A large fruit basket entered her field of vision.

Every year during the harvest festival, gifts befitting their status are bestowed upon members of the imperial family.

However, low-ranking officials like Yuriel who were not recognized as official members were an exception.

“But my supervisor’s…”

“I absolutely detest such crude piles of fruit. Take it away and dispose of it, or do whatever you want with it.”

Ah…

Yuriel looked at the profile of her supervisor, who seemed to have finished speaking and was now focused solely on work.

For the past 3 years, without fail, a pile of fruit would appear on her table around this time.

With the name tag torn off, it was impossible to know whose it was.

However, since it was placed in her case, Yuriel was certain it was meant for her, so she would look at it curiously before taking it home.

Now that she knew who the culprit was.

Yuriel gazed at Vincent with a heavy heart.

After hesitating for a moment on what to say, Yuriel finally managed to properly utter her words.

“…Thank you.”

Yuriel left the administrative office and hurried her steps.

Holding the fruit basket dangling, she opened the door to her quarters, quietly pushed the basket inside without her mother noticing, and tiptoed back out.

Though her mother’s condition was improving greatly thanks to the continuous medication, sleep was still crucial for the patient.

Having successfully left without waking Jane, Yuriel hurriedly moved her steps once again.

The light footsteps quickly arrived at the magic tower.

Sir Vincent had told her to just go home, but there was a mountain of work to do.

In reality, it wouldn’t have mattered if she returned to her quarters and waited for tomorrow, but the fruit basket made Yuriel hasten her steps.

She wanted to do anything that could be of help to her supervisor.

Occasionally, she had picked up bits of conversation while going back and forth to the administrative office.

That Vincent was originally the eldest son of the Cherbion Count family.

That he lost his eligibility in the family’s succession line all because of that woman.

He even gave up his title for choosing that unnamed ‘woman’, so he must have truly been a great romantic.

Yet why did that woman abandon him and run away?

Was it for the same reason as her own father?

Lost in thoughts that would never yield answers, she soon arrived at her destination, the magic tower.

Yuriel took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The magic tower, which she thought would easily grant approval, was still hesitating on the price proposal.

According to Hael, it seemed they considered it impossible to even get product approval.

Of course, their hesitation was understandable.

The administration strictly controlled approvals with conservative and tight standards, considering that tracking devices themselves had potential for misuse.

An even bigger problem was… the fact that a mere nobody like her was involved in this project was enough to make their credibility hit rock bottom.

Over the past few days, Yuriel had thoroughly prepared evidence to alleviate all those concerns.

Magicians were the type of people who had no concept of day and night, let alone quitting time, so she should be able to meet them even now.

‘Today, I must get a definitive answer.’

As usual, it was Hael who greeted Yuriel as she entered the center.

Yuriel returned the greeting with a faint smile to Hael, who was waving his hand with a welcoming face.

Though they could no longer return to their previous relationship, it was fortunate that they could still face each other as friends in their own way.

As always, after completing the entry procedures and following Hael’s guidance, Yuriel entered the central office.

“If you wait here for a bit, Officer Robert will arrive.”

“Okay.”

“I hope luck is on your side.”

Yuriel smiled brightly at Hael.

“…Thank you.”

Hael stared at Yuriel with an awkward expression.

“What’s there to thank for? It’s only natural.”

In the past, he might have added ‘between us’, but now Hael couldn’t bring himself to do so.

In fact, there was much more Hael wanted to ask Yuriel.

Whether the young master Blanchet was still looking for her.

If they had been in contact during the three years she was gone…

And how she felt.

Since that night they fled from Alphonse, Hael hadn’t been able to forget Yuriel for a single moment.

As much as that, petty and childish questions swirled like thorns around his throat whenever he saw Yuriel.

But all he could do was give a faint smile.

As always, Hael quickly retreated from Yuriel’s sight as if escaping.

Listening to the footsteps fading away, Yuriel opened her documents.

Just as she finished reviewing them for the tenth time, Officer Robert appeared.

Yuriel actively showed him the materials and persuaded him, and as expected, he gave a definitive answer.

The commission fee also did not exceed Yuriel’s expected range.

Elated by the great achievement, Yuriel returned and headed towards the main administrative building.

Everyone would have gone home by now, but there should still be someone on shift duty, so she planned to at least submit the prepared documents.

The path to the main building was filled with a long row of plane trees.

As she reached the middle, the imperial palace’s main gate at the opposite end caught Yuriel’s attention.

At the same time, Cassian briefly crossed her mind.

That person who had gone from young master to a man.

His red hair fluttered in the breeze, scattering across his face.

The returned Blanchet heir’s schedule was busy.

The family affairs that had been postponed were quickly being processed by Cassian’s hands.

Recalling His Grace the Duke’s words that there would be much to help with, Butler Beyman, who had attached himself to the young master’s side, realized within a day that there was no need for that.

Cassian reviewed and approved documents without a single question, as naturally as if he had been in that position from the start.

Occasionally, he would eerily point out incorrect parts.

Most of these directly related to problems in Blanchet’s administrative processing and financial status.

Each time, Beyman felt cold sweat running down his spine.

Since the soft-hearted master Duke Devirion had entrusted all such matters to the head butler, the current situation was nothing short of a disaster for Beyman.

Whenever the intentional embezzlement of small amounts of money was discovered, Beyman’s insides burned as he scrambled for excuses.

The young master’s face showed he didn’t believe any of it, but he didn’t pursue the matter further.

Beyman couldn’t tell if he was letting it slide or harboring other thoughts.

In any case, one thing was certain.

The master before him possessed an intimidating aura completely different from the current head of Blanchet, His Grace Duke Devirion.

This fact, which he had felt from the beginning, became more evident with each passing day.

A week had already passed like this.

“Today, lunch with the Periot family is scheduled.”

Cassian’s hand, which had been focused solely on documents, oblivious to Beyman’s burning insides, stopped moving.

At the words to go out, Beyman disappeared as if fleeing, and Cassian slowly rose.

With an expressionless face, he fitted into the prepared suit and stepped out into the corridor.

Tiobe followed at a certain distance behind him.

Throughout the journey, busy servants fluttered past the windows.

The sight of plates being transported in abundance indicated how significant the Periot family’s visit was.

Though it was an unofficial meeting, everyone in this mansion knew that the young master’s engagement would be decided by this encounter.

However, Cassian, the person directly involved, didn’t change his expression even while observing the scene.

Of course, it was a political marriage, so falling in love wasn’t expected… but it was still surprising that he didn’t show even a hint of emotional change.

Tiobe closely observed his lord’s appearance.

His steps, which had been passing through the corridor, suddenly halted at a corner.

Cassian’s gaze was fixed somewhere outside the window for quite a long time.

Above his distinctive red eyes, the imperial palace loomed in the distance.

The mansion was designed with large windows positioned to view the imperial palace, and this corridor was one of them.

The large windows, occasionally bathed in dazzling sunlight, were aesthetically pleasing but completely lacked privacy protection, making one wonder if curtains should be installed, but no duke of past generations dared to do so.

This was because the mansion had been bestowed by the empire’s first emperor, Kaorbe di Pantheon.

He, who had turned a coup into a revolution and ascended to the rank of emperor, granted this mansion as a reward for Blanchet being his strong ally.

From the first head of Blanchet, Duke Renov, who first received this mansion, until now, over the years.

No one had dared to modify it.

Tiobe’s heart was pounding, wondering if he would break this unwritten rule.

One might think, what’s the big deal about such a small thing, but it was the nature of noble relationships that unnecessary words could leak out and turn into a battle of justifications. Of course, it was no different between the imperial family and the nobility.

‘Of course, unless he’s gone mad, he wouldn’t do such a thing…’

His lord sometimes had impulsive tendencies.

Fortunately, without saying anything, his lord turned his gaze and moved on.

As Cassian’s steps reached the grand hall, those who spotted him bustled to find their places.

After a period of waiting, Duke Devirion and Lady Elise also appeared right on time.

As always, Lady Elise rambled on about various things, while Devirion nodded beside her.

Cassian only answered questions directed at him and otherwise maintained silence.

It was some time later when Beyman, who had been moving busily, entered.

“Viscount and Viscountess Periot have arrived.”

After the doors opened and they entered, the meal began earlier than scheduled.