“The madam left early this morning to visit Duchess Louisette and is not present at the moment.”

I was too late. I didn’t expect my aunt to move this quickly. As if there was nothing more to ask, Carl hurriedly boarded the carriage without answering the attendant’s question about why.

In response to Clovis’s question about what was going on, Carl explained the entire situation in one sentence: “My aunt went to meet Duke Louisette.”

“Lady Pulcheria definitely would not have left the duke alone.”

That was something he vehemently agreed with. Carl knew his aunt Pulcheria’s personality better than anyone else.

The aunt he knew was, in a word, the most heroic woman among heroic women. She never shut her mouth about things she thought were unjust, and if she saw something that went against propriety or principle, she would even shout to set everything straight. That kind of heroic woman.

Especially the propriety, principles, and justice that his aunt valued. In fact, they were all in the exact opposite position of Celeste’s reputation known to the world.

By her standards, Celeste was an indecent woman with a poor reputation. Then, it was certain that his aunt would strongly oppose this marriage. No, it would be fortunate if she only opposed it.

“Seeing her go directly to find her this early, it seems she is quite angry.”

Carl was worried about situations just like this right now. The situation where she rushes to Celeste first without confirming the facts with him, shouting and opposing the marriage.

“I will tell the coachman to hurry a little more.”

Carl nodded. He didn’t know what kind of wounds the sharp blade on the tip of his aunt’s tongue was inflicting on Celeste’s heart. She might be scaring her with all sorts of terrible words to prevent her from getting married. If it was the aunt he knew, that was more than enough.

Carl couldn’t hide his anxious heart and bit his lip firmly the entire way to the duke’s residence.

After riding for a few more minutes like that, the carriage began to pass the hill road leading to the duke’s residence. Beyond this hill and a little further up, the large mansion of the Louisette ducal family appeared.

As the mansion got closer and closer, Carl’s heart pounded like a hammer. Time was of the essence. He had to hurry and block any words that came out of his aunt’s mouth.

It was clear that she did not go to the duke’s residence with good intentions, so Carl had to deal with what happened this morning as quickly as possible.

If only he hadn’t misspoken on a whim yesterday, Pulcheria wouldn’t have gone to find Celeste first thing in the morning.

He had tried to prevent the situation where his aunt heard the rumor, became furious, and went to find Celeste before he could speak first, but that situation had occurred, so Carl’s feelings were miserable.

“D-Duke, Your Grace, you’ve come?”

The polite knight of the ducal family recognized him and made an embarrassed expression. It was understandable that he had to receive guests who came without notice in the morning, especially those who were of royal blood, twice.

“Inform them that the duke has arrived.”

Clovis, who understood the knight’s feelings, answered on Carl’s behalf, but Carl had no time to wait for the reply and immediately instructed the attendant to open the main gate.

As Lady Pulcheria followed by Duke Albrecht barged into the residence, the knights opened the door with a stunned expression, flustered.

Carl couldn’t even wait for the door to fully open. He squeezed through the gap of the slowly opening door and rushed inside.

“Duke, what brings you here at this hour?”

Mueller, the butler whom he had seen last time he visited the ducal residence, greeted him. Despite the early hour, his graying hair was neatly combed back without the slightest dishevelment.

Carl felt a little relieved to see him looking composed, no different from when they first met. It was thanks to the thought that if something worrisome had happened to Celeste, he wouldn’t have been able to greet him so calmly.

“I came to see Celeste.”

“If you had sent word, we would have come to see you, Your Grace.”

“Before I arrived, was there a guest who came to see her first?”

“……”

If you came knowing everything, why are you asking, Your Grace? That was Mueller’s expression. Mueller, who read the thought in Carl’s eyes, stepped back without a word. It meant that he would guide him to the destination he had in mind.

“Did my aunt… get very angry?”

What he was curious about was not the intensity of Pulcheria’s anger, but the magnitude of the damage Celeste would have suffered. The quick-witted Mueller gave him the appropriate answer he wanted to hear.

“No, Your Grace. Lady Pulcheria did not get angry.”

“My aunt did not get angry?”

That can’t be.

“You mean she didn’t shout?”

“Yes. Not once has a loud voice been heard so far.”

Is she cursing quietly? Then it’s more serious…

Mueller, who was walking down the corridor, stopped and stepped aside. Then, pointing to the door of the drawing room, he said that if desired, he would open the door right away.

“Celly!”

Carl didn’t realize that he shortens Celeste’s name when he’s in a hurry.

His mind was preoccupied with separating his aunt and Celeste first, so without even thinking to knock, he flung open the door to the drawing room. He even refused Mueller’s courtesy of opening it for him.

“Celeste.”

Entering through the door, Carl was at a loss for words for a moment at the unexpected sight.

“Ah…?”

The temperature inside was completely different from what he had been concerned about. Instead of a cold and chilly air, a warm and cozy warmth filled the drawing room.

“Aunt, this is…”

“Oh, you’re here now? You’re late, Carl.”

Lady Pulcheria retorted without even turning around to see that he had arrived. And what was even more unbelievable was that she was smiling. He wasn’t mistaken.

She was definitely smiling. Not a sneer like mocking the other person, but a genuine smile that made her cheeks flush with satisfaction!

“What… is the situation?”

Seeing it with his own eyes but not quite understanding, Carl blinked and opened his eyes while standing in place.

Pulcheria, who was sitting on the carpet on the floor, not on a chair, and bursting into giggles, looked just like a girl in love. The sincere smile that comes out when dealing with a beloved being made his spine even chillier.

At the end of the road he ran to prepare for war, a scene of peace and harmony unfolded.

“How can you be so similar to when you were little?”

“Poo, poo. Boo.”

Pulcheria seemed to be having a conversation with Valerie. They were clearly muttering words to each other that they couldn’t understand, but strangely, it felt like they were communicating.

He had expected to see his aunt burning with anger, but the person waiting for him here was a benevolent grandmother full of love.

An absurd laugh burst out. His body, which had stiffened with tension, gradually relaxed.

“Aunt.”

He called out to Pulcheria again in a low voice. Only then did she turn her head and give a look in Carl’s direction. Still cradling the child in her arms.

“Oh my. Look at this, Johann. Have you ever seen such an adorable child? My goodness. It’s my first time seeing one. No, you looked just like this when you were a baby. Valerie looks exactly like you. How amazing! I’m telling you for sure, your daughter really resembles you, and because of that, she seems to be the most lovely in the world.”

“Daa, da! Dada.”

Valerie, who turned her head following Pulcheria, suddenly raised her voice and began to wriggle. Stretching out her hands towards Carl, she squealed loudly. Seeing that, Pulcheria was once again overcome with a deeper sense of being moved.

“Oh my. Valerie recognizes you! She just said daddy, right?”

“Dadaa. Papa. Dadda.”

Carl turned his gaze to look for Celeste. She was sitting to one side, looking troubled with a forced smile on her face.

He tried to give Celeste a look demanding an explanation, but she just observed the situation with an inscrutable expression.

“Is there another child in the world as brilliant as this? As expected of a child who inherited the direct bloodline of the Albrecht imperial family. Carl, come closer quickly.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

Well, at least the situation wasn’t as bad as he thought, so should he say fortunately? Carl took a slightly hesitant step and approached Valerie and Pulcheria.

“Now that I see her up close like this, it’s become even more clear. Valerie really takes after you, Carl. It’s like she was stamped out with the same face mold. Oh, how miraculous.”

Tears welled up in Lady Pulcheria’s eyes. No, she was that moved…? Valerie’s impact was tremendous.

He thought there was probably no one else who would be so moved to see not their own grandchild, but their nephew’s child. That’s how much she loves Carl. Suddenly, he felt envious of Carl.

“The duke has done a really great thing. To produce a child who has inherited the bloodline of the Albrecht imperial family so well, no amount of praise is enough. I misunderstood the duke. After talking to her today, she has fortitude, manners, and thoughts. Above all…”

Lady Pulcheria’s expression was solemn.

“There’s Valerie too. The duchess is not lacking as your match and as my niece-in-law.”