Three days later, Roen was once again standing at the front door of Duke Reushden’s mansion.

Unlike her first visit, she held a red envelope in her hand.

And inside that envelope was, of course, a love letter written on behalf of Lucy Greensburgh.

“Nice to see you again, Butler.”

Roen deliberately greeted Alex, the butler of the Reushden household, in a cheerful voice.

Alex, who initially seemed a bit startled, skillfully concealed his expression and stepped back, bowing respectfully to Roen.

He must have remembered that his master hadn’t sent her away last time.

“I’m sorry, but the Duke is currently out.”

“That’s fine. I’ll wait.”

Roen spoke as if it were no big deal and entered the foyer.

Alex hesitated for a brief moment.

He seemed uncomfortable letting someone into the mansion while his master was away.

“I’ve been commissioned to deliver this personally. So even if you chase me away, I can’t leave. Please be generous and make an exception for me just this once.”

Roen spoke warmly with a bright smile.

After contemplating what to do, Alex nodded.

This time too, he remembered how his master had talked with Roen for a long time instead of sending her away last time.

And he had even given him an order.

“Alex, find out about the owner of Simonetta’s Emporium. Even the smallest detail will do.”

Though he didn’t show it, Alex had been a bit surprised by his master’s order.

His master was generally uninterested in others, and this had worsened after the incident at the Reushden mansion five years ago.

His master had fled to the battlefield with confused and desperate emotions, only to return after five years.

But his condition had actually worsened.

There was no life in his ice-cold gaze.

‘To think he’s even lost his heart.’

Alex was worried.

While on the battlefield, his master seemed to have gained control over the dragon’s power within him, but in exchange, he had become an empty shell with no attachment to life.

Seeing his master transformed into a cold, frozen beast without emotions, Alex feared for him at every moment.

He desperately wished for something, anything, that would anchor his master.

And then, like a miracle, this beautiful lady appeared at the mansion.

Fortunately, the lady didn’t seem afraid of his master. Given that she had returned to the mansion with such a bright smile.

That alone was reason enough for Alex to let her in.

He was prepared to endure his master’s scolding for allowing a strange visitor in without permission.

“I’ll bring you some tea.”

“Would you, please?”

Roen smiled happily, as if responding to Alex’s kindness.

Relief washed over him.

Alex cleared his throat, not understanding why tears suddenly threatened to well up.

Surely Marian, the head maid, would have mocked him for being crazy if she had seen this, but he didn’t care.

Since the previous Duke’s passing, this was the first time a lady had visited the Reushden mansion.

And with that visit, vitality seemed to overflow in the mansion that had appeared cold and gloomy.

“I’m Alex. Our cook makes especially good scones. I’ll bring those for you as well.”

Roen smiled at Alex’s unexpected words.

The soft sunlight that had followed Roen inside began to warmly embrace the afternoon mansion.

* * *

At the same time, Jean entered the training grounds of the Imperial Knights.

He had come to the palace on Emperor Edwin’s orders and, with some time to spare before his appointment, had stopped by the training grounds.

A sword match seemed to be in progress, with two knights competing while the remaining knights formed a circle around them, cheering them on.

Jean stopped walking to avoid interrupting the match.

After realizing that the knights engaged in the sword match were Laurel, the captain of the Imperial Knights, and Sage, the vice-captain, he crossed his arms leisurely and watched the match.

It had been over two months since they returned to the capital, Carlisle, after the conquest war ended.

Perhaps because of this, their movements showed a certain ease, unlike when they were on the battlefield where they never knew when they might lose their lives.

‘Their skills are still impressive.’

While Jean was smiling to himself, Laurel spotted him first and called out.

“Duke!”

After swiftly deflecting Sage’s sword and sheathing his own, Laurel put on the uniform he had placed on the ground and approached Jean.

His face, damp with sweat, showed delight.

“Your skills are still impressive, Laurel.”

“Not at all. I’m completely rusty. My muscles are k*lling me. When we were on the battlefield, I just wanted to finish quickly and return home, but now that we’re back, it feels boring. I suppose the battlefield is where I belong. How have you been, Duke? I’ve visited your mansion whenever I had time, but I was worried since I couldn’t meet you.”

“Alex told me about your visits.”

“It wasn’t just the captain who visited. I was always with him. By the way, the boss doesn’t look good. Doesn’t seem like he’s met a woman either.”

Sage, who had followed behind, looked Jean up and down with a grin and spoke with disappointment.

“Sage, you idiot! Can’t you keep your mouth shut?”

Laurel shouted angrily, then pressed Sage’s side firmly while glancing nervously at Jean.

They too must have seen the article in “Great Moment.”

“What did I say? I just thought the boss had fallen for a woman since he hadn’t shown his face for over two months. During our time on the battlefield, the boss lived like a monk. I actually thought his equipment was broken. He showed zero interest in women. But as soon as we return to the capital, rumors…?”

Laurel stepped on Sage’s foot as he continued to snicker.

“If you’re going to spout filth, get out of here, Sage.”

Laurel checked Jean’s expression.

In truth, such rumors had circulated among the knights and soldiers during their time on the battlefield.

They said Jean’s restraint of s*xual desire made him look like a monk from Farel Monastery performing austerities.

But to have a scandal as soon as they returned to the capital.

And to receive a public marriage proposal through the most famous newspaper—Sage was clearly itching to talk about it.

“It’s fine, Laurel. Sage’s behavior isn’t anything new. Sage himself seems frustrated. Judging by how his energy is gathering in his mouth.”

Jean made a joke to change the subject, causing Laurel to burst into laughter.

Though Sage frowned in displeasure, he didn’t say anything more.

Jean looked back and forth between Laurel and Sage, who had completely opposite personalities.

They might get along well now, but when they first met, every moment had been like a war.

In fact, the noble-born, serious Laurel and the commoner Sage were incompatible from birth.

If they hadn’t both been part of the Black Knights, they surely would never have become close.

Only after experiencing several near-death situations during the war did Laurel acknowledge Sage’s exceptional swordsmanship, and when he became the captain of the Imperial Knights, he even recommended Sage as vice-captain.

Others objected, arguing that Sage, a commoner with an arrogant attitude and not a shred of manners, was inadequate to be vice-captain.

But Laurel had overruled the objections by citing Sage’s superior swordsmanship.

And now, two months later, even within the knights, they couldn’t help but acknowledge Sage’s skills.

“Sage, I’ve told you many times to address him as ‘Duke,’ not ‘boss.’ This isn’t the battlefield.”

Sage pouted in dissatisfaction at Laurel’s correction.

Unlike Laurel, who was neatly dressed in his uniform, Sage had all his buttons undone.

“Tsk, this is why I never wanted to be in a knightly order. Boss, can I join your knights again? You don’t have to pay me. Just provide room and board, and I’ll protect you. You know my skills.”

Sage looked at Jean with an expression that suggested he wanted to leave the Imperial Knights immediately.

“That won’t be possible, Sage. The Reushden family doesn’t have its own knightly order.”

“Then create one again.”

Laurel frowned at Sage’s childish words.

Emperor Edwin Zonderburgh VIII would never allow it.

When they arrived in Carlisle after the conquest war ended, the Emperor had absorbed the Black Knights of the Reushden family into the Imperial Knights.

On the surface, it appeared to be a generous reward for the knights who had won the war, but ultimately, it was intended to take the knights away from Jean.

In the Adrian Empire after the war, the Black Knights of the Reushden family would only be a threat to the imperial family.

And both Jean and the Black Knights were well aware of this fact.

“Why don’t you create it again? If the boss decides to, the best knights not just from the Adrian Empire but from the entire Taran continent would flock to serve under you.”

Laurel looked at Sage with an expression of pity.

“Stop talking nonsense, Sage. You know that’s impossible.”

“That’s exactly why I’m saying this. It makes me so angry I could go crazy.”

Sage stomped his foot hard, as if he might go berserk at any moment. The more he thought about it, the more heated he became.

“Sage, you seem bored. A madman like you should have stayed on the battlefield longer.”

At Jean’s remark, Sage’s face brightened.

He nodded eagerly like a puppy, as if he wanted to go to the battlefield right away.

“Boss, shall we? We could invade another country and start a war.”

Laurel shook his head at Sage, who spoke about starting a war with a childlike innocence.

The conquest war was already over, and the Taran continent belonged to the Adrian Empire.

Above all, after the Black Knights of the Reushden family had led the conquest war for five years, their reputation had spread widely across the Taran continent, and for the time being, no country would dare to fight against the Adrian Empire.

“You madman! Go supervise the knights in training right now.”

Fearing that Sage might suggest starting a rebellion if left unchecked, Laurel quickly covered Sage’s mouth and kicked him in the backside.

Sage frowned as his backside was kicked, then moved away with a disgruntled expression.

“Don’t worry about him, Duke. That fool has been restless lately, acting like a madman. By the way, what brings you here?”

“His Majesty summoned me.”