Roger did not give much time. The request to stay and see at least the harvest festival of Astel territory was not accepted, and it was decided that Anna, Lily, and Peter would depart together as Serena’s attendants.

“I always receive help from you.”

Late at night, Roger invited Peter to his quarters and offered him wine. Normally, he would have certainly declined, but as it was the night before parting, Peter did not refuse.

“I am merely fulfilling my duty. I cannot forget the grace of the late Duke who saved our fallen family and myself.”

“Haven’t you already repaid that grace to my father? How can I measure all the merits you’ve achieved as the captain of the Astel knights?”

At Roger’s words, Peter gave an embarrassed smile and nodded his head in respect.

“When my father passed away and I ascended as Duke, it was because of your loyalty to me that the discipline of the knights did not waver. Thanks to that, I too was able to live freely…”

“It’s not just because of me alone. It’s all thanks to the dignity of the Astel ducal family.”

The Astel ducal family was an ancient and noble house that could rival the history of the Tern imperial family. Because of this, Roger, the current Duke, could maintain his position steadily even without giving up his freedom and adventures.

“Still, my gratitude for you is always insufficient. Even after stepping down as knight captain and laying down your sword, you volunteered to become the butler of our ducal family.”

Like the palace servants of the imperial family, the butler of a powerful house like the Astel duchy was recognized as an honorable and high position, and his power as a vassal was quite considerable.

“Thanks to you leading the Astel mansion, I was able to live freely. But now I’m making another shameless request.”

Once Serena goes through the royal marriage, she will be formally invested as the Crown Princess and live in the imperial palace. No matter how indifferent a father he was, Roger couldn’t help but have many thoughts about Serena’s situation and the future of the ducal family.

“Peter, I wasn’t a good father. Rather, you were probably more of a father figure to Serena than I was.”

“That’s not true at all.”

Roger wasn’t brazen enough to say he would act like a father now. After losing his wife, he had never been devoted to family and the ducal house, and he had to admit that.

“The Crown Princess needs someone she can trust. Especially for a child like Serena who’s unpredictable.”

The 24-year-old lady was already considered an old maid, but in her father’s eyes, she was still a child.

“Lady Anna has already decided to enter the palace with a young maid.”

It was tradition for a lady’s nurse maid to follow when she married, so this wasn’t anything new.

“However, given Serena’s strong personality, that alone doesn’t give me peace of mind. Originally, I asked you to escort her on the way to Marquis Sherwood, but…”

Now Roger’s true intentions came out.

“Do you wish for me to enter the palace with the young lady?”

Peter asked right away. Since the marriage partner was the Crown Prince, not a noble family, it wasn’t excessive at all for an attendant to accompany her.

“If the Duke allows it, I would like to follow the young lady.”

“Is that true? If you do that, both Serena and I would feel reassured.”

Peter nodded at Roger’s pleased face. If he hadn’t asked, Peter was planning to request it himself to follow Serena.

“I was actually going to ask for it. Now that I’m getting old, there’s nothing else for me to do… except to serve the young lady until the end.”

He didn’t dare claim to be a father figure to Serena, but to him who had no family, Serena was already more precious than anything else.

“Thank you, Peter.”

Roger put down his wine glass and grasped his hand.

“Serena… I leave her in your care.”

He had been a careless and irresponsible father, but his affection for Serena, born from the woman he loved with his life, was deep.

“That child is strong and brave. That’s why she’s not someone any noble man can handle. But the Crown Prince should be able to be her match.”

Roger loved Serena in his own way. It was a selfish way that only Peter understood, but that’s why he nodded and grasped his hand in return.

Though their methods differed, the two men’s hearts in cherishing Serena were the same.

At the Duke’s order, Anna and the young maids were busy packing, and thanks to everyone in the mansion lending a hand, preparations to depart for the capital in two days were completed.

“Do we really have to go now? Next week is the harvest festival, couldn’t we at least stay to see that?”

Serena protested to Roger until the end, but of course her opinion was not accepted.

“There’s no need to worry about the Astel territory. The real Duke, not a proxy, has returned, even more so.”

It was too correct in principle, which made it more frustrating. The real Duke, Roger, had left the territory to Serena for the past 6 years without showing any interest.

Yet now Serena, who had been taking care of the territory, had to leave without even seeing the harvest festival. She couldn’t help but be upset.

“And what you need to think about now is not this territory, but how to go through the royal marriage and become a proper Crown Princess.”

She had already protested several times, but Roger didn’t even blink an eye, and Serena gave up arguing further. However, her blue eyes were still glaring at Roger.

“Marchioness Sherwood has taken charge of the royal wedding preparations, so she’ll do well. In the future, you’ll need to lead the imperial social circles, so you should form a good relationship with the Marchioness.”

Just the fact that this engagement was valid was driving her crazy, but Roger was already thinking about Serena becoming the Empress someday.

“Fine. Let’s say everything you say is right. But couldn’t I at least see the harvest festival before I go? It might be the last time.”

The harvest festival was a unique culture that Serena had created since coming to Astel. She was reluctant to leave without seeing this year’s festival, which she was more confident about than any other year.

“Leave the territory to me now.”

Roger said firmly, even as he saw Serena’s disappointed eyes. She shouldn’t leave unnecessary attachments since she was going to become the Crown Princess anyway.

“Come on, we need to depart soon so we’re not late for the journey.”

The carriage loaded with Serena’s luggage had already left for the capital yesterday. Now, a large and luxurious carriage with the Astel ducal family’s emblem and two smaller carriages for the attendants were waiting for her at the entrance.

“I’ll see you at the wedding.”

Roger gave a careless greeting to Serena, who stood in front of the carriage with heavy steps until the end.

“Yes.”

Serena gave a simple bow to Roger and got into the carriage, having given up on everything. It was unbelievable that she was leaving Astel, where she had poured her everything for the past 6 years, so emptily, but there was nothing she could do.

Now that the real Duke had returned, there were no answers to be found here.

“Young lady, the journey is long, so please sit comfortably.”

Even at Anna’s words, who was in the carriage with her, Serena shook her head and pressed herself against the window.

“When else will I see Astel if not now.”

As the carriage started moving, Serena clung to the window even more intently. As they left the familiar ducal mansion and passed through the square, a crowd of people seeing Serena off came into view.

“Anna, look outside!”

She felt like she would never forget each and every face wishing for her happiness, waving flags or cloths.

“They’re all wishing for your happiness, young lady.”

She thought no one appreciated her, but now everyone seeing Serena off held the same regret.

“Yes…”

Serena was confident that she would never regret pouring her everything into Astel for the past 6 years. The faces of the people seeing her off now were her very achievements and pride.

“Don’t cry. No one wants to see you cry, young lady.”

At Anna’s words, Serena bit her lip hard and opened the carriage window to wave her hand. Although she couldn’t see the harvest festival or say goodbye to everyone in person, it was enough that everyone’s hearts were the same.

“Goodbye.”

As they left the crowd and the familiar Astel square that was gradually receding, Serena muttered softly. It was a farewell only for herself that no one could hear.

“Farewell.”

She didn’t shed tears. She just said goodbye in her heart over and over again.

My beloved Astel, goodbye. Farewell.

Empress Adeline softly sang a lullaby for her child while personally combing Luana’s hair, which was becoming increasingly lush like her own. Luana nodded her small head drowsily on her mother’s lap.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

Careful not to disturb the precious time between mother and daughter, Isabel, the head maid, approached cautiously and whispered.

“Marchioness Sherwood has arrived and is waiting in the reception room.”

“I see, it’s time for Luana’s nap anyway.”

“Shall I call for Lady Aubrey?”

Adeline nodded as she looked at her sleepy daughter. She didn’t want to let go of the child’s small but warm body temperature, but the preparations for the Crown Prince’s royal marriage were also important.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty the Empress. Shall I take the Princess?”

Aubrey, who arrived quickly, bowed. As befitting a nurse maid, she whispered quietly so as not to wake the child.

The Empress entrusted Luana, who was making a slight fuss in her sleep, to Aubrey and stood up, smoothing the skirts of her dress.

“Which reception room is the Marchioness in?”

“On the first floor. I will guide you.”

Following Isabel’s guidance, they arrived at the reception room, where the butler guarding the door bowed and immediately opened it.

“Her Majesty the Empress enters!”

As his solemn voice rang out, the Marchioness who had been waiting in the reception room quickly rose and came before the Empress, curtsying and paying her respects.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty the Empress.”

Adeline quickly scanned the Marchioness’s elegant yet dignified appearance and gave a gentle smile.

“Raise your head, Marchioness Sherwood.”

“I am deeply honored.”

Marchioness Miranda maintained a respectful expression at the Empress’s smile.

“Please be seated. Isabel, bring tea.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Adeline slowly took her seat at the head of the table, the Marchioness, who had been waiting with her hands folded, finally sat down very carefully in her own seat.

“It is truly a great honor to have an audience with Your Majesty the Empress so closely like this.”

Watching Miranda, who was the very model of a noblewoman, Adeline continued to wear a subtle smile.