Chapter 71

"It's Conrad."

"Come in."

Conrad, who entered, urgently handed a letter to the duke.

"What is it?"

"This year's Harvest Festival will be held at the Astra Manor."

Debussy Viscount quietly put down his teacup.

It seemed as if a clinking sound came from somewhere.

A clear and ringing sound, as if peace was being firmly shattered.

It was the return of hellish overtime.

* * *

The next day, at the ducal castle.

"Did you hear? This year's Harvest Festival is at Astra."

At Dione's words, I lifted my head sharply.

"Harvest Festival?"

"Yep!"

The Harvest Festival is a ceremony where the royal family prays for a good harvest.

The location of the festival changes every year.

'At Astra this year?'

It was strange.

Originally, the Harvest Festival at Astra only started after Dalia arrived.

Liangtin, resting his chin on his hand, said,

"That's a good thing. They say the area where the Harvest Festival is held will have a good harvest the following year."

That's mainly for regions that rely on agriculture.

'For us, who are mainly in commerce, it's not so much... Oh?'

Thinking this, I suddenly stiffened.

'The royal family' coming to our manor to pray at the altar?

'Alexis!'

I hurriedly closed my notebook and stood up.

Dione, with wide eyes, looked at me.

"Erilott, are you leaving already?"

"Yep!"

Dione looked very disappointed.

Originally, we used to see each other every day, but since I moved to the advanced education room, we only met two or three times a month.

And even then, only when there was a break between classes.

Liangtin poked the dejected Dione.

"Study. You have a test tonight."

"..."

"If you come in last again, you'll be sent back to the lower education room, you know?"

Dione pouted, and Liangtin shoved a book at her.

'Liangtin takes good care of Dione, doesn't he?'

"You won't be in a group with me if you're not here!"

"Well, Liangtin's protection doesn't help much in practical training..."

"What?! Kyaaah─!"

...Anyway.

It's good that they take care of each other.

I greeted the two of them.

"See you next time."

"Sure."

"Yep, Erilott! Have a good trip!"

After receiving their goodbyes, I quickly left the classroom.

Just in case, I took out the communication stone from my pocket.

Sure enough, it was going crazy with messages.

'It's Lady Gonalong!'

I looked around and quickly headed to a quiet place.

Only then did I connect the communication.

[What do we do! Empress Ocellia is coming to Astra Manor!]

Lady Gonalong's urgent voice came through the communication stone.

"I heard."

[Can 'that child' avoid meeting her?]

"Yes, that's what we need to do. That's why I need to confirm something."

[What is it? You're using me again...!]

"If we invest in the Azis family this time─"

[I'll listen.]

She changes her stance so quickly.

'Of course, it's good that she's quick.'

"Who exactly is coming this time? Is it just Empress Ocellia among the royal family?"

[Empress Ocellia, Crown Prince, and Princess Anatoly are coming.]

I closed my eyes tightly.

'It's over.'

I had hoped the Dowager Empress would come.

That way, if Alexis and the Empress met, she could help.

Among the royal family members coming this time, there's no one to restrain Empress Ocellia.

"I understand. Please keep me updated on the situation."

[How much more do you plan to use me? But the story about the Azis family is true, right?]

"Has my information ever been wrong?"

[...No. I'll keep you updated.]

After disconnecting the communication, I moved to leave the castle.

But I didn't head to the carriage waiting area.

'Because I have this now!'

The <Movement> blessing stone.

Rishimond gave it to me.

He said I could use it hundreds of times within Astra Manor.

After passing through the second gate, which has no barrier, I held the <Movement> blessing stone.

And as I channeled mana into it...

Flash!

The world turned stark white, and I felt my body floating.

A few seconds later,

I arrived at the Egret Mercenary Group's base.

'It still looks like a prison here.'

Even though I removed the sign that said "prison," it still feels eerie.

Shaking my head, I moved to enter the building.

But my foot landed on a deeply rooted tree root.

My body swayed and tilted.

'Ah! My nose is going to break!'

Just as I squeezed my eyes shut, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me.

"You're about to fall."

Startled, I turned around to see a familiar face.

Smooth black hair.

Eyes as blue as the sea on a deserted beach.

A height that had grown significantly, now in his teenage years.

A more defined jawline.

A deeper voice after going through puberty.

...It was Alexis.

"When did you get here?"

I narrowed my eyes and asked.

He thinks he's some kind of Hong Gil-dong.

Judging by how he pops up here and there.

Not joking, he really goes from the eastern Anants coast to the western Plong port.

'No wonder I can't keep track of him.'

Alexis replied nonchalantly.

"Just now."

That gave me a bad feeling.

Wasn't the Egret Mercenary Group supposed to be exterminating monsters in the Black Forest this week?

If he's back so early, it means...

"Looks like the disease has flared up again this year."

"Yeah, Captain Kalli's."

"Right, that nasty..."

Hemorrhoids.

I rubbed my forehead.

Captain Kalli's eternal companion, hemorrhoids.

When they flare up, he has to sit still for three to four months until they heal.

'If something happens, we won't be able to rely on the mercenary group.'

With Captain Kalli bedridden, his presence would only be a hindrance.

Frowning, I asked Alexis,

"Why?"

"..."

I hesitated for a moment about whether to tell him about the Empress.

He must have noticed my hesitation.

Alexis's face turned serious.

"Trying to protect me again."

I flinched.

'He's like a ghost.'

I sighed and told him.

"The Empress is coming."

"Okay."

His expression was too calm.

"The Empress is coming."

"I heard."

"Aren't you scared?"

"Not really."

When he was a baby, he used to be terrified.

I counted Alexis's age.

Four years younger than me, so he's... 14.

'He's still a year away from the middle school second-year syndrome?'

He's not even showing signs of it, yet he's putting on this act.

When he was little, he used to have nightmares about being chased by the Empress.

Even though he pretends otherwise, Captain Kalli knows everything.

"Really not scared?"

"Your nagging is what scares me the most."

Alexis said, wrinkling his nose.

'Even when I worry about you.'

As I frowned, Alexis smiled and said,

"Just teasing you!"

He shrugged.

'He's grown so much that he can tease me now.'

I'm so happy, Alexis.

"Even if you're not scared, hide well."

"Okay."

I ruffled Alexis's hair, and he pouted, looking displeased.

* * *

A month passed.

Two days before the Harvest Festival, news came that the royal carriage had passed through the checkpoint of Astra Manor.

All the Astra bloodline members gathered at the ducal castle.

Viscount Debussy looked much more haggard than a month ago.

"Are you okay?"

When I asked, the viscount replied with a corpse-like face.

"At least I still have the strength to submit my resignation."

He must have been working non-stop for a month, carrying his resignation letter with him.

I looked at Viscount Debussy with pity.

"Please hold on..."

"I can't be used like this, an old man."

"You're not old at all!"

Just as I waved my hands,

"Erilott."

Someone called me.

Turning around, I saw my father walking through the castle gate from a distance.

'Wow...'

I haven't seen my father in formal attire in a long time.

He looked really impressive.

He wasn't alone.

Three of my older brothers walked beside him.

All of them were dressed up for the rare event.

Rishimond, with a slight part in his hair, fixed it neatly to the back.

Joshua, with his soft hair neatly combed down.

Balzak, with his red hair swept to one side.

They all looked really impressive, walking towards me with their long legs like models.

The servants and staff hiding behind the pillars groaned, "Haaah..." and looked at the four of them with starry eyes.

They soon stood close to me.

"You look beautiful today, Eril."

Joshua smiled.

Balzak yawned widely, approaching me with a bored expression.

He then leaned his chin on my shoulder and sighed deeply.

"Ugh. Boring."

Joshua pushed Balzak's face away, saying, "Get off."

"Here, brother."

The twins pushed each other's faces away, bickering.

"Stop it..."

With a cloudy look, I said, and Rishimond skillfully separated the twins.

'Hmm, having an older brother is a good thing.'

It's very convenient to have someone to keep the twins in check.

While thinking this, I saw the royal carriage approaching from a distance.

The royal carriage soon arrived at the castle gate.

The carriage stopped, and a servant ran to open the door wide.

Crimson hair, like the sunset.

Blue eyes.

A mole on the cheek.

I recognized her immediately.

'It's Empress Ocellia.'

She walked gracefully towards my grandfather.

"It's been a while, Duke Astra."

"Yes, indeed."

On the surface, it was a very ordinary greeting.

But the way they looked at each other was terrifying.

The two of them were now in the same boat because of the Crown Prince.

But they couldn't be called allies.

They were snakes that thoroughly used each other.

Snakes that were ready to sink their fangs into each other's necks at the first opportunity.

'The atmosphere is so intense.'

A young man followed the Empress out of the carriage and approached her.

Crimson hair like the Empress.

Golden eyes, the symbol of the royal family.

That alone was enough to identify him.

The Crown Prince, Salvatore.

"Are you well, Duke Astra?"

"Yes, I hope the Crown Prince is also well."

"Thank you."

After greeting my grandfather, the Crown Prince turned his head and scanned the surroundings.

His gaze met mine.

Seeing me next to my father, the Crown Prince smiled.

"Are you Erilott Astra?"

'How did he know?'

We've never met before.

As I widened my eyes, the Crown Prince said in a sweet voice,

"You might not know, but in the capital, they call you the Rose of Astra. You're as beautiful as I've heard. Nice to meet you. I'm Salvatore Calsone."

The Crown Prince exuded a relaxed and polite aura.

Despite being the emperor's only child, he didn't seem arrogant.

So I was taken aback.

'He's... a notorious playboy.'

He pretends to be polite and well-mannered in front of people, but behind the scenes, he's a complete wild child.

I know this from my previous life.

At that time, Salvatore was staying at Astra Manor for some reason.

Dalia was supposed to attend to him, but she suddenly fell ill, so I had to take her place.

I had to rush to prepare and meet him.

I arrived just in time at the social club he was at, only to find him kissing a maid while under the influence of drugs.

His shirt buttons were all undone,

I stood there, frozen in shock, and he approached me with the maid in his arms.

"Are you the granddaughter who was cast out of Astra? With dirty blood."

He grabbed my chin and turned it this way and that, as if appraising an object.

"You have a decent face. ...I like it."

I was so pale and didn't know what to do.

It was my first time in such a situation, and his drugged, loose gaze was scary.

At that time, I couldn't say a word, trembling.

'If it were now, I would have slapped him.'

After finishing my reminiscence, I looked at Salvatore, who was still smiling kindly.

He was still pretending to be a kind prince.

"Invited to the Dowager Empress's tea salon?"

"Yes, she was kind enough to allow me to attend the winter tea salon."

"Good. Let's see each other often."

'What? Future sexual harasser.'

But I skillfully hid my feelings and smiled like a child.

"It's an honor to hear that!"

On the Empress's side, the second generation was gathering.

As they exchanged various greetings,

Another royal carriage arrived.

The person who got out of the pink carriage also had golden eyes.

Pink hair that reached her waist.

A lady who looked like she had grown up beautifully.

'Princess Anatoly.'

The daughter of the late emperor and the current emperor's sister.

The princess, holding the coachman's hand, frowned.

"Sister, we need to change this carriage. The seats are too hard, and I can feel every bump─"

As she said this, she glanced at the Astra bloodline members.

But.

'Huh?'

The moment she saw my father, her expression changed completely.

She raised her eyebrows and bit her lip...

It was a look that anyone could tell had a deep, emotional story behind it.

If this were a drama, I would expect a sad reunion BGM to play.