— I’m sorry. If I had known Your Highness would contact me, I should have answered more quickly……

“Wouldn’t that be the same if someone else had called? Mr. Schleicher.”

— Yes, yes……

Strangely, he felt irritated listening to the voice that kept bowing and scraping. Talking with Mr. Schleicher was a waste of time for him. There was no reason to spend much time with him, who was merely a connection to approach Diez.

“I’ll just get straight to the point. Your daughter doesn’t look too well right now.”

— You mean Diez?

“I’m not saying she’s injured, but she seems a bit mentally unstable. Shouldn’t you go and counsel your daughter’s troubles as a father?”

— Of course. Certainly I should do that.

Leopold didn’t call to tell him to go take care of Diez. Mr. Schleicher knew that fact as well.

He cautiously asked.

— Perhaps, do you have any instructions?

“When you say it like that, it sounds like I’m instigating you.”

— T-that’s not what I meant……

“Never mind. Just go listen to what your daughter has to say. Make sure you find out what’s making Miss Diez Schleicher suffer. It seems the young lady doesn’t welcome my contact.”

— Understood, Your Highness.

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

— Ah, no. Just……

After hesitating, Mr. Schleicher soon asked.

— I’m worried about whether things will end well. It seems the Duke hasn’t heard anything…… Why didn’t the late Duke tell his son?

“I don’t know about that family’s circumstances. They might have been a father and son who couldn’t communicate.”

— ……I see.

“Are you going to keep holding the phone?”

— Ah, I’m sorry. Then I’ll take my leave now, Your Highness.

Leopold put down the receiver without hesitation.

When would the trout take the bait? That was his only concern.

Diez, who had been spending time blankly sitting in a bathtub filled with warm water, left the bathroom with her mood still unimproved.

Wearing a robe over her negligee, she sat on the bed and fell into thought. Should she visit Jürgen’s room even now? Nothing would be solved by just sitting still.

But even if I go to Jürgen, what could I possibly do?

She thought it would be fortunate if she didn’t irritate his nerves. Her parents didn’t simply want Diez to stay by his side. They wanted Diez to receive Jürgen’s love.

It occurred to her that perhaps they were indirectly suggesting she should secure the position of Duchess.

‘But that’s impossible.’

What man would make his father’s former mistress the lady of his house? Although Jürgen might desire her, the gap between a woman one would choose to marry and a woman who would merely offer her body was enormous.

Diez herself had never once thought about becoming the Duchess. If he had remained the kind man he initially appeared to be, she might have considered staying by his side.

But he had revealed his true intentions to Diez. That she was nothing more than a woman he wanted to lay down on his bed.

She had been foolish to think she could rely on her new master’s kindness. What had she expected? Someone like me.

More sensitive than usual, she raised her head at the sound of knocking. Surely he hadn’t sent room service again? But the thought crossed her mind that Leopold might indeed do something like that.

Instead of opening the door first, Diez decided to ask.

“Who is it?”

The response to her uncharacteristically sharp voice came from an unexpected person.

“Diez, it’s me.”

“……Dad?”

Along with the feeling of joy, a hint of worry crossed her mind. Could something else have gone wrong, causing him to seek her out?

Having confirmed that her father was standing beyond the door, there was no reason to delay. Diez ran to the door, and the moment she met her father’s eyes, she felt her emotions stirring again and threw herself into his arms.

Mr. Schleicher patted Diez as he said,

“Something must have happened.”

“Did something happen to you too, Dad?”

“Nothing happened. I’m fine. But right now, I think we should be more worried about you than us.”

Diez looked up at her father with tears in her eyes. She was happy and grateful that her father had come to see her. She had needed someone by her side at that moment. Someone who could unconditionally take her side and whom she could trust enough to embrace without reservation.

Mr. Schleicher looked down at his daughter, who had become much thinner than before, and smiled bitterly. The fortunate thing was that, although her complexion had deteriorated, she had not yet lost her beauty.

“What happened?”

Diez couldn’t easily begin speaking. Facing his hesitant only daughter, he asked again calmly and kindly.

“Tell me. I came because I was worried about you being alone. Who else would you confide in if not me?”

“W-well.”

Diez tried to speak as calmly as she could and slowly opened her mouth.

“You told me I had to receive the Duke’s love to save my parents, and after I told the Duke as promised, somehow it seems like he no longer wants me……”

“Oh, I see.”

“But I don’t know what to do. If the Duke sends me away like this, you won’t be freed from debt, right?”

The thought of her parents suffering again because of her made her heart sink. Diez looked up at her father and asked.

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell the Duke the truth? He might find a way to help somehow.”

“I told you, dear. The Duke doesn’t have that authority.”

“But still, maybe the Duke could……”

“Having grown up as an innocent child, it won’t be easy for you to win the Duke’s heart overnight. I understand. It must be the most difficult task for you.”

Diez lowered her head. She had forgotten that none of this was her fault.

“If that’s why you’re struggling, I’ll think about it with you.”

“……I’m scared of making my parents unhappy.”

“That won’t happen. You’ve done well enough until now.”

Mr. Schleicher patted his trembling, anxious daughter, laid her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

“Get some sleep. You’ll feel a bit better.”

Diez, who seemed to want to say something as her lips moved slightly, finally closed her mouth and nodded.

“……Thank you, Dad.”

After kissing Diez’s forehead, he dimmed the lights and left the room. After leaving his daughter’s side, he headed toward the top floor of the hotel, where the prince’s room was located.

When he carefully knocked on the door, a response came from inside.

“Come in.”

The door wasn’t locked. It was as if he had been waiting for him.

As soon as he opened and entered the room, a blonde man appeared, sprawled on a single sofa, drinking alcohol. Mr. Schleicher hurriedly bowed before him.

“I’m honored to see Your Highness.”

“I’m tired, so I’d appreciate it if you could finish your business quickly and leave.”

Leopold smiled at him and added,

“I’m sure I asked you to find something out.”

“Well, Diez is struggling because she’s afraid she won’t be able to win His Grace the Duke’s heart.”

“Hmm. Is that all?”

“You may already know this, but that child has lived without any contact with men…… She seems confused about how to win the Duke’s heart.”

“Are you saying she didn’t learn anything while rolling around under the late Duke?”

Leopold thought as he slowly swirled his glass. Well, it wasn’t incomprehensible. She certainly appeared to be an excessively innocent woman at first glance.

He thought something was strange. Having been the old man’s mistress for five years, she should have been worn out by now. But Diez looked more like a wounded animal than a rag.

‘Surely the late Duke must have laid hands on that woman at least once.’

“Are you sure that’s the reason?”

“Diez wouldn’t lie to me. She seemed sincere.”

“So she’s been worrying over a problem that’s easier to solve than I thought. This is truly deflating.”

Leopold rose from the sofa, picked up the brandy bottle on the table, and handed it to Mr. Schleicher.

“What are you doing? Take it.”

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but why……”

“Can’t you see? It’s alcohol.”

“But…… if what I’m thinking is correct.”

“Didn’t she say she doesn’t have the confidence to seduce the Duke in her right mind? Who knows, maybe she’ll gain some courage after getting drunk. Don’t worry, it’s not spiked with anything dangerous.”

Mr. Schleicher hesitated instead of accepting it right away. It was because of a thought that suddenly crossed his mind. Do we really need to go this far?

As if reading his thoughts, Leopold made a gesture of withdrawing the brandy bottle and said,

“If you don’t need my help, you can stop now. I offered to help because it involved Jürgen, but I’m not forcing you to accept my help.”

“No…… that’s not it.”

In the end, Mr. Schleicher took the brandy from him.

“What is Diez doing now?”

“I just put her to bed, but……”

“Wake her up.”

He said with a smile lingering on his face.

“Make her drink, and send her straight to the Duke’s room.”

* * *

Although she had prepared to sleep, drowsiness didn’t seem likely to come easily. Buried under the blanket and staring at the opposite wall, Diez looked toward the door with a puzzled expression as she heard knocking again.

“Diez, please open the door.”

It was her father’s voice. He had left the room not long ago, so why had he returned? After getting out of bed and turning on the light, Diez opened the door.