“He seems to want to be alone, so I’m about to leave.”

To Yansi, it was not surprising that Elodie had told Karlott not to come to the annex.

He neither didn’t know that Elodie wanted to distance herself from their brothers, nor was he excited because he knew the fact.

On the way back to the main building, Karlott murmured dejectedly.

“Did I make another mistake?”

Karlott seemed to think not.

Only after the family physician’s final diagnosis did I receive permission to go out, and I immediately called for Rayan.

He found me within less than an hour after I contacted him via the shortrange magical communication device.

We climbed into Ferdia’s carriage for an outing.

As soon as we were left alone, I immediately asked Rayan.

“Your external name was Ian, is it problematic if I call you Rayan?”

“It doesn’t matter. Call me whatever you like.”

“Still, it’s annoying to explain if asked, so I’ll call you Ian in front of others.”

“Yes.”

Whether it was because of my noble status, Rayan’s attitude towards me was polite.

Rayan had never been informal with me from the start. Was this because he knew my identity from the beginning?

He’s a person with so many secrets that this level of doubt now felt like nothing.

The landscape outside the carriage window sped by. I was leaning on my chin, watching the passing people when Rayan called me.

“By the way, Miss.”

“Miss what, just call me by my name. Why?”

“Someone has been following us since earlier. Is it your family’s escort?”

Guessing vaguely that someone was watching is one thing; confirming that it’s really happening is another.

Being watched is not a good thing, so of course, I wasn’t pleased. But I didn’t show my emotions to Rayan and smiled faintly.

“Not an escort, but…….”

Was it surveillance by my older brother Yansi? Or should I just call it an escort?

It’s weird to explain it either way. While trailing off choosing my words, Rayan asked in a low voice.

“Shall I eliminate them?”

“Huh?”

I looked at Rayan, thinking it was a joke, but his face was utterly serious.

It seemed sincere.

Rayan, who had achieved overwhelming victories on the battlefield, was certainly capable of sufficiently eliminating the people watching me.

“It’s fine. Just leave them be. It’s people Yansi attached.”

“Why?”

It was a reaction that couldn’t be understood. Rayan’s reaction was normal.

Even though they were siblings from different boats, attaching people was a difficult thing to accept.

Especially since I had nothing to be controlled, even though I had nothing.

I smiled bitterly.

“Well……. it’s probably because I’m annoying.”

Yansi, who had control issues, needed to monitor everything I did before he could be at ease.

“If that is your wish, I’ll leave them alone.”

“Yes. But what are you again? I told you to call me by my name.”

You followed up with ‘Miss’ and then ‘you.’

It seemed like he was deliberately avoiding calling me by my name. Was it my imagination?
Staring persistently at Leian, he finally raised the white flag.

“Yes, Lady Elodie.”

“Lady?”

“……You are my employer.”

I backed off at the firm answer that he couldn’t give up on that.

“Then, Lord Leian.”

“…….”

“Just kidding.”

Haha. I laughed lightly, but Leian did not laugh. Instead, he stared at me with a meaningless gaze.

‘Again.’

Leian often looked at me like this.

As if he had met someone he had been separated from for a long time.

Feeling the atmosphere becoming awkward, I nervously spoke.

“It’s embarrassing if you look at me like that.”

“……Where are you going?”

Leian turned his gaze to the window and asked, possibly trying to change the subject.

But there was no suitable answer.

“Um……. Well, where shall we go?”

“Excuse me?”

“I just came out because it’s frustrating to be in the room.”

The annex, which had been my space alone because no one came, was no longer my sanctuary.

I was uncomfortable in case Carlo, Yan, or Yan might come.

I couldn’t find the time to use my powers because I never knew when they might suddenly arrive.

‘I have no place to relax at home anymore…….’

I didn’t know where to go.

I felt Leian’s eyes lingering on my cheek as I blankly stared out the window, but I did not turn my head.

So we went around and around the city in the carriage until late evening, then returned to the mansion.

The imperial banquet hosted by Empress Salvatrice was dazzling and grand.

She paraded her power, greeting the attendees and bursting into laughter.

Soon, Empress Salvatrice’s footsteps stopped in front of Dorothea Angelos.

“You are even more dazzling today, Miss Dorothea.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I don’t know what to do with Your Majesty’s praise. You are the most beautiful one at the banquet hall today.”

“Huhu, how humble.”

One of the four major families, Angelos.

Dorothea, the only daughter of Duke Angelos, was his cherished golden child.