As planned by Serena, the rumor spread like wildfire that the knight who came to Astel territory was actually the crown prince. However, rather than thinking she had tricked him, the events of last night were more vivid, so she couldn’t enjoy this situation.

“Young lady. The crowd gathering to welcome His Highness the Crown Prince is so large that His Highness himself is leading the Astel knights to tour the territory and hear the cheers of the people.”

In other words, thanks to Serena, Lucas was doing labor that wasn’t labor, but unlike Peter or Anna’s expectations, Serena, who would usually giggle with a mischievous smile, looked quite indifferent.

“I see…”

Resting her chin on her arm placed on the chair’s armrest, Serena muttered absentmindedly. Perhaps because she had tossed and turned so much under the covers that she only fell asleep at dawn, she also looked tired.

“My lady, you look very tired. Why don’t you take a nap?”

Usually, she would have declined saying she had a lot to do, but Serena simply nodded and slowly walked back to the bed.

Her usually confident posture was somehow a bit hunched, and her drooping shoulders were very different from usual.

At the time when Serena was trudging back to bed, the Farel Grand Duke’s residence right next to Astel was in an uproar.

“What? The crown prince is here now saying he’ll keep his vow?”

The reddish eyes of Hyde, the Farel Grand Duke, blazed with anger.

“An engagement is practically nonexistent after 4 years, yet he shamelessly comes now saying he’ll take the bride?”

Although he had recently been banned from entering Astel territory by Serena, Hyde had always been willing and determined to marry Serena.

“How many times has this so-called fiancé crown prince come to see her? Letters? He’s no match for me at all.”

If you count his one-sided pursuit of Serena, his persistent courtship, and getting kicked out as meetings, it’s true that he met Serena more often than Lucas did.

“Your Grace, since the engagement hasn’t been officially broken… it wouldn’t be good for you to intervene now.”

Chad, a long-time retainer of the Farel ducal family, carefully advised. He too had been watching Hyde and secretly thought it would be good if Serena became the duchess, but now that the crown prince had appeared, the duke’s passion could be dangerous.

“Well, do I need to intervene?”

Hyde erased his annoyed expression and tried to remain calm.

“Serena is no ordinary woman. She’s a woman with the boldness and robust strength befitting our family, which has been military commanders for generations.”

As he recalled Serena, his reddish-brown eyes shone with admiration and joy.

“That dignified attitude when she poured still-hot tea on me is still vivid.”

When the duke first appeared before Serena, she only maintained superficial courtesy and did not try to continue the conversation with him.

But after Hyde’s passionate efforts, they met face to face several times and left quite impressive memories.

“Once, she kicked my shin while wearing riding boots.”

As if recalling a pleasant memory, a smile spread across Hyde’s face.

“Your Grace, that’s violence…”

“Yes, she’s a woman strong enough to be violent.”

Chad tried to speak common sense, but he couldn’t save Hyde who was already lost in his own memories.

“Moreover, her skill with horses surpassing any knight is truly the best. Unlike those ladies who sit demurely on the saddle doing nothing, she grips the reins herself and spurs on!”

Hyde knew Serena’s strengths better than anyone.

“Your Grace, in that posture, she tried to kick you by rearing the horse’s front legs. An ordinary person would die doing that.”

“But I am no ordinary person.”

Hmph, Hyde laughed confidently.

“Serena knows my extraordinariness, so she was testing my toughness and reflexes.”

“Yes, of course, Your Grace is very extraordinary.”

Satisfied with Chad’s answer, Hyde flicked his reddish-brown hair with his fingers.

“But now suddenly the crown prince appears and says he’ll take away my bride? I can’t stand by.”

“However… it’s true that she was engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“That’s invalid!”

His red eyes glared into empty space. As if the crown prince were there.

“According to continental customary law, an engagement becomes invalid after 4 years. Especially an engagement between the imperial family and a ducal family, it’s been 6 years even. There’s no point in discussing it further.”

It made sense by common understanding. Serena thought so too.

“The duke’s daughter must know that fact well. Besides, confining such a splendid woman in the imperial palace would be a great waste for the entire continent.”

Hyde had been interested in Serena since she came to Astel territory after their engagement.

At first, he scoffed at hearing that a duke’s daughter had come as a proxy for the adjacent territory, but his attitude completely changed before half a year had passed.

“Serena’s potential knows no bounds. The current Astel territory is proof of that.”

Everyone whispered that Serena had fled to the territory because her engagement ceremony was terrible and shameful, and she couldn’t show her face in social circles.

However, what Hyde actually saw was the figure of a woman riding a horse without hesitation and leading the territory more vigorously than anyone else.

“The people of the capital or imperial palace don’t understand her value. How much less the crown prince who still hasn’t matured?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince is now twenty years old.”

“So, he’s still young.”

Hyde was 28 this year, 4 years older than Serena. Of course, he was surrounded by people worried about the absence of a duchess. But the moment he met Serena, Hyde’s heart was already decided.

“He’s much younger.”

From Hyde’s perspective, the crown prince was just a youth 8 years younger than him.

Moreover, due to the portrait depicting the problematic engagement ceremony being published in newspapers sent to all territories, the impression that he was smaller than his fiancée was still strong.

“Here, where…”

Rummaging through the drawer, Hyde boldly pulled out a 6-year-old newspaper and slapped it on the desk.

Even now with the paper faded, the figure of the crown prince, much smaller than Serena in her white ceremonial dress, was clearly visible.

“Look, isn’t it ridiculous? This is why Serena came to Astel. A fiancé smaller and younger than herself, it’s understandable.”

“However, as Your Grace has already heard, His Highness the Crown Prince has now become very robust.”

Chad was certainly a loyal retainer. He didn’t hesitate to give honest advice even to Hyde, whose red eyes were blazing with feelings for Serena.

“Rumors tend to be exaggerated.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has already built up military achievements on numerous battlefields and has become a strong man after training while wandering the entire continent.”

“How funny. I was strong when I was 10 years old. I never lost even when competing with those several years older, let alone peers.”

What was really funny was this sight of a noble grand duke belittling his rival out of jealousy. But because Hyde’s expression and gaze were extremely serious, Chad couldn’t say anything.

“The young lady I know would have already firmly refused marriage.”

In fact, Hyde’s guess was somewhat correct. It was possible because Hyde had seen Serena’s temperament in all sorts of situations.

“A woman like her cannot live in a stuffy place like the imperial palace.”

Hyde declared.

“So now is the golden opportunity.”

Chad, who had been nodding appropriately, narrowed his eyes and looked at his lord.

“…Pardon? What opportunity did you say?”

“A golden opportunity.”

For a moment, Chad’s mind was confused. How could this be a golden opportunity when his lord’s fiancée’s betrothed had appeared and was asserting his legitimacy?

“Your Grace, this doesn’t seem like an opportunity.”

“It is.”

Hyde lifted his chin arrogantly. Though somewhat sharp, his handsome features exuded the unique dignity of the Farel ducal family.

“The capital, especially the imperial palace, will be the most confining cage for a woman.”

It wasn’t wrong. Even the noble ladies of the capital live trapped in the cage of social circles, and the crown prince’s consort wouldn’t be any less so.

“I’m going to save her.”

Looking at Hyde’s expression, those words were sincere.

“I need Serena. No other lady can be so gallant and strong. Also, I can guarantee a life where she can shine.”

The Farel Grand Duchy and Astel Duchy were adjacent lands, and if he and Serena married, he intended to let Serena govern Astel as she had been doing. No, if she wanted, Serena could rule the Farel Grand Duchy too.

“Forgive me, but I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Why… didn’t you tell the young lady this?”

For a moment, the two men faced each other and blinked blankly.

“Your Grace recognized the young duchess’s special capabilities and planned to let her govern not only Astel but also the Farel Grand Duchy after marriage, and even give her freedom…”

There couldn’t be better conditions for a woman like Serena.

“Why didn’t you tell her directly?”

“Ah…?”

Hyde slapped his knee. His bewildered expression was accompanied by a half-open mouth.

“Do I need to say that in words? The strong understand each other.”

“…Your Grace, this is a marriage proposal. How many times do I have to tell you? A proposal is not about gaining a comrade.”

Hmm, Hyde let out a dissatisfied sigh.

“Still, it’s clear that Serena thinks of me. The last time we met, she poured cold tea on me. Wasn’t she worried I might get hurt?”

That last meeting was in midsummer, when the heat was fierce. It was just that Serena had been drinking cold tea.

“Indeed, I must save her.”

Hyde was an excellent man as a grand duke, but he knew nothing about a woman’s heart.

“We’re going to Astel right now.”

Chad knew well that he couldn’t stop his hot-blooded lord. Also, since Serena’s engagement was close to invalid, it was hard to ignore the hope of welcoming a virtuous duchess.

“I will follow Your Grace’s command.”

And so, an unprecedented event occurred in Astel. It would become something that minstrels would sing about even after a very long time had passed.