“I’ve been with you from the beginning.”

“…So, you mean you’ve been crouching the whole time?”

“Yes.”

Neran looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“No matter the country, one should maintain their composure.”

“Oh, you talk a lot.”

Julius scratched his ear as if he didn’t like Neran’s words.

“I originally planned to come out after you left…”

He glanced at Neran and continued, “You just wouldn’t budge. I almost died because my leg was in pain.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. How long could you have possibly been sitting?!”

“It was really tough, you know? Do you know in what pose I hid to conceal this extravagant dress?”

Contrary to his dignified tone, Julius presented Neran with a bizarre posture.

Neran, startled, stood him up.

“Enough of that. People will think something weird.”

Naturally, Julius and Neran’s bodies pressed against each other.

As Julius teased, he suddenly pushed his head towards Neran, saying, “People will think it’s weirder for us to be this close.”

Neran shivered unexpectedly.

Being close to such a big guy was already awkward, and now he was blowing into his ear!

“Please leave!”

Neran contemplated for a moment and then separated from Julius.

Although not as close as the Duke, Neran also had a somewhat close relationship with Julius.

They had a childhood connection, and Neran, who worked under the Duke, often encountered Julius.

“Go away. I’m hurt.”

As Julius wiggled, Neran’s expression became even more gloomy.

Julius stared at Neran with mischievous eyes.

Unlike the stiff beginning, Neran returned somewhat to his usual self.

Julius opened his mouth.

“Neran, there’s something you need to address clearly.”

Neran took a step back, involuntarily anticipating Julius might do something.

“What’s all of a sudden…?”

Neran’s words trailed off, and soon, his expression hardened.

Understanding Julius’s intention.

“Do you mean to apologize to Princess Serviat?”

“Yes. You know it well.”

Julius patted Neran’s shoulder and continued.

“Your actions were hasty, not dignified, and despicable. It was really terrible.”

Each of Julius’s words pierced Neran’s heart.

Without any rebuttal, Julius added another word to Neran, who couldn’t say anything.

“If Lucas finds out about your actions, he won’t let it slide.”

“…”

“No matter who you are.”

Just a moment ago, he made playful expressions, but now he spoke with a serious tone.
“That guy, he seems quite sincere about Princess Serviat. So, properly apologize to Princess Serviat. Otherwise…”

Julius, removing his hand from Neran’s shoulder, spoke.

“I won’t stand by quietly.”

Julius stared at Neran with a mysterious smile.

With those words, Julius turned around.

“Oh, and…”

However, as if he had something more to say, he quickly turned his head again.

“Lately, it seems you’ve been slacking off in training, Neran. You didn’t even sense my presence when I was hiding.”

The expression on Neran’s face stiffened upon hearing this.

“Disappointing, Neran. Can you really protect our Lucas like this?”

Neran almost snapped at his words.

But what he said was true. He had been lax in guarding inside the mansion.

“Instead of focusing on Princess Serviat, how about putting more effort into training?”

Julius touched on Neran’s pride and left.

Returning to his place after the conversation with Neran, he saw Rose.

“Yeong-ae!”

Julius called Rose with a bright expression, unlike when dealing with Neran.

“Oh, Princess?”

“Did you have a good meal?”

“Yes, thanks. By the way, are you okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It looked like you stumbled or something…”

Rose, watching Julius rolling on the fallen leaves, trailed off.

“Oh, this? It’s fine. I was just playing because I was bored.”

Rose squinted at Julius with a subtle expression.

‘How do you play to end up like that…?’

Julius, unaware of whether Rose found him strange or not, just smiled cheerfully.

“Where were you going, Yeong-ae?”

“I was heading to the Duke.”

Julius’s eyes sparkled at Rose’s words.

‘She must be going to resolve the misunderstanding with Lucas.’

“Right. I’ve been holding onto Yeong-ae for too long. Go see Lucas soon.”

“Ah… Yes. See you later then.”

Worried that Julius might ask her to play again, Rose felt relieved at his casual release.

Rose turned her back on Julius.

With a satisfied expression, Julius watched Rose’s retreating figure.

‘Lucas, this guy supports you.’

Receiving Julius’s silent encouragement, Rose hastened her steps. She headed straight to the Duke’s office.

At the door, a knight guarding his room reported.

“Your Grace, Princess Serviat has come to visit.”

The Duke, who was looking at documents, immediately responded to the knight’s words.

“Let her in.”

He stood up from his seat to greet Rose.

‘In the morning, he seemed in bad condition. I wonder if he has recovered somewhat.’

Rose had been worried about the Duke, who had remained stiff the whole time.

The door opened.

Through the crack, Rose’s figure appeared.
Rose’s face, which had been shadowed, now appeared quite bright.