“Young lady, where have you been? Are you alright? I was so worried.”

“Don’t make such a fuss. By the way, where are Father and Mother?”

“The Duke and Duchess have gone out of the mansion, saying they would search for you themselves. We’ve sent people, so they should have been contacted by now.”

The Hersher ducal family was almost turned upside down.

News had reached them that their precious treasure, Aria, had disappeared from the Grand Duke’s residence.

It was truly an unbelievable situation.

A disappearance within the capital.

The Hersher family’s mansion wasn’t even that far from the Percy family’s mansion.

When news of Aria’s sudden disappearance arrived, the ducal family momentarily fell into panic.

To find Aria somehow, they canceled their original schedule and mobilized all their personnel to search for her.

Originally, the Duke and Duchess of Hersher were planning to head to the temple.

They had intended to somehow interfere with the start of Clea’s penance.

But with the news of Aria’s disappearance, nothing else mattered to the Duke and Duchess.

“Ah, by the way, who was that gentleman beside you?”

At the maid’s question, Aria briefly recalled Barwin’s appearance.

A blonde young nobleman.

He gave off a completely different, mature impression compared to Admund and Lloyd.

“He’s someone who helped me when I was alone. I believe his family name was Rokin.”

“If it’s the Rokin family, they’re one of the up-and-coming families these days, aren’t they?”

“You know about them?”

“Yes, young lady. Although their title is only that of a viscount, they’re known to be very capable.”

The maid continued.

“There were even rumors recently that a certain count family that messed with the Rokin family ended up completely ruined.”

“I see.”

Aria let the maid’s words pass by.

Things like count families or viscount families were not her concern.

For her, who prioritized becoming the Crown Princess by Admund’s side above all else.

But still, the face of Barwin, who had kindly reached out his hand to help her, wasn’t easily forgotten.

She thought with a smile.

‘Since I promised to repay the favor, I should make time to meet him again soon.’

Thinking about meeting again, Aria pondered what to do for him, but soon other matters began to concern her.

“Has Clea Odoi’s penance begun?”

Just moments ago, the atmosphere in the room had been warm.

But as soon as the topic of Clea came up, Aria’s face hardened.

Seeing her stern expression, the maid spoke as carefully as she could.

“Yes, it has begun.”

“How are people reacting?”

“Some are cursing her, while others are discussing her appearance.”

“Well, objectively speaking, Clea is pretty.”

Outside the window, it was still raining.

As the chilly cold persisted, she thought.

‘How long can you endure in this weather?’

The curse ate away at one’s mind and body completely.

Knowing this, Aria smiled as she warmed her hands on the hot teacup she was holding.

She vividly imagined how Clea would endure the long week of penance with her weakened body.

‘Let’s put an end to this once and for all. This insufferable relationship.’

Even if she stubbornly endured as usual, Aria was gradually getting tired of this relationship.

This time, she truly wanted to see an end with her.

“Tell my parents I’ll be going out because I have business to attend to.”

“But they’ll be back soon. Wouldn’t it be better to see them before you go?”

“I don’t have time for that.”

The maid suggested meeting them before leaving, considering how worried the Duke and Duchess would be, but Aria coldly rejected the proposal.

Right now, Admund was more important to her than her parents.

She chose to move quickly, needing to somehow restore her relationship with him to its original state.

* * *

“Do you now understand why I came to see you, Grand Duke?”

“I had a feeling when Your Highness arrived, but this is somewhat unexpected.”

Amidst the complete chaos that had engulfed the household due to the unsavory incident earlier in the morning, the Grand Duke had to receive an unexpected guest.

The reason he couldn’t turn away this visitor who had come uninvited was because the guest was none other than the Crown Prince.

Moreover, the Grand Duke himself had a reason to meet him at least once.

The Grand Duke examined the documents placed before him.

Looking at the shop names written inside and the numbers with many zeros attached, he suppressed a sigh that was about to escape.

“It’s all because I failed to raise my child properly. I have no face to show to Your Highness the Crown Prince, nor to His Majesty the Emperor in the Imperial Palace.”

There were traces of not only gambling but also drugs currently considered problematic in the Empire, and even black market dealings on top of that.

It was impossible that no one had noticed while Lloyd was engaging in such activities.

He was the eldest son of the Grand Duke and the heir apparent to succeed the Percy family.

He would have attracted people’s attention wherever he went.

Yet, the reason he hadn’t been caught until now was largely because, as mentioned earlier, he was the heir to the Grand Duke’s family, and things had been hushed up.

The Grand Duke, who had easily deduced this, felt his heart burning.

Admund, looking at him, refrained from offering any words of comfort.

After all, he wasn’t entirely blameless in Lloyd’s free-spirited upbringing.

“I do not wish for the downfall of the Grand Duke’s family. However, punishment must be given for crimes committed.”

“I, too, have a sense of shame. So I dare not ask for my son to be saved.”

The Grand Duke chose the rational path.

If this had been before his relationship with Lloyd had soured to the worst, the Grand Duke would have knelt down and begged.

At the same time, he would have answered that he could grant anything desired.

But now it was different.

The Grand Duke had decided he would no longer be dragged along for Lloyd’s sake.

He had countless things to protect.

There was the honorable family lineage that had continued since his ancestors’ time, and people who looked up to him alone.

He couldn’t risk everything in his hands because of one child.

“If there is anything you desire, please tell me.”

Having completely given up on saving his son, he conveyed his position.

Admund smiled, seemingly satisfied with the Grand Duke’s attitude.

“First, there is something I would like to ask the Grand Duke.”

In a situation where Lloyd’s matter was completely set aside, there was no need to be on edge.

Admund spoke, completely erasing his hostility.

“What do you think of Clea, Grand Duke?”

The Grand Duke was momentarily taken aback by Admund’s question.

He had expected to be held accountable for what happened at the temple, but an entirely unexpected question came from his mouth.

“People say that the Grand Duke and his wife truly cherished Clea, but wouldn’t it be more certain to hear it directly from you?”

“How can we say we cherished her? If we had looked after her properly, that child would not have been hurt. Rather, we feel sorry.”

The Grand Duke bit his lip.

Regarding matters related to Clea, the Grand Duke had nothing to say.

People evaluated that the Grand Duke and his wife adored Clea, but they themselves did not think so about it.

Rather, they felt very sorry for not having taken care of her.

She must have been greatly hurt because of Lloyd.

When they belatedly realized that their hope for the two to resolve things on their own was neglect, there was little they could do.

“I believe the Grand Duke knows well what the Duke of Hersher desires.”

“Everyone knows that he is aiming for the position of Crown Princess.”

“Then you must also know who will be the biggest threat after Clea safely completes her penance.”

Hearing Admund’s answer, the Grand Duke could roughly guess what he wanted.

He asked to confirm if his thought was correct.

“Then, would it suffice if we step forward to protect Clea from behind?”

For the Grand Duke, it was rather a welcome thing.

With what face could they help Clea?

Undoubtedly, she must also find the Grand Duke and his wife uncomfortable.

They couldn’t even help her openly and honorably.

So the Grand Duke welcomed it, but Admund slowly shook his head and said,

“Not from behind, but you must protect her from the front.”

“From the front, what do you mean?”

“Don’t you have an idea of what Clea lacks most right now, Grand Duke?”

The Grand Duke held his breath at Admund’s words.

Meanwhile, Admund, thinking the Grand Duke understood his words, rose from his seat first.

The Grand Duke watched Admund rise, not knowing what to do.

“I will give you plenty of time to think.”

“Your Highness.”

“However, I will at least tell you that Clea does not dislike the Grand Duke’s family, except for him. Rather, she thinks well of them.”

With those final words, Admund fully opened the door and stepped outside.

Having clearly conveyed his intentions to the Grand Duke, what remained depended on how they would respond.

Whether they cooperated or not, Admund intended to do everything in his power to protect Clea.

In that sense, Admund saw Oberon waiting in front of the door.

“Did you convey it clearly to that fellow?”

“I conveyed it clearly for now, but I’m not sure if he will listen.”

Oberon knew who Admund was referring to by ‘that person’.

So he immediately nodded and answered.

Although it wasn’t the desired answer, Admund moved his steps as he hadn’t particularly expected anything.

“If he doesn’t listen and shows up, deal with him on the spot.”

Admund did not want to see her coughing up blood and collapsing again.

Even more so, the sight of Clea suffering in pain after barely waking up in bed.

‘I’ve wasted a lot of time.’

Oberon, watching from the side, was worried.

He hadn’t slept since Clea collapsed.

He wanted to suggest that he should rest a bit, seeing the dark circles under his eyes.

However, as the penance had already begun, he wouldn’t listen.

While they were heading towards the temple in a carriage, one day out of seven had passed.