They walked for a while, leaving the marketplace behind.

“So, where do you learn chess from? Who’s your teacher? Are they famous?” Roger asked in succession.

“…They’re famous. Quite a lot…”

“Well, don’t rely too much on your teacher. But if they’re famous, even I would know of them, right?”

Not in terms of chess, but in terms of the bad relationship between the Marsen family.

“Yeah, famous.”

“Then what about that kid named Yurik?”

“What?”

“How is he?”

“What do you mean?”

Roger seemed very interested in Yurik. Was it because he was the same age as himself or because I compared him to Yurik?

“You said it before. That he’s similar to me.”

“Yeah, as I said before, Yurik is smart, extraordinary, wise, and very considerate. He’ll become a great person in the future.”

“…”

“Come to think of it, he’s quite different from you, isn’t he?”

Roger’s expression turned slightly sulky. I said something nasty because I was annoyed by his constant questions, and Roger got upset.

“Hey, Roger?”

“…A great person or whatever. No one knows that.”

Well, he will be the hero who revives the market after inheriting the Penton family in the future.

“Yeah. Let’s say that.”

“You’re too soft. Should I say you trust people too easily?”

“I don’t trust people easily though?”

“Haven’t you doubted your teacher? No matter how famous they are, they might have some strange ulterior motive.”

He spoke with no trace of a smile.

“It’s okay. They’re someone I can trust.”

“Right. Let’s say that.”

He imitated my tone.

* * *

“…The family you mentioned was the Penton family?”

After coming to his senses, doubting his own eyes, Roger asked.

Rather than explaining with words a hundred times, I thought it would be better to show him, so I knocked on the door handle a few times. After waiting for a moment, a servant came out to the garden.

“Young lady? What brings you here?”

“Ah, I sent a letter saying I would come with a friend, but did you not receive it?”

“Oh my, it seems the letter hasn’t arrived yet.”

Yesterday, I gave extra money to the young man at the post office and asked him to deliver the letter on the way to the Penton mansion. It seemed like he pocketed the money and stuffed my letter in the corner of his bag.

What should I do about this? It was awkward.

“Would you like to come in first?”

“Is that okay?”

The servant smiled and nodded. As he opened the door for us, Roger lightly grabbed my arm.

“What’s going on?”

“I told you. The person who will teach me chess is my teacher.”

“And that person is the Duke of Penton?”

Roger opened his mouth, saying it was unbelievable.

“Don’t tell me, that kid named Yurik is also…”

“Yurik Penton. The eldest son of the Penton family.”

“Does your mother know about this?”

“No, this is a secret between me and the Duke of Penton, so never, ever tell anyone. Otherwise, I won’t see you again.”

When I warned him in a stern voice, Roger flinched.

“A-Are you really going in?”

As he entered the mansion, his expression was full of wariness. Looking around and not letting go of my arm, Roger seemed like a person entering a beast’s cage.

“I’ll explain what happened, so don’t be scared.”

To calm Roger’s mind, I explained everything from meeting Baron Kito to playing chess with the Duke of Penton. Still, Roger’s stiff expression showed no signs of softening.

“After the chess match ends, Baron Kito said he would personally teach me. Until then, I’ll stay at the Duke of Penton’s place.”

Roger, who had been listening to my story in silence, nodded.

“Yeah, Baron Kito is definitely a great person. The Duke of Penton too… But isn’t it strange? Teaching you without compensation or any conditions?”

“What?”

“Think about it. The Marsen family and the Penton family don’t have a good relationship. You know that better than anyone, Lize. And they want to raise you as their disciple? How is this different from an ally raising the prince of an enemy as a tiger? They might have some ulterior motive.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand Roger’s suspicion. Given the well-known rumors about the relationship between the Penton and Marsen families, it was reasonable to be wary.

“Roger, don’t worry. Do you trust me? Hm?”

I smiled slightly at Roger, but to no avail. He fidgeted and looked around, swallowing hard before entering the front door.

…Maybe I shouldn’t have brought him.

* * *

“I sensed someone’s presence and wondered who it was, but it’s Lize.”

As soon as we entered the foyer, the Duchess of Penton greeted us.

“Hello, Duchess. I’m sorry for the sudden visit.”

“Didn’t I tell you to come anytime when you have time? But who is that handsome boy next to you?”

“N-Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Roger Bakus.”

Roger greeted the Duchess while looking at her. It was quite cute how he maintained his manners even when he was scared.

“Bakus? Oh my, could it be the Bakus family of the organist Reginald Bakus?”

“He’s my uncle…”

“Then, by any chance, the tenor Rick Bakus’s…”

“He’s my father.”

Unlike Roger, who was stammering, the Duchess’s face lit up.

“Oh my! I went to a concert to listen to his music not long ago. It was truly amazing. Ah, it’s cold outside, so come on in.”

While we warmed up, the Duchess ordered a maid to bring snacks. Both Roger and I waited for the snacks in an awkward posture.

It was understandable for Roger, who was visiting for the first time, but even I felt uncomfortable. Although I had sent a letter, it wasn’t delivered properly. From the moment I found out, I felt uneasy about taking up the Duchess and Duke’s time.

Roger’s gaze met mine. When I smiled awkwardly, Roger slightly frowned. Then, dull footsteps were heard from upstairs.

“Big sis!”

Yune ran to me. She grabbed my hand tightly and shook it.

“I’m so happy you’re here, big sis!”

“Good to see you, Yune. And Yurik.”

Behind her stood Yurik. Yurik, who was smiling kindly upon seeing me, noticed Roger. Their gazes met.

“…”

“…”

As soon as he saw Yurik, Roger scrutinized him with an unpleasant look. Yurik hid his smile and faced Roger’s gaze with his usual expressionless face.

‘Wh-What’s going on?’

A staring contest broke out between the two. It would have lasted a long time if the Duchess hadn’t placed chocolate drinks in front of us.

“Here, have a drink.”

“Um, Duchess. Where is the Duke?”

Looking around, I realized that the Duke of Penton was not in the mansion.

“He’ll probably be back in an hour. He had to go to the capital due to a sudden matter.”

“Oh… I came too abruptly, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”

“No, not at all. Why don’t we have a meal together this time? I’d like to treat Roger as well.”

The Duchess immediately prepared to go out, saying she needed to buy ingredients. Even when I said it was okay, the Duchess insisted she wanted to do it.

“Then, Yurik, will you stay with Lize and Roger?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“What about you, Yune?”

At the Duchess’s question, Yune hesitated. Yune, who had been holding and shaking my hand until now, hid behind the Duchess. Perhaps she was nervous about seeing Roger for the first time.

“Oh my, Yune. It seems you’re shy because Roger is here?”

“…”

“Then, Yune. Let’s go together. Kids, enjoy yourselves.”

The lively mansion was now filled with only cold silence. Yurik was silently turning his head to look at the door, and Roger was blankly staring at the half-finished chocolate drink.

I was the only one who could break this atmosphere, being close to both Yurik and Roger.

“…Um.”

As my lips parted, Yurik and Roger’s gazes turned to me. I didn’t expect to be the center of attention. So I had nothing prepared to say.

“W-Why is the Duchess going to buy ingredients herself? Don’t they usually have maids do it… or not?”

“It’s Mother’s hobby. Also, Mother feels assured when she personally sees and buys ingredients.”

“I see.”

Silence again.

Roger sipped his chocolate drink. Yurik sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and arms folded. If a cold wind were blowing outside the mansion, this place would be a complete ice field.

“Sorry. For visiting so suddenly.”

“It’s okay.”

When I apologized, Yurik shook his head.

“Mother and Father wanted to see you too.”

“That’s a relief.”

And silence again.

Yurik unfolded his arms and glanced at Roger. Feeling Yurik’s gaze, Roger also lifted his head. As soon as their gazes met, the staring contest that hadn’t finished earlier started again.

It doesn’t seem like a good situation.

“Um, well…”

I mustered up the courage to speak.

“…Who wants to play with me?”

I blurted out whatever came to mind because I had nothing to say. But after saying it, it really seemed like a random remark. I was worried they might burst into laughter at the absurdity.

“Me.”

“Me.”

Until the two of them quickly raised their hands and answered.

“…Huh? Really?”

What’s with these guys?

Roger and Yurik looked at me with expectant eyes, as if asking what we would play.

“Um, then how about taking turns saying the names of villages? The person who knows the most will be the winner… It’ll be really fun. Probably?”

I said it, but it seemed like it would be really boring.

“…”

“…”

Their reactions were lukewarm, probably not meeting their expectations. But that only lasted a moment. When I said Hosha Village first, Yurik followed by mentioning another village. It was definitely a simple game…

After some time passed, Yurik and Roger’s eyes had changed. They frowned and tried to think of village names they hadn’t called out.

There were villages with strangely peculiar names and villages I had never heard of since I was born.

“What was the name of the village in the north? Damn it!”

“If you can’t answer within ten seconds, you lose.”

“…Ki, Kibal Village! No? Did it start with ‘Si’?”

“Five seconds left. Decide quickly.”

“Ki, Kibal Village! Check the map, it’s definitely there. Definitely!”

At Roger’s words, Yurik immediately checked the map and nodded.

‘Do they want to win that badly?’

Watching Roger and Yurik play the game, it seemed like I was observing an international competition held every three years to select the top prodigy. That’s how remarkable the fighting spirit of the two men was.

“Damn it…”

After a long battle, the winner was Yurik. Roger snorted angrily and glared fiercely at Yurik, who was sitting with his legs crossed.

Come to think of it, Yurik had the advantage from the beginning. As the successor who would inherit a trading company, he had been interested in domestic place names and maps since he was young.

“Any, any other games?”

Perhaps his crushing defeat had sparked his motivation, Roger spoke up.

“Alright, then how about betting on a prize this time?”

“A prize?”

“The winner gets their wish granted.”

Yurik’s suggestion was met with nods from me and Roger.

If the previous game was practice, now it was the real deal.