Harman and Clop arrived early in the morning. The sounds of numerous carriages woke up the residents of the Duke’s residence, and the chilly autumn wind fluttered into the Duke’s mansion like flags.

“Ventie, look, look! Look outside the window!”

Arianthe, who had already risen early regardless of the season, considered waking up the sleepy Ventie to be one of her important tasks. Ventie, holding onto the quilt up to her head, couldn’t endure Arianthe, who was pinching her bottom vigorously, and let out a painful groan.

“My lady, please… the sun hasn’t risen yet…”

“What are you talking about! The sun has already risen! Look, the sun is outside the window! Knock, knock! Lazy Ventie, wake up! If you don’t wake up, I’ll burn your hair pitch black!”

“Oh, my lady! Don’t pull my hair! Oh, my goodness!”

As Arianthe pulled out the strands of hair that had slipped out from under the quilt, Ventie, who had been barely sitting, couldn’t endure any longer. As she got up, Arianthe, who had been sitting precariously, tumbled backward and fell onto the bed.

“Yikes, my lady!”

Ventie, who was gasping for breath, grabbed Arianthe’s ankle, but Arianthe, who was too busy laughing, paid no attention.

“Ventie, look at your hair!”

“You did this, my lady!”

“Anyway, look out the window! Hurry!”

Arianthe, who had slipped under the bed, now began to knock on Evie’s door. The banging sounds were so loud that they almost rivaled the festive drumbeats.

“I’ll die early like this.”

Grumbling, Ventie, who had come running at the sound, said, looking out the window with eyes squinted.

Arianthe, who had insisted so much on looking out the window, wondered what was going on—she thought that at best, the gardeners might have trimmed the trees in a peculiar shape. But even after seeing it with her own eyes, it was a sight that she could hardly believe.

“What is all this about?”

Making a clattering noise, Ventie, who had rushed out, said. Meiana, who had neatly finished her head shaving and stood by the window like a statue, was there. She was standing by the window with a rather serious expression, arms crossed. When she glanced at Ventie’s bewildered face, she burst into a chuckle.

“What’s wrong with your hair? Did you tear it out while sleeping?”

“This is because of you, my lady… No, my hair is not the problem right now. What is all this about? Isn’t that the kingdom’s flag?”

“Well, I don’t know. But it seems likely, doesn’t it?”

“Why are soldiers here? Has a war broken out?”

Looking at Ventie as if wondering what nonsense she was talking about, Meiana gave her a brief glance.

“If a war broke out, wouldn’t soldiers come here? The Duke and Duchess would be going to the capital.”

“No, then why…!”

At that moment, the second victim of Arianthe’s violent wake-up call walked out groggily.

Ventie said.
“Ivie, your eyelids are still stuck together. If you trip over something and fall, you might get a bruise the size of a fist on your forehead.”

“I’m too sleepy… I can’t wake up properly in the morning. Besides, I had a very stimulating dream last night.”

“A stimulating dream?”

“With Lauren… ”

Meiana quickly interrupted Ivie.

“Ivie, Ventie. You should go wash your faces now. Today might be a bit busy. There will be a lot of chaotic things happening. Wake up quickly.”

“Why are you doing this? What should we say to understand?”

Ventie grumbled as usual and went back to her room, and Ivie, half-closed eyes, went to wash her face, groaning.

“Hug me, Meiana.”

Arianthe stretched out her arms and said. Meiana hugged Arianthe with both arms, and together they looked out the window.

The door of the luxurious carriage that arrived last opened, and two men came out one after the other. And Seidloy could be seen welcoming them with a hug.

“Are they Father’s friends?”

At Arianthe’s question, Meiana nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. One of them is Prince Jone.”

“Prince Jone? Really? I’ve never seen Prince, ever! Is he like the prince in fairy tales?”

“Well… yes. Something like that.”

“But he doesn’t have a white horse?”

Meiana burst into laughter without realizing it. After all, the princes in fairy tales always appeared on white horses…

Someone’s busy footsteps were heard. Judging by the small footsteps, it was undoubtedly Swan.

“Arianthe! Soldiers from Vonsung are outside!”

Meiana and Arianthe both turned their bodies simultaneously. Bridget seemed not to have woken up yet, as Swan was still in her nightgown, and her fine hair was tangled messily.

“I know too! I was watching it just now.”

Swan said with shining eyes.

“Don’t you want to go and see? Vonsung soldiers are amazing! They wear silver armor, and it is said that they embedded real obsidian in the pattern on the chestplate. Let’s go and see if it’s real.”

“Okay, let’s go! Meiana, put me down. I want to go see with Swan.”

Arianthe said as she flapped her arms and kicked. Meiana said,

“It’s fine if you go down, but Swan, young lord, you should wash your face first.”