“I don’t want to go on such a journey again.”

“Next time, you can travel very comfortably.”

“I, too, fell into a hole. It was very dangerous, you know.”

“You’ve built unforgettable memories.”

“Memories? Not terrible experiences but memories? Have I forgotten everything I talked about last night?”

Etienne grabbed the housekeeper yesterday and vividly recounted what happened to me.

“Getting out of there unharmed was a very good experience to become a memory. Moreover, haven’t you heard stories you didn’t know until now? I didn’t know that there was such a secret from the Crown Prince.”

However, the housekeeper acted as if he were just listening to a story about his granddaughter coming back from a nice place.

“There’s nothing more to say.”

Etienne, as if giving up on getting sympathy, drank cold water. His stomach felt blocked, and there was no way to relieve it except for drinking water.

“But did nothing happen between the two?”

“The two? His Highness and Fernando?”

“His Highness pulled the lady’s clothes, causing her to fall, and the Duke tried to help the lady, saying he would save her, but ended up falling together.”

The housekeeper, as if something was missing, that is, as if the two men were involved together, asked if nothing happened. Etienne turned his head.

“Nothing happened.”

Although he heard a slightly subtle comment from the Crown Prince, there was no need to tell the housekeeper.

“Is that so?”
The housekeeper asked as if confirming, but Etienne nodded with a stern face. The conversation on that subject did not continue.

“I understand. First, have some tea. There’s still time until the banquet, so take your time preparing….”

As the housekeeper talked about the banquet, there was a knock, and a young man entered.

“Assistant Alex.”

When Etienne saw him and stood up, Alex approached and said, “His Highness the Crown Prince is calling.”

“At this hour?”

Etienne looked out the window at the setting sun.

Fernando safely returned, and he mentioned that there would be a light banquet for dinner tonight. Etienne found it somewhat strange that the Crown Prince was calling him now when they would see each other during the banquet.

“He says it will only take a moment.”

“Well… I understand.”

With the housekeeper by her side, she couldn’t refuse.

“Then, I’ll go out first.”

Alex sent a nod to the housekeeper and left, and Etienne awkwardly flicked her skirt.

“Don’t have strange thoughts. He probably wants to talk about that place, maybe even calling Fernando.”

“I haven’t thought anything.”

The housekeeper, whether to finish her tea or not, greeted Etienne to go and see. Etienne, who glimpsed at his leisurely attitude, soon left the room.

“Until the lady offers an explanation.”

The words of the housekeeper left alone echoed in the room.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
It seemed like they had already discussed everything important when they were alone, so why call her separately again? Etienne looked at Leharht with eyes mixed with resentment, and he responded with a bright smile, gesturing for her to come in.

“Come in quickly.”

“Do you have something important to say right now?”

“That’s right.”

With his affirmation, Etienne could no longer hesitate. So, as she entered the room, she heard the sound of the door closing behind her. Etienne quickly turned around.

Alex was right behind her, but he didn’t enter the room.

“Why isn’t the person always with His Highness coming in?”

“I said I had something to talk to you alone about.”

Leharht casually replied and gestured for Etienne to come closer.

“What do you want to say…”

“This.”

As Etienne hesitated, Leharht brought up the main topic, revealing a box when he took off the black cloth. The room seemed to be bathed in a golden light when Leharht showed the box. Etienne quickly approached Leharht.

“Why did you bring this here?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Just in case.”

Etienne, who hadn’t noticed at all that he had brought it, looked at the emerging light with fascination. Then, as if telling a heroic tale, Leharht spoke.

“Actually, I entrusted it to the maid of Viscount Claire. Didn’t he tell you?”
Etienne continued to gaze at the box without looking away. Then, belatedly, she turned her head to Leharht.

“Viscount Claire’s maid? Letin’s maid?”

“That’s right.”

“No, but why didn’t you tell me about it?”

She had shared everything with the maid, but he hadn’t said a word to her.

Etienne, expressing her discontent with pursed lips, looked at the box again.

“It’s really fascinating. Can I touch this box?”

“The material is much thicker than the ceramic that contained the al. So, you can touch it, but you won’t be able to touch the al inside.”

“Why are you showing me this?”

“I’m going to touch this now.”

Leharht raised one hand wide open.

“The Mitri leaves have permeated here. So, I wondered if it might have gained some special ability. And somehow, I feel like it might be related to this al.”

It sounded plausible at first, so Etienne looked at Leharht with eyes full of expectation.