In front of the majestic and splendid Emperor’s office in the palace.

Sunlight penetrated through the stained glass, striking the marble floor. Olivia, standing as if guarding the large doors, faced the head steward of the Emperor’s palace.

“His Majesty is currently in the midst of important affairs.”

Already the third time. The steward was emotionlessly repeating the same words.

Important affairs, indeed. Despite having arranged the time in advance, those thick doors showed no sign of opening.

Putting off the meeting with excuses.

Even in Olivia’s eyes, it was a blatant maneuver. Furthermore, it was a situation she had encountered frequently.

She thought that only Leopold and the Princess would fail to keep their time commitments.

“……Please check again. Tell him that Duke Vicander has come to express his wishes, as promised.”

Finally, a cold voice, as if ready to consume, resounded.

Even Olivia, who was behind Edwin, was slightly surprised by the voice. A crack appeared in the seasoned steward’s expressionless face.

“……I will check.”

In the end, the steward entered the sturdy doors. It was then that Edwin, who had been intimidating the steward, turned to look at Olivia.

“Aren’t your legs hurting from standing so long?”

“It was only about five minutes, you know?”

“Even so. Wearing heels must hurt quite a bit.”

“I’m used to it, so it’s fine.”

Olivia closed her mouth, softly continuing her reply. Edwin, looking at the hem of Olivia’s dress with worried eyes, made a puzzled face.

“……You seem to know quite a bit about heels, Your Highness.”

The voice that escaped her mouth was quite spiteful, even though she meant to tease him. Edwin’s eyes widened, then narrowed into a smile.

“They just look uncomfortable, that’s all. But why are you calling me ‘Your Highness’ again?”

“……Because we’re in the palace.”

“In the palace. So?”

“It’s probably difficult to call you by your name so casually outside.”

As Edwin’s smile deepened, Olivia’s responses became more awkward. Olivia unknowingly averted her gaze, but when those persistent eyes continued to meet hers,

“Ahem.”

A deliberate fake cough interrupted.

It was Winster. He always managed to cough loudly, and he avoided Edwin’s gaze. Meeting those intense eyes would result in spinning around the Duke’s residence several times.

But this was not the Duke’s residence, but the Emperor’s palace, right in front of the Emperor’s office. Winster endured the prickling gaze, praising himself.

In that gap, Olivia stepped two paces away from Edwin, then smiled broadly as if nothing had happened.

“Wow……Is this how it is?”

“What is?”

Her slightly disgruntled expression was amusing. Olivia playfully raised her chin. Just as the Duke was about to retort, the office door opened.

“His Majesty is still engaged in important affairs. It seems difficult today. Would you like to reschedule for another day?”

The steward relayed the Emperor’s words verbatim. The Duke, who had been looking at him expressionlessly, turned his eyes to the door.

His bloodshot eyes seemed to gauge the door.

As if he wanted to smash it.

A chill ran down the steward’s spine. The door was made of the strongest mineral, carbin. Even the socalled Slaughter Duke could not break a door reinforced with a wizard’s protection spell.

He wanted to dismiss it as a silly thought, but instinct continually conjured ominous imaginings.

That was when,

“Shall we come back next time?”

Edwin looked at Olivia. Olivia smiled awkwardly and whispered to Edwin,

“I was actually a bit tired.”

Olivia glanced at the door. She didn’t want to come back to this palace, but being tired was true. It seemed that her nerves had been on edge while facing Leopold earlier.

“Shall we go then?”

As if the task had ended, Edwin hurriedly moved on. Winster, as if reciprocating the cold treatment, had already moved a distance away to prepare the carriage.

Olivia and Edwin followed behind. It was when she thought that the lake seen beyond the open window in the back garden looked lonely.
A group of nobles were approaching from a distance. They found Olivia and stopped walking. Such a gaze was nothing special. Olivia was about to walk leisurely.

…… If only it hadn’t been Conrad, staring at me with cold eyes among those nobles.

Conrad furrowed his brow. Olivia, who had been smiling brightly just moments before, stiffened her expression the moment her eyes met mine.

It was I who should have made that expression. Being with the Duke, entangled in rumors, was not enough; she had left the house rashly.

At the same time, the murmuring voices of the surrounding nobles caught my ear.

“Why are those two together?”

“Maybe she is really going to marry the Duke.”

“What about the prince’s transfer?”

“What difference does it make? There’s the youngest princess.”

Gossip like the noon sun arose. Conrad’s brow furrowed in displeasure.

Why he was so irritated was clear. The Duke’s residence was now a mess.