“I hear the Duchess of Penvernon is holding a tea party not at the ducal residence but at a suburban villa. Preparations are ready. Do you remember when they recently hired many new servants at the Penvernon mansion?”

“Yes. The Duchess caused quite a stir. I heard she turned the mansion upside down, saying she would improve working conditions.”

“How foolish to pay attention to such things. They say there are all sorts of people among the servants. I’ve already persuaded one of them.”

“You bribed them?”

“Money didn’t move them well. But they won’t have a choice if they don’t want their sibling to die. I’ve already brought them here.”

The person she contacted was a maid who managed the Duchess’s tea room. A commoner living in the capital with many younger siblings. She said she would follow to the villa to serve at this gathering too.

“While the Penvernon mansion is strictly monitored, the villa should be less so. Don’t worry, I’ll figure out a way.”

Patricia smiled as brilliantly as the color of a fully bloomed gladiolus.

* * *

I stared at the letter Patricia had sent. The letter, sealed with a crimson gladiolus emblem, was unmistakably from the House of Limnike.

‘Why send this now?’

Opening it with a bitter feeling, I found it contained a request for reconciliation.

The words she had said to me at the previous ball were inappropriate, she had no intention of hurting my feelings, she wanted to apologize sooner but honestly speaking, her pride wouldn’t allow it…. Seemingly sincere sentences continued one after another.

I sighed. It was difficult to guess her intentions. What was her purpose in sending such a letter?

‘Was that why she took my side last time?’

Does she want to return to how we were before?

But the Alisa she was close friends with is already gone. Would recovering the relationship be that easy? Would it even be possible?

I stroked the surface of the letter, hoping some words would come to mind. The smooth texture of the premium paper touched my fingertips. However, my vision showed only what was transparently visible, making the touch meaningless.

I let out a short sigh.

She expressed her wish to attend the villa gathering I was planning to hold. If I accepted that, it would mean our reconciliation.

‘But something feels off.’

An ominous feeling that was difficult to explain rippled in my chest. There was no… evidence. Not even words that only I could see appeared. Only my feelings made me hesitate to improve relations with her.

‘If I reject this gesture here, I probably won’t get another chance.’

It was easy to reject her proposal. But it wasn’t easy to judge if that was right, if that was okay. Because I wasn’t just myself but the Duchess of Penvernon.

As the Duchess of Penvernon, becoming completely estranged from the Princess of Limnike…

I predicted that we would become even more antagonistic with an already hostile family.

That was burdensome. The fact that my decision would change the relationship between the two families.

Looking away from the crimson seal that closed the letter, I gazed out the window.

The garden welcoming summer shone green, embracing the transparent sunlight with its whole body. Flowers boasting colors as vivid as oil paintings swayed gently in the wind. A gardener wearing a hat walked along the stone path, checking the plants.

It was a peaceful scene. It was so beautiful that I didn’t want to break it. I wanted to protect it. Even if I might have to leave this place someday.

I picked up the pen. The pen holder made of carved ivory was a luxury item with embedded jewels. Though it was a well-made product that was usually very light, right now it felt heavy.

The pen nib begins to scratch across the paper, creating letters. It was a letter to Patricia.

* * *

I personally delivered the invitation to Jeanne. Fortunately, she looked better than before. Her thin cheeks had gained some flesh, and her previously pale complexion was now quite gentle and soft.

“I’m too busy with other matters these days, but I can’t refuse when you’ve invited me.”

“It’s my pleasure. Many people miss Your Highness, so I expect more guests that day.”

After briefly running my fingers over the surface of the teacup, I asked again, hoping my question would sound as natural as possible.

“By the way, Your Highness, what keeps you so busy? Is there anything I can help with?”

Jeanne gave a faint smile. Her green eyes, which had been as refreshing as a summer forest, deepened as if shadows had fallen across them. That cool shade encouraged a strange anxiety.

“It’s nothing much. I’ll tell you later. Could you wait a little?”

She lightly cut off my question.

“I see…. I’ll look forward to the day you tell me.”

“Yes, someday.”

On the way back, Castor appeared as before and insisted on escorting me.

“My goodness, what brings brother here? You must have mountains of work to do.”

“Since she came at my request, I can’t be negligent with a guest.”

Though Jeanne was being sharp, Castor paid no mind and extended his arm to me. After briefly checking the situation, I awkwardly took his arm, finding it difficult to refuse, and left the Imperial Princess’s palace.

“Thank you for attending the last banquet.”

“It was an honor to be invited.”

“Was there any trouble after you returned home?”

Any trouble…? I tilted my head. It was a strange question.

“No, Your Highness. Was there some issue?”

“No. Just……”

When I looked up at him, Castor was quietly staring at some point in space.

“About Duke Penvernon.”

“Yes.”

At the sudden mention of Rashid’s name, tension immediately filled my body.

“He seemed just like a child.”

Castor’s lips curved into a smile.

“A child…… Your Highness?”

“Yes. Haven’t you felt it?”

He asked while chuckling. Unlike his curved lips, his gentle downward-slanting eyes remained rigid.

“I think he has unexpectedly pure aspects……”

I crafted a diplomatic response.

Of course, I agree that he has childlike aspects.

But it was rather puzzling that the one mentioning this was Crown Prince Castor. Rashid wouldn’t have shown such behavior in front of Castor. Why would Castor have such thoughts?

I stared at him while harboring this small doubt in my mind.

Sensing my gaze, he too lowered his eyes toward me. His blue eyes were clear but also cold. Come to think of it, his gaze always felt low in temperature. I wondered if the ice in frozen lands would have such a color.

“It’s interesting that you share my thoughts. We might be the only two who consider Duke Penvernon childlike.”

Is that so? Well, it’s hard to imagine him sulking with others like he does with me. In fact, Rashid and sulking seemed like such polar opposite words that it felt strange to even connect them.

“How should I put it, he’s like someone anxiously fretting that someone might steal his favorite toy.”

Toy……

I silently repeated the word Castor had uttered. Suddenly, I remembered his face when he would firmly press his lips or frown mercilessly. Would a child who had their toy taken away make such an expression?

“Come to think of it, back then.”

Castor naturally changed the subject. I was thinking that next time Rashid frowns, I should rub it even harder, but I returned to listening to his words.

“You asked if I was happy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Though it was just casual conversation, had he kept it in mind?

If so, I became a bit curious about what conclusion he had reached after contemplation.

“Actually, I’ve never thought about it, so I don’t know.”

The response was unexpected.

I see. Perhaps for someone born as the son of the Emperor and Empress, walking only on golden paths, asking about happiness might have been inappropriate. Living a life without lacking anything usually makes one unaware of unhappiness.

But privately, I also thought that didn’t necessarily mean he was happy. One can be unhappy even with everything. After all, human satisfaction and feelings don’t cleanly align with numbers.

“When do you feel happy, Your Highness?”

At this, the smile disappeared from Castor’s lips. He opened his mouth, then closed it again without saying anything, repeating this several times.

I became curious about what words might leak through those gaps. It was fascinating…… that Castor would choose his words so carefully.

The Castor I had known until now always maintained a dazzling face that sparkled brilliantly and consistently gentle expressions, speaking eloquently without hesitation. This current version was a stranger I didn’t know, and that’s why he caught my attention.

“Then…… when does Your Highness feel good?”

I slightly changed the question. It seemed like he was thinking too hard about it.

“Perhaps when things go smoothly.”

As expected, a workaholic……

“And what other times?”

“When things go as planned.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“It’s slightly different.”

Though it feels similar to me, apparently not to him. It was puzzling, but if that’s what he says, I supposed that’s how it is.

“Then imagine everything continues to go smoothly and everything happens exactly as planned. You’d feel very good. Wouldn’t happiness be when such moments accumulate and you remain joyful for a long time?”

“You think that’s what happiness is?”

“Yes, feeling good and comfortable. Though everyone’s definition of happiness might be different, that’s what it is for me.”

“That’s worth considering. Then when do you feel good?”

“Hmm, when meals are delicious……”

“And?”

“When taking a leisurely walk on a nice day, that too.”

“More.”

“Also…… when I wake up after sleeping deeply until morning without any worries……”

Only rather primitive things came to mind. As I listed them one by one, I felt slightly embarrassed and developed a resolve to live more sophisticatedly from now on. The conversation was meaningful just for that.