It was when the party atmosphere was getting lively. While Killian stepped out briefly, Veronia headed to the balcony looking for a place to sit and rest.

“……Holy Maiden!”

Veronia encountered Evangelina who was already out there.

“Welcome, Lady Nia. I was just starting to feel lonely, would you like to keep me company?”

“……Yes. It’s an honor.”

Veronia sat across from Evangelina with a small table between them. For a moment her heart raced, making its presence known. She remembered when their eyes had met earlier. Even that gaze of hers that seemed to pierce right through her.

“My greetings are late. Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you, Holy Maiden.”

Veronia thought it was amazing how knowledgeable she seemed about the capital’s news, despite surely being busy handling an endless stream of schedules. As if reading her thoughts, Evangelina added with a gentle smile:

“I had to cram study before attending the banquet.”

“I see.”

Cram study. The two laughed softly at the same time at the words unbefitting of a Holy Maiden.

“Lady Nia, there’s something I really want to tell you. In fact, I’ve been waiting for a chance to speak with you alone.”

“What? What is it……”

“Please don’t be too surprised and listen.”

“……Alright.”

Veronia was in a daze at the story Evangelina was telling with a serious expression.

What on earth was she going to say that she warned not to be surprised? Tense, Veronia swallowed dryly and waited for Evangelina’s next words.

“I am in the presence of Her Highness Princess Veronia. Have you been well all this time?”

“Ah……!”

Veronia’s mind went blank from the shock. Her mouth fell open and wouldn’t close again.

Her head was spinning so much she couldn’t even tell if this was a dream or reality. She didn’t know what to say or how to react.

“H-How……?”

She barely managed to utter one word. And even that was stammered. To Veronia’s question, Evangelina immediately opened her mouth.

“It was since my holy power manifested 5 years ago. I became able to feel what others cannot feel, and see what others cannot see. For example, people’s auras.”

“……”

“Your outward appearance has changed a lot, but I knew the moment our eyes met. That you are Her Highness Princess Veronia.”

Veronia still couldn’t continue speaking. Her fingertips trembled. Perhaps feeling sorry for her tensed appearance, Evangelina reassured Veronia with a very gentle expression and voice.

“Don’t worry. The reason I’m saying this is…… I want to help Your Highness, no, Lady Nia.”

“……What do you mean by help?”

“I want to be on your side.”

“Ah……!”

Tears welled up in Veronia’s eyes. To meet someone who says they want to be on her side!

That there’s someone else besides Killian who says that! And it’s the Holy Maiden Evangelina, the female protagonist of this world! A wave of emotion washed over Veronia’s entire body.

But it wasn’t easy to understand.

“Why…… Why?”

To Veronia’s question, Evangelina looked at her intently and smiled gently.

“Because I know that just as I became the Holy Maiden by the goddess’s grace, you too have received the goddess’s grace.”

“……”

“You changed your fate by your own power. Thanks to that, you were able to conceive a new life and at the same time received holy power from the goddess.”

“How…… did you know that?”

To her trembling question, Evangelina answered with all sincerity:

“I saw it in a dream. But at the time I didn’t know whose circumstances they were. But the moment our eyes met today, Lady Nia, I immediately knew. As if the puzzle pieces had fit together.”

“……I see.”

Veronia was still dumbfounded. But today she was finally able to know for certain what she had only vaguely guessed all this time.

‘I really…… have been receiving the goddess’s protection.’

Perhaps feeling sorry for Veronia’s still slightly trembling hands, Evangelina gently took her hand. The warm and affectionate temperature was transmitted intact through their joined hands.

“This old woman who has become prone to evening naps will now take her leave. Please enjoy your time, Your Majesty.”

Sandra bowed to the emperor and empress and rose from her seat. Tate, who was by her side, followed her.

“Grandmother, I will escort you.”

“Thank you, Tate.”

Sandra linked arms with Tate’s outstretched arm and left the banquet hall. Watching the backs of the two as they walked out, a sardonic smile appeared on Jonathan’s lips.

Tate, who had no intention of returning to the banquet hall, got into the carriage with Sandra.

“It seems the Prime Minister and his fiancée will be going to the southern region together.”

“Oh?”

Hmm, Sandra let out a shallow sigh, furrowing her thin eyebrows.

“How it looks…… It’s as if the Prime Minister is the only one who can work in this imperial court. I heard he’s also taking charge of the magic tool commercialization project.”

“……”

“No, rather than saying he’s the only one who can work, it would be more accurate to say he’s the only one His Majesty wants to entrust work to.”

Tsk tsk, Sandra clicked her tongue and turned her gaze out the window, shaking her head.

She didn’t like how Jonathan seemed to trust Killian boundlessly. At the same time, she felt sorry for Jonathan’s foolish behavior of transparently showing that trust without any tact.

Tate also disliked the current state where Jonathan’s trust was focused solely on Killian. The corner of his mouth, which had been pressed into a straight line, kept twitching.

“Anyway, it means that for the time being, both the Prime Minister and his fiancée will be absent from the capital.”

A cunning smile appeared on Sandra’s lips. A great opportunity had come within reach. It was an opportunity that absolutely could not be missed.

Tonight’s dinner at the Belvedere mansion was specially set up at an outdoor table. It was the Duchess’s plan to have a special time together before Veronia and Killian left for the southern region.

“So how many nights will you be gone?”

Jediel asked with a gloomy expression in the middle of the meal. Looking at the child’s dejected eyes, Veronia felt a pain like a needle stabbing in a corner of her heart.

“About fifteen nights? It’s not long. It will pass quickly.”

“It seems long if it’s more than ten fingers……”

Jediel pouted his lips, poking at the salad in front of him for no reason. Perhaps feeling sorry for the child, the Duchess gently stroked his head and said in a regretful voice.

“The mansion will be empty for a while. Why does it have to be you two out of all the people who have to go? It’s already a busy time preparing for the wedding. His Majesty should have been more considerate.”

When the Duchess grumbled softly, Jediel gently took her hand.

“Grandmother. They’re going to treat sick children. So let’s not get too angry and wait together.”

The very adult-like statement from Jediel brought warm smiles to the faces of the adults listening. On the other hand, Jediel’s expression was still gloomy. He tried to speak bravely, but it seemed his mood was still not good.

The Duchess, watching Jediel’s expression, suggested in a bright voice:

“Then how about inviting Grandmother Louisa and Grandfather Hugo from Rosler to the mansion in the meantime? Wouldn’t that make the mansion a little less empty?”

Jediel’s eyes suddenly grew wide. The corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears.

“Wow! Grandmother Louisa and Grandfather Hugo? Really?”

“Of course, really!”

“I like it! I like it so much!”

Excited at the thought of meeting Louisa and Hugo after a long time, Jediel wiggled his bottom. Jediel suddenly put down his fork, jumped up from his seat, went to the Duchess and kissed her on the cheek.

“Oh my!”

“Thank you, Grandmother! You’re the best!”

The Duchess’s face bloomed with smiles at Jediel’s kiss. Indeed, mealtimes with children were always cheerful.

“Where are you going at this late hour?”

Killian was on his way out of the mansion to meet Onyx. He had planned to sneak out briefly, but ended up running into Veronia. After hesitating for a moment, Killian opened his mouth heavily.

“I’m on my way to meet Onyx. I requested an investigation into the situation in the southern region. I’m going to hear the results.”

Usually, the information guild would come to the client to report the investigation results. But Killian felt a bit uncomfortable bringing Onyx into the mansion. He didn’t want Veronia to encounter Onyx.

“If it’s about the southern situation, can I listen too? May I come along?”

Veronia’s eyes sparkled brightly as she looked up at Killian. Would there be anyone in the world who could dare to utter words of refusal to those eyes?

‘But if that happens, there would be no point in going to the guild in person on purpose……”

Killian hid his troubled feelings and smiled gently.

“Of course. Let’s go together.”

“Then please wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes.”

Watching her back as she walked away briskly, Killian swallowed a sigh. Imagining Onyx grinning broadly at Veronia, he already felt a prickly heat rising on the back of his neck.