“And while Hillust may not know, Vasquez is literally just a means to pressure Your Highness by filling up numbers. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course I know. They’re not even part of the council. But no matter how fallen, they’re still one of the eight sacred families. We can’t ignore that name entirely.”

“I’ll make sure you won’t need to worry about them soon.”

“So you broke Vasquez’s ankle?”

As soon as that was mentioned, Leonard shut his mouth tight. Seeing Leonard, who usually acted so confident, shrink back for the first time, Gabriel said with a smirk:

“Did you think I wouldn’t know what happens inside the capital?”

“It seems you don’t have much official business these days. To pay attention to such trivial matters.”

“I was wondering why you suddenly went to break Vasquez’s ankle, then I remembered your disciple is a Vasquez.”

“They were simply an eyesore, that’s all.”

“Haha. You? If they really bothered you, you would have killed them. Not just crushed their ankle. It’s a declining family anyway, who would care if the Vasquez heir suddenly died?”

Gabriel’s words were so accurate that Leonard couldn’t think of a rebuttal. He kept rambling on excitedly no matter what Leonard said.

“Now that I think about it, I’m so curious. Why the ankle specifically, and not the neck? But then! I heard your disciple injured her ankle and is recuperating at the mansion. Just days before you broke Vasquez’s ankle. My, what an amazing coincidence. Don’t you think?”

“Indeed it is.”

Leonard played dumb in response to Gabriel’s exaggerated reaction.

“And that’s not all. I heard you carried your disciple out in the middle of Saracen’s banquet. You, who used to treat women like rocks. Even though you were indifferent to that Elfenbaum lady.”

“Cordelia is not just any woman, she’s my disciple.”

“You think people care about that? They only saw you carrying a woman out and started gossiping.”

The king threw all decorum to the wind, slapping the armrest of his chair as he laughed. Leonard stared at Gabriel with one eyebrow raised.

“Well, Your Majesty.”

“What about me?”

“You must have been quite pleased that I returned alive. To know my every move in such detail.”

“Oh my, I forgot to mention it. Atilei. I’m so glad you’re alive. You always give something to talk about in this dreadfully boring palace. Do you know how bored I was during the three months you were gone?”

“If you’re that bored, why don’t you take a queen? Instead of bothering a busy person like this.”

“Hey now, how can I take a wife just because I’m bored? You know, I’ve always had this dream of fatefully meeting a lady who accidentally drops her handkerchief in a garden full of blooming hydrangeas. Ah, I’d pick up that handkerchief and say to her: I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”

“Are you saying you want to fall in love with a woman who trespasses into the king’s garden and carelessly drops her handkerchief?”

“…Well, that sounds a bit different when you put it that way.”

Gabriel cleared his throat at Leonard’s sarcasm.

From Leonard’s perspective, this was already quite toned down. If it were anyone else, they would have told him to stop spouting nonsense and stormed out of the room.

He wasn’t holding back because Gabriel was king, but because he needed the king’s cooperation to hold the trial.

“So you really have no thoughts of marriage?”

“Are you now concerned about my marriage as well?”

“It’s not just me. Half the nobles in Yebo Delim are probably betting on when you’ll get married.”

“To whom?”

“Why, Lydia Elfenbaum of course! What? Is there another candidate? If so, just whisper it to me. I placed a bet too, you know.”

“…Hah.”

If it weren’t for the trial, he would have run out long ago.

Leonard swallowed his irritation and forcibly played along with the king. Gabriel knew this full well, which made him even more excited to tease Leonard.

* * *

“What are you staring at so blankly?”

“…Nothing.”

Cordelia resumed her steps that had halted. Somehow her ankle felt more tingly than in the morning. Perhaps because it was an odd hour, but there weren’t many taxis visible on the street.

Beluce sat her down on a bench at the entrance to the park.

“I’ll call a carriage, so stay put here.”

“Alright. I’m not a child. I’ll wait here quietly, so hurry and call a carriage. My leg hurts.”

“If you hadn’t gone wandering outside in the first place… Nevermind.”

Cordelia reassured him and sat on the bench. Beluce kept glancing back anxiously before finally disappearing from view.

‘I love Leo.’

As the surroundings quieted, Lydia’s tearful yet determined face kept coming to mind.

She had grasped Cordelia’s hands tightly, begging for help. Cordelia had agreed in the moment, but a corner of her heart felt strangely uncomfortable.

‘Am I shocked that Lydia likes my teacher?’

But objectively speaking, Cordelia had no reason to be surprised. Shouldn’t she rather congratulate them, saying how well-matched they are?

However, for some reason, no words of congratulations came out of Cordelia’s mouth.

An inexplicable displeasure that even she couldn’t understand kept lingering in a corner of her heart, tormenting Cordelia.

‘Am I jealous?’

A somewhat rational inference came to mind – perhaps she was shocked like a sibling who learns their close brother is getting married, or jealous like finding out her father has a woman he loves.

‘Get a grip, Cordelia. You should congratulate your teacher no matter who he marries.’

She tried hard to compose herself while watching a pair of butterflies flutter by amicably.

Just then, a man in the distance caught her eye. For some reason, even though she only saw his back, he clearly stood out.

There were only a handful of people she knew in the capital, so she kept racking her brain trying to figure out who it could be. Suddenly his name flashed in her mind.

“Dennis!”

It was her younger brother, whom she never expected to see in the capital.

Cordelia momentarily forgot Beluce’s words and sprang up from her seat.

Anxiety outweighed her joy at seeing him.

‘When did Dennis come to the capital? Did he come with Father? Why?’

She chased after Dennis’s back with her limping leg. But the gap kept widening. It would have been difficult to catch up even at her normal pace, let alone with an injured leg.

Perhaps due to the excessive movement, her ankle started to ache more and more. Cordelia stopped walking with a grimace.

She’d have to find out later why Dennis was in Yebo Delim and return to where Beluce told her to wait.

Cordelia turned around and gasped. She didn’t know why there were so many surprises today.

“T-Teacher.”

“Is there a good reason why you’re here alone when you should be at home?”

“Uh, well… That’s…”

“Explain.”

Leonard looked down at her with an expressionless face. Despite it not being a particularly hot day, a faint sheen of sweat covered Leonard’s forehead. Cordelia hesitated and lowered her head.

“I had an appointment.”

“What kind of appointment?”

“I was supposed to meet Lydia. She said she knew a place with delicious desserts.”

“Without saying a word to me.”

“Well, that’s… Since you don’t even like me going to the garden… I was planning to return home right away.”

Just then, Beluce returned from calling a carriage. Seeing Leonard, he seemed to grasp the situation completely.

“Master.”

“Beluce. I believe I gave you clear instructions before I left.”

“I apologize.”

He bowed his head immediately without any excuses. Leonard glared at Beluce with cold eyes.

“You’re confined for a week.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Wait a minute. Beluce only came because I insisted on going out.”

“That is also his responsibility.”

Leonard left those words and turned his back, walking away. Normally he would have matched Cordelia’s pace, but her teacher was clearly angry and didn’t even look back.

Cordelia followed behind Leonard with her head down dejectedly. At that moment, Beluce came closer and held out his hand.

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to sit there?”

“I’m sorry, Beluce. I just happened to see someone I knew and wanted to check quickly.”

“Who do you know in the capital? What are you doing? Take my arm. Earlier you glared at me when I offered my arm.”

Cordelia leaned on Beluce’s arm and walked, her eyes filled with a mix of apology and gratitude.

Leonard had already boarded the Atilei carriage long ago. She entered the carriage with Beluce’s help. As soon as the door closed, the carriage departed.

Leonard didn’t even look at Cordelia. She mumbled in a small voice:

“I’m sorry, Teacher.”

“You just can’t sit still for a moment, can you? Was it such a difficult request to stay quietly at home?”

“I really was just going to meet Lydia and come back. I’m sorry for sneaking out. But you kept scolding me so much.”

“So it’s my fault?”

“No, that’s not what I… I mean…”

Somehow it felt like she was just making excuses. Cordelia chose to just keep her mouth shut.

In silence, the carriage arrived at the Atilei townhouse. When the carriage stopped, Leonard left wordlessly again.

‘Tch, I know I snuck out, but is this really something to be so angry about?’

Cordelia felt unreasonably hurt and upset watching his retreating back. Of course, it was wrong to go out without saying anything beforehand, but she didn’t think it warranted such harsh criticism.

“Lady Cordelia!”

Just then, Cordelia’s personal maid Leila came running toward her breathlessly. Leila fussed over Cordelia, checking her all over.

“You’re finally back. Are you alright?”

“Of course I’m fine. Why are you suddenly like this, Leila?”

“Oh my, you have no idea. Earlier when the master came to the mansion and found out you weren’t here, he caused such an uproar.”