With a bright smile as if it were a welcome sound, the Gloucester Duke and Duchess made Count Lancaster momentarily startled, wondering what these people were like.

“Actually, we’re quite eager to talk, but it might be a bit abrupt to bring up the conversation right after seeing your face for the first time, isn’t it?”

“Yes?”

“Then when should we set a date?”

“Yes?”

Although it was said that it might be too abrupt to bring up the conversation right away, it didn’t seem like that at all.

Count Lancaster was momentarily surprised by the effortlessly flowing words of the Gloucester Duke and Duchess.

“Since it’s been quite some time since the engagement talk and some time has passed, wouldn’t it be better to do it as soon as possible, son-in-law?”

“Even if we skip the engagement ceremony, going straight to marriage might lead to unnecessary speculation due to societal norms. Of course, it doesn’t matter to us.”

“Since the Viscountess is frail, and it hasn’t been long since the son-in-law returned, there must be a lot to organize. So, we’ll take care of the preparations.”

“Of course, don’t worry, just relax, son-in-law.”

“Um, well, that’s…”

How did an Eric-like son come out of such people?

It was surprising that the atmosphere between parents and children could be so different.

Count Lancaster, who was taken aback, tried to interrupt, but even that was not easy.

“Since the Duke will take the lead in the wedding, how about autumn? Actually, we’re fine with doing it sooner.”

“If you’re not a direct royal, there’s no need for the Duke to take the lead. In my opinion.”

Although he might have skipped the engagement ceremony, as soon as the talk of marriage came up, Count Lancaster hastily intervened.

“W-wait a moment.”

“Yes, son-in-law.”

“Speak, son-in-law.”

Every time they said that damn son-in-law sound.

How did Eric come out of such people?

Even parents and children can have such a strained atmosphere.

Count Lancaster, who was embarrassed, seized the opportunity to intervene, but even that wasn’t easy.

“Actually, I came to suggest that the two of you consider canceling this marriage.”

“Yes?”

The expressions of the Gloucester Duke and Duchess instantly stiffened.

It was so rapid a change that Count Lancaster was momentarily stunned.

“W-what do you mean by that?”

“Why? Didn’t our son suit your taste? Well, his personality is a bit like that, so maybe not to your liking, but he’s really good to Alicia.”

“That’s not it.”

Somehow, it felt like the atmosphere had completely disappeared.
Thought it was something I had to do for Eric, but it was difficult to do such a thing to his parents.

Nevertheless, Count Lancaster strengthened his resolve and extended the contract again.

When the Duke of Gloucester accepted the contract with a pale face, the Duchess approached closely to see it.

“T-this, thi-this.”

The Duke’s hand holding the contract trembled, and as the Duchess finished reading, she touched her forehead and staggered backward.

It was pitiful to see, but Count Lancaster tried to speak calmly.

“This engagement was fake from the beginning. As stated in the contract and now that I have returned, this engagement is over.”

This time, the Duke of Gloucester’s complexion paled, and he read the contract over and over again.

The hand holding the contract still trembled.

“My daughter is also a party to the contract, and no one should blame her. Since I found out first, I thought it was proper to come and tell you in person.”

“Son-in-law.”

“It must have been a great disappointment, but I hurried here because I thought it would be better for you to know as soon as possible.”

“Oh.”

Almost collapsing, the Duchess of Gloucester, leaning on the sofa, made a moaning sound.

Not long ago, he only thought about setting a date while waiting for the Duke to come.

He was looking forward to getting rid of that damn son and finally seeing his son-in-law.

But then came this thunderbolt.

Did he really see that damn son?

No wonder that guy, who was fed up, suddenly said he was engaged and ended up like this.

Even after the Marquis left, the Duke and Duchess sat dazed in the drawing-room.

Naturally, they didn’t properly see them off.

There was no spirit or energy left.

“That, this kid is just.”

After a while of staring blankly, the Duke of Gloucester stood up abruptly.

“Dear.”

“I should go see that kid, dear. We need to find out what he was thinking to do such a thing.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Staggering, the Duchess of Gloucester stood up.

Her appearance seemed so precarious that the Duke quickly intervened.

“It would be better for the lady to wait here.”

“Sitting still and waiting here seems like it’ll drive me crazy.”

“······Let’s go. It’s better to see and go crazy than wait here.”

“Welcome.”

“Where’s Eric?”

“He’s in the study.”

Although the butler of the Russell Viscount’s mansion greeted the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, they just nodded with a very unpleasant expression and walked to Eric’s study, which was far from good.

“What’s going on?”

“Yes, what could it be?”

When the muttering butler asked behind him, the butler turned around in surprise.

“Oh, you. Don’t you even make a sound when you walk around the mansion?”

“Cough. Anyway.”

The butler coughed in response to the servant’s ridicule.

“What’s going on? You don’t look well.”

“That’s right.”

“Lately, the atmosphere is really strange. The young lady doesn’t come, and the lord only works.”

Something didn’t seem to be going well, so the butler was worried.

Although he had contacted the reasonably friendly butler of the Lancaster Viscount’s mansion, he had not received a clear answer.

“Perhaps.”

“Don’t say anything.”

The butler urgently cut off the servant’s words.

“Don’t say anything because we don’t know if it’s a denial.”

At the butler’s desperate and firm words, the servant nodded with his mouth shut.

“Hey! You, you!”

Angry, the Duke of Gloucester opened the door and entered, but as soon as he saw Eric sitting at the desk, he stopped.