Matiel only showed a slight smile out of courtesy without giving any other answer.

When the servant quietly and swiftly brought out the tea, the two drank in silence for a moment.

It was fragrant and good tea, but there was no time to feel any particular emotion due to the problem at hand.

“I received a more detailed report about what happened at the Pelz Opera House.”

Matiel’s hand paused momentarily as he was setting down his teacup.

He lowered his head slightly, then raised his gaze to look at Lyuen, and slowly swallowed the tea he had been holding in his mouth.

“A detailed report, you say.”

“I had already heard that the Duke was present there that day. I hadn’t heard that he was an eyewitness, but I suspected as much. However, it’s the first time I’ve heard that he had a companion.”

Matiel’s expression relaxed slightly. Only then did he realize that he had unknowingly been tense.

His thoughts had been blocked by anxiety without knowing exactly why.

King Lyuen looked at Matiel with a subtle smile.

“Was that companion perhaps the daughter of Berrett you mentioned last time, Matiel?”

There was no reason to lie. Matiel immediately nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Going to watch the opera together, do you perhaps have feelings for that young lady?”

For a moment, Matiel slightly furrowed his brow, forgetting that he was sitting in front of the king.

He hadn’t expected to receive such a question.

He had been entirely focused on the incident, as the issue related to Bineom and Baroness Holmes was serious… But perhaps it was natural for the king to ask such a question.

Matiel had never done anything with anyone else before, so it was understandable to be curious.

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Is that true? It doesn’t seem that way to me.”

After pondering for a moment, Matiel chose silence.

He didn’t know how King Lyuen interpreted his silence, but judging by the subtle smile appearing on his face, Matiel had a feeling he would receive similar questions several more times in the future.

Lyuen said,

“I would like to meet that young lady once.”

Matiel showed a visibly surprised expression. Lyuen continued.

“If the report I heard is true… Matiel, I feel that the sudden death of Baroness Holmes is somehow unsettling. I thought it would be good to call you and ask about the exact circumstances earlier, but… Why? I hesitated. But now I’ve made up my mind.”

“Your Majesty.”

Lyuen raised his hand gently and elegantly, yet firmly, as if he still had something to say.

“I also received a report about the Bineom family. After his daughter died, the Baron submitted a leave of absence and there has been no news since. I thought it was taking a long time for him to compose himself, but if something happened in the meantime, wouldn’t I bear some responsibility as well?”

“I believe Your Majesty did everything you could.”

King Lyuen lowered his eyebrows and gave a bitter smile.

“Can I say I’ve done my duty just by sending condolences to the funeral? I am the monarch ruling Roynoke. Am I not wearing the crown to look after each citizen, each official in detail?”

Matiel did not argue with her words. It would be more correct to say that he could not argue.

Lyuen said,

“I have the responsibility and right to know the facts accurately. So Matiel, bring that young lady who accompanied you.”

* * *

The royal carriage seemed to move faster than Matiel’s four-wheeled carriage.

It was understandable for Charlotte to feel that way, as there was a separate road on the main streets forming the center of the capital that only royal carriages could use preferentially.

Although others were allowed to use it when it was empty, even the highest nobles tended to refrain from casually using the royal exclusive road, so it was almost always empty.

With no obstructions from handcarts, small two-wheeled carriages, cargo wagons that seemed slower than walking, or three-wheeled or two-wheeled automobiles, it was natural to feel faster.

“Come to think of it.”

Matiel, who had been closing his eyes as if sleeping, looked at Charlotte.

“Why doesn’t His Majesty ride in an automobile?”

Matiel’s eyes moved slowly.

Normally, an immediate answer would have come, but Charlotte realized that he had actually been dozing and was somewhat shocked.

It wasn’t the first time she had seen him asleep, but it was strange.

Matiel, who first opened his lips without making a sound, finally answered in a slower tone than usual.

“The princess dislikes it.”

“What do you mean?”

Matiel, who slightly rubbed his eyes with his palm, let out a short, heavy sigh characteristic of someone who had just woken up.

“I mean Princess Feriera. You know, right?”

Of course. There was no one in Roynoke who didn’t know that King Lyuen deeply cherished his only daughter, born as a late child.

Hadn’t the story of the king, who rarely indulges in luxury, building a lavish separate palace and a large garden for Princess Feriera occupied the front page of newspapers for nearly a month?

Matiel continued.

“Princess Feriera is afraid of automobiles. She only rode one once when she was very young, but whether something happened then or if it’s just unfamiliarity, she absolutely refuses to ride automobiles and dislikes Her Majesty, her mother, riding them as well. That’s why she insists on carriages.”

Charlotte nodded as if she finally understood.

Come to think of it, occasionally during royal events, one could see Crown Prince Largo or Second Prince Adonian riding side by side in automobiles.

But Feriera was always alone, or in a carriage with King Lyuen.

‘I thought it was because the king cherished her too much to let her go, but there was another reason.’

Charlotte, who had been nodding slowly, suddenly made an “Ah” sound as if something had occurred to her and said,

“Then what about you? Nobles of your status have carriages but also ride automobiles. You’ve never come in an automobile even once.”

“The squeaking noise bothers me.”

Charlotte chuckled. Matiel gave her a look as if to ask why, but she didn’t answer.

The carriage ran across the palace garden’s flawless, smooth road in one go.

The six roads radiating out from the giant fountain in the center were a magnificent sight.

It was shaped like a sliced pie, with the wide spaces between the roads beautifully decorated with different ornaments, statues, plants, cute benches, and pavilions with delicate reliefs carved on each roof.

The overall landscaping followed that of the old monarchical era, but relatively recent mechanical devices were mixed in without feeling out of place.

Behind the fountain was a huge clock tower, and every time the hour struck, there was a device that emitted light at different angles towards the water streams rising from the fountain.

Another unique point was that in the areas damaged when the revolutionary government took over, devices and sculptures symbolizing royal dignity stood proudly.

It also vividly demonstrated how subtle and bold King Lyuen’s political ‘showmanship’ skills were.

Charlotte often attended nobles’ salons, tea parties, or balls using the name ‘Sherry’, but when she didn’t need to, she showed no interest in their lives.

Sometimes people invited her to royal balls or banquets, but she refused them all, so this was her first time entering the palace.

Matiel, who had been staring blankly at her as she couldn’t take her eyes off the passing scenery outside the window, suddenly recalled what King Lyuen had said.

No, absolutely not. Matiel thought. However, on the other hand, he also heard another voice that didn’t seem to be his own.

Is it really not?

‘I said it’s not.’

Matiel’s brow furrowed. His gaze was still on Charlotte.

She looked innocent, as if she had left her usual cynical and scathing demeanor somewhere, with her forehead against the window, examining the scenery like a child.

The carriage stopped. By the time Charlotte turned her head, Matiel had already returned to his usual impassive expression.

“Watch your step as you get down.”

Beth Ale held Charlotte’s hand as she got out of the carriage.

The nobles strolling in the corridors and the officials coming out of the hall all widened their eyes at the sight of Matiel and Charlotte, standing side by side in a modest outfit, next to him.

‘The dinner tables in every house will be buzzing tonight.’

Charlotte thought.

Past the entrance, which was imposing with its massive pillars and sculptures, complex corridors appeared.

Just as she was having the silly thought that she might be trapped in a maze, Beth Ale stopped in front of a reception room with the door slightly open.

“Please wait a moment.”

The sound of him entering the reception room and saying something was heard.

Then King Lyuen’s voice was heard, and Beth Ale reappeared.

“Please come in.”

Charlotte consciously tried to stand behind Matiel, but Matiel deliberately slowed his pace to choose to enter side by side with her.

At the round table in the reception room sat three men who appeared to be officials, and King Lyuen was in the seat closest to the window.

The gazes of all four people, including the king, were focused on Charlotte.

Charlotte suddenly felt uncomfortable with the gazes that were focused solely on her, as if Matiel standing next to her had disappeared somewhere.