“What did I… what?”

When I asked in confusion, Norbert sighed deeply with an increasingly awkward expression.

“…His Highness plans to be away from the castle for a long time starting today.”

“What?!”

Norbert’s calm answer felt like a blow to the back of my head.

I was so shocked that I could only open and close my mouth without words coming out, blinking belatedly.

So, starting tonight…

“By ‘a long time’… you don’t mean coming and going at dawn like recently, but actually not returning at all?”

“That’s correct. I did notice you two haven’t had much time to talk lately… Perhaps His Highness missed the opportunity to explain.”

Norbert quickly added, apparently trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Sigh… What opportunity could that man have possibly missed?

For someone so meticulous and thorough, the probability of him missing a chance to tell me was lower than the ground splitting open right now.

It seemed he could have told me but chose not to mention a single word.

He definitely had time to tell me last night!

“Why does he need to leave the castle? Where did he go?”

“Yes, he went to the Novahans Islands.”

Islands! That means he crossed the sea to a place with many islands!

I lowered my gaze slowly, speechless at the vast distance.

I knew he wasn’t someone I could easily see all day…

But just having him briefly stay in the same room every day had been comforting…

Perhaps I was the only one who felt close, but I felt hurt that he hadn’t said a single word about this until now.

Did he think there was no need to tell me such things?

“Why the Novahans Islands…?”

“For military training.”

Norbert carefully continued while watching my expression.

“His Highness goes to the Novahans Islands around this time every year when there are no special circumstances. The military training held there confirms the results of naval and ground training for students who have completed four years of military school. It’s the biggest event of the year, so His Majesty the Emperor should attend on the last day, but since he’s ill, the Crown Prince has been attending for several years now.”

“……”

“His Highness goes as the chief supervisor to verify the results of the troops for several days and completes the Novahans Islands military training. Outstanding students receive additional points, which gives them an advantage if they apply for positions in the Hedegen family guard after graduation. Since most students prefer becoming guards for Grand Duke Hedegen rather than imperial guards, it’s essentially their most significant test.”

In other words, he had left the castle as always for his regular duties.

And of course, I wasn’t even a consideration for him.

“…I see.”

I already knew I was insignificant to him, but it wasn’t pleasant to have it confirmed like this.

His diving into the river without hesitation to save me was truly, as he said, nothing special.

I was the only one making a big deal of it and feeling grateful…

“I see…”

As I nodded in acknowledgment, Norbert spoke with a bitter expression.

“I don’t think His Highness deliberately chose not to tell you. There must be a reason, my lady.”

“I’m sure there is, but if it were me…”

“……”

“If it were me, I would have told him.”

Because I had always told him about most things, whether important or not.

I wouldn’t have let him hear about my absence so belatedly through someone else.

“So His Highness was working ahead and staying up late because of the military event at the Novahans Islands.”

“That’s not quite—”

“I understand, Norbert.”

I cut off his words, forcing myself to smile as if nothing was wrong, to avoid hearing his consolation.

It wasn’t Norbert’s fault that he felt awkward around me.

“It’s time for me to go to December. I’ll keep this letter.”

Though I had boldly smiled at Norbert…

How could he leave the castle without saying a single word?

“That’s too much.”

I glared at the empty air as if Carlo were standing right in front of me, then pressed my lips tightly shut.

“Is something wrong?”

Medlin, who had been glancing at my unusual expression, asked.

I fiddled with my gloved hands and tried to answer casually.

“It’s nothing. Oh, do you know where His Highness went, Medlin?”

“Yes, I understand he went to the Novahans Islands.”

Oh, Medlin knows too.

Well… as the head maid managing this huge castle, she would naturally know.

“Do you know when he left?”

“He departed at dawn today.”

Joseph, sitting a little apart from Medlin and me, answered instead.

At this point, it seemed everyone knew except me.

“How did you know His Highness left at dawn?”

“Because I saw him off.”

“Did he… look for me?”

“No, he didn’t.”

At Joseph’s matter-of-fact reply, I felt even more upset and leaned my head against the window.

“…So I was the only one who didn’t know.”

As I muttered weakly, Joseph noticeably flinched and looked at me.

I sighed deeply and moved my head from the window to check the scenery outside.

“Are we still far from the Carrisford apothecary?”

“We’ll arrive soon, my lady.”

Medlin nodded and answered, then opened a basket in the carriage and poured warm tea into a cup.

“You seem upset.”

She handed me a pretty teacup with a gentle smile.

Medlin, assuming I hadn’t heard about the Novahans Islands because of a small argument between Carlo and me, added, “You’ll feel better soon.”

Her warm consideration made me smile helplessly, and I thanked her as I accepted the teacup.

Even if that man thought there was no need to tell me he was leaving, it was truly something to be grateful for that people like Medlin cared about me.

Yes, I should just focus on my own work.

“I’ll enjoy this.”

As I drank the fragrant tea and watched the passing scenery, I felt the carriage gradually slowing down.

“We’ve arrived.”

Joseph, who had slightly lifted the curtain to check outside, announced.

I handed the empty teacup to Medlin, got out of the carriage, and approached the shop.

Ivan Carrisford had said he would come to report if I set a time and place, but I chose to visit him instead of waiting.

Carlo wasn’t around anyway, so who else was there to check? Hmph.

Ding—

When Joseph opened the door, the bell sound I’d heard before echoed through the shop.

“Who… Your Highness the Grand Duchess!”

Carrisford, who had been walking forward while putting on his glasses, was startled and rushed over.

As I was about to step forward, the sound of the door closing echoed once more behind me.

Looking back, I saw Joseph, Medlin, and the other servants waiting outside without following me in.

“Y-you saw my letter? I should have been the one to visit you!”

As Carrisford stood there with a worried face, not knowing what to do with himself, I quickly shook my head.

“It’s fine. I just wanted to know early, so I came. What were the results?”

Carrisford hurried to a table and poured white powder onto a black plate.

“I wanted to find out quickly too, but since most doctors develop and use their own medicines, I had to compare all medicines and wait for a positive reaction. I apologize for the time it took, Your Highness.”

“Do doctors use different medicines?”

“Yes. Of course, medicines with proven effectiveness for diseases or wounds are widely used, but the rest should be considered independently developed.”

He explained that some doctors collect plants or animal bones to make medicines themselves, while others form agreements with tree researchers to produce medicines.

In that case, it was natural for identifying the substance to take time.

“Moreover, since psychiatric medications like this are rare, I didn’t immediately think to compare—”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Did you say this medicine is psychiatric?”

“That’s right, Your Highness. This is a psychiatric-related medicine.”

It was an unexpected answer.

I had vaguely expected it to be a deadly poison, even if not related to Lamberoo tea.

But psychiatric medicine…

Who was it meant for?

“……”

Carlo immediately came to mind.

Carrisford nodded and adjusted his glasses.

“This is an antidepressant independently invented by the Dr. Groot family. It’s known to be highly effective for depression. However, it’s meant to be taken in very small amounts. If taken for too long, it can cause minor symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, auditory hallucinations, and lethargy, and in serious cases, it can even lead to s*icide.”

“…What about other side effects?”

“Side effects that may appear even with the recommended dosage include increased nervousness and the possibility of developing impulsive tendencies.”

Becoming nervous and impulsive?

For some reason, Carlo’s image became even clearer in my mind.

Looking back, that man had only checked my condition but never had himself examined.

Could Lea have been giving Carlo psychiatric medication too?

I left the Carrisford shop in a daze.

Medlin approached me upon noticing my completely pale complexion, and Joseph quickly opened the carriage door.

“Thank you.”

As I greeted Joseph and climbed the carriage steps, I saw a girl passing by. The sight of the somehow familiar child snapped me back to attention.

“…Brianna!”