Soon, Rachel slowly turned around and walked toward where Tervan and Viola were standing.

“You’re back?” Viola asked, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Rachel.

Rachel nodded with a smile, and Viola approached her, linking their arms together.

“What’s this, Rachel? Dancing with the Crown Prince!”

Rachel chuckled at Viola’s playful gaze.

“What did you talk about? From what I saw, the Crown Prince came looking for you himself.”

Viola’s eyes filled with expectation.

“We didn’t talk about anything special.”

“Oh come on. It doesn’t seem that way! The Crown Prince even stopped you at the end.”

“He just suggested that we become friends.”

“Friends? The Crown Prince?”

“Yes.”

Viola’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. Then she narrowed them and glanced sideways at Tervan.

“Someone is much more proactive than others.”

Viola deliberately spoke loud enough for Tervan to hear. Rachel understood what Viola meant by that comment but chose not to interject.

Instead, she looked around for Ryan.

Ryan, who had been watching Rachel from a distance, smiled when their eyes met.

“Oh! Just now! The Crown Prince smiled at you, didn’t he?”

Viola twisted her body excitedly and nudged Rachel’s side with her elbow.

Rachel suppressed a laugh at Viola’s behavior. Then she let out a small sigh.

“I think I’ll head back now.”

“Already? The banquet has barely started.”

Viola asked with surprise. She looked worried, seemingly concerned she might have teased her too much.

“I’m just a bit tired. I’ve danced, I’ve had some drinks. That’s enough for me.”

“…That’s too bad. Stay a little longer.”

“It hasn’t been long since we returned. I want to go home and rest comfortably.”

Viola couldn’t keep Rachel any longer and reluctantly agreed.

“Alright. You must be tired, go home and rest well.”

“I will. See you.”

After briefly saying goodbye to Viola, Rachel glanced at Tervan. He nodded at her with a concerned expression.

After checking on Tervan, Rachel turned and headed toward the exit of the hall.

After waiting outside for a moment, the Pluret family carriage soon arrived in front of the hall.

Rachel boarded the carriage with Catrin’s assistance.

“Please depart.”

“Yes.”

When Catrin spoke, the coachman set the carriage in motion. As the carriage slowly moved, Catrin sat up straight and looked at Rachel.

“By the way, miss, why are you leaving so early today?”

“It hasn’t been long since we returned from the subjugation team. I’m tired and just want to sleep.”

“Ah! Of course. Then please rest your eyes for a bit during the journey.”

“I will. Thank you, Catrin.”

Catrin placed a cushion beside Rachel. Rachel rested her head on the cushion and quietly closed her eyes.

Strangely, a feeling of something lacking remained uncomfortably in her heart.

* * *

“Miss, Miss!”

Rachel’s peaceful afternoon began with Catrin’s commotion.

Rachel, who had been flipping through a magic book, turned her gaze from the book to check on Catrin who had entered the study.

Having rushed in, Catrin was breathing heavily, her breath reaching up to her chin.

“Catrin, are you alright?”

Rachel approached Catrin and gently patted her back.

Having finally calmed her breathing, Catrin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“I’m sorry, miss. Was I too dramatic?”

“No. And next time, try not to run so you don’t fall.”

“Yes, I’ll do that! Oh, miss! A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

Rachel tilted her head.

She could think of a few people who might visit without any prior notice.

Namely, Viola and Tervan.

As they were her longtime friends who occasionally visited without notice, they were the first people Rachel thought of when she heard about a guest.

But soon she realized that if it were them, Catrin wouldn’t have made such a fuss.

“Who is it?”

“Don’t be surprised when you hear this. It’s Duke Morgan Bermund!”

“…Who did you say?”

Rachel asked in disbelief. Catrin, thinking Rachel was simply surprised, smiled brightly and answered again.

“Duke Bermund! As you know, he’s the man all noble ladies admire most after the Crown Prince! He’s come to see you! I heard Duke Bermund also attended the recent banquet. Do you think he might have fallen for you?”

Catrin spoke with an expectant, excited face. But Rachel was displeased about Duke Bermund’s visit.

“That’s not possible, Catrin. By the way, what business does Duke Bermund have here? Was there perhaps an appointment with my parents?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, miss. I think I got too excited. I haven’t heard the details, but it doesn’t seem like there was any communication with the master or mistress. Above all, Duke Bermund said he came to see you.”

Catrin answered while observing Rachel’s expression, having belatedly realized that Rachel didn’t look pleased.

Since Rachel had returned from joining the subjugation team, Catrin somehow found it difficult to deal with her.

Today was no different.

Normally, Rachel would have shown curiosity at Catrin’s words, but instead she was showing a displeased reaction.

Thinking that something must have happened in the Monster Forest, Catrin waited for Rachel’s response.

“Alright. I’ll go now.”

“Yes, I’ll guide you.”

Rachel followed Catrin’s guidance and arrived at the reception room where Duke Bermund was waiting.

In front of the reception room, several of Duke Bermund’s employees were waiting. They bowed their heads in greeting when they saw Rachel.

Knock, knock. Catrin knocked on the reception room door.

“Miss Rachel has arrived.”

After announcing to those inside, Catrin opened the door.

Rachel took a moment to compose herself and then stepped inside.

Duke Bermund, who had been sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed until Rachel entered, rose leisurely from his seat.

“You’ve arrived.”

“I apologize for keeping you waiting. As I didn’t receive any notice of your visit, I regrettably made you wait.”

“Not at all. It was my oversight, so please don’t worry about it.”

Duke Bermund smiled, showing his teeth.

His smiling face was beautiful enough that the Rachel of the past might have felt her heart flutter once.

[So this is the guy? The one who knew where I was. Last time I stayed quiet because you told me to, but he really has an annoying face.]

Creon snickered and muttered toward Rachel.

For once, Rachel didn’t argue with Creon’s comment.

“Let’s sit down first.”

Rachel gestured toward the sofa.

Duke Bermund obediently sat down as Rachel suggested.

“So may I ask what business brings you to see me?”

Duke Bermund stared directly at Rachel, who had gotten straight to the point as soon as she sat down.

His gaze appeared quite friendly, but Rachel detected a cold light within it.

“You’re getting straight to the point. Even though I’m an uninvited guest, couldn’t you at least offer me a cup of tea?”

Duke Bermund asked Rachel rather shamelessly.

Although it was Duke Bermund who had rudely visited without notice, Rachel couldn’t respond in kind, so she rang a bell to call a maid.

“Did you call for me, miss?”

A maid entered and asked politely with her head bowed. Rachel briefly looked at her and then turned to Duke Bermund.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Bellin tea from Mount Madovel would be nice.”

Rachel frowned at Duke Bermund’s audacity in requesting a difficult-to-obtain tea while being an uninvited guest. But she quickly restored her expression.

“Two cups of Bellin tea, please.”

“Yes, miss.”

After confirming that the maid had left, Rachel looked at Duke Bermund.

“The tea will be ready soon. So while we wait, shall we get to the point?”

Duke Bermund nodded readily at Rachel’s suggestion.

“Actually, I came to apologize for yesterday.”

“…”

Rachel couldn’t help but frown again in disbelief.

By any measure, Duke Bermund’s attitude was not that of someone who had come to apologize.

Rachel couldn’t understand Duke Bermund’s behavior—committing another rudeness today to apologize for yesterday’s rudeness.

“You came… to apologize?”

“Yes. If I was rude yesterday, I’m truly sorry. I apologize.”

Duke Bermund bowed his head in apology.

Rachel looked at Duke Bermund with a complicated expression and kept her mouth firmly shut.

Duke Bermund smiled at Rachel.

[Humans are such complex and strange beings.]

Creon, who had been observing the entire situation, muttered softly as he watched Duke Bermund’s composed demeanor.