Kyra’s face clearly showed she was teasing. She added as if it were obvious,

“Of course I knew about it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me!”

“You didn’t know?”

“How would I know?”

Edelle exclaimed in shock. Kyra hadn’t expected this reaction; she blinked rapidly before subtly averting her gaze.

Edelle widened her eyes at her friend.

“How could you not say a word to me?”

“I thought you knew and were just pretending not to……”

“How could that be possible……”

Edelle sighed deeply in frustration. Kyra quickly tried to console her.

“It wasn’t such a bad rumor. Thanks to it, people became more curious about your restaurant.”

“That’s important…… I suppose.”

It was indeed good that the restaurant they were opening had received publicity. Just as scandals between lead actors boost romance dramas, people excited by engagement news between a ducal and a count family might visit the restaurant out of curiosity.

Though unintended, it had become noise marketing. Edelle’s indignation subsided somewhat.

“Still, that’s going too far.”

“Well, it might have been a bit bad for Delilah.”

Edelle sighed deeply at the name that came from Kyra’s lips.

Delilah Atwood.

The youngest daughter of the Atwood family was famously known for having a crush on Lucas Flint since childhood. She already hated when Edelle and Kyra hung around Lucas, so one could easily imagine how angry she must be about this situation without even seeing her.

As Edelle kept sighing with a sour expression, Kyra adjusted her posture and carefully asked,

“You’ve caused so many incidents while I was away at the vineyard, so I have to ask, You’re not suddenly thinking of trying something with Lucas, are you?”

“……”

“Right, I’m sorry.”

A swift apology is always best.

Edelle clicked her tongue softly at Kyra, who bowed her head without hesitation.

“If you’re sorry, how about offering some wine? The finest vintage for the grand ducal residence party.”

Kyra stuck out her tongue at Edelle, who was already trying to negotiate. True to her business family background, she knew exactly when to seize an opportunity.

Of course, as the heir to the Muir ducal family, Kyra was no pushover either.

“Just like that?”

“Didn’t you say you were sorry?”

“That’s one thing, and this is another.”

“Tsk, you’re not falling for it.”

Edelle pouted and slumped back in her chair. Kyra smiled slyly at the sight and made an offer,

“Would thirty bottles of 22-year-old vintage wine be enough?”

“Are you talking about your wine?”

Edelle couldn’t hide her surprise.

Vintage Muir wine?

Moreover, wine produced 22 years ago was particularly precious—made in the year the heir was born, it could only be tasted by those who received it as gifts from the Duke of Muir.

Thanks to being friends with that heir, Edelle had also received a bottle as soon as she came of age.

“When I begged you for it so many times, you pretended not to hear, but now you’ll give me thirty bottles? I don’t think the Duke will approve.”

“It’s my wine anyway, so what does it matter?”

Edelle’s eyes, which had widened at the unexpectedly generous offer, gradually narrowed. She was trying to figure out Kyra’s ulterior motive.

“What are you going to ask for in return?”

Sure enough, Kyra grinned and lifted the teacup on the table right up to Edelle’s nose. The clear reddish-brown tea swirled, releasing a fragrant and sweet aroma.

“Sell me the recipe for this ginger-cinnamon tea.”

***

At the same time, in the reception room of the imperial palace.

“I hear there’s going to be a party at the grand ducal residence.”

Eli, who had been staring at an empty teacup, looked up. Contrary to what had been arranged, he was having tea with Crown Prince Marcellus rather than the Emperor.

“……I’m considering it.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you had no interest in such things.”

“I still have no interest in social circles.”

Only after hearing Eli’s dry response did Marcellus turn his gaze from the window. The corners of his deep amber eyes slowly drooped.

“That’s unlike you, Grand Duke. Your words and actions don’t match.”

“I need someone to work with on business in the grand duchy.”

“You’re going into business?”

Marcellus echoed his words and let out a dry laugh.

Eli understood the meaning behind that laugh. As the person most aware of the challenge, he knew how difficult it would be for someone who had spent the last seven years at the northern edge of the empire fighting monsters to suddenly start a business.

However, he had no other choice.

“The situation in my territory isn’t particularly good.”

“We sent quite generous war support funds.”

The war in which Eli had fought on the frontlines was not just to protect his territory but to defend the entire Astère Empire. The Astère imperial family had sent support funds under the pretext of helping him while he couldn’t attend to his territory because he was defending the country.

“I’m grateful, but it’s somewhat insufficient to offset seven years of war.”

Marcellus curled up the corner of his lips into a smile as he observed Eli responding without any sign of disappointment.

“Then the imperial family should step in and introduce a suitable business partner.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ve already decided.”

Eli rejected the Crown Prince’s offer without even pretending to consider it. Marcellus looked at him with surprise.

“I can’t help but ask which family they’re from. Did you properly research before deciding?”

“They were exactly who I was looking for, so there was no need for further investigation.”

After answering plainly, Eli turned his gaze toward the window. A subtle smile hung on his lips.

Noticing the change in his demeanor, Marcellus’s eyes took on a strange light.

“Well…… the social circles will be quite noisy for a while.”

“With the festival approaching, that’s to be expected, isn’t it?”

“Haha, that’s true.”

Another dry laugh escaped through Marcellus’s teeth.

The young Grand Duke had returned to the capital after seven years.

While rumors had been rampant and the imperial palace and social circles were already stirring because of his finally revealed face, the man himself seemed completely oblivious.

‘Is he unperceptive or simply uninterested?’

Marcellus, who had been tapping his saucer with his long fingers, asked,

“How long do you plan to stay in the capital, Grand Duke?”

“I’m not sure.”

Another non-committal answer. The gently drooping corners of Marcellus’s eyes twitched.

He could understand why the Emperor wanted to avoid conversations with this young Grand Duke. Though not particularly evasive, he was completely inscrutable.

“The monsters should remain quiet for a while, and with the festival approaching, I’m thinking of staying a bit longer.”

“……Consider it a vacation and relax. I’ll make sure you won’t have to worry about public safety issues during your stay.”

It was an indirect reprimand about his visit to the guard station a few days ago.

Eli, who had been seriously gazing at the imperial garden, turned his head. His eyes, so blue they seemed almost transparent, met Marcellus’s face.

“Then I’ll enjoy my stay and return.”

“Hearing that puts my mind at ease.”

The corners of Marcellus’s eyes, which had momentarily stiffened, relaxed again as if nothing had happened. Only then did he set down the teacup he had been holding. The cold tea rippled with the movement.

“I should be going now. I’m not feeling well.”

“Please give my regards to His Majesty.”

“I will.”

“I’ll send an invitation separately.”

“Yes. I hope I’ll have recovered by then.”

With a slight smile in lieu of a formal farewell, Marcellus slowly left the reception room. As soon as he disappeared through the door, Monty strode in.

“The Crown Prince who came in place of His Majesty doesn’t look too well either? Perhaps it’s because I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“He’s always been sickly.”

Eli replied dismissively and moved closer to the window. He scrutinized the garden more carefully and muttered,

“More importantly, it seems His Majesty is avoiding me.”

“That’s nothing new. His Majesty doesn’t even spit in Norton’s direction.”

“But the victory report……”

“Even I would refuse if a subordinate who sent three carriages full of reports came saying he wanted to make another report.”

Monty, who had helped write those three carriages worth of reports, shuddered. Eli glanced at him briefly before turning his attention back to the garden.

Something had been bothering him for a while.

“Monty.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Eli called for Monty but then said nothing.

He briefly worried about being reprimanded by the Crown Prince again for unnecessary meddling.

Eventually, Eli spoke with a deep sigh,

“Find the imperial garden’s gardener.”