“Arguing over such a trivial matter. You two were too emotional. You could have solved it with words.”

Duke Fenton said.

Roger and Yurik didn’t fight anymore. Was that all? They didn’t even speak, nor did they look at each other. To break the ice, Lady Fenton prepared a meal and invited us to the dining table.

“How should we sit?”

Yurik asked. Another problem almost arose here, but fortunately, Lady Fenton assigned the seats.

“Are we really sitting like this, my lady?”

To my question, the lady nodded her head. No matter how I thought about it, the seating was strange. Across from me sat Yune, flanked by Yurik and Roger.

Anyone would think I was the only child of the Fenton family.

“Endure it even if it’s uncomfortable, Lise.”

Lady Fenton asked me to understand, saying that my sitting here was to keep everyone’s peace.

“How about Roger and Yurik reconcile and become friends at this opportunity?”

“But father. That child insulted you.”

“Insulted! I never insulted. I was just a little suspicious…!”

Roger and Yurik reacted strongly. Obviously, neither wanted to apologize to the other.

“It’s not going to work.”

Duke Fenton sighed and looked at Roger this time.

“You said Roger?”

“…Yes.”

“Why did you suspect Count Kito? Can you tell me?”

Roger hesitated for a moment.

“…It was just suspicious. Helping Lise without any conditions. I was anxious that he might be a strange person. Also, the Fenton family and Marsen family are famously not on good terms….”

“I understand. But Roger, your behavior earlier could have upset Yurik. Of course, Yurik was also mean to you.”

“……”

“And Roger, I don’t think ill of your suspicion, but Kito and I truly believe Lise is a talented child. You’ll know if you see Lise’s chess skills. Isn’t it true?”

When Duke Fenton spoke kindly, Roger closed his mouth.

“I admit I was sensitive.”

Roger acknowledged his fault. Slowly raising his head, Roger’s and my eyes met. He didn’t seem particularly angry at me, but the problem was Yurik.

In fact, Yurik’s gaze had been directed at me since earlier. Every time I met that gaze, it seemed as though he was asking me the same question as before.

Me or him?

How could I specifically pick one? This was a more difficult question than ‘Do you like mom or dad?’

“I’ll get up now.”

“But Yurik. You haven’t eaten much yet.”

Lady Fenton caught Yurik, who was getting up.

“I’m not hungry today. I’m sorry.”

“Then Yurik. Will you bring the chessboard?”

At Duke Fenton’s request, Yurik flinched.

“…Lise should have brought it earlier.”

“The maid must have cleaned it up. And that chessboard is yours. Bring it from the study.”

Yurik hesitated but eventually left the dining table. Yurik’s empty seat made the atmosphere cold. Roger forced food into his mouth, avoiding conversation, and Yune still found Roger strange.

“Roger, come over often. I hope you and Yurik become friends. Yurik doesn’t go to school and is very shy, so he has no samesex friends.”

“…I’ll try.”

Roger barely swallowed his food at the Duke’s words.

“Yurik won’t hate you entirely, Roger. Yurik initially doesn’t communicate well with anyone. Even approaching.”

“Yes….”

“So. Even if reconciling with Yurik is tough today, since you’ve come to play, will you watch Lise play chess? I want to clear the misunderstanding about me.”
The Duke of Fenton slightly smiled to set the mood. Soon Yurik, who had fetched the chessboard from the library, came back to the dining table. He placed the chess pieces and board on the table, then tried to return to his room without a word.

“Yurik, where are you going? You wanted to watch Lise and me play chess, didn’t you?”

“……I never said anything like that.”

Yurik, he’s totally mad at me.

“Really? Lise would want you to watch as well.”

As the Duke of Fenton glanced at me, Yurik’s gaze turned to me too.

“……Yurik, I’d like it if you watched. Won’t you?”

I spoke as sweetly and politely as possible, but my heart was pounding. I was afraid he might refuse.

“Sigh.”

Yurik silently sat back down. His one act eased the heavy burden on my heart. I had been anxious that our relationship might go awry, but it was a relief.

“Thank you, Yurik.”

“I was just curious about the game.”

Yes, yes.

“Before we play, I have a gift for you.”

The Duke pulled something out of the bag below. It was a paper.

“It’s today’s notation from the match between Kito and the opponent.”

“Ah!”

I had completely forgotten because of the fight between Roger and Yurik.

“Can I really have it?”

“I have my own.”

“Thank you! I really wanted to see it!”

I received the notation from the Duke. From the opening, signs of an intense battle were apparent.

“After the opponent’s f6 knight was removed, the game was entirely Kito’s.”

“It seemed planned from the beginning. To achieve the conditions for the attack.”

“Yes. He aimed for this from the start, sacrificing his own pieces to secure victory.”

The move written by Baron Kito was said to be a quite difficult strategy. But to see this strategy in an actual game!

“Amazing…….”