“Roger must have come. How much effort did that child put into this concert? He was looking forward to it so much. Even if there was an accident, he would have come here to perform somehow. That’s how much he put everything into this concert……”

The lady’s voice was trembling. She paused for a moment, then finally stood up.

“This won’t do. I’ll go look for Roger myself.”

Yurik and I hastily got to our feet as well. We couldn’t just sit comfortably without knowing Roger’s whereabouts.

“Lize.”

“……?”

The lady called my name. She must have misinterpreted my action of standing up abruptly with her, as she looked at me with a resolute expression.

“Trying to stop me isn’t a good idea. If Roger is badly hurt…… it would be better if I were by his side.”

“I know that.”

Does she think little of me because I look like a ten-year-old girl? I can assess the situation too. I just thought I should find Roger faster than the lady.

The lady seemed relieved by my answer and immediately rushed out the door.

“I’ll report right away if I find Roger.”

“Thank you, young lady.”

The butler bowed slightly.

The corridor was quiet as most people had moved individually. I left the mansion and thoroughly searched the vast garden first. From the entrance of the front gate, Roger was nowhere to be seen.

Outside the front gate, I could see the back of Lady Bakus desperately searching for Roger. Turning in the opposite direction, I looked for carriages along the road. Since the area around the mansion was an empty plain, I could immediately confirm that there were no carriages.

Then that means it must be at least beyond the plain by the roadside…….

It’s too late.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Time’s up, Lize.”

“Yes.”

I looked along the road. Further on, I even checked the carriages in the town streets.

Roger was nowhere to be seen.

I returned to the Duke’s residence with slumped shoulders. It was time for the concert to begin.

Judging by the butler anxiously checking his pocket watch at the front gate, the situation was obvious. There was also no news from the lady who had gone in the opposite direction.

“……”

Will Roger even come here in the first place? The damp and calm wind predicted that Roger would never come here. If he wasn’t coming, why didn’t he contact the Duke’s residence in advance? Although Roger’s behavior sometimes seemed unruly, he wasn’t irresponsible enough to break a promise.

“I’ll explain it well to His Highness.”

“Thank you, Yurik.”

If Yurik hadn’t been here, the situation would have been worst. Roger’s credibility would have completely hit rock bottom for missing the appointment without notice, and his name would have occasionally come up in the mouths of the gossip-loving nobles. Yurik prevented this.

Upon hearing Yurik’s words, His Highness the Duke calmed his anger. He provided more performance time to the musician he had brought instead of Roger to alleviate the nobles’ boredom. Fortunately, the performer put on a successful stage enough to make them forget Roger’s absence.

His Highness the Duke, who had been appreciating that performance, approached Yurik and me.

“Somehow things worked out well. Still, it’s unavoidable that trust in Roger Bakus, that child, has fallen.”

The Duke with long purple hair was quite a young man.

I knew the Duke was a gentle and kind person, so I let my guard down. Roger breaking his concert appointment was like intentionally ignoring and dropping the Duke’s face. Yet the kind Duke only questioned Roger’s trustworthiness.

“Um…… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

I apologized to His Highness with proper etiquette. He looked me over and gently grabbed my shoulder.

“Hmm, you said your name was Lize Marsen? What do you have to be sorry for? If you really feel sorry, why don’t you play with my nephew?”

Yurik’s expression hardened at the Duke’s words.

“Nephew?”

“Yes. Yurik would know well. They often hung out together. Also, I think our nephew would really like you, Lize.”

As I was choosing my answer, Yurik gently grabbed my shoulder.

“Your Highness. Quite some time has passed. If we’re late, Lady Marsen will surely worry, so we’ll be heading back now.”

Yurik intervened between the Duke and me. The Duke’s face was full of amusement.

“Hm? Ah, as for the lady’s worry, wouldn’t it be fine? I just received the fastest carrier pigeon as a gift yesterday. It might be good to use it on this occasion.”

Yurik’s already grim expression turned even fiercer. The Duke pretended not to see Yurik’s face and was about to call his nephew who would be somewhere. It was clearly felt that he was teasing Yurik.

“No need to call, there’s Oto. My lovely nephew……!”

“Your Highness.”

“Tsk. Yurik. You know how hard it was for me to cover for your friend? So you should do this much.”

The Duke has a talent for teasing Yurik. Judging by how natural his words and actions are, it doesn’t seem like he’s teased him just once or twice…….

“Your Highness. How about playing chess instead? Lize is good at chess.”

“Oh? Really?”

At Yurik’s words, the Duke’s gaze turned to me. I wasn’t in the mood to play chess, but I couldn’t tell a lie either.

“Ah…… yes. Though I just started not long ago.”

“Then you still have a long way to go.”

“Your Highness. Lize is currently learning chess under Baron Kito.”

When Yurik added the explanation, the Duke’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Then it would be good to play a game with me. Yurik, you play with Oto. I’ll play chess with Lize.”

“What? I also……”

As Yurik tried to come along, the Duke’s eyes flashed fiercely.

“Or would you like to play chess with me? Lize can play with my nephew.”

“Don’t keep Lize for too long.”

Yurik looked at me with an apologetic gaze for putting me in a difficult situation, then disappeared.

Only the Duke and I were left by the hall wall. Even though there were many people on the other side, the Duke’s gaze was fixed solely on me. As I moved to the table with a stiff body, the Duke smiled generously as if telling me to relax.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Yurik so desperate. He seems to like you very much.”

“…… I’ll set it up, Your Highness.”

I received the white pieces from His Highness’s hand.

“Hmm, are you really Baron Kito’s disciple?”

“Yes.”

“That’s surprising. The Baron is famous for not taking disciples. When asked why, he expressed doubt whether it was right for him to take disciples when he hadn’t become a champion yet. Of course, he has the skill to take disciples. There were many who wanted to become his disciples. Yet the Baron, who was always careful, took one disciple……”

“I don’t know why the Baron took me as a disciple either. I’m just trying not to butcher his name.”

“Is that so? Anyway, don’t feel too pressured. At least I don’t think you’ll beat me today. Are you worried about Roger Bakus?”

My hand that was arranging the pieces on the board stopped in mid-air.

“It’s all over your face. I understand how you feel, Lize. Even I, who only have a slight acquaintance with him, am worried.”

“…… Roger isn’t the type to break promises carelessly.”

“Yes. I don’t know what happened, but it needs to be resolved well.”

The Duke whispered softly. I agreed with those words.

[This is the timeline separator]

I sat by the fountain, watching the setting sun.

Under the sharp cries of birds, carriages returning to their respective mansions were lined up. Among them, Lady Bakus, who had waited for Roger until the end, was getting into her carriage.

As soon as I spotted her, I shifted my gaze elsewhere.

“Lize.”

“Ah.”

I ran into Yurik coming out of the mansion. He moved with tired steps, his face drenched in fatigue. That person called the Duke’s nephew must not have been an easy person to deal with.

Yurik plopped down beside me.

“Are you alright?”

“Just a bit tired. By the way, I heard you won both games? His Highness was quite amazed.”

“He said that going easy on your opponent is the same as insulting them. His Highness said so.”

Yurik chuckled softly at my dry tone. The sound was pleasant to hear, so I remained silent for a while before noticing the violin case he was carrying.

Water from the fountain was splashing onto the violin case. I moved the case forward and tucked it into my arms.

The damp part touched my hand. I found myself fiddling with just that part without realizing it.

“…… I wonder what Roger is doing now.”

“……”

“Will we be able to meet Roger? In the future, I mean.”

I shouldn’t have left Roger alone after all. I should have forcibly dragged him to the mansion.

His home, the violin he cherishes, and I who wait for him are all here, so I shouldn’t have let Roger go.

“Lize.”

“I recall the words I said to Roger. The foolish words I said to him. And…… you know. I actually vaguely knew. That Father had taken an interest in Lady Bakus. I sensed that atmosphere even before directly witnessing the affair. But I was turning a blind eye to it. Because Mother and I were suffering so much because of Father…… I just stood by knowing everything…… So……”

Before I could finish speaking, Yurik pulled me into his arms. Surprised by his sudden action, I stopped talking, feeling his scent strongly comforting my heart.

I focused for a moment on Yurik’s heartbeat sound in my ear while holding my breath. It was beating fast.

The gloomy feelings I had been holding back started creeping up. Without realizing it, I grabbed Yurik’s clothes tightly and buried my face deep in his embrace.

“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry, Lize.”

I heard Yurik’s voice above my head.

“Why are you apologizing, Yurik?”

“Because I didn’t know the situation in detail…… Until just now, I was jealous of Roger and resented you. From you wearing a pretty dress you don’t usually wear for Roger, to buying him dessert. Not knowing with what feelings you were looking for Roger, I even disapproved of your actions.”

“……”

“Actually, I still don’t know well. How you and that guy broke up, and how you feel. But Lize.”

“……”

“You did your best. I know that. You always do your best and try hard in everything. Even if you pretend not to, you’ve always been like that, and even if you couldn’t do your best, you took all the responsibility and tried hard. That…… Surely that guy knows it too. Roger Bakus knows you well and likes you.”

Yurik grabbed my shoulders and gently pulled me away. Yurik closed his slightly wet eyes and pressed his forehead against mine.

“So that guy will surely return to your side. And I will never leave your side forever.”

“…… Yes.”

I gently moved Yurik’s hand to my lips. A single tear fell on the back of his hand. And I kissed next to it.

“Li, Lize?”

“…… Thank you.”

Thank you, my hero.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the long summer passed, autumn came to Hosha village.

[Conclusion. Therefore, the custody of Lize Marsen is awarded to the head of the Marsen family, Richis Marsen. The custody of the remaining five siblings is awarded to Isabel Polong of the Polong family.]