After the Duke and Duchess of Elbartan departed for the capital for the competition, two carrier pigeons were released from the Duke’s mansion in Tris at different times.

One of them soon descended into the forest along the road to the capital. Carrier pigeons trained with special food could easily be called to desired locations.

“They say Duke Elbartan has departed. They’ve split into two groups. One has dozens of knights, while the other has about ten.”

Normally in such cases, the side with more knights would seem to be the one to protect, but he decided to think differently. Since Kaius von Elbartan was the one who prepared this…

“Go for the side with fewer knights. The goal is simple. Just injure the arm or hand of the person who looks like a cook.”

About twenty people dressed in black clothes and masks began to move in one direction. But they didn’t know. Damian had left with the Duke’s party and headed to the Metron Hotel in Tris. The carriage they were chasing was empty.

“If we see the Duke where we’ve chosen, we run away no matter what. Remember this if you don’t want to die.”

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The Duke’s mansion in the capital was filled with tension due to ‘Le Cordon Bleu’.

Dozens of knights who came up together from Tris guarded the surroundings of the Duke’s mansion like an iron fortress. It was a decoy. The ingredients to be used in tomorrow’s competition were being stored elsewhere, and this was to hide that fact.

As the western sky turned red, several board members from Druvian and Caldenbach entered the second-floor study. It was to discuss tomorrow’s competition and the hotel business afterwards. After the maid who brought tea left, Lemon began his report.

“Half of the nobles say they will judge purely on the taste of the food, while the rest say they will support us if we change the hotel being built in the capital to be exclusively for nobles.”

“Then if we can’t captivate them with the food, we’re bound to fail.”

The oldest-looking gentleman carefully responded to Lemon’s explanation.

“That’s correct.”

At Lemon’s firm answer, their gazes turned to Kaius.

“Your Grace, what will you do?”

Their question was asking if he would accept the nobles’ demands. Kaius, who had been silent all along, took out a cigar and lit it.

“There will be no reversal of the decision.”

Kaius extinguished the cigar he was smoking in the ashtray and answered firmly. It was then that a knock was heard on the study door. It was a knight who had been escorting the empty carriage.

“There was an attack.”

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As that incident did not deviate from expectations, Kaius was in the middle of an in-depth discussion about expanding the hotel business to other countries while having dinner with the board members. He had broached the subject, but the board members also showed interest, so they were discussing it in depth.

Inadvertently glancing through the open dining room door, he saw Ariel and Anna seemingly going out. It was their first time in the capital, and it was already after sunset, yet they were going out alone as women.

Fearlessly.

Kaius, after excusing himself to the board members, rose and went outside the dining room. As he was about to stop them from leaving, the events of the day flashed through his mind. Thinking that some fresh air might help, he changed his mind and called two knights who were on standby.

“Quietly escort the Duchess from behind.”

After quietly ordering this, Kaius only turned back inside after Ariel’s skirt hem was no longer visible.

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Ariel left the mansion to visit a boutique she had seen on the way in the carriage. Being the capital of the empire, she expected something different. It was in the midst of such expectations. Ariel and Anna, with their bonnets pulled low, had just begun walking down the glamorous Monde Street.

Strangely, a familiar-looking face was approaching them. Someone who definitely shouldn’t be in the empire.

“Ariel.”

“Edward?”

The dazzlingly blonde man with a gentle smile was undoubtedly Edward.

“Lord Edward, how did you come here?”

Anna also looked full of surprise. After the pleasant greetings were over, Edward looked at them with a puzzled gaze.

“Where are you going? I was on my way to the Duke’s mansion.”

“Ah…”

Ariel, who had been mumbling, trailed off. She needed to get a new dress for the banquet, but the reason was her husband’s excessive…

As that incident came to mind, her face instantly flushed. Hurriedly shaking her head, Ariel smiled brightly at Edward, who was staring at her.

“We just came out for a walk after dinner to see the streets. But how did you come here, Edward?”

“Yeah, I’m here on business too. Shall we walk together then?”

Edward, with an affable smile, stood beside Ariel and offered his arm.

“Sure.”

Thinking that she wouldn’t have been able to get a dress even if she went to the boutique, Ariel took Edward’s arm. Perhaps because she had met someone she could feel at ease with after a long time, Ariel’s face looked much lighter.

“Ariel, as I wrote in the letter, things are going smoothly with the Malava territory. At this rate, we might be able to double it within half a year.”

Edward whispered. He meant they could double the pepper production.

“Yes, thank you. And I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to pay much attention to it.”

“I’m not saying it to make you apologize. More importantly, how are the preparations for tomorrow’s competition?”

“The preparations are good, but it seems the outcome won’t be decided by cooking alone.”

“I suppose so.”

Edward nodded slowly, having some information he had gathered before coming here.

When they arrived at the square they had set as their destination, he led her to the fountain. Despite it being night, the area around the fountain was brightly lit, and some people were throwing coins into it. Seeing this, Ariel approached closer out of curiosity.

“They call it the Wishing Fountain.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, there were piles of coins inside the fountain that seemed to have missed their mark.

“Want to try?”

Edward, smiling gently at Ariel’s eager nod, handed her a few coins.

Ariel first closed her eyes and made a wish. As she slowly opened her eyes, she threw the coin towards the fountain with all her might.

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“Stop laughing.”

On the way back to the mansion, Ariel’s mood had soured because Edward kept laughing. She was already upset that none of the five coins she threw had made it in. Doing such a thing only made her feel worse.

“What did you wish for?”

“To win tomorrow’s competition. I threw five times just for that. How could not even one go in? I know these things are just for fun, right? So I won’t believe in it.”

“Right. These things are all done in jest. I don’t believe in it either.”

“Right?”

“Of course.”

Edward readily agreed with Ariel’s behavior, which seemed to need his confirmation once more to be at ease.

“But Edward, how do you know the geography of this place so well?”

“I just know a few places. I’ve been here a few times.”

“So when you occasionally left the palace, you were coming here to play? Not going to the Malava territory?”

Edward burst into laughter at her questioning tone.

“Do I have to work every day?”

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant.”

Her face flushed with unnecessary guilt.

“I really don’t mean you should only work. You should date too, and get married soon. I feel sorry that you’re still single because of me. Why don’t you find someone trustworthy and try to reduce your workload?”

Her additional words were filled with sincerity.

“That’s enough, Princess. We’ve arrived home now.”

“Do you want to come in for a bit? I have something to give you too.”

Ariel was thinking of handing over the letter she hadn’t sent yet.

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As the guests left, the night deepened. Kaius, pressing his temples, took out a cigar and lit it.

“Your Grace, the necklace you ordered has arrived.”

Ted, the butler of the capital mansion, came up with a box. After placing it on the table, the butler also took out a small folded note from his pocket and placed it there.

“This note arrived just now via carrier pigeon.”

Kaius examined the contents of the note first.

[Ludvian Beloas, lost track while moving north.]

North. It was already the second move. Failed to track both times. If it was north of Tris, there were only unremarkable territories and the demon realm.

Kaius, who had been lost in thought for a moment, exhaled a long puff of smoke and opened the box. It was the yellow diamond necklace he had personally chosen and ordered after the wedding. A jewel reminiscent of Ariel’s eyes. Seeing it, he chuckled, imagining her still worrying about tomorrow.

She must have returned by now. Quite some time had passed.

Thinking of her, who would have been gloomy all day, Kaius picked up the box containing the necklace.

“Where is my wife?”

“She returned from her outing a short while ago and is in the reception room with a guest.”

A guest?

Was there someone who would visit her here?

Kaius, extinguishing the cigar he was smoking in the ashtray, headed for the door, and Ted the butler moved first to open it. Kaius, descending the stairs with wide strides, headed for the reception room.

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As he opened the door, the first thing he heard was a clear laugh. And…

The sight of two people in an intimate conversation.

Kaius’s gaze, having passed over the face of the completely unexpected man, stopped on Ariel’s face.

The woman who hadn’t shown him a single smile all day was smiling at that man. Comfortably and brightly. As he began to approach, both the startled Ariel and Edward stood up simultaneously.

“Kaius. It’s Edward.”

Kaius, who had been leisurely walking towards Edward, noticed the letter envelope on the table. After confirming it, Kaius changed his mind from just nodding and offered a handshake to Edward. On the wrist of the man who naturally grasped his hand was the bracelet Kaius had seen last night.

“It’s been a while.”

Edward, who had been inwardly worried that the Duke might misunderstand due to his late visit, soon erased such thoughts. The Duke’s smiling face as he greeted him showed the demeanor of a gentleman with dignity and courtesy from any angle.