Taylor, who had been scolded by Marina without even knowing English, was chased away with question marks filling his head.

Quite a few servants witnessed the scene and expressed condolences for the insensitivity of the most popular man in the Julius estate.

Meanwhile, the maids who were asked over and over again about Reina’s whereabouts were starting to get annoyed.

Taylor Lorenson, the attendant of His Excellency Rembrandt, a royal guest, and even the servants who were genuinely curious about why Reina wasn’t around.

More people than expected were looking for Reina’s whereabouts.

“……”

And it was unfortunate that Tristan, who had the latest footsteps, approached the maids who were fed up with the same question.

“Is it about Reina again? It’s already been a few people today. Incredible, really.”

The maids’ reaction of looking at each other with disgusted faces and shaking their heads was something he hadn’t expected.

Tristan looked at the maids in front of him, puzzled.

“…What do you mean by that? Are you saying there were other people asking about ‘Reina’ besides me?”

The maids looked at him with a somewhat mischievous light and said sarcastically.

“If you want to line up for Reina, you’ll have to wait quite a while.”

“Ah, no.”

Tristan was displeased with the nuance in their words and straightened his face, raising his hand to deny it.

“I’m not asking out of that kind of interest. In the first place, I’m married. I’m just curious about the basic things about that person. Age, reputation, family, things like that….”

“Sir.”

The maid laughed.

“We don’t sell information about people inside the estate. You probably haven’t been here long and don’t know, so I won’t blame you for your rudeness in asking.”

“!”

Tristan paused, stopping his words. The maid continued.

“We are the servants of the ‘Julius’ family. We receive high wages in exchange for our heavy mouths and high professionalism.”

He knew they were the highest-paid servants on the continent.

But for some reason, Tristan felt a surge of defiance and closed his mouth tightly before speaking.

“…I apologize. But even though I’m Sir Arthur’s closest knight, is it alright to sell information? As you know, Sir Arthur is the one who will inherit this duchy. Aren’t I a prospective family member?”

The maids looked at each other, and surprisingly, they grinned as if they found him cute.

Tristan was a little taken aback by the unexpected reaction.

The maid said.

“Sir. If you don’t mind me being presumptuous, I’ll give you a piece of advice.”

“…Yes. I’m listening.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t make it obvious that you’re gathering information on Sir Arthur’s orders. As you said, Sir Arthur is the one who will inherit the duchy, and Sir Tristan, you will soon receive the same education as us, so I’m telling you in advance as a prospective family member.”

“!”

Realizing his mistake, the flustered Tristan’s face turned red.

Unable to continue speaking, the maid shrugged her shoulders with a professional expression and generously answered him.

“Well. I suppose I can tell you that the number of men wanting information about Reina has exceeded three today alone. Since you’re a prospective family member.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Gathering his thoughts, having taken the task of collecting information on a mere servant too lightly, Tristan was angry with himself.

Was it because he finally felt that he had returned to a safe place after meeting his family?

It seems his mind had become lax.

He ended up acting like a careless fool.

To take the work of the estate lightly.

This place would be another battlefield for Arthur.

“……”

He had to approach it again from the beginning.

Reina. And Taylor Lorenson……

“Excuse me. Has ‘Reina’ perhaps quit her job?”

Tristan, who had been walking and reflecting, abruptly stopped behind a pillar when he heard the name he was looking for.

“No. She’s still working. What’s the matter?”

Francis, Rembrandt’s attendant, smiled a little awkwardly.

“I’d like to deliver a letter to Reina…. But no matter how much I look for her, I can’t find her.”

“Ah, a letter. I’ll deliver it for you.”

When the servant readily held out his hand, Francis showed a hesitant expression with a deliberate smile.

“Well…. I wanted to deliver it in person before leaving. Didn’t she originally do cleaning work here? Why can’t I see her?”

The servant had a regretful expression.

“Ah…. Originally, yes… But Reina was called to be the young lady’s personal maid a few days ago. It seems she’s constantly by the young lady’s side. We don’t know when she’ll return in this situation… What should we do?”

Tristan hid his presence and concealed himself.

It was the information he wanted.

While inwardly thanking his luck, Tristan was also surprised.

They said many people were asking about ‘Reina’, and it’s really true?

From behind the pillar, he quickly scanned the questioner’s attire and face.

The unique silk pattern on the man’s outer garment caught his eye.

‘Imperial affiliation?’

He could easily recognize it, having been with the Crown Prince’s army until recently.

A pattern that only those working for the imperial family could use. Judging by the range of use and the pattern, his status was mid-to-high level.

Gentry*. At least a quasi-aristocrat. Not a commoner.

A close associate or attendant of a high-ranking aristocrat?

“Lady Christina’s personal maid? Actually, I knew that too, but I didn’t see her at the victory ceremony. Weren’t other maids attending as personal maids?”

“Oh, was that so? I don’t know. I didn’t see…. Then she may have gone on a personal errand for the young lady. There isn’t always just one personal maid. It’s common for another personal maid to take over when the one who was attending first is away on a personal errand for the young lady.”

“I see. Hmm…. Does Reina commute? Or does she lodge here? I know it would be rude to suddenly visit, so I won’t commit any impropriety. But I was wondering if there might be a chance to run into her by chance….”

“Ah, Reina…. Well, I don’t usually talk about this. But since it’s you, Mr. Francis, I’ll tell you?”

They seemed to already have a close relationship and trust, as the servant was readily sharing information he wouldn’t tell Tristan.

[This is the timeline separator]

“What…? A dispatch? So suddenly?”

Returning to his room, Taylor Lorenson blinked in surprise at the sudden order conveyed by his father, Alvin Lorenson.

“That’s right. It’s time for you to start earning your keep. It’s your first official assignment from the duchy. Don’t be nervous. It’s just a matter of examining one old man. There will be a separate caregiver attached as well.”

Examining one old man? With a caregiver included?

Alvin Lorenson continued.

“Today, you’ll go with me. I’ll leave you there and return first, and you’ll stay there, taking care of the patient. It won’t be too difficult. Carefully examine the patient’s condition and provide medical care. Then report back to the duchy. For now, start packing your bags.”

Staying there and taking care of the patient?

If it’s such an important patient that the duchy is directly sending a doctor to care for them and even providing a caregiver, shouldn’t father go directly instead of me?

It didn’t make much sense to him.

Is it just a test as a doctor?

Taylor hesitated before asking.

“For how long?”

If the Julius family had ordered it, there was no choice in the matter, but he didn’t feel inclined to leave the estate when Reina, who was out of sight, was on his mind.

Alvin Lorenson was lost in thought for a moment before answering.

“That hasn’t been determined yet. …For now, a week.”

Taylor was surprised.

“A week? That long?”

There was even a nuance that it could be longer.

They say it’s just one old man, but the duchy is directly sending a caregiver and even dispatching a resident doctor.

What’s going on?

Anyway, as Taylor began packing his bags, he asked.

“Who is this person that a family doctor employed by the duchy is providing a week-long stay and medical care?”

And why me, not father?

“You’re not a family doctor yet. …It’s the grandmother of some maid. Due to circumstances, the duchy has decided to specially bestow posthumous favors.”

“Whose grandmother is it?”

Alvin Lorenson spoke after a brief pause.

“A girl named Reina Astrin. From here on, it’s confidential.”

“……”

Taylor, who had been pulling out a handful of newsletters from his bag, paused and looked back.

“What?”

[This is the timeline separator]

While Reina was being held by the Duchess.

Tristan sought out Arthur.

He conveyed the brief information he had learned about Reina in the meantime.

Along with the story that the maids were feeling annoyed, asking if he was also looking for Reina because more than three men were looking for her today, many men seemed to have a relationship with her, and he had directly witnessed one of them.

An explanation followed that he had confirmed the man was an attendant of His Excellency Rembrandt, a royal guest who had only been staying here for barely two weeks.

“She may have a dangerous history with men. You may need to be wary.”

Arthur listened calmly with an unreadable expression.

Seeing how she had captivated someone she had barely met, she might actually be a terrifying temptress behind her innocent face, and a word of caution was added to be careful.

[This is the timeline separator]

Creak.

The door to the newlywed’s room opened.

“…Sir Arthur.”

Arthur, who was about to pour tea into a cup, turned his eyes and smiled, tilting the teapot.

“Did you reassure Mother well?”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

Putting down the teapot, Arthur lit a cigar and raised one corner of his mouth.

“I see.”

Tapping the cigarette ash into the ashtray, he said.

“But you’ve been calling your husband of five years ‘Sir Arthur’ for two days now.”

Reina paused and looked at him.

“……”

Arthur smiled at her and pushed the teacup towards Reina.

“There should be a better way to address me.”

“……”

Reina swallowed dryly as if hesitating and mumbled with her head lowered.

“…Arthur.”

“……”

Arthur looked at her for a moment and gave a bland smile.

“Sit down. It’s been a long time since we’ve reunited, so we should have a conversation we couldn’t finish.”

“……”

Reina couldn’t bring herself to approach him readily and just looked at him.

The cigarette smoke lingered around Arthur, who had an inscrutable smile, creating a strange atmosphere.

“……”

When Reina didn’t move, he calmly invited her again.

“Sit down.”

“……”

Reina, who moved her reluctant feet and sat down, fiddled with the hem of her skirt with anxious hands.

Whatever conversation she had with the Duchess, he would guess it wouldn’t be a good story for him.

His unchanged gentleness made Reina feel guilty.

He opened his mouth and asked.

“How have you been? For the past five years.”

―――――

*Gentry: A person from an aristocratic family. In a broad sense, it includes titled nobility, and usually refers to the second son and below of an aristocrat who do not have titles. They use the coat of arms of the nobility and are the ruling class of society. They are the lower nobility, wealthy small and medium landowners below the nobility, or influential figures in the provinces.