Layton sat in the Duke’s chair, and his buttocks bounced. Duke hoped Nellia would return soon.

At that moment.

“Huh? What’s this?”

With an uneasy sound, a shadow cast under the desk. Soon, his own tail swooshed[Dash], and it was pulled out from under the desk.

His body was levitating in the air. Soon, brown irises met brown eyes.

Layton had grabbed Duke Hart’s tail and lifted him up.

Meeting eyes with Duke Hart, Layton quickly distorted his facial expression.

“Eek[Dash]!”

Startled, Layton swiftly threw Duke Hart away.

“Why… Why is there a snake here!”

Layton shouted, eyeing Duke Hart in horror.
Duke Hart felt a sharp pain in his back as he hit the floor, but the complicated situation prevented him from feeling the pain.

‘There’s nothing I can do; he’s Nellia’s brother.’

If he were a stranger, he might have been interrogated or frightened away.

At the moment when Duke Hart and Layton confronted each other in the silent space, the door creaked open.

After Nellia took Marquis Clint to the doctor and heard that everything would be fine, she could return to the office.

‘I probably transformed into a snake because I went to the city all of a sudden…?’

How surprised she must have been. Despite being short of breath from running quickly, she didn’t stop due to the worrying thoughts.

Finally arriving at the office, Nellia hurriedly opened the door.

“I’m sorry, Duke… Marquis Clint suddenly collapsed… What, why are you here?”

Entering apologetically, Nellia discovered Layton and immediately froze.

Layton also stiffened his expression.

“Yes, Nellia…! Wait a moment. There’s something very dangerous here!”

“What danger could there be in Duke’s office…”

Nellia stopped talking when she noticed the snake that Duke had become.

“See, Nellia? There’s a snake here! It doesn’t seem too aggressive, but… just in case.”

“…”

Nellia somehow met the apologetic eyes of Duke, who seemed oddly affectionate.

‘I’m sorry, Duke.’

This whole incident happened because of Marquis Clint. But now was not the time to blame someone. They had to get out of this crisis.

“…That snake, the Duke is raising it.”

“What?”

“The Duke is raising it…”

Layton looked completely dumbfounded.

“What nonsense. Who raises a snake? Where in the world does that happen?”

Ugh, it’s creepy. Layton shivered as he looked down at Duke.

‘…That’s right.’

Nellia belatedly recalled that people in the Adrian Empire had an aversion to snakes.

There were various rumors circulating, such as making eye contact with a snake would bring a curse.

Nellia looked down at Duke with a bitter feeling. Duke met her gaze steadfastly.

It seemed as if he was saying not to worry about him.

With a firm heart, Nellia spoke again.

“It’s not for a pet; it’s a snake raised for experiments. We kept it inside, but it must have escaped while I was away.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

Despite this explanation, suspicion still lingered in Layton’s eyes.

“But is that really a snake? It’s strange for a snake; the color and length are odd. I’ve never seen a snake like that.”

“…I said it’s for experiments. Why would I bring it here if it were ordinary?”

Nellia wanted to give herself a perfect score for her improvisation.

Even with this explanation, Layton’s doubtful gaze didn’t disappear.
However, Layton did not take his eyes off Duke Hart. Examining the snake thoroughly, Layton slowly spoke.

“Nellia.”

“Why.”

“But that snake… doesn’t it somehow resemble Duke?”

Nellia blinked rapidly.

Layton, who was usually unpredictable, occasionally showed sharpness as keen as a knife.

The problem was that his sharpness sometimes unnerved Nellia.

‘Don’t be sharp in a situation like this…!’

Internally shouting silently, Nellia composed her expression and said, trying to change the subject.

Layton finally shifted his gaze from Duke Hart.

“Oh, right. Nellia, I said I wanted to see Elena’s tears again last time.”

Nellia’s eyebrows immediately furrowed.

“Did you come here for that?”

“Yeah, do you know how much I struggled to find a crack in the walls of the palace?”

Ah, this guy is really…

For a moment, Nellia considered whether to call the guards and ask them to kick this person out.

“Anyway, that’s not important. I went near where Elena’s tears were, peeked inside through the window, and it seems they’re not there.”

Elena’s tears are currently in Carlos’s possession.

However, there was no need to tell Layton about it.

Seeing that he seemed fixated on Elena’s tears, if he knew that Carlos had them, he might personally go to find him.

“I don’t know either. I’m only in the Duke’s office. How would I know where Elena’s tears are?”

Layton quickly put on a sulky face.

“You don’t know either…”

“Hurry back. If you get caught entering without permission, you’ll be charged a hefty fine.”

I don’t know if they charge fines, but if they cause trouble, her father might send him to the monastery.

Layton nodded with a drooping shoulder.

“Alright. Then I’ll just greet Duke and leave. When is Duke coming?”

Nellia pursed her lips.

“Why would you… greet Duke.”

“Even though I’m your brother, I should at least thank him for letting you work.”

Since when did he start caring for his younger sister like this?

“Don’t say greetings on a topic of unauthorized entry. Now go…!”

Nellia pushed Layton’s back.

“Since the Duke is rumored to have a good personality, if I say I came because my sister missed him, he’ll understand.”

“Don’t say ridiculous things and leave quickly!”
Nellia forcefully pushed Layton out of the door.

“Hey, hey…!”

Thud!

The door closed completely, and Nellia quickly locked it.

Leaning against the door, Nellia sighed, “Whew.”

Then, through her field of vision, a squirming white object on the floor caught her eye.

Oh, right, Duke!