I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at Cardien’s words.

Lemon can’t attend the baptism ceremony?

‘What could have happened?’

But what could possibly happen to him, the master of the Rune Information Guild?

‘And why is Cardien the one delivering this news?’

I couldn’t hide my suspicious expression.

Anyone could see this situation…

‘It seems like Cardien did something.’

Since I can’t confirm it directly, it’s awkward to confront him about it.

Above all…

‘Why would Cardien bother?’

There’s no particular reason to prevent Lemon from attending the baptism ceremony…

‘Ah, could it be.’

I looked at Cardien.

Come to think of it, there was a similar situation before.

When he nitpicked for no reason and was stubborn.

So…

“Um, Your Grace.”

I carefully spoke up.

Cardien looked at me with an expressionless face.

“Perhaps…”

I swallowed hard and continued.

“Are you angry because I didn’t ask you to be my partner for the baptism ceremony?”

“What?”

Cardien made an incredulous expression.

I know it’s ridiculous too.

But it’s strange, isn’t it?

He’s saying I disrespected him, and now he’s saying Lemon can’t go to the baptism ceremony.

This is exactly like that time.

‘During the Academy commemoration ceremony.’

Back then, he also made strange excuses and refused to allow Winston to accompany me.

And when I asked His Grace to go with me instead, he quickly…

“What do you take me for, Tutor?”

Cardien retorted in a cold voice.

I flinched and looked away.

Right? It’s understandable to be upset. There’s no way the great Cardien would be petty over something like this…

“But it’s true that you disrespected me.”

…Huh?

‘Wait, what?’

I looked at Cardien with wavering eyes.

On the other hand, Cardien was staring at me with the most static eyes ever.

…It’s not a misunderstanding.

He really is angry because I didn’t ask him to be my partner first!

I inwardly sighed and said,

“Your Grace, I didn’t disrespect you…”

After hesitating for a moment, I decided to tell the truth.

“Of course, I expected Your Grace to have an invitation, but I thought Your Grace would have thrown it away.”

“…Why?”

“Because Your Grace… dislikes the temple.”

Even without mentioning information from the original work, Cardien noticeably mistreated the temple.

Recalling his attitude towards Eden, the Holy Knight Commander, or how he roughly chased away the priest of the vile fox statue, anyone could understand his ill feelings towards the temple.

‘These were actions only possible because he’s from House Mercedes.’

If it were any other family, they wouldn’t dare even think of such actions.

“So I thought you surely wouldn’t attend the baptism ceremony. If that wasn’t the case, I would have asked Your Grace first.”

This wasn’t just empty words.

After all, attending the baptism ceremony with Cardien would make the most sense.

Of course, I’m still concerned about Celestina, the female lead.

Cardien pressed his lips tightly.

Eventually, his lips slowly parted.

“…I’m attending.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, I’m attending the baptism ceremony too.”

“Your Grace… is?”

I looked at him with surprised eyes.

Cardien let out a low sigh, crossed his legs, and parted his lips.

“…Let’s go.”

At the sudden command, I flinched and looked at Cardien.

Cardien’s purple eyes sank heavily.

“Information came in that traces of the former duke were found in the temple.”

“Is, is that true?!”

At the completely unexpected news, I jumped to my feet.

Clunk.

At that moment, the carriage shook, and my body swayed.

“…!”

Cardien quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me.

My body tilted towards Cardien.

I hurriedly stretched out both hands.

When I came to my senses, I had trapped Cardien under my two arms.

Our eyes met very closely.

Wow, he’s beautiful… No, that’s not it!

“Aah! I’m sorry!”

Startled, I quickly backed away.

Even so, in the narrow carriage, I could only lean back my upper body.

‘Wow, that really surprised me.’

I didn’t expect him to pull me like that from there.

‘Of course, it’s my fault for suddenly standing up.’

No, this isn’t what’s important right now.

“Then, we might be able to find clues about the lost heirloom in the temple!”

“…That’s right.”

Cardien nodded a beat late.

I clenched my fists.

‘This didn’t even appear in the original work.’

From now on, it’s purely in the realm of reality.

I steeled myself and looked at Cardien.

Indeed, if clues to the heirloom were found, Cardien would have no choice but to go to the baptism ceremony.

If Cardien has no choice but to go to the baptism ceremony…

Then rather…

“…Then, Your Grace, I know it’s shameless to ask now, but would you go to the baptism ceremony with me?”

I carefully asked.

Surely he won’t refuse saying, ‘How impertinent to ask now, how displeasing’?

Cardien didn’t answer immediately and just looked at me quietly.

At that moment, the carriage entered the ducal residence and stopped in front of the entrance.

Cardien stood up and said,

“Tutor, you have a surprisingly cunning side.”

“Haha…”

Having nothing to refute, I let out an awkward laugh.

Meanwhile, Cardien, who had gotten out of the carriage, extended his hand towards me.

I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand and getting out of the carriage.

Thud.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, his answer came.

“But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

I looked up at Cardien with wide eyes.

Our distance was very close because he hadn’t let go of my hand yet.

“From now on, don’t make judgments on your own. It’s quite unpleasant, you know.”

“Ah…”

I hadn’t expected him to say something like this, so I just stared up at Cardien blankly.

Soon, I nodded slightly.

“Yes, I will. I’m sorry.”

“…As long as you understand.”

Just as he let go of my hand, a voice was heard from behind.

“Welcome back, both of you.”

I turned my head quickly.

Winston had been there, I didn’t know since when. Chelsea, who had arrived at the mansion earlier, was also with him.

“Ahem, let’s go inside.”

Winston cleared his throat and opened the front door.

Cardien sauntered in first, then stopped as if remembering something and turned to look at me.

“And I’ll take care of the dress, so don’t go running around trying to find clothes again.”

“Huh, what?”

I expressed my confusion, but Cardien had already gone inside.

I stared blankly at the spot where Cardien had disappeared, then quickly turned my head.

“Butler!”

As I rushed towards Winston, he flinched and bowed his head.

“…I apologize, Tutor. I reported your personal matters to the master.”

I quickly shook my head.

“That’s fine.”

From the moment I told Winston, I had anticipated that it would be reported to Cardien anyway.

What I’m curious about now isn’t that.

“Um, what happened to the librarian Lemon… I mean, Mr. Raymon? His Grace said that Mr. Raymon wouldn’t be able to attend the baptism ceremony.”

He’s still alive, right?

Although I thought, ‘Surely he wouldn’t have killed him,’ I still felt anxious trying to confirm his… well, survival(?).

Winston hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said,

“That guy… I mean, Librarian Raymon is on leave for a while.”

“On leave?”

What’s this about now?

Just this morning, I was talking face-to-face with him in the library, and now he’s on leave after just a few hours!

As I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, Winston also seemed to feel uncomfortable and averted his gaze.

Could it be…

“Was it His Grace?”

Well, the only person who could put the librarian on leave would naturally be the head of the household, Cardien.

Winston hurriedly spoke up.

“The master didn’t impose the leave without reason. He found evidence that the librarian had tampered with the master’s documents, so he imposed this disciplinary action.”

Winston added that considering the severity of the offense, the punishment was rather lenient.

I flinched at the word ‘disciplinary action’.

‘Disciplinary action…’

If Lemon really did tamper with the documents, then a leave of absence could be considered as light as a feather in comparison.

However…

Things progressed like this so suddenly?

Of course, it was wrong for Lemon to tamper with the documents, but I couldn’t deny that the timing was rather suspicious.

It’s not without some abruptness.

‘Well, if it’s just a leave, it means he’ll come back eventually.’

I felt relieved inwardly.

I was the one who found it convenient to have Lemon stationed at the library.

It was more accessible, after all. And information sharing was faster too.

We still have a lot of information to share in the future.

I casually asked,

“How long is the leave period?”

“One month.”

It was an appropriate period, neither too short nor too long.

As I was nodding in understanding at this reasonably fair leave period, Winston carefully spoke up.

“By the way, the master said you don’t need to worry about the dress…”

“Ah…”

As I nodded and turned to look at Winston, I flinched.

Is it just my imagination?

Winston’s eyes seemed to be sparkling.