Chapter 7

Inside the carriage heading to the royal palace, not only Bertyl and Leander but also Kazimir and Tristan were present. Before departure, the two had insisted on accompanying them and followed along.

The carriage was silent, with no one speaking, and the journey was just a matter of being jolted along.

Upon arriving at the royal palace, the older brothers got out first. Just as Bertyl was about to get out, a rough, bony hand was extended. Tristan was looking up at Bertyl intently.

"This is the royal palace."

In other words, since there were people around, he was insisting on escorting her as a brother. When they left the marquis's residence, she had refused the escort when getting into the carriage, so this time he had preemptively made the request.

"I don't care about your appearances."

Without taking his hand, Bertyl smiled and said, and Tristan let out a "Ah..." Perhaps he recalled Bertyl's words criticizing the difference in their behavior depending on whether there were people around or not.

The current brothers are always concerned about Bertyl, but she does not accept it. Her words seemed to be a rebuke to those who, despite not being close, were skilled at putting on a show, and she seemed to understand this well.

When Bertyl got out alone, Tristan firmly gripped his own hand and lowered it. Ignoring this, Bertyl looked up at the royal palace. She had visited the palace many times for regular tea parties with the second prince, so it was familiar to her. Bertyl could hardly see him unless she came to the palace, but Minori often visited the marquis's residence, making time despite his busy schedule.

"Welcome, everyone from the Raspede Marquis family."

With no particular nostalgia for a place with not many good memories, she directed her gaze forward, and the second prince's attendant bowed.

The attendant led them through the palace. Unexpectedly, a person approached from the other end of the corridor.

Lycias Benoit Hubert, a young duke who rarely leaves his territory. With black hair, purple eyes, and a handsome face, he is unmarried and has no fiancée, making him a popular choice for noble daughters to marry. Bertyl was surprised not only to find him in the capital but also to encounter him at the timing of her visit to the palace. Lycias, who had been calm and slightly looking down, raised his eyes.

"Lord Leander, it's been a while."

"It has been a while, Your Grace."

Although Leander is older, Lycias is already the head of the family and has a higher status as a duke than the Raspede Marquis family, so Leander uses polite language.

"It's rare to see all four of you together."

After greeting Leander, Lycias' gaze shifted to Bertyl and the others behind him, and the twins bowed. Bertyl, who had received strict training, automatically performed an elegant bow. Lycias' gaze then remained on Bertyl.

"Are you here to meet His Highness today?"

"Yes."

"That would be improper for me to detain you. I will take my leave."

Their conversation, which could have been a typical noble exchange of probing and lengthy pleasantries, ended surprisingly quickly. Bertyl glanced at Lycias as he left and then looked forward. As everyone continued walking, Tristan also looked back at Lycias.

"It's rare to see the Duke of Hubert."

"He was summoned by His Majesty to provide advice on the otherworldly being."

"I see."

The ancestor of the Hubert family was an otherworldly being. The then-heir of the Hubert family had protected and married an otherworldly being. Because of this history, he was summoned to provide information on otherworldly beings.

"It has also been discovered that the otherworldly being who married into the Hubert family and the current otherworldly being are from the same place."

"That's quite a coincidence."

"Yes. Thanks to this, Miss Minori seems to have felt a sense of familiarity and asked the Duke many questions—"

The attendant, as if realizing he had said something inappropriate, cut himself off and made an exaggerated cough.

"No, there is something more important now. His Highness has been eagerly looking forward to meeting the daughter of the Raspede Marquis. Since receiving the letter, he has been restless and unable to sleep properly—actually, he was like that even before the letter arrived, but in the past few days, he has been especially excited and has been preparing the sweets that the daughter of the Raspede Marquis likes with great enthusiasm."

"Despite that, he seems to have used the time until the last moment for the audience with the Duke."

Bertyl's words, wrapped in a sharp tone, caused a heavy silence to fall, as if the air had frozen. The attendant's face turned pale, and Tristan and Kazimir sent her a look that seemed to say, "Why did you have to point that out?"

It was unlikely that the second prince, who had discovered and protected the otherworldly being, would not be present at the audience to receive advice on otherworldly beings. Given the attendant's reaction, this speculation seemed correct.

"The Duke of Hubert rarely comes to the capital, so it was difficult to arrange, and it had to be at this timing... However, His Highness is not neglecting the daughter of the Raspede Marquis! He is eager to meet her as soon as possible, and he is trying to arrange the earliest possible—"

"I understand. His Highness is a very busy person."

When she responded to the attendant, who had hastily tried to explain, the attendant let out a sigh of relief. Bertyl watched this with a cold eye and exhaled softly.

(When he says 'favorite sweets,' it's probably just...)