Count Ephraim couldn’t easily open his mouth. Though he appeared to be considering Suharto’s help with a contemplative look, that wasn’t really it.

Being in that territory itself was an unstable factor. Even with more troops, there would still be casualties. Yet it was hard to refuse when the Empire’s Crown Prince offered troops. Moreover, if the Grand Duke refused to accept his people, he would have to gratefully accept even the Crown Prince’s troops.

As complex thoughts chained together one after another, no one spoke.

Crown Prince Suharto turned around to give the Count time to think. Then he opened his mouth toward the cute creature standing behind Quiet.

“Earlier, I was trying to help you avoid the opening door. You know that, right?”

At the Crown Prince’s voice addressing her, Elena slipped beside Quiet.

“Thank you.”

“Which family’s child are you?”

“I am Elena Jellisto of Count Jellisto’s family.”

“Ah, I had heard that Count had a daughter.”

So it was you.

Suharto twirled his finger while giving a playful smile.

“It’s interesting that you’re an aide, but those clothes don’t suit you.”

Elena’s clothes that she had liked apparently didn’t look good to Suharto.

“They look too stiff.”

Well, that was because they weren’t feminine dresses. Though she wasn’t going to take the Crown Prince’s words to heart, Elena unconsciously smoothed down her uniform.

“Teacher, I must go see His Majesty now, so come find me when you’ve made your decision.”

Suharto gave Count Ephraim time to think, exchanged eye greetings with Rudfelix, and left.

He had appeared suddenly with an overwhelming presence, and even after disappearing, his aftereffects remained.

‘You have to see it in person to know.’

Elena, deciding that remembering things only through books wasn’t right, stood behind Rudfelix.

“You may go home for today.”

Rudfelix told Elena to leave work in a low voice before disappearing. Quiet made a flustered eye greeting and quickly followed. Since Count Ephraim had already disappeared, Elena was left alone.

“Did I do something wrong?”

It didn’t seem like she had made any mistakes warranting being sent home.

“Well, early dismissal is fine by me.”

Elena’s steps gradually slowed as she walked toward where the carriage was waiting. Though she had permission to go home, she felt uneasy.

In the end, she changed course and returned to her office where she could do her work. Sitting down, Elena stretched and loosened her stiff shoulders.

As she spun her chair around, she could see the Grand Duke and Quiet walking to the main palace through the window. After turning her back on the two men walking with their long legs, Elena sat back at her desk and muttered bitterly.

“This is an incurable disease.”

It was a sickness that she couldn’t enjoy a free day at home and instead sat at her desk.

Elena stared at the ceiling for a moment before grabbing a blank piece of paper.

Resting her chin on one hand, she doodled on the paper with the other.

“What are the points to consider when moving territory residents en masse?”

* * *

Elena was exhausted when she finally left the palace after sunset.

‘I’m hungry.’

She had stayed at the office scribbling on dozens of papers well past quitting time. Perhaps because she had concentrated so hard, her body felt weak.

‘What kind of luxury am I trying to live?’

She had detailed the process for relocating territory residents and calculated the necessary expenses. After making a report that would be useless if the Grand Duke rejected Count Ephraim’s proposal, she felt self-loathing.

As she was nodding off with her head against the window, the carriage’s bumpy vibrations subsided.

“We’ve arrived.”

Elena slowly got out after the coachman opened the door and lowered the step, still not fully alert.

“Elena.”

“Father? Why are you out here?”

The cold night wind woke her up and she saw her father.

She was about to smile in greeting but asked worriedly when she saw his pale face.

“I was waiting for you.”

“Did something happen at the guild?”

“That’s not it.”

The Count pulled Elena’s wrist.

“Let’s talk inside.”

Her father’s hand on her wrist was cold. She could feel through his temperature how long he must have been outside.

Elena matched her steps with his while covering his hand with her other hand.

She hoped that her only support for adapting to this world would remain strong to its roots.

While walking silently with her father, the day’s fatigue began to fade.

‘The schedule is too tight.’

Her thoughts naturally turned to the Grand Duke’s schedule. Though she hadn’t accompanied him, she knew what his schedule had been today.

She recalled how he had pressed his eyes tiredly while saying just drying his wet hair was good enough, and before she knew it, they had entered the mansion.

As she quietly followed along feeling the warm air, the Count suddenly stopped walking.

“I met His Highness the Crown Prince this afternoon. No, he came to find me.”

She emphasized that meeting the Crown Prince wasn’t coincidental. The Count raised careful eyes to look at Elena.

“He said he met you, is that true?”

“Yes. I saw him this morning.”

“I see.”

The Count said nothing more. Though it seemed the Crown Prince had said something to him, he moved his lips a few times before pressing them shut.

“His Highness asked about your age and even mentioned your debutante.”

A debutante was an event officially announcing one’s coming of age in high society. And that day wasn’t far off for Elena.

‘We were going to keep that small.’

She wanted to skip it entirely, but the Count stopped her so they agreed to keep it minimal.

Since she didn’t attend social circles, not many nobles knew Elena anyway.

“He even sent gifts for you to wear then.”

The Count pointed to boxes piled in one corner. Now she understood why he wanted to talk inside.

There were about 10 boxes, but they were so large they created a mountain in the hall.

“What are all these?”

“He says they’re dresses.”

“Ah.”

Elena recalled Crown Prince Suharto’s gaze as he looked over her clothes. He even said her uniform didn’t suit her, and now he sent gifts before a day had passed.

“I can’t accept these.”

When she peeked inside one box, there was an expensive dress decorated with all sorts of jewels.

She only checked one, but she could guess what the rest were like. Elena stepped back with a disgusted expression.

‘What relationship do I have with him to receive such gifts?’

She had felt strangely scared and burdened just meeting him by chance, and now he was even sending gifts – she really disliked it.

“He also mentioned the upcoming annual event.”

Elena looked at her father while rubbing her goosebump-covered arms.

“I’ll politely return these.”

“Very well.”

Although he didn’t know the circumstances, the Count respected his daughter’s opinion.

“Just don’t forget to send your thanks to His Highness.”

“I understand.”

Elena got up, carefully pushing away the gift box.

‘Ever since going to the Imperial Palace, my daily life has become tiring.’

Her previously happy and relaxed life was slipping away.

* * *

The first person Elena sought out after arriving early at work was Quiet.

After checking if there were any changes to the schedule with him, she handed him a warm cup of tea.

“It’s lemon tea.”

She handed it to him with mint as a garnish, and Quiet accepted it without a word.

Then she looked at her superior who was focused on his documents. Hesitating, worried he might say she just wasted his palate with precious tea, she gathered her courage and stood up.

As Elena approached, Rudfelix, sensing her presence, looked up.

“Your Highness.”

After a slight hesitation, Elena naturally set down the teapot and cup on one corner of the desk.

“What’s this?”

“Thank you for helping me yesterday.”

She brought the tea to thank him for preventing her from hitting the door. That’s why she had hesitated, worried he might dislike it, before carefully offering it.

Rudfelix’s eyes followed Elena’s moving hands. Though she had said she wouldn’t serve him, here she was bringing tea.

He could tell from the refreshing scent that this wasn’t his usual tea. Noticing the yellowish color unlike regular tea leaves, Rudfelix looked up.

“You seem to be confusing the roles of aide and servant.”

“I made it myself. It’s different from regular tea, so you can try it and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to drink it.”

Elena pretended not to hear and continued with her own words.

Rudfelix silently lifted the cup. From his frowning expression, one might think he was about to drink poison.

“What’s this?”

He referred to the yellow fruit placed on the rim of the cup.

“It’s lemon.”

“It’s pretty.”

Since he wasn’t going to pick it up and eat it, its usefulness was completely unknown.

When he asked about it, all he got in response was that it was pretty.

Rudfelix reluctantly tilted the cup and took a sip. Though it was just enough to wet his lips, Elena didn’t take her eyes off his changing expression.

She could clearly tell he was drinking it with reluctance.

“It’s sweet.”