In response to Belia’s suggestion, Rachel brightly smiled and replied. Belia also smiled back and approached the waiting carriage with Rachel.

“Your Highness!”

“Princess! Thank you!”

Every time Belia came out for external activities, people somehow found her and waited for her like this. Some still called her a princess, but regardless, many people expressed their liking for Belia.

Belia shook hands with them with a smile and, together with Rachel, boarded the carriage.

“It’s always such a wonderful scene.”

Rachel smiled contentedly.

She had been fond of Belia since the first time she saw her. Even without anyone watching or acknowledging her, the way she silently helped and served the weak moved Rachel’s heart with deep emotion.

For Rachel, it was entirely natural that people liked Belia so much.

Belia always did her best to help them, not just for reputation, from the time she was the overlooked fiancee of the Second Prince to now.

“All the imperial citizens are happy, so I can only be grateful.”

She was even humble.

Rachel felt grateful for being able to meet her now.

‘Father made the best choice by joining hands with the Second Prince.’

The decision of the Capriae Viscount, who decided to stand by the Second Prince, was also correct.

Returning to the palace, they were enjoying a pleasant conversation in the reception room, sipping cold tea.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Rachel brought up a topic.

“Come to think of it, the social circles are quite noisy these days.”

“Ah… You mean the illegitimate child of Viscount Ceylon.”

Belia replied as if recalling, and Rachel joined in.

“Yes, that’s right. It was quite surprising to hear about it, wasn’t it?”

The illegitimate child of Viscount Ceylon made their first appearance at a recent party.

Since the sudden death of the heir to the viscount, there had been much talk about who would be the next heir.

But it turned out there was an illegitimate child.

Furthermore, given that the viscount was famous for being infertile, this fact ignited the social circles even more.

“But they looked quite neat. I wonder what kind of person they are? They had impeccable manners and spoke eloquently.”

Rachel found this situation quite intriguing.

To say it was just an abandoned illegitimate child seemed too well-educated.

Belia just smiled, listening to her.

“Everyone who had a conversation with them praised them for being extremely knowledgeable.”

“Oh my, that’s interesting.”
“Um, I heard it from my mother. Apparently, you are quite popular among the noble ladies. They say you lead conversations very well and make them want to keep talking.”

Upon hearing this, Belia widened her eyes in surprise.

“Men may feel a bit distant due to being a bastard, but still, he’s the son of Viscount Ceylon. He will undoubtedly blend into high society in no time,” Rachel affirmed, nodding confidently.

Observing Rachel’s reaction, Belia couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

‘Derik is doing well.’

The newly appeared illegitimate child of Viscount Ceylon was none other than Derik.

During the time he was receiving education as the heir to Viscount Ceylon, he never appeared at the clinic. There was strong opposition within the viscount’s household against Derik becoming the heir, especially when it was revealed that he was the viscount’s close friend’s child. The viscountess appeared ill whenever Derik was around.

“He didn’t look too bad when I saw him then.”

“…But in the end, he’ll side with the First Prince.”

Rachel expressed her dissatisfaction with a snort.

Viscount Ceylon was a representative noble of the First Prince’s faction. So, in Rachel’s opinion, it was natural for his son to form ties with that faction.

“I would have preferred if he were a bit lacking.”

In response to this comment, Belia merely smiled.

It was still risky to make Derik aware of their allegiance.

“Anyway, we should keep an eye on this new figure.”

Saying that, Belia took a sip of her tea.

Rachel nodded in agreement and then shifted the conversation to another topic.

“By the way, Your Highness. You were invited to tea tomorrow with Lady Cantareef… Are you okay with that?”

Just when the Second Prince was absent.

Rachel bit her lip, swallowing her anger.

“Don’t worry. I just want to quell my pride a bit.”

Though Belia spoke with her usual expression, even this appearance angered Rachel.

The Queen deliberately invited her to the palace, where Lady Cantareef would undoubtedly find fault or ignore her. This, with the Second Prince absent. It was undoubtedly a deliberate act.

“…Your Highness, is he doing well?”

Perhaps feeling a twinge of regret for Khalid’s absence, Rachel inquired about his well-being.

Recalling the letter that arrived recently, Belia replied with a light smile.

“Yes, he seemed to be doing well, just like the Capriae Viscount. Haha.”

“Was there anything interesting in the letter?”

Full of curiosity, Rachel asked. Belia burst into laughter as she recalled the contents of the letter.

“It seemed like Capriae Viscount is bothered by nagging. But it looks like he only says the right things, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

She must have written a lot of complaints.

“Oh my. My father is really…”

Rachel blushed and laughed.

To hear her father, who constantly pressured the Crown Prince, was complaining about the Second Prince in front of Belia, the Second Prince’s wife, was quite embarrassing.

“The two get along very well.”

Belia casually remarked.

So, Rachel had no reason to feel embarrassed.

‘It should be okay to go to the Yakum Kingdom. The problem will be returning after the negotiations are over.’

Belia placed the teacup on the table.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much.”

Khalid and she should both be fine.