#8

“Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule.”

Jürgen said with a respectful smile toward the second prince sitting across the tea table.

“Your Highness shouldn’t say such things. Everyone knows you’re the busiest person in the Empire.”

“I can’t even deny that as flattery.”

Albert laughed lightly and said.

“Days when I could spend time leisurely feel like a past life. Actually, as soon as I finish meeting with the Duke, I have to meet with cabinet members. I should get used to this kind of life someday.”

“Your Highness will adapt quickly.”

“Anyway, the reason I wanted to meet with the Duke is that I thought I should inform you about my brother’s situation. You’ve probably already heard that I’ll be succeeding to the throne instead of Leopold.”

Jürgen nodded. Albert, who had been second in line to the throne, recently ascended to the position of Crown Prince. Before it was publicly announced, only a few high-ranking nobles, including Jürgen, knew this fact.

“His Majesty the King was deeply troubled by what happened during the Victory Day celebration. He contemplated a lot about whether he should pass the throne to Leo. As you know, it wasn’t an incident that could be overlooked.”

Albert sighed with a grim expression and said.

“His Majesty is even considering stripping him of his title.”

“I see.”

“I still can’t believe all this happened because of a single incident from his childhood. I suppose it must have been that traumatic for Leo. Since I’ve never been in his position, I can’t fully understand his perspective, but……”

Jürgen didn’t add anything. His father had ruined many lives. Leopold was just one of them.

“I only hope that someday the first prince will be able to find freedom.”

“Yes. That should happen.”

Albert answered with a sigh, then suddenly asked.

“You haven’t had any contact from Leo, have you?”

“No.”

“If anything like that happens, please let me know immediately. I’ve now risen to a position where I can’t stand by and watch my brother’s affairs.”

Jürgen answered with a polite smile. Of course, both men knew in their minds.

Leopold would no longer be able to approach Jürgen.

After finishing their brief tea time, Albert appeared quite energetic as he left the Duke’s mansion. He had been telling Jürgen various stories when he suddenly looked around and asked.

“Come to think of it, have you parted ways with Miss Schleicher?”

He couldn’t help but hesitate before this question. It was because even Jürgen himself hadn’t been able to define it yet.

Is this a farewell or not?

“She is at the summer villa.”

“So she’s gone on vacation?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“Miss Schleicher must need time to recover too.”

Albert nodded as if understanding, but then suddenly narrowed his eyes at him.

“But why didn’t you go with her?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you have feelings for Miss Schleicher?”

“I……”

He tried to find an appropriate excuse, but Albert had already seen through everything.

“Don’t try such lies with me. Anyone could see that you were fond of Miss Schleicher.”

“Did it…… appear that way?”

“Good grief.”

Albert burst into laughter as if it were absurd, then struck at his vulnerability.

“It seems you’ve hurt Miss Schleicher’s feelings somehow. Am I right?”

“Your Highness.”

“Let me give you one piece of advice. The lady is giving you an opportunity. If she didn’t even want to give you a chance, she would have gone somewhere much farther than the summer villa. Don’t you think?”

Albert patted Jürgen’s shoulder with a grin and waved his hand over his shoulder as he continued down the stairs.

“Think carefully before it’s too late to regret. You need to fix things while you can, or there won’t be another chance.”

Jürgen stood there blankly, forgetting even to see the Crown Prince off. Only after Albert had departed in his car did he come to his senses and turn toward his office.

The expression Albert had left behind kept bothering him.

He said to fix things while I can.

It had been over a week since Diez had left him for the summer villa. He had confirmed that she had arrived safely at the villa, but he hadn’t been able to take any further action.

Could it be true that he still had a chance?

He still didn’t have the face to look her straight in the eye. But was it really wise to just sit back and do nothing?

Sitting at his desk, he continued to contemplate for more than ten minutes.

Is it okay for me to be by Diez’s side?

After serious deliberation, Jürgen finally called for his secretary.

He said to the secretary who came in response to his call.

“Please prepare a car. I need to go to the summer villa.”

The fact that it was vacation season would serve as a good excuse.

The summer villa where a wide view of the deep blue sea could be seen when opening the large windows. This was where Diez had gone, leaving Jürgen behind.

Diez’s request was to have a villa where she could spend some quiet time alone. The Klaus ducal family owned many villas. Among more than five villas, the one chosen by Diez was the summer villa along the Rostov beach.

Albert wasn’t wrong. If she had truly wanted to leave, she could have gone somewhere much farther, but Diez deliberately chose to go to his villa.

When she first asked him for the villa, Jürgen was secretly puzzled. What was the reason behind such a request?

Perhaps she simply wanted to spend a quiet summer vacation where no one could disturb her.

Throughout the car ride to the villa, Jürgen was gripped by a hint of anxiety. If Diez’s purpose was to spend time away from him, it was clear that she wouldn’t welcome his visit.

What if I show up uninvited and only ruin her mood?

But the car carrying him had already departed, and it was too late to turn back now. Lost in various thoughts, he entered the private property and could soon see the panoramic view of the villa beginning to reveal itself.

Naturally, he felt nervous at the thought of meeting Diez soon. Unconsciously adjusting his tie, Jürgen got out of the car with an uncharacteristically stiff demeanor.

The area around the villa was quiet. He could only hear the occasional cries of seabirds from a distance.

A few servants who had already been informed of the owner’s visit came out to greet him.

“Welcome, Duke.”

“Where is Miss Schleicher?”

“She went out to the nearby beach for a moment. Would you like me to guide you there?”

“No need. I’ll find her myself, so please don’t follow.”

The villa faced a wide beach. Judging that Diez wouldn’t have gone far, Jürgen left the servants behind and began walking.

As soon as he descended a little, the white, fine sand sank deeply beneath his feet. Jürgen, who didn’t mind getting a bit of sand in his shoes, continued forward without stopping.

As expected, he soon spotted golden hair glistening in the sunlight in the distance. Diez, with her back to him, was sitting directly on the sand without even a mat. She was originally a woman who didn’t fear ruining her clothes. That temperament that didn’t hesitate to throw herself into shallow river water wouldn’t have disappeared.

Jürgen unconsciously swallowed. The closer he got to her back, the more his anxiety grew.

Diez didn’t turn her head until he stopped a few steps away from her. Had she not noticed his presence? Since the sand would have muffled his footsteps, it wasn’t surprising.

After taking a small deep breath, Jürgen called out to her.

“Miss Schleicher.”

Then Diez turned to look at him. There was no sign of surprise on her face. It was strange. He had made arrangements so that Diez wouldn’t be notified in advance.

She acted as if she had anticipated that Jürgen would visit.

“I was wondering when you would come.”

“……Did you know I was coming?”

“I just had a feeling. A feeling that you wouldn’t leave me alone for long.”

So did I interrupt her time after all? Feeling himself becoming infinitely smaller, Jürgen said,

“I’m sorry if you didn’t want me to come.”

“Are you planning to take me back to the mansion?”

“That’s not why I came.”

“Then it’s fine. As long as you didn’t come intending to drag me back forcibly. I wanted to stay here for about a month longer.”

Diez, who seemed aware of him standing there silently, asked.

“Are you going to keep standing?”

Jürgen hesitated in confusion. It was because he couldn’t grasp what Diez wanted.

Numerous thoughts quickly flashed through his mind. She probably doesn’t want me to sit beside her…… Is she indirectly asking me to leave? Or……

Meanwhile, Diez’s expression became curious as she looked up at him.

“I was just asking…… you’re standing there like someone who came to be scolded.”

“I…… don’t know what you want.”

“That’s unlike you, Duke.”

Shifting her gaze to her knees, Diez said.

“There’s no need for you to be so cautious around me now.”

“I just don’t want to upset you.”

“I’m still not used to you saying such things.”

Her voice sank deeply.