Indeed, it is destined for those wearing the mantle.

She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment.

However,

The deputy leader, who didn’t give her a moment to rest even during lunchtime, was all the more annoying because he clearly brought lots of paperwork.

‘How does he manage to create situations where money must be spent like a ghost?’

“Don’t disturb me during lunch. Either leave or wait there with the urgent paperwork. Figure it out.”

“……”

She closed her eyes without checking who it was.

The sound of someone sitting on a chair.

The sound of flipping through documents.

‘…Not leaving, just sitting there? He’s becoming rather comfortable these days.’

It was the deputy leader, who sat down even after being told outright to leave.

When the irritable Lucia opened her eyes, she saw,

The wind coming from the opened window, and the shimmering silver strands of hair fluttering in it.

The shadow of his long eyelashes, reminiscent of a serene deer in a forest, there sat Leon Ruins with a mysterious appearance.

He moved his lips silently, summarizing the content of a meeting despite her reproach.

“……”

She was internally surprised by this unexpected figure, yet unable to move.

Perhaps his calm demeanor had a power that subdued her anger and made her want to observe more.

Lucia slowly observed him, her gaze landing on the book in front of him.

In that book were definitely the petals he had helped with.

Kindergarten entrance ceremony, business trips, and even picnics.

It felt like he was always there, too coincidental.

‘I wasn’t this intertwined with him in the past…’

Regardless, Lucia remembered she had made a mental note to thank him someday for those things.

And now seemed like an apt timing.

“……The book on the table.”

“Ah, you’re awake. The table…? This one?”

A little surprised, he opened his eyes wide and picked up the book from the table.

“Do you want to open it?”

“This is… a petal.”

“Yes, that… ”

For a moment, it felt like her throat was blocked.

Even among colleagues, it was rare for her to simply say thanks.

Trying to speak, she realized she had never really thought about how to properly express gratitude.

Thanking someone.

That was a topic farthest from the formidable her.

As she struggled to find words, he interrupted,

“Ah, never mind! It’s okay.”

He seemed to instinctively want to calm her.

However,

“……”

‘What’s okay and what’s not?’

Was it simply polite to be grateful, or was there more meaning?

Lucia found herself questioning his behavior, which seemed to be considerate of her.

“Why are you always around?”

“Hm?”

“That paperwork. It looks like it’s about the negotiation. You don’t have to bring it yourself. If I’m mistaken, I apologize.”

“Ah, well, that…”

She’s straightforward when curious.

Caught off guard, Leon blinked.

And there were plenty of excuses at his disposal.

He was instructed to hand it over directly, it’s a misunderstanding, it’s a coincidence, etc.

Given her personality, she might have let it go with any excuse.
However, precisely because she was so indifferent, she couldn’t miss this precious moment of curiosity about herself.

“Of course. It’s the only thing I can do.”

He had decided to tell the truth as it was.

He thought this might be an opportunity.

A proper confession for the first time.

“So I… you…”

Then it happened.

The sudden noise from outside.

“You can’t! This is a critical situation!”

“Yes! A onceinacentury event is happening!”

“How dare you, this is Her Royal Highness the Princess. Make way.”

“No, you can’t!”

—Suddenly!

“Leon! I missed you!”

Someone, beautifully dressed like a bird, rushed to him and hugged him.

No, more precisely, she was stopped by Leon’s hand.

The pose looked as if he had instinctively blocked the head of a charging boar.

“…Princess Lillief?”

“Ah, just like when we were kids. You haven’t changed at all, Leon.”

“Ah! My apologies.”

Startled, Leon quickly removed his hand from her forehead.

Then, she awkwardly smiled while adjusting her messy bangs.

“No, I’m so happy that my body moved before my mind could think. How embarrassing.”

Lucia recalled the memory of the woman who appeared suddenly in his knight commander’s office.

Although he wasn’t sure, her lavender hair as rare as her black hair was quite memorable.

If his memory served him right, she was the first princess of Ferendel Kingdom.

Specifically, the famous former fiancée of the crown prince, Lillief Ferendel.

And behind her, near the opened door, were the members and ace of the Black Knight Squadron.

“Ah! What a waste! Ahhh!”

“Ahhh!”

Among them, especially Gilli and Vernon, had been pounding the air as if it were a wall.

Ivanne leaned towards Princess Charle, who had been avoiding eye contact with her since morning.

“Your Highness, are you still upset?”

“Ah, I hear the voice of a liar somewhere.”

A grumpy Charle plugged her ears.

Ivanne puffed her cheeks like steamed bread at this.

Watching the two, Nia began to mediate between the children again.

“I’m sorry~. It’s my fault, Ivanne.”

“I already apologized!”

Even with her friend’s persuasion, Ivanne seemed to have no intention of apologizing.

Unable to bear it, Princess Charle glared.

“…Is that an apology? Be sincere! I chose the witch of Titurshan over my pride as Princess of Eldarion!”

“Hmph! Ivanne doesn’t know any of that! You’re also pretty!”

“…You! Seriously!”

Amidst the renewed tensions, someone appeared.

The someone had ashcolored hair like the remains of a fire and mysterious black eyes, Evan.

“Is that the role you played, Your Highness? If His Majesty knew, he would be furious.”

At Evan’s worried tone, Charle nodded her head.

“Yes. Not just that. How angry my nanny was for not knowing the exact details of the play after the picnic… Huh? Who are you?”

“I’m Evan, the grandson of the Duke of Kilgis. Your Highness.”

“Oh, the Duchy of Kilgis? Nice to meet you.”

As always, Charle seemed to forget a new student even after an introduction, being with Nia and Ivanne.

“Yes, Your Highness. I came out with special permission from my grandfather, but anyone with the Kilgis lineage, direct or indirect, cannot leave until they are adults.”

Evan spoke and then smiled with a somewhat awkward face.

As the child said, the Duchy of Kilgis was a strict nation founded by the descendants of the first priest of God, Atiam, based on austerity and sacrifice.

Because of that, they had a mystical image, but they were also objects of both faith and pity.

“…Really? Must be stifling.”

The princess felt a fleeting sense of kinship with Evan, seeing his expression.

Observing the changing expression of the princess, Evan.

The child again smiled and extended his hand.
“It’s an honor to meet you. Would you like to join us in our game?”

The children Evan pointed to were rather quiet kids, exuding a mature atmosphere even in the sparrow class.

True to that atmosphere, the children were already playing chess, despite it being playtime.

‘What’s with that boring game. Duchess Basta taught them that, didn’t she? It’s really tedious. Ah…’

The princess furrowed her brows looking at the group, but after stealing a glance at Ivanna and Nia, she walked away with a snort.

Nia and Ivanna were shocked by Princess Char’s cold attitude.

In fact, compared to usual, it wasn’t anything worth fighting over, but they were still shocked that Char went off to another group.

Especially, Ivanna was flustered but puffed her cheeks again.

“What the hell! I’m upset! Let’s go, Nia!”

“……Ugh.”

The children who had nowhere else to go arrived at a small sports field.

Looking at the stillstanding wall on that field, Ivanna sat down with a sigh.

And Nia, who had been staring intently at her.

“……Ivanna, are you upset?”

“Why would I be?! It’s His Highness who’s too much!”

‘Tsk, they would know if they talked. Guess they don’t know they’re in trouble with the adults…’

Although she acted indifferent, she was actually very bothered.