“Still, usually, other nobles mingle with each other.”

Johan squinted his eyes and showed a brief sign of contemplation.

“If you wanted to stay and do more, we can go back now.”

“No. It wasn’t necessary. I don’t particularly like going to new places to play, and I don’t like meeting new people. Johan already noticed, right?”

“To some extent.”

Johan nodded silently.

“But I don’t know how difficult it is. If you want, I’ll make sure you never meet new people for the rest of your life.”

‘Huh? Why did the conversation take this turn?’

I hurriedly clapped my hands.

“It’s okay. When I’m with Johan, it doesn’t matter. It’s even reassuring, and it’s fun to have something new.”
Johan didn’t immediately respond as if he were thinking about something.

‘What strange thoughts is he having now?’

Misunderstandings from the black-clad Johan could lead to fatal problems.

“I don’t mind since we’ll go back to the mansion with Johan now.”

“What should I do about this?”

Johan furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

“I have urgent matters to attend to right now, so I might have to send you back alone.”

“Urgent matters?”

“Yeah, I’ll go see it as soon as it’s done, but I can’t leave you here not knowing what might happen. I can’t have you waiting alone in case something happens to you.”

Johan’s large hand gently stroked my head.

“Can you go back to the mansion first?”

“Am I a child? I’ll be fine taking the carriage back. What could happen?”

“If anything happens, make sure to call me. Got it?”

Johan didn’t forget to insist until the end.

‘Anyway, he sees me too much as a child.’

Unfortunately, I wasn’t as innocent as Johan thought, nor was I someone easily manipulated and hurt by others.

But I liked that Johan was worried about me.

“If you’re that worried, come back as soon as possible.”

Honestly, apart from Johan’s concerns, it was the road from the imperial palace to the Blanshet Duchy. With constant patrols and many carriages passing by, it was a safe route.

‘It’s unlikely that anything will happen.’

Estelle’s carriage disappeared.

‘Why am I so anxious?’

Johan still kept his eyes on the carriage and opened his mouth.

“Are you ready to come out now?”

There was no one behind us. However, Johan didn’t even turn his head and spoke as if growling.

“Since I know everything there, don’t delay time and come out. Do I have to forcibly drag you out?”

Then, through the trees, Rianard in armor revealed himself. Rianard stared at Johan with an expressionless face.

“Since when did you know?”

“From the beginning.”

The rustling wind passed between the two. Rianard placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and Johan summoned his magic.

Johan’s red eyes flashed.

“I must have told you not to wander near my wife.”

“Johan Blanshet. I didn’t come here today to fight with you.”

“If that were the case, you shouldn’t have touched someone else’s wife.”

In response to Johan’s taunt, Rianard slightly distorted his face.

“That’s [Dash].”

Then Rianard clenched his fist and spoke in a low voice.

“Yeah, I’m at fault there. But that’s not important right now.”

“Who decides what’s not important?”

“How much do you know about Estelle Libertan?”

It had a nuance as if he knew more about Estelle than Johan did. However, Johan noticed that Rianard’s reaction was quite different from usual.

‘Did he find out something?’

Dealing with Rianard was unpleasant, but if it was for Estelle, I could endure it to some extent.
Johan deliberately provoked Rianardo as he spoke.

“I know more than just someone unrelated.”

“You probably don’t know how Estelle ended up being adopted into the Libertan Duchy.”

“Do you know that?”

“Of course.”

A strange sadness filled Rianardo’s gaze.

“Felcis Marquis was the first to discover Estelle Libertan. And discreetly, he arranged for her to be placed in an orphanage so that the Libertan Duchy could adopt her.”

“…….”

“And to strengthen our bond, Estella and I were engaged.”

Thud! Kuwoong [Dash]! Kiiieeek!

A loud noise from outside the carriage could be heard. The carriage, which had been steady with no vibrations, came to a stop. I, who had been dozing off for a moment, woke up and looked outside.

‘What’s going on…?’

Outside, men with black masks were engaged in combat with the Blanshet escorts.

‘It’s an ambush!’

One knight, who had regained his composure, urgently shouted at me.

“Lady! Are you awake?”

“How long has the situation been like this?”

“It hasn’t been long. But it seems like the situation won’t be resolved with only the Blanshet knights. You should prioritize your safety and escape.”

The sounds of knights and attackers fiercely fighting each other were deafening. My stomach churned.

‘An ambush… Who are they?’

I tried to calm my mind as much as possible and asked the knight.

“Will my safety be ensured here?”

“All the Blanshet knights will do their best to protect you, my lady.”

“Alright.”

In the midst of the chaotic battlefield, two knights near me exchanged glances, contemplating the escape route.

‘Right, Johan told me to call him.’

I was relieved that I hadn’t forgotten the magical device Johan gave me as a gift. In a low voice, I whispered again.

“Johan. I feel like I’ve been caught up in a strange ambush.”

Magic surged through the enchanted bracelet on my wrist, activating it.

‘This structure should instantly summon Johan.’

Well, Johan mentioned before that spatial teleportation had many restrictions.

‘Still, the message should have reached Johan, right?’

I swallowed nervously and whispered into the magical device again.

“Johan, Johan! I might die here if I make a mistake!”

At that moment, the sound of approaching warhorses could be heard from a distance. I widened my eyes.

‘Is it Johan already?’

However.

“Halt!”
Unfortunately, the person who appeared to rescue me was not Johan. Prince Carlos, riding on a white horse, arrived confidently.

“What is the Duchess doing right now?”

Without showing overt disappointment, I asked the knight next to me.

“Will the prince be of any help to us now?”

“Wouldn’t he be?”

“The prince… really…?”

The knight didn’t immediately respond to my skeptical expression. Whether he liked it or not, Prince Carlos was charging towards us like a prince from a fairy tale.

‘The timing seems a bit odd. Could Prince Carlos be intentionally orchestrating something?’