The 3rd Prince's 'villa' was a castle so beautiful that it left one speechless.
Below the castle, which was perched on a steep cliff, water occasionally rose through the cracks in the oddly shaped rocks covered in green moss.
The white sand beach made of silvery silica shined beautifully when exposed to sunlight, blurring the boundary between the sea and the sand.
The castle, which was situated like a picture in a beautiful landscape, was just as splendid as the Prince's palace.
'Indeed...'
'He's a Prince who is exceptional at spending money extravagantly.'
A complex expression appeared on the faces of the nobles who were swallowing their words.
Dorothea was more worried that she might ruin things by giving power to the incompetent Richard, but the castle in front of her was not worth ignoring.
“It was a good decision to come here. It’s a really great place.”
“It’s something the Third Prince would be so proud of.”
A triumphant look came over Richard's face at the 'courtesy compliments' offered by Dorothea and Valerie.
Before several of the vice ministers who were about to make a statement could take action, a group of people approached the group.
The moment he saw the figure in front, a color came over Richard's face.
Kiel Spencer, accompanied by several others, approached with his long, glossy black hair flowing down, and spoke to them affectionately.
“Welcome to Spencer Territory. We have heard of your visit from the Prince, and have prepared, however imperfectly, to welcome our distinguished guests.”
Everyone greeted each other with a fairly polite greeting.
Kiel's eyes finally rested on Colin, who was standing a little way away.
Colin Highclere's face was so pale that one could almost hear the blood draining from his sensitive face.
“Oh, Sir Colin, I guess you’ve had a hard time on your long journey.”
Kiel looked at it delicately.
Seeing Count Spencer, who, unlike Richard, was highly prepared and had an impeccable attitude of caring for his party, the others also put down their heavy hearts.
'Even the table that the prince ruined would be cleaned up by Count Spencer.'
Kiel reached out his hand to Colin very kindly.
“If you are tired, you may want to rest in your room for a while. We have prepared a spacious bedroom for you.”
“There is no need for rest.”
Colin nervously rejected his suggestion, emphasizing the word 'bedroom'.
He turned to Philip, who was standing a step behind him, and added a word.
“I plan to share a room with you.”
Philip hesitated for a moment at the suggestion he made for the first time after becoming a 'father', but soon nodded with a picturesque smile.
He doesn't know about anything else, but there must be a reason why 'Colin' is so cautious.
As soon as Philip nodded, Kiel looked at Colin with a look of great regret.
It was certain that he was a strange person.
This made Colin, who rarely showed his 'emotions' and thus did not appear human, express his extreme discomfort.
'Besides, it seems like I have some kind of connection with Thea...'
When Philip suggested that he investigate Count Spencer himself, Dorothea shook her head.
'You can't repay a favor with enmity. Leave him alone for now. At least until it turns out he has other ideas.'
Does that mean that even if you have other intentions, you will be left alone as long as you don't do anything directly harmful?
Or does it mean that since the truth has not been fully revealed yet, one should not act rashly?
Just when Philip's mind was starting to get complicated, Aiden, who had long since lost interest in things like manners, chimed in with a hearty laugh.
“Oh my, brother. How can you be so special in your love for your son?”
“...”
“Philip is a man now and he should be independent. What do you mean, sharing a bedroom?”
A voice as dry as Colin's hardened face spoke.
“Whatever happens to my child, it is my decision.”
“Do you like that little kid so much? Do you want to sleep with him in your arms in bed?”
“I didn’t say I would hug him. I just said I would sleep in the same room.”
Despite the frosty words, Aiden nodded happily as if he understood everything.
Then he patted his nephew Philip on the shoulder.
“Your father seems to love and care for you very much, even though he’s like that. Of course, overprotection isn’t a good thing, but he’s a gentleman who doesn’t have many places to put his affection, so you should understand.”
Colin's cheek trembled slightly, but fortunately, no one saw it.
Philip smiled as if he didn't know what was going on while listening to his uncle's nonsense, and fixed his gaze on Count Spencer, who was introducing his companions.
“She is Baroness Jenix, who is in charge of the castle. As you all know, she was once Prince Richard’s wet nurse, and is also a long-time friend of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The caretakers in charge of food, clothing, and shelter greeted them one by one, led by the elegantly bowed wife.
“You must be hungry after coming a long way. We have prepared a meal to help you recover from the long journey.”
“...”
Everyone who arrived and enjoyed a feast more splendid and comfortable than anyone else was speechless.
Only Richard nodded with a serious face.
“My body was so stiff that it was very hard to ride in the carriage. And I had no appetite when I tried to eat outside food. As expected, only my nanny understands my suffering.”
It wasn't that far away.
Even so, there are more than five people who serve him, he rides alone in a specially-made imperial carriage, and he even orders hunting to eat cooked meat for every meal.
A moment of bewilderment passed across the faces of those who remained silent.
“Okay, then.”
Dorothea, who had been looking down, took a few steps forward and stood in front of Baroness Jenix.
“You have done a great job maintaining such a beautiful castle, Madam.”
“I’m sorry. How can it compare to Young Lady’s hard work?”
“Before receiving the delegation, we must check all the conditions to make thorough preparations.”
“I have already organized and uploaded all the budgets and plans.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Dorothea's face.
In the first place, it didn't matter who gave or received the speech.
The diplomatic mission and all is just a shiny apricot that was left to the Emperor's few words.
If the other person had prepared everything in advance, there was no need to get involved in a pointless fight, so it was like blowing your nose without raising a hand.
“I look forward to dinner.”
Dorothea's eyes turned to the castle's spires that seemed to reach the sky.
The crow sitting on it flew away as if its eyes had met.
“I’m a little curious as to why you insisted on coming here.”
"Yes?"
“I never really cared about entertaining the delegation in the first place.”
Dorothea smiled at Valerie's gentle words.
“It is His Majesty's honor. I should also pay some attention to it.”
“And yet, you’re acting as if you’ve handed over all authority to the Third Prince?”
“If there are capable people, it is the manager’s job to use them.”
If the result is good, it is better to attract a lot of people, and if it is bad...
Especially when the Prince is involved, it is easy to pass the buck.
Valerie smiled silently as if she had read all of Dorothea's thoughts.
She stretched out her pure white hands and began to remove Dorothea's accessories as if she were a maid.
Earrings, bracelets, hair accessories...
Sharp objects that could have easily been used as weapons were torn off the body.
The delicate touch did not cause any pain.
“Okay, Thea. Let me put your head down so you can walk more comfortably.”
Even the maids who stayed by her side had a hard time doing so, but Valerie stood by Dorothea's side as if it were her calling and helped her with her difficult changing of clothes.
It was a very familiar skill, as always.
“Valerie.”
"Yes?"
“After dinner, I think it would be a good idea to ask for a separate room.”
Finally, the hand that was tidying up her clothes stopped for a moment.
Dorothea added, smiling at her kind friend who looked puzzled.
“I think it would be better for each of us to go to bed tonight.”
Valery Germain, who often slept in the same room as her friend when she was invited to stay overnight, nodded with a look of regret.
“Okay, if that’s what you want.”
Dorothea's smile grew even brighter at her friend's attitude of saying yes without even asking why.
Both girls got up at the sound of a knock and the news that a banquet hall was being prepared downstairs.
As the two girls walked down the path, holding hands closely, Freed followed them silently like a shadow.
Strangers lining both sides of the hallway bowed politely to Dorothea and her party as they passed them.
The banquet was splendid, but the nobles, tired of Richard's rampage, chose to retire early.
Anyway, the full-scale field trip was scheduled to begin the next day.
Those who had even avoided the banquet and had shut themselves in their rooms went to bed early, and as the dim night deepened, someone knocked on Dorothea's door.
“You may come in.”
“I can’t see the escort who was always by your side.”
As expected, it was Kiel Spencer who knocked on Dorothea's door late at night.
As the door closed and he fully entered the room, Dorothea took a few steps back and bowed down slowly, just as she had when they first met, to greet him again.
“I meet my benefactor.”
“... That’s right. Even back then, you kept calling me your benefactor.”
“You can lower your voice.”
“Now, you are the Marquis’s daughter. At that time, I didn’t know, so I tolerated it, but now, I can’t.”
“Regardless of my status, you are my benefactor.”
“...”
She owes him her life, not once, but twice.
The man's quirks were certainly too kind and affectionate to be ignored.
Kiel, who had been silent for a moment, placed the small lantern he was holding in his hand on the narrow table and opened his mouth.
“It seems that Young Lady was the one who bit the guard who was supposed to be at the door.”
“I asked my friend to come here with me.”
She made the excuse that Aiden would be there for her.
The taciturn escort, perhaps sensing Dorothea's intention to put him to sleep if he refused to leave, meekly stepped aside.
“Ah, you’re talking about that cute girl. She gives off a completely different vibe from you, which was a bit strange.”
It was almost like a scene of herbivores and carnivores meeting each other.
He muttered softly and chuckled.
“Surprisingly, there are some things that work.”
Kiel, who had been staring blankly at Dorothea, who had tilted her head slightly as he added that, suddenly got back to the main point.
“Was it to meet me that you provoked Richard to come down here?”
“I finally got to know the name of my benefactor. Shouldn’t I come and pay my respects to the one who has shown me such kindness?”
Kiel's long fingers tapped the table.
“Well... I think I made my intentions clear enough by not exchanging names when we parted ways.”
“I can help you more than you think, my benefactor.”
It wasn't because she was the Marquis's granddaughter.
Dorothea's eyes could clearly see the man's soul, cracked and gaping, painfully clear.
The man's condition had become 'much' more serious than before.
“You must have been in pain every night.”
A quiet voice asked as if it understood the pain Kiel was enduring.
“Don’t you want to be liberated?”
If he made a 'contract' with Colin, he would be able to offset to some extent the constant hallucinations, insomnia, negative energies that he would naturally be drawn to, and the corrupted humans.
“I can relieve the suffering of my benefactor that even the priests could not touch.”
It was indeed a sweet offer.
Below the castle, which was perched on a steep cliff, water occasionally rose through the cracks in the oddly shaped rocks covered in green moss.
The white sand beach made of silvery silica shined beautifully when exposed to sunlight, blurring the boundary between the sea and the sand.
The castle, which was situated like a picture in a beautiful landscape, was just as splendid as the Prince's palace.
'Indeed...'
'He's a Prince who is exceptional at spending money extravagantly.'
A complex expression appeared on the faces of the nobles who were swallowing their words.
Dorothea was more worried that she might ruin things by giving power to the incompetent Richard, but the castle in front of her was not worth ignoring.
“It was a good decision to come here. It’s a really great place.”
“It’s something the Third Prince would be so proud of.”
A triumphant look came over Richard's face at the 'courtesy compliments' offered by Dorothea and Valerie.
Before several of the vice ministers who were about to make a statement could take action, a group of people approached the group.
The moment he saw the figure in front, a color came over Richard's face.
Kiel Spencer, accompanied by several others, approached with his long, glossy black hair flowing down, and spoke to them affectionately.
“Welcome to Spencer Territory. We have heard of your visit from the Prince, and have prepared, however imperfectly, to welcome our distinguished guests.”
Everyone greeted each other with a fairly polite greeting.
Kiel's eyes finally rested on Colin, who was standing a little way away.
Colin Highclere's face was so pale that one could almost hear the blood draining from his sensitive face.
“Oh, Sir Colin, I guess you’ve had a hard time on your long journey.”
Kiel looked at it delicately.
Seeing Count Spencer, who, unlike Richard, was highly prepared and had an impeccable attitude of caring for his party, the others also put down their heavy hearts.
'Even the table that the prince ruined would be cleaned up by Count Spencer.'
Kiel reached out his hand to Colin very kindly.
“If you are tired, you may want to rest in your room for a while. We have prepared a spacious bedroom for you.”
“There is no need for rest.”
Colin nervously rejected his suggestion, emphasizing the word 'bedroom'.
He turned to Philip, who was standing a step behind him, and added a word.
“I plan to share a room with you.”
Philip hesitated for a moment at the suggestion he made for the first time after becoming a 'father', but soon nodded with a picturesque smile.
He doesn't know about anything else, but there must be a reason why 'Colin' is so cautious.
As soon as Philip nodded, Kiel looked at Colin with a look of great regret.
It was certain that he was a strange person.
This made Colin, who rarely showed his 'emotions' and thus did not appear human, express his extreme discomfort.
'Besides, it seems like I have some kind of connection with Thea...'
When Philip suggested that he investigate Count Spencer himself, Dorothea shook her head.
'You can't repay a favor with enmity. Leave him alone for now. At least until it turns out he has other ideas.'
Does that mean that even if you have other intentions, you will be left alone as long as you don't do anything directly harmful?
Or does it mean that since the truth has not been fully revealed yet, one should not act rashly?
Just when Philip's mind was starting to get complicated, Aiden, who had long since lost interest in things like manners, chimed in with a hearty laugh.
“Oh my, brother. How can you be so special in your love for your son?”
“...”
“Philip is a man now and he should be independent. What do you mean, sharing a bedroom?”
A voice as dry as Colin's hardened face spoke.
“Whatever happens to my child, it is my decision.”
“Do you like that little kid so much? Do you want to sleep with him in your arms in bed?”
“I didn’t say I would hug him. I just said I would sleep in the same room.”
Despite the frosty words, Aiden nodded happily as if he understood everything.
Then he patted his nephew Philip on the shoulder.
“Your father seems to love and care for you very much, even though he’s like that. Of course, overprotection isn’t a good thing, but he’s a gentleman who doesn’t have many places to put his affection, so you should understand.”
Colin's cheek trembled slightly, but fortunately, no one saw it.
Philip smiled as if he didn't know what was going on while listening to his uncle's nonsense, and fixed his gaze on Count Spencer, who was introducing his companions.
“She is Baroness Jenix, who is in charge of the castle. As you all know, she was once Prince Richard’s wet nurse, and is also a long-time friend of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The caretakers in charge of food, clothing, and shelter greeted them one by one, led by the elegantly bowed wife.
“You must be hungry after coming a long way. We have prepared a meal to help you recover from the long journey.”
“...”
Everyone who arrived and enjoyed a feast more splendid and comfortable than anyone else was speechless.
Only Richard nodded with a serious face.
“My body was so stiff that it was very hard to ride in the carriage. And I had no appetite when I tried to eat outside food. As expected, only my nanny understands my suffering.”
It wasn't that far away.
Even so, there are more than five people who serve him, he rides alone in a specially-made imperial carriage, and he even orders hunting to eat cooked meat for every meal.
A moment of bewilderment passed across the faces of those who remained silent.
“Okay, then.”
Dorothea, who had been looking down, took a few steps forward and stood in front of Baroness Jenix.
“You have done a great job maintaining such a beautiful castle, Madam.”
“I’m sorry. How can it compare to Young Lady’s hard work?”
“Before receiving the delegation, we must check all the conditions to make thorough preparations.”
“I have already organized and uploaded all the budgets and plans.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Dorothea's face.
In the first place, it didn't matter who gave or received the speech.
The diplomatic mission and all is just a shiny apricot that was left to the Emperor's few words.
If the other person had prepared everything in advance, there was no need to get involved in a pointless fight, so it was like blowing your nose without raising a hand.
“I look forward to dinner.”
Dorothea's eyes turned to the castle's spires that seemed to reach the sky.
The crow sitting on it flew away as if its eyes had met.
***
“I’m a little curious as to why you insisted on coming here.”
"Yes?"
“I never really cared about entertaining the delegation in the first place.”
Dorothea smiled at Valerie's gentle words.
“It is His Majesty's honor. I should also pay some attention to it.”
“And yet, you’re acting as if you’ve handed over all authority to the Third Prince?”
“If there are capable people, it is the manager’s job to use them.”
If the result is good, it is better to attract a lot of people, and if it is bad...
Especially when the Prince is involved, it is easy to pass the buck.
Valerie smiled silently as if she had read all of Dorothea's thoughts.
She stretched out her pure white hands and began to remove Dorothea's accessories as if she were a maid.
Earrings, bracelets, hair accessories...
Sharp objects that could have easily been used as weapons were torn off the body.
The delicate touch did not cause any pain.
“Okay, Thea. Let me put your head down so you can walk more comfortably.”
Even the maids who stayed by her side had a hard time doing so, but Valerie stood by Dorothea's side as if it were her calling and helped her with her difficult changing of clothes.
It was a very familiar skill, as always.
“Valerie.”
"Yes?"
“After dinner, I think it would be a good idea to ask for a separate room.”
Finally, the hand that was tidying up her clothes stopped for a moment.
Dorothea added, smiling at her kind friend who looked puzzled.
“I think it would be better for each of us to go to bed tonight.”
Valery Germain, who often slept in the same room as her friend when she was invited to stay overnight, nodded with a look of regret.
“Okay, if that’s what you want.”
Dorothea's smile grew even brighter at her friend's attitude of saying yes without even asking why.
Both girls got up at the sound of a knock and the news that a banquet hall was being prepared downstairs.
As the two girls walked down the path, holding hands closely, Freed followed them silently like a shadow.
Strangers lining both sides of the hallway bowed politely to Dorothea and her party as they passed them.
***
The banquet was splendid, but the nobles, tired of Richard's rampage, chose to retire early.
Anyway, the full-scale field trip was scheduled to begin the next day.
Those who had even avoided the banquet and had shut themselves in their rooms went to bed early, and as the dim night deepened, someone knocked on Dorothea's door.
“You may come in.”
“I can’t see the escort who was always by your side.”
As expected, it was Kiel Spencer who knocked on Dorothea's door late at night.
As the door closed and he fully entered the room, Dorothea took a few steps back and bowed down slowly, just as she had when they first met, to greet him again.
“I meet my benefactor.”
“... That’s right. Even back then, you kept calling me your benefactor.”
“You can lower your voice.”
“Now, you are the Marquis’s daughter. At that time, I didn’t know, so I tolerated it, but now, I can’t.”
“Regardless of my status, you are my benefactor.”
“...”
She owes him her life, not once, but twice.
The man's quirks were certainly too kind and affectionate to be ignored.
Kiel, who had been silent for a moment, placed the small lantern he was holding in his hand on the narrow table and opened his mouth.
“It seems that Young Lady was the one who bit the guard who was supposed to be at the door.”
“I asked my friend to come here with me.”
She made the excuse that Aiden would be there for her.
The taciturn escort, perhaps sensing Dorothea's intention to put him to sleep if he refused to leave, meekly stepped aside.
“Ah, you’re talking about that cute girl. She gives off a completely different vibe from you, which was a bit strange.”
It was almost like a scene of herbivores and carnivores meeting each other.
He muttered softly and chuckled.
“Surprisingly, there are some things that work.”
Kiel, who had been staring blankly at Dorothea, who had tilted her head slightly as he added that, suddenly got back to the main point.
“Was it to meet me that you provoked Richard to come down here?”
“I finally got to know the name of my benefactor. Shouldn’t I come and pay my respects to the one who has shown me such kindness?”
Kiel's long fingers tapped the table.
“Well... I think I made my intentions clear enough by not exchanging names when we parted ways.”
“I can help you more than you think, my benefactor.”
It wasn't because she was the Marquis's granddaughter.
Dorothea's eyes could clearly see the man's soul, cracked and gaping, painfully clear.
The man's condition had become 'much' more serious than before.
“You must have been in pain every night.”
A quiet voice asked as if it understood the pain Kiel was enduring.
“Don’t you want to be liberated?”
If he made a 'contract' with Colin, he would be able to offset to some extent the constant hallucinations, insomnia, negative energies that he would naturally be drawn to, and the corrupted humans.
“I can relieve the suffering of my benefactor that even the priests could not touch.”
It was indeed a sweet offer.
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