Certainly, the investigation of the princess’s whereabouts had been perfect. But the more he investigated the princess’s whereabouts at the Duke’s command, the more holes appeared that had been hidden by the perfection.

The widely known myth was that the princess had generously helped restore the Retail Territory which had fallen into debt during the spring bow season. However.

“……Was it really this person who tried to purchase Lercal’s necklace last March?”

Winster presented a portrait he was holding.

A middleaged woman with elegantly coiled blue hair was the princess’s nanny, Lady Luhus.

A man with a large scar on his left cheek snatched the paper with the portrait on it and grinned. The scar on his cheek twisted diagonally, but Winster faced him calmly.

“I’m telling you, right? The lady who was very noble while trying to get Lercal’s necklace. She was with a girl she seemed to treasure and hide very preciously, whether she was a daughter or a lady she was serving.”

The man seemed to grope for his memory and trailed off. Then he seemed to remember and nodded.

“I also heard that the lady called for Lagwell’s troupe. It was a successful troupe that suddenly failed. Do you happen to know? It was famous for following the nobles’ wanderings.”

If it’s Lagwell’s troupe, it was one of the troupes that disappeared without a trace last summer. He had heard about it from the leader he had met in the summer palace.

“Lagwell’s troupe that my friend was in also saw His Highness and made a fortune?”

“Is the information accurate?”

“Gee, would I lie to Your Highness about gathering information? Maybe if it were Sir Kalter.”

The man nodded grumpily as if he had said everything he wanted to. The words he added after were irksome, but the man’s words were true. The informant Wergen, who owed his life to Duke, only told the truth to Duke.

Winster wiped the smile off his face and looked quietly at the documents.

The princess’s actions that differed from her official actions.

Then who exactly created this ‘perfect record’?

He recalled the Duke’s words, commanding him to report everything that aroused suspicion.

“Page!”

At Winster’s hasty cry, Wergen quickly brought paper and pen.

(This is a time separator.)

“I must tell you in advance. Today is absolutely not Duke Vicander’s formal banquet. It is merely a meal, so please enjoy it at ease, Miss.”

Bethany’s words were a lie.

Olivia looked at the spacious banquet hall, struggling to keep her mouth closed.

The hall, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two hundred people, was filled with knights and nobles. The flowers placed at the edge of the hall and the gleaming lights enhanced the atmosphere.

The elegant creamcolored tablecloth adorned with a grand banquet.

If this isn’t a banquet, what is?

Without a grand speech, Edwin, who praised all the efforts with a simple “You’ve worked hard,” pushed a tray with a golden honeyglazed chicken leg towards Olivia, smiling.

There was no formality in the banquet.

Olivia looked at Edwin with a slightly bewildered face.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Is this chicken leg tasty?”

Swallowing her words at Edwin’s nonchalant comment, Olivia was joined by Bethany, who agreed with Edwin.

“The skills of Vicander’s cook, Anthony, are exceptional, just like the cook of the Order.”
And that was indeed true. The moment it entered the mouth, the chicken disappeared sweetly and saltily; it was truly the result of remarkable skill.

Olivia’s eyes sparkled as she picked up her fork, and Edwin and Bethany became busy as well.

It had been a long time since they had eaten at the banquet hall, and the atmosphere among the knights was especially lively. The cheeks of the knights, flushed with alcohol, stole glances at the young lady seated at the head of the table.

A noble young lady with moonlit, silvery hair that looked fragile enough to break.

Above all, a young lady with beautiful green eyes.

When they first heard rumors of the maiden, the knights, who used to curse everything, had long since changed their stance upon hearing that she was the lady to whom Duke Vicander, to whom they were loyal, had pledged his vow.

Even if it weren’t a feast, it would be nice if he would say a word. But Howard, as if to break that thought, spoke coldly.

“Lower your eyes. Before you talk to Bethany.”

“If you burden the lady from the first day, you’ll all truly face Bethany’s wrath!”

Bethany’s stern warning came to mind.

The knights immediately lowered their eyes. Obedience to orders. That staunch loyalty was one of the principles of the Vicander Knights.

.

.

.

Then, there was a moment. The knights who had been dining gradually grew quiet. Olivia looked at the knights in the sudden silence.

The knights were staring at Bethany with sparkling eyes. The attention focused on Bethany, who had been serving them at the feast, left Olivia with an inexplicable expression.

“……It was really tough.”

The start was Howard, his blunt face speaking as if sulking. Someone added another word in the relaxed atmosphere.