I stared at his face, which appeared indifferent yet languid.

After his words, silence stretched between us for a long time.

The wind rustled through the leaves with a swooshing sound.

“Ah…”

It was a thought I’d had since first seeing him.

I seem to have a slight weakness for this type of face… one that’s s*xy yet decadent, with an atmosphere difficult to explain in words. Something simultaneously heavy and hollow.

He was unnecessarily, excessively handsome, with magnificent looks.

Tension rose within me without my realizing it.

But wasn’t what I just heard essentially a confession?

Could it be… that he’s developed feelings for me?

That shouldn’t happen…

Looking at him with surprise, I carefully took a step closer.

“Do you… like me?”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Carlo raised one eyebrow.

It was a gesture that poured cold water on my brazen question.

He looked at me with an expression that seemed almost displeased, as if he’d heard a highly impertinent question.

“…You don’t?”

“What?”

“But just now, that sounded exactly like…”

“Vegetable garden, laundered clothes, trees, wind.”

Suddenly vegetable garden? Laundry?

When I opened my eyes wide and looked up at him, Carlo continued speaking in an incredibly arrogant tone while scanning our surroundings.

“River, grass, waterfowl, boat, clouds.”

“…What’s that?”

“Things that caught my eye.”

“……”

“And here, you.”

His words, as he pointed at me with his chin, made my mouth drop open involuntarily.

Just as he said, the castle’s backyard contained everything from vegetable gardens to clearings where laundry was hung. The wide grand canal with waterfowl flying quickly across the waterway. Docked boats and clouds passing peacefully over the water’s surface.

“So you’re saying the vegetable garden over there and I are no different?”

“Now you understand?”

“So the laundry, trees, boats, clouds that just caught your eye and me are all the same…?”

“Obviously.”

“Ha!”

When I clenched my fist in irritation at his nonchalant response, he walked past me with complete indifference.

His profile, glimpsed briefly, somehow even looked pleased.

I shouted at his broad back.

“When we go to Brüpelier, can I tell people that the Grand Duke likes vegetable gardens and laundry?”

“Make something up, then.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m willing to go along with whatever you invent.”

“You want me to make up what Your Highness likes?”

“Yes.”

As his calm reply carried on the cool breeze, I stared intently at his solid back before suddenly a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

A grin spread across my face.

The memory of his disgusted expression from earlier automatically came to mind, already filling me with delight.

I followed quickly behind him and casually began to speak.

“Then I’ll go with myself!”

“……”

“The only thing Your Highness likes is me, and nothing else matters!”

“Ah, so you’re trying to make me look like an idiot with no sense who only loves his wife?”

“You said you’d go along with it!”

“……”

“May I go ahead?”

Though it was clear he didn’t like it, I quickly passed him with a sweet smile, as if being generous.

It was also because I didn’t dare check his expression.

“You two are so amusing.”

Just then, I heard Medlin, who had been quietly following us, laugh softly.

I turned to look at her, slightly startled.

Medlin also seemed surprised for a moment and hurriedly added an apology.

“…No, it’s fine, Medlin. That’s not it…”

This was the first time I’d heard Medlin’s genuine laughter.

“Thank you for allowing us to enjoy such peaceful days at St. Berte.”

After briefly looking back at the carriage prepared for departure, Randolph turned to us again and greeted us.

As Mariette, with her ivory skin and gentle impression, approached with a smiling face, I embraced her once and parted like someone already accustomed to such greetings.

“I was very surprised to see how kindly you treated us, including our fellow branch managers, and how you showed such care even to those beneath you. If I’ve caused Your Highness any concern, I sincerely want to apologize.”

“There’s no way that could be true.”

When I released Mariette in surprise and spoke, she smiled gently and caressed my hand regretfully.

From Mariette’s perspective, I must have seemed like a huge nuisance—the rumors about the Hedegen couple that were on everyone’s lips, and the Langchester Bank security issues that followed from those rumors.

Nevertheless, none of the branch managers and their spouses, including the Swinton couple, had ever shown any visible animosity toward me directly.

One could say it was due to our difference in status, but their attitude of sincerely facing me and wanting to know the current “me” rather than the me in the rumors showed a clear difference from packaged falsehoods.

It probably stemmed from their thread-thin hope of protecting the bank rather than any feelings for me, but it was clear that I was very grateful for their attitude, and that their honest approach had created an opportunity for them to see me in a new light.

“I heard you’ve been invited to Brüpelier.”

Mariette lowered her voice and spoke softly as she looked down at my hand.

“It’s an invitation for younger people, so we won’t be there, but don’t worry.”

“Ah.”

“At the imperial court, men and women are often seated separately, and His Highness seems concerned about that.”

“His Highness does?”

“My daughter Violet has also been invited, so I’ll instruct her to watch over His Highness. Please go and enjoy yourself without worry.”

Mariette gently stroked the back of my hand before straightening her posture.

“Though we’ll see each other again soon, I wish you good health until we meet again, Your Highness.”

“Please take care of your health too, Mariette.”

“Thank you also for arranging for us to see not only St. Berte Castle but many other places. I won’t forget it.”

Looking at Mariette’s bright smile, I couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Let’s go out again next time. Whether to Mertid Square or anywhere else!”

“Then I should look forward to the St. Berte Festival!”

St. Berte Festival?

I think I heard about the St. Berte Festival during the first dinner I had with the branch managers and their spouses.

I wanted to ask what it was, but I couldn’t hold back Mariette as she was leaving to get an explanation, so I just nodded for now.

“Oh, and this is what I earlier…”

Just as I was about to hand the letter to Mariette, light flowed from the envelope.

It was a letter I had written during a brief rest period before lunch, intending to give it to Mariette.

[Congratulations. Lea Azanie has received 60 ‘Redemption Coins’ from Mariette Swinton.]

[You have received 20 ‘Redemption Coins’ from Randolph Swinton.]

[The Swinton couple’s favorability toward Lea Azanie has increased.]

[Mariette Swinton is one of the people who has been working to clean up after you.]

Clean up after me…?

Doesn’t that mean Lea Azanie had been causing trouble for many people until now?

Had Mariette been suffering in various ways because of me?

Facing the system window, I clearly realized that the 50 Redemption Coins I received yesterday through Norbert were in a similar context.

The more goodwill and trust I built with those I had wronged, the higher the value of the Redemption Coins.

“Your Highness?”

At Mariette’s careful call as I stood dazed with the letter in my hand, I quickly raised my head.

“…Oh, that is. Yes, this is a letter. It’s nothing special, but I wanted to give it to you.”

“……”

When I held out the letter to her, Mariette looked at me for a long time with a face showing incomparably more surprise than before.

Carlo’s gaze lingered briefly on the letter I handed to her.

His eyes seemed to change sharply for a moment, but they quickly became emotionless again, making me wonder if I had seen wrong.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Mariette looked down at the letter with trembling eyes before taking it and holding it to her chest as if it were precious.

As the carriage carrying the Swinton couple departed, I gazed wistfully at the receding vehicle and let out a small sigh.

Though only two people had left, the castle felt empty.

When I turned my head, Carlo was looking down at me expressionlessly.

“……”

He seemed somehow irritated, yet it also looked like his usual lack of expression.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

“Everyone’s gone. Doesn’t the castle feel a bit empty?”

“Not at all.”

After responding indifferently, he walked toward the grand hall.

After watching Norbert following behind, I also began to move.

“Let’s go together.”

As I approached his side, Carlo briefly glanced at me, sensing my presence.

“What was that earlier?”

After glancing at his face as he walked looking straight ahead without looking at me anymore, I casually opened my mouth.

“The letter?”

“Yes.”

“Are you asking what I wrote?”

“……”

“Hmm, it’s a secret.”

I pouted my lips in displeasure as I looked at him walking as if he hadn’t heard a word I said.

What’s with him? Why is he in such a low-pressure state again?

“I’m not telling you.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than his steps came to an abrupt halt.

Seeing his sharply sunken gaze, I belatedly realized something had gone wrong.