“And today, I see here. All three paths have Esmeralda’s footprints.”

“Wha- Where…?”

At Esmeralda’s feeble question, I pointed to the ground again.

“Right here… Huh?”

The footprints that were clear just a moment ago had disappeared.

“I-I’m sorry, but… I really don’t understand what Lady is saying…”

Esmeralda began to fidget with her hands again, just like she did in front of the fountain.
“That day, because of me, you went through hardships and got hurt, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t expect things to turn out like that.”

Esmeralda, who had started trembling with a pitiful voice, eventually shed a few tears.

“Ugh.”

I grabbed Esmeralda’s hand. Her palm, rough as if it hadn’t been properly treated once, was now oozing blood again.

It looked pretty rough at first glance, but Esmeralda, who kept fidgeting with her hand, seemed oblivious to the sting of the wound.

“Esmeralda, dear! Haven’t you properly treated this?”

Esmeralda, startled, opened her rabbit-like eyes and then stared blankly at her hand, which I was holding.

“Ah…”

“Let’s go get it treated right away.”

I firmly held Esmeralda’s wrist and began to lead her. As her slender figure was dragged along, it felt like I had become the male protagonist in a novel.

But it wasn’t like she was covered in filth, yet Esmeralda, for some reason, burst into tears, making it difficult to understand what was so distressing.

When we arrived at the Duke’s infirmary, as expected, no one was there. It was no surprise since the infirmary was established after I was adopted.

I sat Esmeralda on a makeshift bed and diligently applied ointment to the scraped hand.

“There, much better, right?”

I looked proudly at the nicely tied bandage.

“Haha, yes…”

Although Esmeralda’s fingers didn’t fold properly, the visual of the thick bandage made it seem like the wound would heal quickly.

Despite my efforts, Esmeralda, who had been continuously avoiding my gaze and fidgeting with her hand, finally met my eyes.

“Lady Reyna…”

“Yes?”

I tried to maintain a calm expression, but inside, anticipation was bubbling. Was she finally going to reveal the secret of the forest path, impressed by my perfect healing skills?

After hesitating for a moment, Esmeralda grabbed my hand with her stiff hand.

“Actually, I have feelings for Lord Kyrion… Can you help me?”

I was momentarily frozen. It wasn’t surprising at all. It’s entirely natural for the heroine to have feelings for the hero.

“Ah…”

An inexplicable discomfort washed over me.

I eventually withdrew my hand sneakily.

Meeting my reluctant withdrawal with a forlorn gaze, Esmeralda bit her lip.

“There’s no one else to ask but you, Lady. There’s no one closer to Lord Kyrion than you… and Lord Kyrion himself also regards you very highly…”

Esmeralda pressed her hands together again.

“What happened in the forest that day, I know you find it suspicious. I can’t explain everything, but my feelings are sincere.”

I stood up abruptly. This discomfort was probably some protective instinct. It was uncomfortable to blindly help Esmeralda, who had more than a couple of suspicious points, to get along with Kyrion so well.

That’s what the discomfort was, probably.
Esmeralda, instead of being surprised by my sudden movement, quickly stood up and urgently blocked me. There was desperation in the touch that grasped me.

“Please, Lady. I can’t think of any other way.”

“I’m sorry.”

My heart started pounding unpleasantly again.

“It’s not something I can do.”

Leaving the crumbling Esmeralda behind, I fled from the infirmary as if escaping.

It was truly endlessly uncomfortable.

“Please allow the marriage with Lady Reyna.”

The Duke’s gaze was so heavy it felt suffocating, but His was unyielding.

“Marriage?”

It was only two syllables, but the hostility contained within was easily discernible. His stiffened his posture forcefully.

“Yes. This morning, I received a letter from my father about appointing me as the crown prince.”

“So?”

His hostility wasn’t comprehensible regarding his appointment as crown prince and the marriage with Lady Reyna.

“As my position is now stable, if the Duke allows it, I will ensure Lady Reyna lives without any deficiencies.”

The Duke completely shifted his gaze to the documents, as if there was no need to think about it.

“If a life without deficiencies is what you seek, this Duchy is better than the royal palace in Krysia.”

It was not a false statement. His licked his dry lips and carefully chose his words again. However, the Duke was one step ahead.

“Moreover, shouldn’t you be asking Lady Reyna first rather than seeking my permission?”

The Duke understood Lady Reyna exceptionally well. If Lady Reyna had decided to marry His, she would not have come alone but together.

His clenched his fist involuntarily. There was nothing wrong with the Duke’s words. Originally, after His’s position as crown prince was confirmed, he planned to confess his feelings to Lady Reyna once again.

However, in the past few days, it became clear. Lady Reyna trusted and relied on someone else, not him…

He knew. Seeking marriage approval from the Duke first was not the right order of things. It might be acceptable for other noble families who calculate even in marriage, but not for the Duke.

Although he knew that such superficial tactics wouldn’t work on the Duke, his anxious heart went to extremes.

“If there’s nothing more to discuss, I’ll take my leave.”

At the Duke’s dismissal, His reluctantly turned on his heel.