“In any case, since the book has already passed into Miss Esperote’s possession, I’ll pay its proper worth.”

The Duchess of Tezernet looked ready to draw out a banknote on the spot.

“No, there’s no need for that. Of course I should return it.”

Selaia shook her head. Although the request had taken her by surprise, it was not the kind of demand she had feared, which came as something of a relief.

Seeing her ready response, the duchess also seemed relieved, her shoulders relaxing as she let out a faint sigh.

“The truth is, Lady Tran, that book is a burden. In most cases, possessing it would be nothing but trouble.”

Selaia fell silent. She already had a fair idea of what the woman meant.

“You’ve read it, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Civitas had been written by a radical progressive thinker of the previous generation.

Within it was the claim that society’s members, to protect themselves, must establish the framework of a state—and that to keep this system running, they must elect a representative vested with strong authority.

‘It clashed with the long-held doctrine that the class system and the fate of blue blood were ordained by the heavens—so those in power had little fondness for it.’

The book had been banned in Tropez. In Teian, it had not been officially banned, but the late king had prohibited its sale in all bookshops, which made it difficult to obtain.

“My former husband always leaned toward progressive ideas. Even in his own family he was treated as something of an oddity.”

The Duchess of Tezernet explained in a tone that downplayed the matter.

“Still, since he willingly agreed to an arranged marriage within our family, I thought his youthful passion had burned out a while ago.”

“…….”

“But it seems those embers were rekindled—without my knowing. And together with a woman who shared his beliefs.”

The duchess gave a dry laugh, as if to say it was absurd. But Selaia knew well that she did not truly find the situation amusing.

Seeing the expression on Selaia’s face, the Duchess simply shrugged and brushed her hair back over her shoulder.

Thought.

“There’s no need for that look. It wasn’t a marriage made for love in the first place.”

“Just because you’re not expecting love doesn’t mean you can abandon fidelity. So, Your Grace, even if you are hurt, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

At Selaia’s words, the Duchess of Tezernet looked slightly surprised, as if she had not expected to hear such a thing from her.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll return the book.”

Selaia rose and went into the adjoining room where the child was. Hearing the door open, Rote, who had been reading, looked up.

“Rote, about the book Eugene gave you.”

“Yes?”

Selaia explained in terms suited to the child’s understanding.

“Eugene took the book without the owner’s permission, and now the owner wants it back. Eugene probably didn’t realize how important this book was to his father. Would it be all right to return it to its owner?”

“Of course.”

Rote readily held out the book.

Just as Selaia reached to take it, the child spoke again.

“But, Mommy.”

“Mm?”

“Do you think Eugene truly didn’t expect that his father would ask for this book back?”

Selaia blinked blankly, gazing at the meaningful gleam in the child’s green eyes. Just then, the sound came of the parlor door opening where the Duchess of Tezernet waited.

“Oh my—Your Highness.”

At the duchess’s voice announcing Kyle’s arrival, Selaia and Rote stepped out. Kyle, facing the Duchess of Tezernet, turned toward them.

Rote waved her small hand to the boy.

“You’re here, Your Highness.”

“Uh… yes.”

Kyle responded with an uneasy, sideways glance, made more awkward by the unexpected visitor. For some unknown reason, the boy had not been his usual cheerful self in recent days, and he seemed rather subdued.

“If I’d known you had a guest, I wouldn’t have intruded.”

“Do not blame Lady Tran. I came without notice.”

The Duchess smiled fondly at her son’s friend. Then, realizing that her son should have been at Kyle’s side but was nowhere to be seen, she looked puzzled.

“But, Your Highness, where is Eugene?”

“…Huh?”

This time, it was Kyle whose expression clouded with doubt. His small face tilted slightly.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a family matter? Eugene never even came to the palace today.”

“…What?”

A crack appeared on the Duchess of Tezernet’s once-calm face. Selaia and Rote, as startled as she was, exchanged a confused look with Kyle.

“Are you saying truly—that Eugene never set foot in the palace today?”

“That’s right. If he had passed through, the guards would have reported it to me.”

Kyle nodded gravely.

“And at home, he said he was going to the palace?”

The duchess gave no reply, but the pallor of her face told the whole story. With her expression hardening, she turned away.

“Forgive me, but I must go at once.”

“Don’t mind us—please, find Eugene quickly.”

Selaia handed her the book in question as she spoke. The duchess lowered her gaze to it for a moment, her eyes clouded with mixed feelings, before accepting it from her.

“When you find Eugene, please send word to the palace.”

“He can’t be far. Don’t worry too much. I’ll have news for you immediately.”

With a forced smile meant to reassure Kyle, the duchess gave a parting nod and left the parlor in haste.

“That boy… where on earth did he go.”

Watching her retreating figure, Kyle muttered under his breath.

“We’ll find him soon enough.”

Selaia’s gentle reassurance did little to erase the faint worry lingering on the boy’s face for his friend.

Seeing him, Rote fell silent, sinking into thought.

⭕ ⭕ ⭕

“Eugene, the young lord of Tezernet, has disappeared?”

Later, when Laska came to see Selaia after finishing his duties, he too was taken aback by the unexpected news, his gaze shifting toward the window. By now, the sun was already sinking.

“Since there’s been no word until now, it seems they haven’t found him.”

Not wishing to alarm the children more than they already were, Selaia spoke softly.

“Mommy.”

At that calm call, Selaia turned her head. Rote had come close without her noticing, looking up at them.

“What is it, Rote?”

At those words, as always, Rote’s green eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“I think… I know where Eugene is.”

“You think you know where?”

Selaia’s voice rose in surprise. Rote had spent much time with Eugene of late, and surely many conversations had passed between them. Bending to meet the child’s eyes, she continued.

“If you can point to a few places you suspect, we can tell the Duchess of Tezernet and—”

“No.”

Rote cut her off gently but firmly.

“I have to be the one to find him.”

“Rote, that’s…”

Selaia was at a loss for words at the child’s resolute tone, and instinctively turned her eyes to Laska. Receiving her look, he gave a low hum in his throat, then shrugged.

“If our young lady is the one holding the key, then it can’t be helped.”

“But, Laska.”

Selaia spoke his name cautiously. She and Rote could not simply leave the palace as they pleased.

“I will accompany you. That will make it safe.”

Her blue eyes held an unshakable certainty.

Finally, Selaia lowered her gaze, her tense shoulders sagging in reluctant agreement. Smiling at her compliance, Laska winked at Rote.

“Since coming to Teian, this will be your first outing, won’t it?”

And so they prepared to leave the Grand Ferrier in search of Eugene. Laska quickly arranged a carriage for the three of them and had it waiting at the palace gates.

“Make sure you find him and bring him home. Give the Duchess of Tezernet quite the scare.”

“Yes.”

As they boarded, Rote nodded in response to Kyle’s request.

As a prince, he could not leave the palace recklessly — especially not while tensions with Tropez were running high. Regretfully, he had to stay behind.

“Come back quickly!”

Kyle called out in a loud voice from behind the departing carriage. Rote leaned out of the window briefly to watch it fade into the distance, then sat up straight again.

“Now then, shall we go and retrieve our wayward runaway?”

Laska asked brightly. As the words left him, he brushed off the unsettling thought that “wayward runaway” felt all too fitting.

“So, where are we headed, young lady?”

Even as prince and duke, Laska still called her “young lady” as if it were a nickname. At his question, Rote slowly opened her mouth.

“Where we’re going is…”