“What’s going on?”

After handing the sleeping Odin to Medlin, I approached and asked. One of the imperial servants glanced around nervously before speaking rapidly.

“Those people were trying to cause harm to the sales booths the young ladies are preparing…!”

I immediately scanned the surroundings.

While the imperial servant poured out excuses to me, the people from December kept their heads bowed, not daring to look in our direction.

Only Brandon was somewhat different.

In our brief exchange of glances, he greeted me respectfully, then quietly observed the imperial servant’s outburst.

Something about his calm demeanor convinced me that, contrary to the imperial servant’s claim, these people hadn’t done anything wrong.

“From what I can see, they’re simply taking an evening stroll and haven’t even approached the sales booths, so what harm are they causing?”

“Rather than causing harm, we were concerned that such a situation might arise…”

“They haven’t done anything.”

“We apologize, Your Highness. They’re such careless individuals that we merely wanted to give them advance warning…”

Careless individuals?

“I’ve never heard any reports of them causing damage. Doesn’t that mean such incidents haven’t occurred? Yet you call them careless?”

“I-I’m terribly sorry! I’ve d-dared to speak thoughtlessly to Your Highness. Please forgive me.”

With the increased frequency of consultations and reports related to the event, I naturally spent more time cooped up in the office.

During the few days I hadn’t been able to tour December personally, these people must have been treated this way all along.

I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them before speaking.

“There’s no situation where people should be treated carelessly. Especially not here in December. Always remember to treat them with respect—they are my people.”

I passed by the people bowing so low their heads nearly touched the ground and approached the December residents.

Brandon, who had been comforting the cowering children, hurriedly stood up.

“Are the children alright?”

“I apologize, Your Highness. We should have been more careful not to cause trouble, but I was momentarily distracted and made a mistake.”

“No, please understand that they’re just on edge because of the event preparations. Let me apologize on their behalf.”

“Not at all. How could Your Highness possibly…”

Brandon waved his hands dismissively and clasped them respectfully.

The young children who had been out for a walk under Brandon’s and other adults’ supervision began looking up at me with bright, curious eyes.

According to medical opinion, Brandon had only lost his personal memories while his intellectual abilities remained intact—even exceptional. Expanding his work responsibilities could help him recover his memories.

The doctor had also advised that serving as an assistant teacher for the children staying at December would be beneficial. Given his age, he likely had much older children of his own, but the fulfillment from caring for children might help him recall his family.

“Why were you so distracted, Brandon? Did something happen?”

When I asked, another man standing beside Brandon looked around cautiously before speaking.

“It’s because I told this fellow Brandon that his memories of his family seem to be gradually returning.”

“Really?”

Having been worried about the lack of progress in finding Brandon’s family, I was quite pleased to hear the man’s words and asked again.

People with unclear origins like Brandon had their information shared between the imperial palace and regional centers to help locate their families, but in Brandon’s case, it was as if he had no family at all—no one had contacted him.

According to Joseph, vagrants had been proliferating during Genevieve’s regency, and because processing them was troublesome, subordinates often cut their names from reports. Unless families actively searched for them, it was difficult to expect results.

“Yes, I definitely heard it. He was talking in his sleep at dawn, like he’s having a nightmare that I couldn’t help but wake him.”

After exchanging smiles with the children who were stealthily approaching to hold Brandon’s hand, I turned my attention back to the man’s words.

“He seemed to be calling someone’s name. He was crying so pitifully that I was startled. When I shook him awake, his face was covered in tears…!”

“Did you hear the name?”

“Well… it sounded like a woman’s name, perhaps his wife… But he was crying while calling out, so it was difficult to hear clearly.”

“Ah…”

“But he must certainly have family. Next time, I plan to listen for the complete name without waking him.”

“If you hear it, please let someone at the center know.”

I nodded to the man before turning to Brandon with a bright smile.

“Your hope has grown stronger, hasn’t it?”

I thought this would be welcome news for him, but there was an inexplicable bitterness at the edge of Brandon’s gentle smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing. I’m glad to have hope too.”

“But something’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

“Haha… I’m wondering if I was a good person, Your Highness.”

Surprised by his unexpected answer, I was momentarily at a loss for words.

“When I heard I was calling out a name while crying, I wondered if I might have been an incompetent husband or father… or perhaps someone who caused pain to my family. I suddenly thought that not returning might actually be more helpful to them.”

“……”

“I appreciate the care I’ve received here, but now I can take care of myself, so it’s only right that I leave. I know this place is difficult to enter without verified identity, and Your Highness granted me special permission.”

Since he was talking about preparing for independence, I looked at the children holding his hands.

“Are you saying you want to leave?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Isn’t it shameless to occupy a place for so long that should be available for someone else who needs help?”

“It’s alright, Brandon. Look how much the children love you. I hope you haven’t already decided to leave.”

“But continuing to impose on you…”

“Who’s imposing? I received reports that the children’s concentration has significantly improved since you started teaching them.”

“I’d like to leave after the charity event ends, Your Highness. Though it’s true the children tug at my heartstrings, this place should be for people who need more help than I do.”

Brandon’s gaze was so gentle yet firm that I could no longer dissuade him.

For some reason, my heart felt troubled as I hastily wrapped up the conversation and returned along the path we had come.

Looking back, I saw Brandon lifting the children clinging to his shoulders and arms, spinning them around playfully.

I couldn’t possibly imagine that someone who loved children so much could have been a terrible husband or father.

However, I couldn’t understand why I found the fact that Brandon wanted to leave more shocking than anything else.

Was it because meeting Brandon had brought me to December, and through handling matters as Grand Duchess, I had gained people’s recognition?

“Look over there. It seems Sir Dillan is looking for Grand Duchess Hedegen again today.”

The next morning, a young lady pointed somewhere while covering her mouth with a fan.

The young ladies, who had been discussing how to distribute flower arrangements for the charity event, secretly observed Dillan following Lea at a distance as she walked with the Hedegen household servants.

He was conventionally handsome and handled major projects at the imperial palace despite his young age, making him an ideal husband candidate. Yet strangely, he only seemed interested in hovering around his sister, Grand Duchess Hedegen.

Because of this, not only did the two look suspicious, but dirty gossip spread in an instant.

“Didn’t Lady Lily mention before that Sir Dillan was particularly fond of his eldest sister?”

“Actually, Sir Dillan is Count Azanie’s adopted son, so in a way, he’s a very distant relative of Grand Duchess Hedegen, isn’t he?”

“That makes them practically strangers then.”

Amid the young ladies’ whispers, Lily chimed in with a confident smile and an odd insinuation.

“For someone with a history of promiscuity, what does it matter if they’re relatives or strangers?”

Everyone’s eyes widened as they stared at Lily.

“Oh, of course, I’m not referring to the current situation.”

Lily continued while fidgeting with her lace gloves, deliberately avoiding their gaze.

“Women who appear demure but act like foxes exist everywhere, don’t they? But my sister is different. How could that be possible? To dare, with Grand Duke Hedegen…”

The young ladies held their breath at her suggestive words, looking at Dillan walking behind Grand Duchess Hedegen with suspicious eyes.

“But what truly breaks my heart is this. I’ve heard Grand Duke Hedegen hasn’t returned to St. Berte Castle for days. How lonely my sister must be… Her heart… and her body…?”

Lily keenly observed the blushing young ladies and began reciting what her mother had conveyed in a letter.

“That’s right. I heard there’s a wine tasting today.”

She delivered the final thr*st exactly as her parents had instructed.

“Who knows what might happen between a man and woman who’ve been drinking? Especially since the master of St. Berte, Grand Duke Hedegen, won’t be returning to his wife tonight either.”