He had tried to drive himself by focusing on work, pushing himself hard to free himself from this obsession that tormented him, but it was useless. At times, he even wished he could have a body that didn’t need sleep.

In the end, the method Jürgen chose was to try to completely forget Diez’s existence. Not only did he avoid walking anywhere near the bedroom where she stayed, but he also spent most of his days outside, using business as an excuse.

He wanted to avoid accidentally encountering her.

One day, a servant tried to relay her request. Not wanting to disturb the mind he was trying so hard to clear, Jürgen cut him off before he could get to the point.

“Tell her to do whatever she wants.”

The servant couldn’t further bother his employer who was showing such discomfort. Left alone in the quiet study, Jürgen flipped through a few pages of documents that he could barely focus on, then put them down on the desk with an irritated gesture, almost throwing them.

* * *

“The Duke said to do as you please.”

Upon hearing the servant’s message, who had returned shortly after leaving for Jürgen’s study, Diez asked again,

“So he has permitted me to go out?”

“At least, he instructed me to convey such a message to you.”

“……I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”

The servant who had completed his task left her side. Although Jürgen had said to ask for whatever she wanted, Diez still didn’t feel comfortable facing him directly, so she had asked the servant to relay her message instead.

‘Could you please ask if I may go out to sell handkerchiefs myself?’

It seems her concern that Jürgen might not permit her to go out was unfounded. To so easily permit an outing that would have been nearly impossible when the late Duke was alive… Diez wasn’t sure whether to be happy, but she changed into outdoor clothes to leave the mansion.

Only after gathering the few handkerchiefs she had completed to the best of her ability did she start to feel a bit nervous. What if they wouldn’t sell even at a low price? Of course, Diez had no intention of selling handkerchiefs under her name, Diez Schleicher. Her plan was to disguise herself as an ordinary woman working a side job and hand over the handkerchiefs to a consignment seller.

In any case, having started this endeavor, she had to follow through herself. With this in mind, Diez took a small bag containing the handkerchiefs and left the mansion.

Since she couldn’t bring herself to ask for a car, she decided to use the nearest tramway station. Although she had to walk for about ten more minutes even after leaving the Klaus family’s private property to reach the station, she didn’t mind.

It had been a long time since she’d left behind her days as a precious young lady who didn’t have to lift a finger.

As she left the ducal mansion located on the outskirts of the capital, buildings that increasingly reflected the footprints of common people began to appear. She had worn her most modest clothes, wanting to blend in as naturally as possible among them, but upon facing the people gathered at the station, she thought perhaps it had been a futile effort.

‘At least I was wise to wear a hooded cloak.’

Fortunately, people didn’t seem to pay her much attention. After waiting silently in a corner, Diez was able to board the modest tram.

The only money she had were a few bills she had received from Jürgen in the past. At the time, she had wondered if she should return even this, but without it, she would have had to walk all the way to the city center.

After traveling for about 5 minutes, the tram brought her to her destination. It was the station located in front of the largest train station in the capital. As soon as she got off the tram, her eyes were filled with the magnificent train station building standing proudly near the square and the numerous crowds passing by.

Gentlemen and ladies crossing the street dressed in suits and dresses, children selling newspapers or flowers by the roadside, and black cars passing over roads paved with shiny stone.

After wandering briefly in the noise and bustle of the complex city, Diez collected herself and fumbled to take out the address she had cut from a newspaper.

‘So…… if I go this way, I should find it.’

Although it was her first time finding a place without someone’s help, Diez moved forward with a bit of confidence.

I am no longer a young lady.

I must be able to do this much on my own.

Suddenly, Jürgen’s voice echoed in her ear.

‘How much could you possibly earn with such a thing?’

Recalling those words again seemed to fill her with a strange defiance, so Diez decided to drive away any hesitation or fear from her mind.

Around the same time. A glossy black car was passing near the central train station of the capital. For a vehicle carrying a member of the royal family, and the crown prince at that, it was a rather modest car.

While some nobles still followed the old custom of engraving family crests on cars, this had nothing to do with the royal family. They always traveled in cars disguised like taxis except when attending official events.

In particular, the current king, Albrecht IV, would repeatedly give the same sermon whenever he summoned his children.

‘The era when royalty wielded absolute power ended long ago. You must abandon any thoughts of living in vain delusions based on your status.’

‘By the time you grow up, you should be grateful if commoners simply show you respect.’

‘I mean don’t go around putting on airs because you’re royalty. Do you understand me?’

‘If you do something to end up in the newspapers, be prepared to have your titles revoked. I believe my children will do well, but……’

He’s such a stubbornly principled father in his own way. He especially made every effort to shape Leopold, his eldest son, into an exemplary crown prince.

‘Though these days it seems he’s half given up.’

Much to his father’s regret, Leopold had little interest in dedicating himself to studying statecraft. As his father said, the royal family had lost most of its actual power decades ago. What’s the point of studying until my hair falls out when parliament will handle all the important matters anyway?

Today too, he was heading to the capital to watch a polo match. It was to fulfill what he had boldly declared to Jürgen Klaus a few days ago.

Whether he wanted it or not, when he eventually sat on the throne, he would literally have to live watching his every step, so there would be no problem in enjoying himself thoroughly beforehand.

It was then, as he was looking at the passing urban landscape with a bored expression. For the first time, he who had been silent until now, gave an instruction to the driver.

“Stop for a moment.”

As instructed, the car slowly came to a halt. Leopold’s eyes, fixed on something, narrowed, and soon a peculiar smile appeared on his lips.

What had entered his view was a woman who had wrapped herself tightly in a cloak. Perhaps to better observe her surroundings, she had momentarily pulled back her hood, revealing her face.

The woman’s face, visible beneath her bright blonde hair, was familiar.

“Scurrying around all alone, without any fear.”

He murmured. There seemed to be no personnel deployed to protect Diez Schleicher.

Despite claiming to have no interest in Schleicher, was Duke Klaus truly sincere?

It didn’t matter either way. Rather, Leopold quite enjoyed this chance encounter.

“I’ll get out here.”

“Then Your Highness……”

“Let’s just forget about the polo match.”

He said, opening the car door himself.

“Because I think I’ve found a more interesting toy.”

* * *

As she entered a relatively quiet street away from the city center, Diez looked again at the newspaper clipping in her hand.

‘I must be going the right way.’

At least it didn’t seem like she was entering a strange alley, so she had no choice but to continue following the directions. She could have asked people nearby if she was going the right way, but she found it difficult to muster such courage.

Perhaps she was being reckless? While there was a sense that she had impulsively left the mansion to sell handkerchiefs on her own, she couldn’t give up now. She thought that if she did, she didn’t know with what face Jürgen would reprimand her.

She didn’t want to be treated as a pathetic woman by him. Not anymore.

Diez wanted to show that she too could accomplish something. She also had no desire to waste the opportunity she had gained with Jürgen’s permission.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of what Jürgen had said.

Diez needed to achieve something for herself as well. She couldn’t remain shrunk and dejected forever.

‘Someday I’ll have to leave the Duke’s mansion…… and perhaps I’ll have to live life on my own.’

Even if it was just embroidering handkerchiefs, she wanted to feel even a small sense of accomplishment. That’s why she had left the mansion alone, carrying her carefully embroidered handkerchiefs.

After looking around, Diez was able to find the shop sign she had seen in the newspaper.

After checking a couple of times, it seemed she had found the right place. Just as she was about to open the door and enter, Diez sensed someone approaching and hesitated, turning to the side.