With a curious heart, I asked him.

“Is there any description of her appearance?”

“Yes. Blue hair and black eyes, just like Duke Leon Kreundel. Her name is Belissa Kreundel.

My inflated hope deflated instantly.

‘No way….’

Estelle had brown hair and hazel eyes.

It’s not that there is no magic to change her hair color or eye color, but prolonged use of it tends to have side effects, so it’s only used for disguises for a day or two.

In other words, the Duke of Kreundel’s sister couldn’t be Estelle. 

‘I jumped into conclusions too quickly.’

Things were never that simple. 

“You mentioned he’s searching for a sister who is believed to be dead right? Is there a reason for that?”

“It was because there was a funeral without a body.”

“Without a body?”

“Yes. The mansion was engulfed in flames. Although the family’s head couple perished in the fire, they couldn’t find his sister’s dead body.”

I knew about the incident where the Kreundel family estate burned down, leading to Leon Kreundel becoming the young duke.

But this was the first time that I’d heard of his sister. 

I thought he was an upright and decent person, but it turned out that he was a person with a deep love for his family, to the point where he went looking for his younger sister.

In any case, I needed the power of dreams desperately at this point.

I clenched my fists and made a determined vow.

“I need to approach Duke Kreundel.”

 “I’ll…….”

Raeyan opened his mouth to say something, then clamped it shut.

 He seemed unhappy with my decision. 

 “What were you going to say, Raeyan?”

“……it’s nothing. But how are you going to approach him?”

“I have a good idea.”

 “If it’s a good idea…….”

“It is to see exactly how hard the Duke of Perdia will try.”

I smiled at Raeyan, who still seemed puzzled as if he didn’t fully understand.

***

Duke Perdia’s office.

Sylvester was signing documents when lifted his head as someone knocked on the door. 

Knock, knock.

He didn’t need to check to know whom the soft knock belonged to.

“It’s Elodie, Your Grace.”

Sylvester’s expression twisted at that title.

‘Again, Your Grace.’

From the moment he confessed to her that she wasn’t his biological daughter, Elodie’s addressing towards him has changed from ‘father’ to ‘your grace.’

Since she was a newborn who knew nothing, Sylvester was being called father by her and it was natural. 

That child was raised as a Perdia, so there was no other possibility than him being her father.

But after realizing that it wasn’t natural, his emotions became twisted.

Of course, he didn’t show it to Elodie. He didn’t have the right to do so.

 “Come in.”

When his permission was granted, the door opened.

Elodie was dressed in street clothes as if she had come straight to the office after returning from an outing. 

He covered the documents he had been reviewing and sat across from Elodie on the sofa. It was one of the few times that Elodie had come to him without being called. Although he liked that fact, he became anxious about whether she might decide to leave the family again this time. 

Sylvester observed Elodie’s expression. She was displaying calmness.

The Duke of Perdia, who does not even have the emperor above him, was examining someone’s expression. If anyone else had heard that, they would have scolded that person and told them not to make such ridiculous jokes.

In any case, he must not go against Elodie’s wishes.

Sylvester, who was wondering what to say first, realized that the table was empty. 

 “I’ll ask them to bring tea.”

“No, I’ll tell you what I have come to say and leave quickly.”

 “…… Okay.”

She’d come here for a reason. No wonder…

He would not have expected Elodie to visit just for a casual chat. Since he’s not her father, there’s no way she’d come to visit him because she misses him.

He felt his throat dry, although he had not uttered a word.

Elodie hesitated for a moment, then addressed him with great difficulty. 

 “Your Grace.”

 “Yes.”

“Do you have any business with the Duke of Kreundel?”

Why the Duke of Kreundel all of a sudden? Even in the midst of his confusion, Sylvester answered steadily.

 “I do, but…….”

Then Elodie’s expression brightened like a spring flower in full bloom. 

“Well then, can I ask you for a favor?”

 “Anything…”

Regardless of what Elodie said, Sylvester Perdia had the authority and resources to accommodate her request.

However, Elodie’s request took him by surprise.

“I need you to arrange a meeting for me with the Duke of Kreundel.”

 “……what?”

Elodie smiled and added another word. 

 “Make it look natural.”

The pursuit of a natural encounter. The meaning behind these words was clear.

‘Elodie…with Duke Kreundel?’

Sylvester’s mind raced.

 It was only a short time ago that she had broken off her engagement with Crown Prince Ademir.

In such a situation, arranging a meeting with another man…. 

Suddenly, he remembered the moment when they had discussed the engagement, and just like today, Elodie had come to him first. 

“Father, I want to marry Crown Prince Ademir.”

Her eyes shone with eagerness as she fidgeted with her fingers. 

At first, he objected, but in the end, he had no choice but to grant her request.

Elodie, who had always been observant, showed her first sign of stubbornness back then. Strangely, he found her sincerity appealing at that moment.

She was even prepared to risk Perdia, which had always remained neutral, by joining the First Prince’s faction. 

‘Leon Kreundel. I don’t like him at all because he’s like a stone. Although I’m not informed that he’s seeing a woman, but that’s his only good point.’

He didn’t like Adenmir either, but Elodie wanted him, so he did her a favor, and it failed. 

He couldn’t let the second engagement go that way.

This time, he hoped for someone who would treat Elodie more respectfully. He briefly considered who would be suitable, but within Wallentian, there was no one he found appealing.

He’ll have to look abroad. First of all, Sylvester spoke in a loose manner, intending to buy time.

“I can arrange something with another family.”

“No. It has to be Duke Kreundel.”

But Elodie’s will was resolute. 

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, Sylvester was inwardly perplexed. When did she develop a crush on Leon Kreundel, who only appears at official functions and does nothing else?

Understanding the hearts of today’s youth is perplexing.

‘Leon Kreundel. Duke of Kreundel…….’

There was nothing Elodie Perdia couldn’t have.

Even if what she desired was a person.

She was his daughter, after all. As part of Perdia, he would grasp everything that she wished for.

Looking at Elodie, who was glancing at him, he readily agreed.

 “Very well. I will arrange a meeting for you with him.”

 “Really? Thank you!”

 “Only on one condition.”

Elodie’s smiling face instantly stiffened.

She was so cute and fierce because he could see her cursing at him on the inside.

“What’s the condition?”

“Call me ‘father’ as you used to do before.”

 “…….”

 “Also, you will have tea time with me after lunch on weekends.”

Those were somewhat impulsive conditions that he presented to her.

He never liked being called ‘Your Grace’ by Elodie, and the lack of opportunities to see each other aside from the monthly family meal had always been an issue for him. Elodie offered him an opportunity. He had to seize that chance.

As her father…

Elodie, who had been pondering the conditions, looked at him as if observing and asked.

 “Is that all?”

Sylvester couldn’t help but let out a weak chuckle.

Elodie easily accepted his conditions, seemingly disregarding his previous worries about potential rejection.

“Yes. It’s a golden opportunity for me, Elodie. I can score more points with you.”

As Sylvester spoke candidly, Elodie’s eyes widened, and soon her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. She averted her gaze, seemingly feeling shy.

“I have only one request, but you have two conditions, which seems unfair.”

“In that case, you should add one more condition too.”

“Well-“

Before Elodie could say anything, Sylvester hastily added.

“Except for the part about being independent.”

 “…….”

“Also, excluding the part where you would continue to call me ‘Your Grace.'”

 “That…….”

“Oh, and it might be better to exclude the idea of returning to the annex.”

“These are all conditions I didn´t even thought of.”

 “Good, then tell me what they are.”

Seemingly hesitant and troubled by the difficult request, Elodie hesitated before parting her lips.

“I know it’s meddling beyond the point, but it would be nice if you apologized to the Duchess.”

 “……what?”

“You brought me here without telling her anything. I think you would better ask her forgiveness now.”

‘When I learned that the Duke of Perdia had never told Themis, his wife, of the birth of the child he had brought with him one day. I felt sad for her.’

Ever since then, Elodie’s heart has been uneasy.

 Whether or not she had guessed about my birth, the duke should have explained everything to the Duchess. 

‘I feel sorry for the Duchess.’

In any case, because of her existence, Duke Perdia and the duchess became the protagonists of baseless rumors.

It was said that the child had been born out of wedlock and that the Duchess was a foolish, poor wife for being forced to take on such a child. 

 “The least you can do is talk to your wife properly now, that’s my condition.”

 “…….”

I thought I was being presumptuous. 

I realized how ridiculous it was to make such a demand when I wasn’t even his daughter.

But I looked at Sylvester hopefully. 

 ‘You said you’d try…….’

Sylvester met my expectant gaze, and he found himself perplexed. 

To think she’d worried about something like that. 

‘Do I look like a moron in her eyes?’

He hadn’t realized that Elodie, who didn’t know the terms of his marriage to Themis, was watching from the side.

“I’ll do it.”

Elodie was a little surprised; she hadn’t expected him to say yes right away. 

‘You didn’t even ask me why I wanted to meet the Duke of Kreundel.’

Perhaps the Duke of Perdia knew. He knew that she was trying to make this arrangement in order to awaken Duke Severes, whom he hated so much.

But Elodie wasn’t going to tell him.

‘This is justified revenge.’

My own timid revenge. 

***

Outside the office. 

There was a presence sticking to the door, with ears pressed closely while eavesdropping.

The youngest son, unaware that the Duke of Perdia had tolerated his presence, hurried somewhere to tell someone what he had just heard.

His destination was Jansi’s office. 

“Brother, Brother, Brother! Do you know what I heard?”

Jansi, who had been writing a letter, looked up at Carlot’s entrance while he rushed without even knocking. 

 “Well, what did you hear?”

 “Don’t be shocked. Sister wants to meet the Duke of Kreundel!”

 “……?”

Jansi tilted his head slightly.

Rather than being surprised, he was more bewildered.

‘Elodie, with the Duke of Kreundel?’

Leon Kreundel. 

As the head of the Kreundel family, one of the four major families, his handsome appearance and well-mannered demeanor made him the center of attention for many of the society’s elite. 

As the highest-ranking male of marriageable age outside the royal family, countless individuals were aiming for the position of the duchess.

Moreover, he was not much older than Elodie, just like Jansi. Jansi was sincerely puzzled.

‘Then, what about the mercenary Ian?’

The two of them seemed to have had an unusual atmosphere.

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