I wasn’t planning on walking for long and was going to return to my room soon anyway.

‘If Ian was here, I would’ve asked him to carry me back to my room.’

I tried to pass by. However, the man’s foot shifted, blocking my path again.

‘What?’

Thinking it was a coincidence, I shifted my body again, but the man once again blocked my path, pretending it was accidental.

Though I looked at him skeptically, he didn’t even glance my way.

As if I was too short to even be seen.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.

‘He’s doing it on purpose. He’s doing this deliberately!’

As I contemplated what to do with this man, he extended a hand to Cynthia.

“My lady Cynthia, is sitting on the ground your hobby? If so, you should consider a cleaner one. This is genuine advice.”

“Ah, no, it’s not.”

“That’s good to hear. Oops! Your beautiful dress is covered in dirt. Stand up!”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

As if to grab her hand and pull her up, Cynthia timidly extended her hand.

However, just before their hands met, the man abruptly pulled his hand back.

“Wah!”

Cynthia, who was about to stand by grabbing his hand, lost her balance and fell back on her bottom.

‘Wow, her dress must be covered in mud now.’

For the record, this was a garden, a spot where I, a flower lover, often passed by.

Meaning, the soil was moist for easy plant growth.

Cynthia’s dress was now thoroughly dirty. The Duke berated her.

“Watch out! The dirt splashed on me!”

“Huh? ThThat, um, I apologize.”

Cynthia fumbled her words. Observing Cynthia’s flustered state, I turned my eyes back to the man known as the Duke.

Finally, he seemed to notice me.

“Hmm? And who might this small and cute lady be?”

His unusual ashbrown hair and eyes, and sunburnt skin clearly indicated that he was a foreigner.

Even his attire indicated as much.

‘Could it be.’

“Normally, the lady should introduce herself first, but.”

The Duke spoke leisurely.

“There’s no need for me to strictly adhere to Imperial law, so I’ll introduce myself first.”

He grinned, as if he was a mischievous young boy.

The Duke brushed his clothes as if preparing for a handshake and extended his hand.
“Gerogi Constable Duke, they say. He’s from Balkandia Kingdom, a sibling nation of the Byers Empire.”

‘Wow, incredible.’

I found myself gaping.

Meeting this person here, it’s truly astonishing!

“My Lord, you are so dignified, I envy you. My son simply won’t listen to me…”

“My Lord, it’s not much but I’ve prepared a small gift to express my gratitude for the invitation to the banquet…”

“Oh my, the Duke doesn’t like that sort of thing. Lady Rolls didn’t know, did she?”

Quietly approaching from behind Kylius, who was unimpressed at the banquet, was Phyllis.

“My Lord, may I have a word?”

The news he heard when they stepped into the corridor was that an uninvited guest had arrived.

Kylius’ lips sealed tightly. Phyllis swallowed nervously at the sight of his expression gradually fading.

However, I knew my Lord would react this way.

Phyllis cleverly had a contingency plan ready. And he watched calmly as that plan approached them.

“Father!”

Clement, who had been waiting, approached Kylius.

Phyllis had intentionally informed Clement first.

‘My Lord will be less angry if the young master is here.’

And his contingency plan was indeed perfect.

Upon seeing Clement, any animosity in Kylius’ eyes instantly disappeared.

“Clement, did you hear too?”

“Yes.”

Even Clement, usually so relaxed, seemed a bit anxious this time.

“I tried to send the invitations out discreetly. It appears that information has leaked. I apologize. It’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault, Clement.”

Both followed Phyllis’ guidance and walked towards the garden.

The servant who had first spotted the uninvited guest was waiting at the entrance of the garden.

“He’s inside.”

At the servant’s words, Kylius’ eyebrows twitched. Clement asked, sharing the same question.

“He’s in the garden? Didn’t the Duke come to attend the banquet?”

“Well… I didn’t ask for the reason. You might want to ask him yourself…”

The servant hesitated to finish his sentence. But the servant was right.

It was simple: they were on their way to meet someone they hadn’t invited. They would ask why he had come.

Soon, they discovered a makeshift table and chairs set up in the garden.

There were four chairs in total. Two were empty, and one of the remaining two was occupied by a welldressed gentleman who was animatedly talking.

To be more precise, he was excitedly explaining something to a child sitting in a childsized chair across from him.

“Ah, Lord Duke? Clement?”

The child who happened to spot them tilted his head.

“Is the banquet over? What’s happening here?”

Neither Clement nor the Duke said anything, they just stared intently.

Question marks filled Dianne’s gaze.

‘Why are they acting like this?’

Dianne followed the Duke’s gaze and turned her head. His gaze was directed at Constable Duke, who was sitting opposite.

That’s when the Duke spoke sharply.

“You dog,”

“Lo—Lord!”

Phyllis swiftly and respectfully shut his mouth.