Rublion was young, but old enough to understand the conversation between those two. A man resembling his uncle. The Crown Princess talking about that man and an abandoned child.

It was too cruel a moment for the boy who didn’t want to know and had avoided knowing.

Rustle.

Rublion was so shocked he couldn’t even register someone approaching. He just cried endlessly, led by his emotions.

He needed to leave this place right away to stop hearing their conversation, but he couldn’t.

The flowers in his hand fell to the ground. His hands were shaking so much he couldn’t hold onto anything.

That’s when someone grabbed the wrist of the miserable boy. It was Riena.

The girl put a finger to her lips, then quietly pulled the boy’s wrist. Then she started dragging him in the opposite direction.

“Riena……”

“Shh. They might hear us.”

Answering in a voice as small as a squirrel’s, Riena kept walking while repeatedly looking back. Early summer insects flew up, avoiding the skin of the boy and girl.

After walking for a while and exiting the garden, Riena quietly looked at Rublion, who was still biting his lip with unfocused eyes. Then, after careful consideration, she opened her mouth.

“Young Master. Tell the Duke.”

“……”

“Ask him to send those people far away. That’s the right answer.”

Riena released the wrist she had been tightly holding. Then she wiped Rublion’s tear-stained face with her sleeve.

“You’re bleeding too?”

The girl wiped the boy’s lips with the opposite sleeve. Blood had spread long beside the corner of his mouth.

Riena grabbed the back of Rublion’s head and scrubbed off the blood around his lips. Then, placing her hands on her hips, she said,

“I won’t tell anyone what happened here, so do as I said. Understood?”

Rublion’s golden eyes stared into Riena’s brown ones.

The girl took the hand of the boy, who was still in shock, and turned it over. She placed the flowers she had picked diligently in his palm, then forcibly closed his fingers to make a fist.

“Take these. Why did the moon have to be round, of all things? And stop crying. You look uglier than Lambert.”

The tears had stopped by now. It had felt like sinking into an endlessly deep ocean, but thanks to Riena grabbing and pulling him out, he came to his senses.

“……Thank you.”

Riena snorted and said quietly,

“I’m not particularly worried, but I’ll escort you to your room anyway.”

Lying face to face, I carefully said to Askal, who was kissing my face every ten seconds.

“I’m not sure if I should bring this up in this situation, but……”

He brushed aside the hair sticking to his forehead with sweat and gestured with his chin for me to continue.

“Do you think Rublion has returned to his room?”

“It’s quite late, so probably.”

“There won’t be… any other issues, right?”

“Are you worried?”

I thought for a moment, then nodded. Askal kissed my cheek again.

“If my lady is concerned, I’ll go and take a quick look.”

“Please do, Askal. I… don’t think I can walk.”

I felt a bit embarrassed saying out loud that I couldn’t move. He slowly raised his upper body and kissed my forehead. Then he got out from under the covers and sat on the edge of the bed.

The curves of his shoulders and back, wearing nothing, were faintly visible in the light. It was a sight that reminded me of what the two of us had just done.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you. I’ll be waiting.”

Askal chuckled as he picked up his robe. Then he opened the door silently and left.

For a skilled knight like Askal, walking without making footsteps was child’s play. He stood in front of Rublion’s room and carefully opened the door.

‘Is he sleeping?’

Taking one step inside, he saw Rublion lying on the bed with his back turned.

‘If I get any closer, I might wake him.’

Knowing the child was a light sleeper, he moved as carefully as possible. He guessed it would be quite awkward if the boy woke up.

After all, he couldn’t show himself in this state of undress, needing a bath.

Askal stood still, concentrating all his senses to hear Rublion’s breathing. Seeing him lying motionless, it seemed he was in a deep sleep.

He turned around and quietly walked away. Then he slowly closed the door to avoid making a sound and returned to the hallway.

Now he would go back to the bedroom and carefully wash Schmidt with warm water. His expression was quite solemn.

The next day. We came out without even eating breakfast to see off the Crown Prince and Princess who were leaving the mansion early in the morning.

Fortunately, thanks to bathing in warm water and sleeping the night before, I only had tolerable muscle pain.

“I know it’s proper to stay for a meal, but please understand that I can’t stay longer due to busy official duties.”

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince offered his hand to Askal. I stood beside him, looking at the Crown Princess who appeared as if she hadn’t slept at all last night.

“I believe you will make Artenbach even stronger, Duchess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince offered his hand to me. I briefly shook his hand, then released it and curtsied.

“May I invite you to an upcoming tea party?”

The Crown Princess asked with a kind smile. I suppressed my feelings of antipathy and answered.

“Yes, I’ll attend if you invite me.”

The Crown Princess smiled with satisfaction and said goodbye until we meet again. I waved with a forced smile at the Crown Prince and Princess as they boarded the carriage.

After the carriage departed.

As we were about to enter the mansion after seeing off a few more nobles, Gaben came running breathlessly and said without catching his breath.

“Madam, the Young Master has locked his door and won’t open it.”

“Rublion locked the door?”

That’s never happened before.

Not knowing what was going on, I looked at Askal. Of course, he didn’t know either and just shook his head.

When we three arrived at Rublion’s room, we found maids hesitating in front of the tightly closed door, unable to enter.

“All of you, go back now.”

At my words, they bowed slightly and disappeared. Askal knocked on the door with the back of his hand.

Knock knock.

There was no answer from inside. I felt my blood run cold.

“Rublion, are you in there?”

“Yes.”

A reply came from close to the door. I felt a little relieved and stood close to the door, saying,

“Can you open the door for a moment? I’ll come in alone.”

“…I want to be alone.”

My heart sank to the floor. I instinctively realized something had happened.

“Did something happen? Is there anything you need help with?”

I waited for him to open the door, but Rublion’s voice came from further away than before.

“Please just let me be alone.”

He was fine when we were in the banquet hall.

My heart was pounding. It was anxiety from not knowing why the child was suddenly acting this way.

Askal grabbed the doorknob and turned it hard. Naturally, the locked door didn’t open.

“Rublion. If you don’t open this door right now……”

“Askal. Don’t do that.”

I hurriedly stopped him from speaking authoritatively. In this situation, that approach would only be poison to the child.

“Rublion.”

I pressed close to the door and spoke so he could hear inside.

“I’ve left your meal on the cart in front of the door.”

Forcibly suppressing the urge to break down the door and ask what was wrong, I continued speaking.

“I don’t know what happened, but when you’ve sorted out your thoughts, leave a note on the cart if you want to see me. I’ll listen to anything you have to say.”

Askal added from beside me.

“That’s right. We’ll do anything for you.”

We deliberately pulled the cart away and put it back in place so Rublion could hear. Then I ordered a few knights to watch the child inconspicuously.

Unable to find a good solution to the child’s sudden change of heart, we went down to the lobby and had to see off the guests who were leaving the mansion after finishing a simple breakfast.

Most people had already left, and only Duke Terabita and his family remained last. I said goodbye regretfully to Ranson, who had changed unrecognizably.

“Are you not doing any more artwork?”

“Probably not.”

As the owner of Black Swan and the director of the Artenbach Art Museum, it was regrettable that his sculpting skills would remain just a hobby.

But thinking of the Terabita princesses and prince, it was best for everyone that Ranson firmly protected the ducal family. So I couldn’t say anything more.

“Whatever path you choose, I’ll support you.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Ranson took off his top hat, held it to his chest, and nodded slightly.

“Take care, Duke Terabita.”

I loved his artistry and longed for the beautiful works that would bloom from his hands. I kept wanting to hold him back out of regret.

That’s when it happened. Several of the Terabita family’s coachmen and mansion servants approached the carriage and carefully unloaded a large sculpture. It was wrapped in several layers of wool and linen cloth, so only the rough shape was barely discernible.

“What is this?”

To my question, Ranson answered with a bitter smile.

“A wedding gift.”

The servant unwrapped the cloth one layer at a time. What was revealed inside was me, dressed as a goddess from mythology.

“……”

Askal’s expression next to me twisted savagely. The sculpture was the same size as the real me, and even the second finger being shorter than the fourth was the same.

“It’s my final work. Please accept it.”

I approached the sculpture and examined it slowly. Knowing that he had liked me, and understanding what feelings he must have sculpted this with, my heart became complicated.

“I’m not trying to pull anything, so please relax that expression. I’ve completely given up my feelings for your wife.”

At Ranson’s words, I looked to the side and saw Askal with a terrifying expression, which he soon relaxed. I thanked him sincerely.

Now it was time to say goodbye to Rieta and the twins who had stayed with us. I thought it would have been nice if Rublion could have said goodbye together.

“Um… Duchess.”

Just as everyone had turned to leave after saying their goodbyes, Riena called out to me with her hands neatly folded and a rather stiff expression.

“What is it, Princess?”

“Could you speak with me for a moment? Just the two of us.”