eyes sparkled with an extraordinary light.

“Your Majesty, I don’t know what you are scheming, but you shouldn’t cause trouble before the national rites. I am…”

“Yes, it’s before the national rites now!”

Contrary to Sedric’s intent, an inspiration suddenly popped into Lucas’s head.

“She is still Serena Astel, not yet the crown princess.”

The corners of Lucas’s lips rose. Though it was certainly an expression indicating that he was plotting something unusual, Sedric couldn’t dissuade him any further.