“So. Where is the princess now?”

“Check what the princess is doing now.”

The duke’s command, leaning forward and handing it over, preceded the words not to cry. Howard extended a prepared answer.

“It’s called the Katangta Duke’s Command.”

“Ha, has she only gotten that far?”

“The big reason is seasickness. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be a separate reason. Well, I can tell you that the unmaintained road is a reason if it’s a reason.”

As Howard’s answer scattered above the corridor, Edwin’s young red eyes held a loose smile.

“Now, what should we do next, Howard?”

“I will check if the emperor knows this fact.”

“Of course, I’ll bet on not knowing.”

“I bet first.”

There was sincerity in Howard’s curt reply. Edwin’s lips held a satisfying smile.

(This is a time separator.)

Early morning, the Duke of Madelleine’s house.

Sitting in the dining room, the Duke stared quietly at the empty seat.

Having taken the time for breakfast after a long time, but there was no face of Esella, who would usually chatter beside him.

“……Esella is.”

“She’s on a diet because of Deboutant, so…….”

Conrad, who was next to him, answered instead.

Both the Duke and Conrad knew well that this was not the real reason why Esella was hiding her face. However, they did not delve deeper into it, as if they had agreed not to.

Breakfast had been so bland for several weeks now. Again and again, Esella’s empty seat, and Jade’s empty seat, caught his eye.

Conrad tried hard not to look at that empty seat next to him as he ate.

Whether it was because Lady Monique, who had passed away, had checked the meal, the taste was no different from before, but the food that went into his mouth felt gritty like sand. Maybe it was the time itself that was uncomfortable.

As soon as he realized that, Conrad was surprised inside.

His cool and fair father.

Dining with such a father was one of Conrad’s favorite times. Feeling uncomfortable at this time was absurd.

Then,

“My lord, a letter has come from the palace.”

The chief steward hurriedly approached with a letter. The emperor’s seal was stamped on the letter. His father’s brow furrowed as he opened the letter.

“……I must go first.”

“Yes.”

This summons to the palace was probably about Olivia again. Conrad felt uncomfortable somewhere inside.

As he recalled Olivia’s name, the empty seat he had tried to ignore hit his eyes all at once.

“Is there still no news from Jade?”

“……Yes.”
Conrad’s answer was not what his father expected, and his voice was small. The Duke rose from his seat with a restrained motion, as if it didn’t matter.

Conrad, who had been watching the Duke’s retreating figure, exhaled the breath he had been holding. The dish remained the same as when the food was first served. As Conrad grabbed the empty glass, the servant hurried over and poured water.

“…Where is Essela?”

“She is dining in her room.”

The response was the same as always. Conrad abruptly rose from his seat. Even drinking water didn’t alleviate the stifling feeling, and he moved on.

(This is a time separator.)

Knock[Dash].

At the sound of knocking, Essela was tense for a moment. She had heard that her father had come home late last night. Could it be her father?

Veronica stepped forward at Essela’s rigid appearance and spoke towards the outside.

“Yes.”

“It’s me. Open the door.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, the voice from outside was Conrad’s. Seeing him was just as unpleasant, so Essela hesitated for a moment. After meeting Veronica’s questioning gaze, Essela cracked the door open just slightly.

“Big brother? What’s going on?”

“It’s hard to see each other’s faces even though we live in the same house, Essela.”

At the bitter voice, Essela averted her eyes.

Conrad had always been a loving older brother to her. Seeing Conrad with that expression hurt one corner of Essela’s heart.

“That’s right. If I dine with my big brother, I’ll end up eating continuously. As you know, I need to prepare for my debutante.”

So she continued to make these absurd excuses. In reality, she just didn’t want to see him. Hiding her true feelings she couldn’t say, Essela feigned a smile.

“You still need to eat, though. Father has arrived too.”

At Conrad’s words, Essela inadvertently looked at him. Father. The one who cherishes and loves me more than anyone else.

At the same time.

The father who took my sister and pushed her into the palace instead of me. Thinking of her father, Essela always felt immensely uncomfortable.

Ever since the distortion that had covered her eyes disappeared, she had been suppressing the urge to ask.

“Isn’t big brother uncomf…”

Are you uncomfortable?

Before she could finish, Conrad’s face caught Essela’s eye.

The always composed and smiling face of Conrad looked somewhat precarious.

Essela closed her mouth.

It was fortunate. That she came to her senses before the words came out. After swallowing the words she couldn’t dare ask, Essela gazed deliberately into the room.

With her behavior revealing her desire to enter, Conrad swallowed the words he wanted to ask and recalled the words of Lady Monique Jacque.

“……You’re interested in social circles.”

“Yes.”

At the short answer that fell, Conrad was silent for a moment. As if waiting for the conversation to end, Essela smiled awkwardly and closed the door.

As he watched the hastily closing door, Conrad sighed.

A little while ago, he had a vague guess about what Essela’s pale gaze was saying.

There was no way to resolve the suffocating and uncomfortable feeling within.