Thanks to Cabelased securing several guest rooms, and thanks to him providing one of those rooms, Jieselgrante and her companions were able to rest comfortably.

And the next day, she immediately boarded a carriage heading for the imperial capital.

After leaving the Count of Fortress’s territory, the carriage passed through several small villages and entered the Marquis of Kedwick’s domain.

‘Once we pass through here, it’ll be the imperial capital.’

Fortunately, thanks to hurrying to avoid the same incident as before, this time they were able to secure an inn without much difficulty.

“My lady, how would you like to have dinner? Shall I have it sent up to your room?”

Lindsey, having finished arranging the luggage, wiped the sweat from her forehead as she approached Jieselgrante.

‘What should I do?’

Jieselgrante pondered for a moment.

She could have eaten quietly alone in her room, but having been cooped up in the carriage all day, and wanting to get some fresh air, she decided to go down to the first floor.

Perhaps because it was a bit early for dinner, there were no guests yet on the outdoor terrace.

‘It was good to hurry after all.’

Jieselgrante sat in a suitable spot and ordered food.

“Are you ready to order?”

“What do you recommend?”

“I recommend today’s special course.”

The server added that the chef prepares different menus each day using fresh seasonal ingredients.

“I’ll have that. And a bowl of water to wash my hands.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

She looked up at the distant sky where the evening sun was setting.

Not that she could see the imperial palace from here.

She just wanted to reach the imperial capital as soon as possible. Before all evidence related to her death disappeared.

‘It’s such a strange thing…’

Looking at the busy people passing by, Jieselgrante suddenly had such a thought.

When staying at the imperial palace, she was always curious about the outside world.

So whenever she had a moment to breathe, she would look at the squares or mountain ranges far from the palace.

It seemed like the freshness brought by nature’s greenery improved her mood.

But as soon as she was able to leave the palace, she was trying to go back there again.

‘How ironic.’

As she was thinking this while washing her hands in the water bowl, the door opened and a clear bell rang.

Ding.

Soon, a noblewoman dressed in an elegant dress and adorned with jewels walked in.

Beside the noblewoman was a woman about Jieselgrante’s age who bore a striking resemblance to her.

“Welcome.”

The server soon approached them and bowed deeply.

Jieselgrante turned her gaze outside the shop. A luxurious carriage was parked a short distance away.

But the pattern painted on the carriage was unfamiliar.

‘Probably not a powerful family.’

As she was thinking this while drying her wet hands, the noblewoman who had been looking around the hall caught sight of Jieselgrante and widened her eyes.

“Oh my!”

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

When her daughter looked at her with a puzzled expression, the noblewoman covered her mouth with the fan she was holding.

It seemed she recognized Jieselgrante’s face and was telling her daughter about her.

‘Looks like my guess was right.’

The young lady smirked at whatever she heard. The mother and daughter exchanged glances and soon walked towards Jieselgrante.

“Oh my, we meet again like this? This is my daughter, Evelyn. Evelyn? Greet Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter. I’m Evelyn of Swaider. You’re truly as beautiful as I’ve heard.”

Evelyn curtsied slightly to Jieselgrante.

‘Ah, so they’re from the Swaider Viscount family.’

Jieselgrante nodded inwardly and pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“It’s nice to meet you, Viscount Swaider’s daughter. Viscountess Swaider.”

No sooner had they exchanged greetings than Viscountess Swaider took a step closer to Jieselgrante.

“If you don’t have any other company, would it be alright if we joined you? It’s such a coincidence that we met like this.”

It was phrased as an invitation.

However, Viscountess Swaider subtly pushed her daughter towards the seat opposite Jieselgrante.

Feeling a bit annoyed by Viscountess Swaider’s impolite behavior, Jieselgrante thought it best to quietly decline.

“I appreciate the offer, but I have some things to think about quietly…”

But before she could finish speaking, Viscountess Swaider let out a fake cough.

“…?”

“I-I’m sorry. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been out in the cold air for too long? My throat feels a bit dry.”

After making an excuse, Viscountess Swaider shamelessly sat down across from Jieselgrante.

Naturally, Jieselgrante’s brow furrowed slightly.

Ahem.

Viscountess Swaider subtly glanced at Jieselgrante while clearing her throat. Then she fake-coughed a few more times.

“Here. Some water.”

Jieselgrante pushed the small water bowl in front of her towards Viscountess Swaider.

“…Why this?”

At first puzzled, Viscountess Swaider quickly rolled her eyes and struggled to control her expression that was about to contort.

Just then, the clear bell rang once more.

Ding.

Viscount Swaider’s daughter quickly turned her head towards the door. Then she gasped and widened her eyes.

“Mother!”

“What is it?”

Reacting to her response, Viscountess Swaider and Jieselgrante also turned their heads in that direction.

A tall, handsome man walked in.

And the moment they saw his face, joy and sorrow were divided between Jieselgrante and Viscountess Swaider’s faces.

‘Ah, again…’

“Oh my… Duke Cardia!”

Jieselgrante bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, while Viscountess Swaider rejoiced and signaled to her daughter.

Without anyone taking the lead, the mother and daughter of the Swaider Viscount family jumped to their feet.

Then they scurried over to Cabelased.

“I never expected to see you in a place like this… It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Cardia.”

Just as she had done with Jieselgrante earlier, Viscountess Swaider greeted Cabelased warmly and spoke to him affectionately.

However, Cabelased simply stood still, looking at Viscountess Swaider with indifferent eyes, without giving any response.

“…”

His icy cold reaction might have scared off others, but Viscountess Swaider seemed to be a formidable opponent.

“Pardon my late introduction. I am the mistress of the Swaider Viscount family. This is my daughter Evelyn… Evelyn, greet Duke Cardia.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke Cardia. I am Evelyn of Swaider.”

It was unbelievable.

Until just moments ago, they were showering Jieselgrante with unwanted attention, and now they scurried over to Cabelased as soon as he appeared.

‘No, is this better?’

While it was true that they had made her quiet dinner time somewhat uncomfortable, if they hadn’t been there, Cabelased would have ruined her mood.

Their intrusion could actually be helpful to Jieselgrante. They would voluntarily take up Cabelased’s time.

While Jieselgrante was quickly calculating, Cabelased’s gaze fell upon her.

“…”

Jieselgrante gave Cabelased a light nod and turned her gaze straight ahead.

‘Why do I keep running into Cabelased again…’

It was truly regrettable.

She had said she would be careful not to catch his eye from now on!

But from Count Fortress’s territory to the imperial capital, taking the shortest path naturally leads to Marquis Kedwick’s domain.

This meant that their paths would naturally overlap.

So Jieselgrante had her carriage speed up on the way to Marquis Kedwick’s domain.

And that wasn’t all.

It was entirely predictable that Cabelased, upon arriving in Marquis Kedwick’s domain, would seek out the most luxurious inn in the bustling area.

To avoid the misconception that she was still obsessed with him and even following him around, she deliberately chose the second-best inn in the busy area.

‘And yet… who would have thought Cabelased would make the same choice.’

Jieselgrante’s fine brow furrowed involuntarily.

‘I should have the meal brought to my room.’

Jieselgrante reached for the bell on the table left by the server.

But at that moment, a server approached pushing a trolley.

“I’ve brought your meal.”

Jieselgrante’s dilemma continued a bit longer in this awkward situation where the meal arrived just as she was about to leave.

While it was annoying to deal with those ill-mannered people from the Swaider Viscount family, it was clear that if she stayed, she would be treated like a stalker by Cabelased.

‘It would be better to return to my room before that.’

While the Swaider mother and daughter kept Cabelased occupied.

Although the room might smell of food a bit, it was an unavoidable choice.

Having finished her brief deliberation, Jieselgrante turned her head towards the server.

“…”

But he had already left, and the person standing beside her, looking down at her with calm eyes, was Cabelased.

“We meet again? Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.”

Cabelased sat down across from Jieselgrante very naturally. Without even asking for her opinion.

First the Swaider mother and daughter, and now Cabelased.

‘Why is everyone like this today?’

Naturally, Jieselgrante’s eyebrows rose crookedly as she looked at him.

“Ah, I suppose I should have asked for your consent to join you, then stood anxiously waiting for your answer? Is that right?”

At his perfectly reasonable question, Jieselgrante gave a slight smile.

“You know well. Though you didn’t do that.”

“I didn’t particularly feel the need to.”

Cabelased, speaking curtly, picked up the bell on the table and shook it lightly.

Ding.

Following the clear, bright sound, a server approached.

The server, glancing at Jieselgrante with a puzzled expression, asked Cabelased.

“May I take your order?”

“What’s this?”

Cabelased asked, looking at the plate in front of Jieselgrante.

“The lady ordered today’s special course.”

“The same for me.”