“Bikan-de-ryeong currently prohibits entry for all aristocrats and the Madelaine Duchy.”

There it was.

The reason why the letters sent to Bikan-de-ryeong had all come back in vain. It was even mentioned that Lieutenant Huxley couldn’t meet Olivia.

The Duke of Madelaine looked toward one side of the banquet hall. At the end of the cold gaze was Olivia.

More precisely, Olivia, surrounded by two knights and the Duke.

When I heard the news that the girl had arrived safely at the institute, I thought everything would proceed as usual.

But…….

I didn’t receive an invitation to visit Madelaine Mansion. Moreover, Olivia, who used to love the prince so much, even refused to call him a nickname. What on earth happened in Bikan-de-ryeong over the past few weeks?

Thinking back to earlier, my stomach churned.

Olivia’s expressionless face when she told me not to call her by a nickname, and the girl who casually turned her gaze away when our eyes met as she entered the banquet hall.

She was definitely not the type to do that. The Duke asserted, suppressing the rising impatience.

I had already made up my mind to admit Olivia to the mansion.

For Hazel and Esella.

I decided to forgive the girl who brought me constant misfortune, just a little. If I conveyed this, she would leave the Duke again and return as a Madelaine aristocrat.

But now was not the right time to convey the message.

Countless eyes were watching Olivia and me. There was nothing more foolish than interrupting in this situation.

To seize the opportunity, the Duke continued to gaze at Olivia.

That’s when it happened.

Olivia, who was listening to the Duke’s story, suddenly opened her eyes wide for a moment and burst into laughter brightly.

For a moment, the Duke of Madelaine forgot to breathe, staring at Olivia. His clenched fist trembled as if it would crumble white in no time.

It couldn’t be happening.

She was not the type of girl who could laugh like that. As if everything in the world was joyful, laughing brightly.

…… She shouldn’t be laughing like that.

The girl who made Hazel die, and even turned Esella away from me.

She shouldn’t be so happy, laughing alone like that.

Anger, shock, and resentment tangled up in the Duke’s heart.

When emotions that couldn’t be measured spilled over the eyes that had been observing the situation coldly, his legs, which had not moved until then, took a firm step.

The eyes of the nobles, who had been discreetly watching the Duke, fixed on him the moment he moved. It was a tense atmosphere, as if something might happen.

Someone intervened as if blocking the Duke’s path. The Duke’s eyes narrowed as he confirmed the face.

“…Conrad.”
A compelling pressure settled over the calm voice. It was enough to make the son, who had never once resisted his father’s words throughout his life, step aside instantly.

However, Conrad did not retreat. A shadow was cast over his cool, handsome face.

“…Father. I should have told you beforehand.”

Conrad’s voice trembled slightly as if he had made a firm decision. However, instead of looking at Conrad, who bowed his head, the Duke stared beyond him.

When the Duke’s red eyes, gazing at me, twinkled, he rose from his seat.

In no time, he extended his hand toward Olivia.

I felt impatient. I needed to grab Olivia quickly. Whatever happened, I had to bring that girl, who was acting as if she were immersed in happiness alone, back to the palace.

However, the remaining shred of reason barely pushed Conrad aside and prevented me from going to Olivia. The Duke swallowed the rising anger. While the raw emotions, hot as a molten lava, gradually cooled down, Conrad spoke painfully.

“Let’s go back to the mansion; there’s something I want to show you.”

I should have mentioned it earlier.

Conrad bit the inside of his mouth, swallowing the words. He wished he could feel pain, but he only became more aware of the weight settling on his left chest.

Since reading Olivia’s diary, he had been contemplating.

Whether he should show this to his father, or if it was something he should know alone.

But at this moment, looking at Olivia, who was laughing far away, he made up his mind.

It was right to show it to his father.

If his father knew that Olivia had a hard time too, he wouldn’t be angry like now.

Because that was the true appearance of the father Conrad admired and loved.

The moment felt oppressive as if time had stopped. Conrad couldn’t bring himself to lift his head. The gentle melody echoing in the banquet hall seemed to be getting farther away.

“…Okay. Let’s go back.”

Conrad raised his head in a flash. Then, he looked at his father’s back as he walked ahead. It was the back of his father that Conrad had always seen.

Strong, upright, and as fair as to feel chilling.

Suppressing his choked-up emotions, Conrad followed his father’s back.

However, what followed behind Conrad was something he didn’t know. The Duke’s brief response came only after Olivia left the banquet hall.

And the Duke’s face leading the way was still filled with anger.