Looking at his face made her feel like she had returned to childhood.

To those old days when everyone was happy.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to force yourself to speak. Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Really glad, Luciella.”

Sejef’s voice was kind and warm, no different from childhood.

He had been like that from the first time they met. He was so gentle and affectionate that it was hard to believe he had the blood of the Empire’s imperial family, cold like an iron fortress.

Just the fact that he acknowledged Luciella right now showed that.

It was a connection briefly formed long ago, so he could have forgotten or subtly ignored it, but he approached her kindly just like in childhood.

Even to Luciella who was no longer royalty.

Her immersion in memories was brief. An unpleasant low voice suddenly intruded between the two.

“…… Are you acquainted with Grand Duke Winston?”

It was Enoch. He even pulled Luciella’s arm toward himself. The skinny female body was instantly drawn into Enoch’s embrace. She felt his solid chest against her back.

The flustered Luciella moved her body to distance herself a bit from Enoch, but he didn’t let her go obediently. Enoch only held Luciella more firmly.

To anyone watching, they looked like very affectionate lovers. Enoch seemed to be conscious of Sejef before his eyes.

Luciella looked up at him puzzledly, finding such behavior from Enoch strange.

“Ah, yes…… He stayed briefly at our royal palace when we were young.”

The Winston grand ducal family had imperial blood mixed in, but could never covet the emperor’s throne.

That’s why the grand ducal family sent each next heir to study abroad in weak countries far from the Empire when they were born. It sounded nice to call it studying abroad, but in reality it was one of the imperial rules to prevent them from building a support base in the Empire.

That’s how Sejef had briefly lived in Bert Kingdom, far from the Empire.

“But since you left, this is the first time I’m seeing you too…… By the way, you’ve inherited the title. Congratulations, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

Luciella belatedly corrected her form of address for Sejef, whom she had called brother, opening her mouth with an awkward smile showing her embarrassment.

“Haha, Luciella. There’s no need to be so formal between us. You can call me comfortably like before.”

“No, how could I dare……”

“Don’t act like that. Luciella, if you do that, your brother will be hurt. Hmm?”

Sejef spoke while kindly comforting Luciella, seeming genuinely okay with it. He even bent his waist slightly to match her eye level.

“But……”

“Luciella, you’re my precious old friend. If even you try to keep such distance from me, I think I’ll really be upset.”

Seeing Sejef acting pitiful, Luciella unknowingly let out a laugh. His behavior that didn’t match his tall height looked cute for just a brief moment.

Sejef continued speaking like he had been waiting for Luciella’s tension to ease.

“By the way Luciella, you’re Marquis Walter’s fiancée?”

“Yes, Your Highness. We’re rapidly proceeding with marriage preparations.”

But it wasn’t Luciella who answered Sejef’s question. Before Luciella could open her mouth, Enoch intruded between the two like he had been waiting.

“We plan to hold a simple engagement ceremony soon.”

While saying this, more strength went into the arm holding Luciella.

Sejef still had a gentle smile on his face even while looking at Enoch.

“That’s quite congratulatory.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way Marquis, could you step aside for a moment? I want to ask about old times with my old friend I’m meeting after so long.”

Sejef seemed like Enoch’s answer didn’t matter from the beginning. Before Enoch could open his mouth to say anything, he added thanks and moved away with Luciella.

Enoch, who had his fiancée stolen in an instant, watched the two people moving away with a dumbfounded face. The flustered Luciella looked back several times while being dragged by Sejef, not knowing what to do.

“Ah……”

Still, she secretly wanted to talk with Sejef alone, so she didn’t stop him.

They grew farther and farther from Enoch.

* * *

The place Sejef headed to was the banquet hall’s terrace not far away. Upon entering, Sejef even drew the curtains and examined Luciella thoroughly with a quite serious face.

His expression clearly showed worry about whether she might be hurt somewhere.

“Ha, Luciella. Are you really okay?”

“Yes?”

“I heard news about the kingdom. How on earth did such a thing happen……”

Sejef embraced Luciella once more and patted her back. It was truly a plain embrace aimed at comfort without any other intentions mixed in. That’s why Luciella didn’t feel any displeasure either.

“Still Luciella, I’m glad that at least you’re safe. Really glad……”

“Thank you so much for your concern, brother.”

“If I had known it would turn out like that…… I would have at least requested support from the imperial family……”

Sejef spoke like he was truly upset. Then he even roughly rubbed his own face in self-blame.

‘Right, brother was such a kind person.’

How could he be unchanged from the old days?

She found such consistent him both amazing and grateful. She hadn’t even imagined he would worry about her this much.

“Do you have a place to stay in the Empire?”

“Yes, I’m currently staying at the Walter estate.”

Though she wasn’t staying there by her own will…… Luciella swallowed her following words and smiled awkwardly.

“That’s a relief. By the way, were you originally acquainted with Marquis Walter? Marriage seems a bit sudden……”

Luciella’s body trembled at Sejef’s sharp question. She unknowingly began to feel conflicted.

‘What if I confess everything that’s happened so far to brother?’

Could he help me then?

Luciella couldn’t readily open her mouth. Silence descended between the two. Still, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence like when she was with Enoch.

Sejef didn’t rush her even though Luciella was taking her time. His warm golden eyes were only gently gazing at her, filled with worry for her.

Luciella felt her heart shake with confusion while feeling that affectionate gaze.

‘If I confess? Where should I start the story?’

From when mercenaries stormed the royal palace and kidnapped her? From when she was sold at the auction house? Or from when Enoch Walter paid ten billion gold to buy her?

But for an old connection met after such a long time…… could brother provide such troublesome help?

‘What if I share the entire situation but brother can’t help?’

Wouldn’t it just end up provoking Marquis Walter for nothing?

“Luciella, you’re not in a situation where you need help right now, are you?”

Seeing Luciella unable to say anything, Sejef carefully asked once more.

“It’s not like that, brother.”

Finally, the pondering Luciella answered with a bright smile, pretending nothing was wrong.

“I happened to receive help from the Marquis and that’s how we became connected.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s fortunate……”

Sejef’s large hand gently stroked Luciella’s hair. He even carefully tucked the hair flowing down her shoulder line behind her ear.

“If you ever need help, contact me anytime.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Luciella, I’ll always be on your side.”

Hearing Sejef’s kind words somehow brought a wave of relief. She had thought she had nowhere to go…… but perhaps a small hope sprouted that it might not be so.

‘Right, there’s no rush. Rather than telling brother right away…… let me try having a proper conversation with Marquis Walter.’

She had been avoiding conversation with Marquis Walter until now. Perhaps it was a problem she had to face at least once.

‘But still, the biggest problem is the ten billion gold……’

Into Luciella’s continuing thoughts, the existence of something she had forgotten suddenly flashed by.

The royal family’s secret villa that no one knew about except for a very few closest confidants.

‘Right, that’s right. That existed!’

The new leader surely wouldn’t be able to find that place either.

Luciella’s face brightened upon recalling the memory of what she had completely forgotten.

‘If I sell the furniture and decorations inside……’

It would be difficult right now, but after the kingdom chaotic from the coup stabilized a bit, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Thinking this way, Luciella felt much more at ease.

It felt like she had found the answer to a problem that seemed to have no solution.

* * *

“You look quite pleased.”

It was a voice that settled in her ear right after coming out of the terrace with Sejef. When the startled Luciella turned to look beside her, Enoch was standing there, though she didn’t know how long he had been waiting. Enoch seemed to have been waiting in front of the terrace the two had entered the entire time.

“Ma-Marquis.”

“It seems you had an enjoyable conversation.”

When he spoke sarcastically, Sejef beside her playfully responded.

“Haha, Marquis. Did you follow here because you were worried about your fiancée? You’re unexpectedly a jealous man.”

One of Enoch’s eyebrows twitched at Sejef’s words. He didn’t look pleased. But fortunately, Sejef didn’t provoke Enoch any further.

“Then this uninvited guest will step aside. Let’s arrange another meeting next time.”

He left without lingering, seeming like all his business was finished. Watching Sejef growing distant, Enoch clicked his tongue quietly in displeasure.

Luciella, who had ended up alone with Enoch unexpectedly, could only watch his mood and not know what to do.

Once Sejef completely disappeared from view, Enoch opened his mouth like he had been waiting.

“I had no idea Your Highness the Princess was so close with the Grand Duke.”

Luciella felt the same way.

That Sejef would still treat her so familiarly…… no, just the fact that he remembered her without forgetting was amazing enough.

That’s why Luciella couldn’t give a proper answer and only nodded her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

“Should I have?”

“…… Never mind.”

It was a curt answer. He seemed like a sulking child.