Feeling somewhat grateful for that fact, Diez responded over the receiver.

“Thank you. For saying that……”

— The reason I’m calling is that we plan to investigate this incident more thoroughly to protect you. It would be very helpful if you could testify directly, Miss Schleicher.

“Me, testify?”

— It’s a necessary procedure to confirm the facts. I promise we will refrain from asking questions that might make you uncomfortable.

“Then…… where should I go to testify?”

— We’ll send someone soon. They will be waiting outside your room in about thirty minutes. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Diez hung up the receiver with a brief response. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the dress she had carelessly discarded in the corner.

She needed to get dressed properly, but the problem was that all the dresses she had brought were difficult to put on alone.

Before her worries could extend, someone knocked on the room door.

“Miss Schleicher, we’ve come to help you dress.”

Beyond the door she opened were the maids who had served her at Duke Klaus’s residence. They seemed to have followed the two of them to the hotel after they had left.

Entering the room, the maids naturally tidied up the discarded dress and brought out a new one. After arranging the dress beside the full-length mirror, the first thing they did was help Diez with her bath.

They filled the tub with warm water, created bubbles, and carefully washed Diez’s body. The maids then skillfully dried her hair and braided it beautifully. After putting on the dress without a single wrinkle and wearing her shoes, Diez had once again returned to the appearance of a perfect lady.

Not long after completing her grooming with the help of the maids, a security agent came to escort her. The maid who appeared to be the most senior asked with downcast eyes,

“Miss, shall we accompany you?”

“It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”

Diez followed the uniformed agent, leaving the maids behind. Perhaps because they had been drinking until dawn, there were hardly any nobles outside. Crossing the quiet corridor, she arrived at a place where several men, including agents in similar uniforms, had already gathered.

When Diez appeared, the agents straightened their posture and showed respect. As they moved aside toward the wall, Diez met eyes with a man sitting at the desk placed in the center.

He was someone she hadn’t expected to meet here again. Leopold smiled slightly and greeted Diez, who was looking at him with widened eyes.

“Miss Schleicher, did you sleep well last night?”

Belatedly coming to her senses, Diez curtsied to the prince.

“Your, Your Highness. I greet you.”

“You can be comfortable. After what you’ve been through, I should be the one apologizing.”

He gestured politely for her to sit down. Though he said to be at ease, it wasn’t easy to do so in a place full of men in uniform.

Noticing that Diez was tense, Leopold, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, issued an order.

“Everyone, leave us. I don’t intend to have the lady’s story overheard.”

At that, the men gathered in the room left without a word. Now only Diez and Leopold remained, sitting across from each other.

“Isn’t it better without those unnecessary fellows?”

He said with a smile in his eyes. Not knowing how to react, Diez lowered her gaze. Leopold, who was smiling at her, picked up the fountain pen that was on the desk.

“As the agent must have told you, you just need to confirm the facts. If you tell us everything that happened, appropriate measures will be taken.”

“By measures, you mean……”

“Things like punishing the person who tried to harm you, and such. Depending on the need, we could also issue compensation orders.”

Though she knew it was just words, the thought suddenly occurred to her. Was it really okay? To punish the heir of another noble family for a woman who wasn’t even nobility…..

If Jürgen had read Diez’s inner thoughts, he would have sighed, frustrated. She could almost imagine Jürgen’s expression, even though he wasn’t beside her.

I shouldn’t think like that anymore.

I’m going to be a lady under the Duke’s protection. I need to act more confidently than anyone else.

With that resolve, Diez answered in a clearer voice.

“I understand.”

“Normally, testimony should be recorded, but in your case, I’ll make an exception. I don’t want you to feel like you’re being interrogated, and above all, no one can question the authenticity of a document bearing my seal.”

Diez silently nodded. Contrary to her slight concerns, Leopold only continued with questions about the incident.

“Do you know the name of the man who assaulted you early this morning?”

“I didn’t hear his name. But I know the name of another man who was with him.”

“Please tell me.”

“He introduced himself as Dietrich Steiner.”

“Steiner, I see. Did the man you mentioned try to directly harm you?”

“Nothing except forcibly dragging me to sit at the table.”

“That’s behavior worth recording.”

Leopold wrote something next to Dietrich’s name.

“According to the guards who were present, a man grabbed you and tried to force you to drink. Please describe the appearance of that man.”

“He had brown hair and was wearing a gray vest. Since his face wasn’t particularly distinctive, I’m not sure how else to describe him……”

“That’s fine. Those guys are all already identified anyway. From what you’ve said, I think I already know who did it. Did you sustain any injuries from the incident?”

“My hair was pulled, so it hurt a bit, but there were no lasting wounds.”

“That’s fortunate. If there had been problems with your safety, we might have even considered execution.”

After briefly checking Diez’s expression, Leopold added.

“I’m joking. I mean, that’s how I feel.”

“I, I have something I’d like to ask.”

“Ask anything.”

“Will the Duke be punished because of this incident?”

At that, Leopold’s gaze met hers briefly before being withdrawn.

“Are you worried the Duke might be punished?”

“Well, he is the person who came with me as my partner……”

To be honest, she wasn’t worried about Jürgen. He wouldn’t face major problems. The influence of the Klaus ducal family was as immense as the royal family’s, making one incident like this insignificant.

Perhaps there would be no punishment for Jürgen at all. But what about the possibility?

What Diez was worried about wasn’t Jürgen but the promise he had made to her. What if he couldn’t keep his promise to her because of the punishment? Would she have to stay at the Klaus’s residence for a few more months, waiting for another suitable opportunity?

She didn’t want to think about that.

Diez’s heart had already left the Klaus’s residence. Just imagining having to live there again made her feel drained.

But there was no need to leak unnecessary information in front of Leopold. Looking at Diez, who had trailed off, Leopold smiled as if to say not to worry.

“The Duke will have no problems. Of course, his response could be seen as inappropriate, but if the Duke had been a little late, you might have suffered serious harm, Miss Schleicher.”

“……That’s a relief.”

“I express my regret once again for the unpleasant experience you had at the banquet hall, Miss Schleicher. Is there anything else you’d like to say? Like what kind of punishment you’d like for the man who laid hands on you?”

“I just hope I never have to face him again. I think that would be enough.”

“I’ll take note of that.”

Leopold, who seemed to be writing down another phrase, soon put down his fountain pen. Thinking it might be over now, Diez glanced up at him, and Leopold asked in a more relaxed voice.

“I’m curious if you slept well. After going through such an ordeal.”

“Fortunately, I didn’t have trouble sleeping.”

“Then I did well to send you room service.”

Diez didn’t respond. Apart from their encounter in the city, she had no connection with him, and she couldn’t figure out why he had suddenly started showing kindness.

Come to think of it, was their meeting in front of the store really just a coincidence?

No matter how she thought about it, Diez hadn’t done anything to deserve the kindness of a prince. She had hardly been able to leave Duke Klaus’s residence until now.

But lacking the courage to ask why he was being so nice to her, Diez could only watch Leopold’s expressions.

“As I mentioned before, if you need my help, contact me anytime.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Miss Schleicher.”

At the sudden call, Diez looked up. Leopold’s expression darkened as he carefully examined her face.

“Your eyes look swollen. Did you have a difficult night?”

“It’s nothing. Not something Your Highness should worry about.”

There was one incident that had made her more sorrowful than being humiliated by that unknown noble man. But there was no need to mention it in front of Leopold.

“May I leave if there’s nothing more to testify?”

“……You may. I can’t take up too much of your valuable time.”

“Thank you very much for listening to my story, Your Highness.”

Diez left, trying not to appear as if she was fleeing. She felt his gaze fixed on her back, but she never looked back.

The agents who had been waiting outside the door bowed to Diez and returned to the prince’s side. As the door closed, Diez stood there for a moment, unsure where to go.

Should I return to my room?

The hotel was still quiet. The day’s scheduled events would only begin after everyone had recovered their senses.