‘To think Jade came at just the right time. That’s fortunate.’

I was secretly pleased to hear that Jade had arrived.

“…Marquis Rowe? I’m having an important conversation with Earl Boston right now, so tell him to wait a moment.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes and waved his hand dismissively.

Countess Escaliff looked at the Emperor’s expression and said:

“He said it’s a matter that must be reported immediately…”

“What on earth could it be!”

The Emperor briefly lost his temper, then let out a deep sigh.

“Huu, Earl Boston, I apologize. I need to see the Marquis for a moment.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. I will take my leave.”

“Sending you off like this doesn’t sit well with me. Imperial Grandson.”

As Blanche and I stood up to leave the greenhouse garden, the Emperor called for Serendio.

“Take the Earl and the young lady and serve them some tea.”

“…Y-Yes, Your Majesty. Earl, shall we g-go?”

Serendio gestured while still trembling in fear.

He couldn’t even express himself properly, suppressed by the Emperor.

“I’ll hear your answer regarding the engagement matter later, Earl.”

The Emperor still wouldn’t let go of the engagement issue.

“May the holy light of Langrangsha’s sun shine upon you.”

I forced a smile at the corners of my mouth as I turned away.

“…Go and call them. Tell them Marquis Rowe is here. Also…”

I faintly heard the Emperor speaking to Countess Escaliff.

‘Who is he telling her to call?’

I met Jade, who was waiting outside.

“It’s the Marquis!”

Blanche waved her hand at Jade, delighted to see him.

‘First, I need to ask Jade to stall for as much time as possible, but we need to be alone…’

I noticed Serendio, who was hanging his head and keeping his lips sealed.

“Blanche, your mother lost her handkerchief earlier while coming here. Could you go look for it in case she dropped it? I’ll wait for your mother here.”

“Alright! You can count on Shu Shu!”

“Your Highness.”

I bent my knees slightly to meet Serendio’s eyes.

“Y-Yes?”

Serendio was still looking down at the floor, embarrassed.

‘How was Serendio’s appearance described in the original work?’

His long bangs covered his field of vision, making it difficult to see his eyes clearly.

“Would it be alright if I asked you to accompany Blanche outside the greenhouse garden? I’ll follow shortly after looking around.”

“O-Of course. Y-Young lady, please follow me.”

After sending Serendio and Blanche out first, Jade tilted his head.

“Larien, do you have something to tell me?”

“The Emperor proposed an engagement between the Imperial Grandson and Blanche. He has a strong will to proceed with it immediately. Please buy us some time.”

“…Understood. There’s a rule that we have to leave the palace by sunset anyway, so I’ll keep him occupied until then.”

Jade slightly gritted his molars.

Thump thump.

“Earl Boston?”

Countess Escaliff, who had come out of the greenhouse garden, called out with a puzzled look.

“Where did His Highness and the young lady go, and why are you alone with Marquis Rowe…?”

She seemed to be asking why I hadn’t left yet and was alone with Jade.

“Earl Boston. Is this perhaps the handkerchief you lost earlier?”

Jade pulled out a handkerchief from inside his jacket.

“…Ah, yes! His Highness and Blanche are looking for the handkerchief, but I didn’t know the Marquis had picked it up.”

I accepted the handkerchief, going along with Jade’s words.

“Countess Escaliff, may I enter to see His Majesty?”

“Ah, yes. Marquis Rowe. His Majesty is waiting for you.”

As Jade went inside, my eyes met with Countess Escaliff’s.

“Earl, I’ll guide you outside.”

“Thank you, Countess.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

I left the greenhouse garden together with Countess Escaliff.

“Where could mother’s handkerchief be?”

“Y-Young lady. Shall we g-go somewhere else?”

Outside, I saw Blanche and Serendio looking for the handkerchief.

“Mother! I couldn’t find the handkerchief…”

I waved the handkerchief I had received from Jade.

“The Marquis picked it up for us. Your Highness, thank you for staying with my daughter.”

“I-It was nothing.”

Serendio fidgeted, not knowing what to do with himself.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Countess?”

Countess Escaliff bowed her head and turned her feet towards the right corridor.

‘Where is she going?’

“U-Um, E-Earl.”

“The Imperial Grandson is calling you, mother.”

Blanche pulled at me, letting me know that Serendio had been trying to call me.

“E-Earl Boston. Is there something troubling you?”

“No, Your Highness. I’m fine.”

“T-Then, shall we g-go?”

I held Blanche’s hand and followed Serendio.

Serendio turned back and opened his mouth.

“I-I’m sorry, Earl.”

“Your Highness?”

“E-Earlier, you seemed flustered by His Majesty’s words. Because of m-me.”

I was wondering why he suddenly apologized, but it was because of the engagement.

Seeing Serendio so cowed, I felt sympathy for him.

“It’s alright, Your Highness. Don’t worry about it. The engagement… Your Highness!”

Serendio, who had been glancing at me without looking ahead, tripped and fell.

Soon, his body slid forward, and blood formed on Serendio’s knees.

“Mother, give me the handkerchief!”

“Ah, yes, here.”

Blanche took the handkerchief from me and went back to Serendio.

‘Is she going to use the handkerchief to stop the bleeding?’

For now, I quietly watched Blanche without intervening.

“Y-Young lady. It’s a-alright…”

“Stay still! You’re bleeding!”

Blanche tied the handkerchief around the wound on Serendio’s knee and blew on it, “Hoo.”

“Does it hurt a lot? Shu Shu has fallen before too, but it was more embarrassing that people were watching than it was painful.”

“…”

“There’s only Shu Shu and mother here, so I’ll keep it a secret. So, quickly hold Shu Shu’s hand and stand up.”

Blanche smiled brightly and held out her hand to Serendio.

Serendio hesitated before gently placing his hand on hers. His neck and face turned bright red.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, pushing Serendio’s bangs back.

I could see Serendio’s blank expression as he stared at Blanche.

‘…Platinum eyes?’

With a distinct heterochromia.

‘So Serendio’s eyes were platinum-colored.’

Since Blanche had spit out a golden topaz, I naturally assumed it would be related to Richard, who had golden eyes.

However, if Serendio also had platinum eyes…

It became ambiguous to definitively conclude that Richard was Blanche’s soulmate.

“Your Highness. Is your knee alright?”

“Yes, but the h-handkerchief…”

“Don’t worry about it, Your Highness.”

I reassured Serendio, who was concerned about the handkerchief tied around his knee, and followed along.

Jade, who had entered the greenhouse garden, bowed his head to the Emperor before him.

“I pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…Marquis Rowe. What urgent matter brings you to request an audience?”

There was no urgent matter at all.

He had intentionally come, remembering the day Larien was to see the Emperor.

He had planned to make an excuse about a problem with the mining business and leave shortly, but…

‘He wants to engage Blanche to the Imperial Grandson.’

Hearing those words from Larien, Jade felt irritated.

The jewel Blanche had spit out.

It was already annoying enough that the golden topaz was related to that arrogant boy he had met before.

He had intended to propose an extension of the mining business to keep the Emperor from calling for Larien until she left the palace.

It would take quite a long time to redistribute the ratios and revise the contract clauses.

“Marquis Rowe!”

He reflexively turned at the high-pitched call of his name.

Princess Cassandra was standing next to Countess Escaliff.

Princess Cassandra ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.

Jade held his breath, nauseated by the strong scent of roses emanating from Princess Cassandra.

“I missed you so much! When did you arrive?”

He wanted to push her away immediately, but she was a princess after all.

“…Would you please let go.”

Jade barely endured, pretending that the Princess Cassandra embracing him was Larien.

“I’m sorry, Marquis. I was just so happy to see you.”

Princess Cassandra smiled brightly as she released her hands and stepped back. Jade immediately distanced himself from her.

“Ho ho, Princess. Do you like Marquis Rowe that much?”

The Emperor laughed, showing no signs of being flustered by Princess Cassandra’s behavior.

‘So he had her called here.’

The Emperor had been demanding that he marry Princess Cassandra for some time now.

He wanted complete submission by making him his son-in-law.

‘It’s truly fortunate that we’re of different races from the Imperial family.’

The Emperor regretted that he couldn’t force the issue because Princess Cassandra was of a different race.

“What do you think, Marquis? Doesn’t our Cassandra grow more beautiful with each passing day?”

“You’re embarrassing me, Imperial Father.”

Instead, he praised Princess Cassandra, subtly pressuring Jade.

“Your Highness.”

“Marquis. I told you not to address me so formally, didn’t I? Call me by my name.”

Princess Cassandra expressed her disappointment and looked at the Emperor.

“Imperial Father. It’s before mealtime, isn’t it? How about dining here? Let’s spend time together after so long!”

“I was feeling hungry anyway, so that sounds good. Marquis, I’ll listen as we eat.”

Jade went to the opposite side from where Princess Cassandra had already seated herself.

‘If I storm out of here, he’ll just call for Larien and bring up the engagement again.’

Jade silently endured, not wanting Larien to be put in a difficult position.