‘The Marquis of Blante has killed Arnold… How could the Marquis do such a thing? At least I never doubted his loyalty. Has everything changed?’

The Emperor muttered and let out a weary sigh. His voice was soft, but Kylance heard it clearly. 

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask the Emperor this incomprehensible question. The Emperor had already issued a royal decree granting Kylance’s request. 

Seeing the deep weariness on the Emperor’s face, Kylance stepped back quietly. 

And he thought it didn’t matter anyway. 

The Emperor must have been mistaken. 

After all, his father and the Marquis of Blante had never been close enough to build a strong trust. 

That was his conclusion. But why did that one remark keep nagging at him? 

He couldn’t go back and ask the Emperor again. 

No, it was too late for that. 

So pull yourself together. 

Kylance scolded himself. 

He closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists, trying to regain control of his increasingly chaotic mind, determined to erase the Emperor’s words from his mind. 

“Your Highness?” 

Bart cautiously called out, sensing that the silence had gone on too long and feeling a growing sense of unease. 

Slowly, Kylance opened his eyes. He turned away from the glass that reflected the bakery Ariel had just left. 

He swallowed dryly, then replied briefly to Bart. 

“Well done.” 

“No, it’s nothing. I was just dealing with the clerk’s rudeness. I’m grateful you didn’t punish me for it.”

Bart replied with an awkward smile before continuing. 

“And about that strawberry tart you ordered…” 

“Enough.” 

Kylance cut him off sharply. Bart looked confused, but Kylance didn’t even glance at the box of cakes the clerk was holding. 

“I shouldn’t have come here in the first place.” 

Kylance muttered under his breath. 

“Pardon?” 

Bart asked, his eyes full of confusion, but Kylance replied indifferently. 

“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t need the dessert. I’ll be leaving now.” 

He walked out of the VIP room, trying to appear unaffected, as if nothing had happened, but deep down he couldn’t deny it. 

He had been shaken by Ariel. 

As the Duchess had said, in his foolishness, he had almost let his obsession with love interfere with his quest for revenge. 

But that was no longer the case. 

Helping her now would be the last time. 

The Emperor would grant his request and after that he would never have to see her again in this realm. 

Yes, he would forget everything. 

No trivial emotion would ever hold him back again. 

‘I will forget you.’ 

That was his resolution. 

But the heavy darkness that lingered on Kylance’s face did not fade. 

He took a deep breath and climbed into the carriage. 

The unusually red sunset reminded him of Ariel. 

It was as if he couldn’t forget her so easily. 

* * * 

The next day, Ariel went straight to Rembleu Academy. 

She was there to meet the headmistress, Countess Isabella Forte. 

Although she was a close friend of her mother’s, they hadn’t been in touch for a long time, so it felt awkward to visit her so suddenly. 

But now was not the time to worry about such things. 

“We’ve arrived, miss.” 

Ariel stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the massive building. 

The Rembleu Academy, the largest and oldest academy on the continent. True to its famous name, the structure of the Academy was almost as grand as the castles of foreign kingdoms. 

Ariel swallowed nervously as she felt the weight of the Academy’s imposing size. It made her realise who she was about to meet. 

Still… the fact that they had agreed to meet her so willingly gave her hope. 

Her urgency had led her to send someone to the Academy late last night to ask if they could spare her a moment today. 

The reply had come quickly – an incredibly gracious invitation to come any time. 

Compared to the other noble families who had delayed or refused her, this was a very positive sign.

For the first time in a long while, a sense of anticipation filled her. 

Yes, this time would be different. 

Just as Ariel was calming herself with positive thoughts, an older woman dressed in the Academy’s formal attire approached her from the Academy’s main entrance. It was Minerva, the Headmistress’ secretary. 

“Lady Blante, the Headmistress is expecting you. Please follow me.” 

“Yes.” 

Ariel let out a nervous breath and followed Minerva into the Headmistress’s office. 

* * * 

The Headmistress’s office was filled with the smell of old books, a smell that didn’t quite match the dignity of a lady. 

Ariel greeted Countess Forte, who had slicked back grey hair, with a bow. 

“Countess, it’s been a long time.” 

Countess Forte smiled kindly. 

“It has indeed been a long time. The last time I saw you, you were such an adorable little girl, and now you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman. Time really does fly.” 

Ariel lifted her head, a little embarrassed. 

“You were so kind to me at my mother’s funeral… I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you sooner.” 

“It’s nothing. It’s not that you should have come to me first, but that I should have looked after you. The road to this position hasn’t been easy, and I couldn’t even take care of my dear friend’s daughter. Sofia helped me so much…” 

Sofia. That was Ariel’s mother’s name. The Countess smiled bittersweetly, as if remembering her, and continued. 

“So there’s no need for you to apologise. In fact, it is I who should be thanking you. You haven’t forgotten me, and you came to see me first.” 

“Thank you for saying that. And Countess, please speak freely. You were a close friend of my mother’s.” 

“Yes, of course. Let’s forget the formalities. I’ve prepared a special tea for you.”

Countess Forte sat down on the sofa in the Headmistress’s office and gestured for Ariel to sit down. Ariel sat across from her, her eyes falling on the rather unusual tea cups on the table. 

“This… is from the Eastern Lands tea ceremony set, isn’t it?” 

“Oh, you recognise it.”

Countess Forte replied with a smile. 

“Yes. My father… used to love them.” 

The tea cups from the eastern lands. In fact, the set before her was identical to the one her father had treasured most. 

Ariel’s eyes filled with longing as memories of her father flooded her mind as the tea was placed in front of her. 

Swish – 

The clear tea poured into the cup and Countess Forte spoke. 

“Do you recognise this cup? Your father must have had one just like it.” 

“Yes. That’s right. But how did you…?”

When Ariel looked at her with a puzzled expression, Countess Forte smiled gently. 

“It was a gift from me when Sophia and your father were married.” 

“Ah…” 

“So today I have prepared tea in these cups especially. It’s a little late, but I wanted to honour your father.” 

“…” 

To honour my father. Since his death, Countess Forte was the first person to say those words to her. 

Pouring tea into her own cup, Countess Forte continued. 

“And I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the Marquis’ funeral. I happened to be abroad at the time. You must have been so alone… but you managed well.” 

Her words were filled with genuine sympathy. Ariel, overwhelmed by the warmth of human kindness after such a long time, felt her emotions rise. But she couldn’t allow herself to break down here. 

She hadn’t come here for comfort. 

Ariel cleared her throat to compose herself, then slowly parted her lips. 

“I really appreciate you finding a way to honour my father. The truth is… there’s been so much going on lately that I haven’t had time to properly honour him.” 

Countess Forte sighed deeply and nodded. 

“Yes, I can imagine. It had all happened by the time I got back from my trip, but I’ve heard all about what happened to the Marquis of Blante.” 

Ariel gently cradled her teacup. The warmth of the cup slowly warmed her cold hands. 

As her father had taught her, she drank the tea in the Eastern tradition, then set the cup down and looked at Countess Forte. 

“Since you know everything, I won’t beat around the bush. In fact, I think you already know what I’m about to say. After all, I’m only reaching out to you now, after my father’s death, and I’ve never visited you before.” 

“…” 

Countess Forte stared at Ariel intently, her gaze one that seemed ready to listen to whatever Ariel had to say. 

Ariel, placing her last hope in that moment, spoke directly. 

“Countess, please help my family, the Blante household.” 

“Help…?” 

The Countess trailed off for a moment, lowering her gaze, before continuing. 

“I assume the help you’re asking for isn’t financial… but political, is that right?” 

“Yes. I know it’s presumptuous of me, but… I would like you to ask His Majesty to reopen the investigation into my father’s case.” 

Countess Forte, who had lowered her eyes, looked at Ariel again. This time her eyes were sharper than before and Ariel felt a slight tremor in the fingertips on her lap. 

Was this going to crumble too? 

As Ariel’s gaze wavered, seeing no sign of kindness in the Countess’s expression, Countess Forte’s voice broke the silence.