While washing their faces and changing clothes, Swan unusually disturbed Meiana with the words, ‘Is it all done now?’ When Bridget, who had gotten even plumper overnight, woke up around the time Swan was combing her hair, she was surprised as she rubbed her rounder cheeks.

“Oh my, what’s going on? Young Lord Swan, why did you wake up so early?”

“Bridget, good morning.”

Swan, who saw her through the mirror, shook her hand, and at the same time, Arianthe rushed at Bridget. Then, she kicked her side like a temperamental lamb.

“Bridget! Look outside! The soldiers have come!”

“Aiko, our Lady. You seem to be like an ox from the morning. I might get a bruise on my side.”

“Can I do it one more time?”

“No.”

Bridget, who walked to the window, widened her eyes. Just as she was about to ask what was going on, Swan finished styling her hair, and the two children jumped out hastily.

“What’s going on?”

Bridget, who was yawning, was surprised again when she saw Meiana tidying up her hair.

“Meiana, where does it hurt?”

“No, it doesn’t hurt. Why?”

“Look in the mirror. There’s not a hint of color on your face, dear.”

Meiana looked into the mirror as Bridget said. A tense and rigid face, like a patient who couldn’t release tension, appeared before her.

Meiana forced a forced smile and said, “I’m fine. I probably woke up early in the morning and got a little tired.”

“It’s something. How about taking a break? Lady and Young Lord’s breakfast will be prepared by Ventie and me.”

“Thank you, Bridget. But I’m okay.”

Meiana gave a kind farewell and went outside. However, instead of going back to Arianthe’s room, she walked along the corridor without a destination, like someone lost and wandering.

Her tightly bitten lower lip turned even paler than when Bridget saw it, and the fists hidden in her pockets were trembling hard like chilled stones.

Finally. She thought. Finally, all the traps to catch Jocelyn without fail were set.

The soldiers who led the soldiers with the Vonsung flag fluttering were the last trap prepared by Seidloy. Jocelyn was sure to have no way out.

If Meiana were to speak for herself, she had never suffered significant damage to wish for Jocelyn’s death. That was a fact she acknowledged.

But this morning, the solemn and fearful atmosphere that pervaded the Duchy was welcome. For Arianthe, for Seidloy, and on the other hand, for Verbo and Liria, whom she had never seen before.

‘Jocelyn’s housekeeper will arrive sometime today too. Considering the time it takes to return from the capital… It probably won’t take until the afternoon. Then, all she has to do is come back here.’

A faint breath flowed long from Meiana’s lips.

“Then you are really finished.”

Arianthe and Swan, running down to the lower floor to see the Vonsung soldiers without knowing English, hesitated their steps as they saw two men entering the hall with Cedaloi.

As the children, almost rolling down the stairs, stopped, the man who had a cheerful smile, as if finding something amusing, pointed to the two of them.

“Are these the ones?”

Arianthe and Swan quickly realized that the question was not directed at them. The two children looked at Cedaloi.

Cedaloi said, “Arianthe, Swan, greet them. The person here is His Highness, the second prince, who governs Elblyen, the youngest son of King Elmerat.”

Then, Haman, who was standing next to Cedaloi, rolled his eyes awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

“Quite grand. Okay, I’m Haman. Swan, you’ve seen me before.”

Upon Haman’s words, Swan widened her eyes with a tense expression. While living in Vonsung, she had occasionally seen royalty, but she couldn’t remember who was who.

“Do you really not know me? The child is frozen white. I’m Clopht. Call me Uncle Clopht. By the way, I’m the son of a helmsman’s family, so you don’t have to be too formal.”

“Helmsman?”

“No, not a helmsman, but a helmsman. Oh, now that I think about it, the princess doesn’t have a single tooth, does she? Where is it, let me see, hasn’t the fairy brought a new tooth yet?”

Arianthe looked at the cheeky Clopht with a slightly awkward expression, but she couldn’t act as casually as she did with Meiana and Ventie because he was a stranger. So, she slightly lowered her head and replied.

“She’ll bring it soon.”

“Who, the fairy said that?”

“Meiana.”

“Your fairy’s name is Meiana?”

Arianthe looked at Cedaloi with a puzzled expression. Under the gaze of her daughter, who wanted her to do something about this strange man, Cedaloi immediately approached and picked up Arianthe.

“Stop bothering my daughter.”

“What? Goodness! Haman, did you hear that? Do you know what this guy is saying?”

Haman avoided looking at him, as if he didn’t want to deal with him. Clopht turned mischievously to Swan.

“Well, you’re Lord Gledon’s son. How about you? Did you lose a tooth?”

Swan, who had been hesitating, nodded her head.

“But a new one came out. It feels like another one might shake.”