“Aren’t you coming with us?”

“I’m really sorry, big sister, but I can’t neglect my studies if I want to prepare for the field trip.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. There’s an important test after the field trip.”

“Test? What kind of test?”

“…It’s written on the paper, right, Your Highness the Grand Duke?”

At Letitia’s words, Theo scanned the paper again. However, there was nothing about a test.

Theo raised his head to say there was no test.

Then he met Letitia’s face as she forcibly blinked one eye that wouldn’t close.

Did something get in her eye?

Why does she keep twitching her swollen eyelid?

Theo frowned at Letitia’s appearance.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke. Right? It’s written there, isn’t it?”

Theo found it strange how Letitia kept blinking rapidly.

“There must be so many test questions written there that I need to study hard by myself.”

She’s still rapidly closing and opening her eyes.

Are her eyes hurting?

If they hurt, she should go to the doctor, why is she saying she’s going home?

Moreover, why is Letitia suddenly chattering to him instead of Yuelina?

“So I can’t go play in the plaza together, okay?”

Theo mentally slapped his knee at Letitia’s last words.

He had wondered why she kept blinking like a fool — she was giving him signals.

Letitia was trying to create an opportunity for Theo to go to the plaza alone with Yuelina.

Theo was greatly impressed.

The reasons to fire the unnecessary Ulysse just kept growing.

Letitia was indeed talented.

Her ability to look ahead and perceive what he wanted was excellent.

Still, being called big brother wouldn’t suit him.

Perhaps he could become her guardian since she would be a future talent of the principality.

Would that make him her godfather then?

But the title of godmother wouldn’t suit Yuelina.

How could that small, fragile crow-tit become a godmother to a chick?

“Yes. It’s written here. You mustn’t neglect your studies.”

Letitia finally relaxed at Theo’s agreement. It seemed Theo had finally understood her message.

Meanwhile, Yuelina, unaware of the conspiracy between the two, stroked Letitia’s round head with a sympathetic face.

“Do you have that much to do?”

“I’m sorry, big sister. You must be busy, yet I’m making such requests. But I think eating lemon cake will help me concentrate and feel better.”

“That’s right. Studying is very important for growing children.”

Theo started supporting Letitia’s words too.

Yuelina had no choice but to agree.

“I’ll buy you the most delicious and sweetest one.”

“Thank you, big sister!”

“Still, health comes first, okay? Take breaks while studying!”

Yuelina didn’t forget to give Letitia firm warnings.

Finally, Letitia got into the carriage she had come in from the mansion with her nanny.

Theo also stood in front of the navy carriage they had come in to go to the plaza.

That’s when Yuelina grabbed Theo’s sleeve.

“Theo.”

Yes, wife.

Now we’re going to the plaza together.

We’ll hold hands, eat delicious things, and look around. Just say if there’s anything you want.

Theo nodded while swallowing his inner thoughts.

“Yes?”

“Let’s go somewhere else instead of the plaza.”

Somewhere else?

Theo’s expression strangely stiffened.

* * *

Theo watched Yuelina sitting across from him, only looking out the window.

Whenever she rode in a carriage, Yuelina always couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery outside.

What’s different from the usual was that instead of her eyes sparkling, full of wonder, her eyes were full of wariness.

Yuelina had asked Theo to go to the wall village instead of the principality’s plaza.

She intended to check the village’s condition herself, and if she judged it dangerous for Letitia, she would absolutely not let the child go.

Theo let out a low sigh.

What benefit was there in having a talent guide him in the right direction if it was merely beside him?

When the crow-tit tries to fly in the sky instead of walking on the road, they end up going to unexpected places.

Theo’s grand dream of having a date with Yuelina in the plaza disappeared like a bubble.

Theo crossed his arms and leaned his head against the window.

“Do we really have to go?”

“Yes. I need to see it.”

Yuelina’s determination seemed unbreakable by anyone.

“Fine. Then if there’s anything you don’t like, fix it.”

“What?”

Just then, the carriage slowed down.

They had entered the Northern Wall village.

Guards patrolled everywhere near the wall to block the entry of refugees and barbarians. The atmosphere was quite strict and quiet.

Moreover, there was none of the greenery easily seen in the plaza or Theo’s territory.

More precisely, not even a single skinny branch could be seen along the road.

The scenery that spread below the impossibly high wall was gray.

“Theo, is this where Uncle Delkan is?”

“Delkan is outside the wall. The procedure to call him is quite complicated.”

“Ah, I see. That’s too bad. It would have been nice to see his face while we’re here.”

Theo turned his head away from Yuelina.

Since the wall village was near the outside of the wall, they could see Delkan anytime if they contacted him.

However, Theo had no intention of doing so.

He planned to thoroughly prevent even today’s visit to the wall village from reaching Delkan’s ears.

“Let’s get out then.”

The carriage stopped in an empty lot in the village.

Theo opened the door himself and got out first. He held out his hand to Yuelina.

Yuelina took Theo’s hand and got out with tension evident on her face.

Theo had no intention of missing this opportunity, so he adjusted his grip on her hand.

“It’s dangerous, so don’t let go.”

“Ah, yes!”

Yuelina pressed her body close to Theo’s side.

Theo drew an arc with his lips as a sweet flower scent wafted gently.

Yuelina, who was huddled tightly to his side with her body all curled up, looked like a frightened squirrel.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Despite Theo’s voice, Yuelina only nodded without letting down her guard.

This was the village that the small, precious Letitia would visit.

She had to save Letitia from the dangers of pickpockets and kidnapping.

“Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke!”

Just then, the village administrator who had confirmed that Theo’s carriage arrived came running.

The middle-aged man stood before Theo, panting for breath.

“What brings Your Highness to this humble place?”

The administrator couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Even for assembly meetings, Theo would show his face maybe once a year if at all.

For such a Grand Duke to personally visit the wall village…

“Perhaps it’s about the academy field trip?”

Theo nodded.

“I-If it’s about that, everything is proceeding without problems!”

“We’ll see when we check.”

“Ch-Check?”

As Theo’s gaze turned toward Yuelina, the administrator also glanced at her.

Come to think of it, Ulysse, who was always by Theo’s side wasn’t visible.

Instead, there was an unexpectedly very fair and beautiful woman holding Theo’s hand tightly.

The Grand Duchess?

He had heard until his ears were calloused about how Theo had taken a fourth wife, and because of that wife, four noble assembly members had been driven out.

Watching out for refugees, defending against barbarians, being mindful of nobles…

The only thing that had grown while managing the wall village was his sense of reading situations.

He could tell that Theo’s gaze toward Yuelina was not ordinary.

The administrator swallowed dryly and gave Yuelina a polite greeting.

“Greetings! Your Highness the Grand Duchess! I am the administrator in charge of the wall village.”

Theo was satisfied with the administrator’s quite resonant voice.

Yuelina received the administrator’s greeting respectfully.

“Then I shall guide you.”

The administrator led Theo and Yuelina into the village.

The village in the mountainous region was structured in terraces, with single-story buildings on each level serving as the villagers’ living quarters.

Since there would be no tourists in the wall village, there were no souvenir shops or inns for visitors.

“Do we really have to do it today?”

It was when Yuelina and Theo were following the administrator up the hill.

Two men were squatting by the road having an argument.

“Well, we have to do it today. When else?”

“We could do it before they come.”

“Then it won’t be realistic! Are you going to spray it or not?”

One man pouted as he lifted up a bucket in front of him.

“Huh?”

He was coming out to the main road with the bucket when he stopped upon seeing Yuelina and Theo. Judging by their clothes, they looked like nobles.

The administrator approached the man while watching Theo’s reaction.

“What are you doing now?”

“Spraying manure.”

The bucket the man was holding contained muddy soil and animal excrement.

The administrator saw his chance and put on a stern expression toward the man.

“Make sure to spray it thoroughly so it gets dirty! Don’t miss any spots, make it thorough!”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

The man scattered the excrement and mud on the road.

The manure sprayed on the street began to emit a creeping stench.