“Your Majesty. I have something to speak with you.”

It was time to drink tea in the drawingroom after finishing dinner. A knight with ashcolored hair approached with a blunt face and spoke.

Howard Interfield, the Earl.

Olivia had seen him in the aristocratic directory, but this was her first time facing him up close.

She had glimpsed him at the last banquet. Olivia didn’t know much about Earl Interfield.

That he was a vassal of the Duke’s family. That he inherited the Earl’s title a few years ago, and like the Duke, he played a leading role in this war’s victory.

With his handsome face featuring bold lines, he bowed his head to Olivia. Olivia bowed in return.

She thought he would stand up right away, but the Duke looked at Olivia with an embarrassed and apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. Is it alright for a moment?”

“Yes? Of course. Please go quickly.”

Olivia answered as if it were obvious. Even for me, who had been a princess, work had piled up even before the meal was over. It was even more so when performing both the duties of the crown princess and what the princess had ordered.

So, she had a rough idea of how much busier the Duke’s position would be.

But despite Olivia’s consideration, the Duke wore a strange expression. Olivia frowned.

“You seem busy, don’t you have to go quickly?”

“……Yes. It’s busy. Haha.”

If the Duke’s voice sounded drained, was it Olivia’s illusion? The Duke, rising from his seat, looked back at Olivia.

“By the way. You haven’t taken your medicine yet.”

Eek. Olivia naturally avoided the Duke’s eyes. A drowsily breaking laughter tickled her ears.

“I will bring the medicine soon. Make sure to take it.”

“……”

“You will, right?”

Finally, it was a question demanding an answer. Olivia felt a glaring gaze when she did not answer.

Don’t look at him. How many times have I been embarrassed by our eyes meeting?

But.

How is he looking at me?

Curiosity finally overcame embarrassment. That brief impulse made Olivia raise her head, and for a moment, she closed her lips.

Why does that man look at me like spring sunshine?

… What am I?

Within his sweetly curved eye shape, red eyes looked at Olivia kindly. The Duke emphasized once more.

“Make sure to take it. If not, I’ll be coming right back.”

“……Yes.”

With Olivia’s small falling answer seeming satisfactory, the Duke grinned and left the drawing room.

Olivia bowed her head. Her fingertips, which had been neglected on the hem of the dress, gradually reddened.

The irregular sound of her heartbeat seemed to echo in her ears.

It’s really strange.

Olivia muttered quietly to herself.

Why does my heart flutter for the Duke like this?

Whether this unfamiliar yet familiar feeling was good or bad, she couldn’t tell, when a knock came from outside.

“Yes.”

At Olivia’s answer, the one who entered was the brownhaired Winster, Sir Kalter.

Ah. Lace.

Naturally, the image of a knight’s uniform adorned with lace came to mind in Olivia’s head.

The face, unaware of that fact, looked at Olivia and grinned.

“I am here to serve you, Miss. I’ve come to get the medicine.”

“Ah. Sir Kalter. Thank you.”

She thought the maid, Haena, would come, so she didn’t expect a knight. Especially Duke’s closeknit knight, Sir Kalter.

Olivia responded stiffly in surprise. Although she had seen him laughing uproariously before, this was the first time they were alone.

Despite the strange task of getting medicine, Winster seemed to enjoy it rather.

“Please speak comfortably, Miss. I came with difficulty, and if you’re uncomfortable with me, there won’t be another chance.”

“A chance?”

Inadvertently asking, Olivia thought she might have asked unnecessarily. But Winster began to talk, seemingly pleased with it.

“Yes. As you may know, there are people under the Duke’s feet who want to say a word to you.”

“To me?”

Certainly, here’s the translation of the passage:

“Of course. I tried so hard to look good for the lady even in the restaurant that day.”

“That day?”

“Yes. The day I smiled and ran around for Duke all day.”

Winster raised his eyebrows. Olivia suddenly laughed at his forlorn face, then stopped herself.

If she laughed when they were not yet close, he might not like it. But Winster smiled cheerfully without a worry.

“You always laugh so nicely.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. Hearing that she laughed well was a first.

Olivia gently touched the corners of her mouth. They were really upturned. Laughing so easily felt strange but nice. She could feel her eyes loosening without checking.

Winster, watching her, swallowed a strange emotion.

Saying it was hard to come here was only half true. There were many servants jealous of coming on Duke’s orders, but now that she was here, she felt glad she came.

The daughter of the leader of the Emperor’s faction, Duke Madelleine, and the hotheaded, accidentprone younger sister of Jade Madelleine.

It was hard to believe that Olivia Madelleine, who wore strong preconceptions and a reputation for being annoying, was such a gentle and small lady.