“Scones...”
The plate was supposed to be completely empty, but... The maid looked at Dorothea with a pitiful look when she saw that there was quite a bit of food left.
The young-looking maid moved her lips as if she wanted to say something to Luke, but ended up leaving the room without saying anything.
Dorothea glanced up at the Prince standing there with a blunt face and spoke kindly.
“I’ll explain to you that I didn’t lose my appetite because of you.”
“It doesn’t matter what those people think.”
What do you mean by the thoughts of the employees?
Luke glanced at Dorothea, who shrugged and sat up straight, then added.
“Regardless of the reason, attempting to harm the Prince is treason. The Prince’s nanny did it out of personal feelings, and they went along with it.”
“Do you remember the day before? The day I first entered the palace and met His Majesty.”
“...”
At that time, Luke had entered the city as a triumphant general, attracting everyone's attention, and Richard was very displeased with his younger brother who had not only returned from the battlefield alive but had also made a great name for himself.
His discomfort did not stop at disliking the Seventh Prince but naturally extended to Dorothea, who was entangled with him.
“The maid who tried to take me to the Third Prince’s palace at that time, as well as her family, all died, but the punishment Richard received was only a few months of imprisonment.”
“So what?”
“For them, their homes would be torn apart, people would die overnight, and their lives would fall apart, but for the Third Prince, it would be nothing more than being tied up in the palace for a few months or not being able to enjoy grand banquets.”
As it has been so far, so it will be in the future.
“Isn’t that too unfair to them?”
“You seem to have forgotten, I am also a Prince.”
“I haven’t forgotten. It’s just that the fact that you are a Prince doesn’t really matter to me.”
Luke felt as if the slightest bit of resentment he had was flying away as he was dumbfounded by the reckless and outrageous words spoken by the girl in front of him.
“You talk to me as if I have no status.”
“No way.”
Dorothea continued, her chin resting on her hand as if in deep regret.
“After all, I know what kind of person Richard is, and I know what kind of intentions they had in cooperating with Madam, but I saved his life. I even plan to bring him to the palace without harming a single hair.”
It's like closing your eyes to someone who clearly knows that they are guilty of the greatest original sin.
“It was something that wouldn’t have succeeded anyway. Even that earnest desire was dashed, so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem to be punished for it.”
Covering up the incident was the least she could do.
It's not enough to call it that, but maybe you could call it the last remaining conscience.
“After all, my position is more important to me than right or wrong.”
Dorothea, who had been muttering with her chin resting on her hand, glanced at his still-cold face and smiled.
“If you don’t want to consider their circumstances, what about something else?”
The gray eyes that had been staring out the door turned to Dorothea.
“Please consider my circumstances.”
“...”
She and him met when they were at their most helpless and insignificant, struggling to survive.
And now, beyond just surviving, he lives to grab something a little greater, and she lives to protect the precious things she has grabbed.
“It might be hard to believe, but I care about you quite a bit.”
The once brightly shining gray eyes were still dry and bleak.
As she looked into those empty eyes that held nothing, she often wondered if it was the fact that she had brought up the only person Luke trusted as a child that had left him feeling so empty up until now.
At the time when she met what was truly her 'family', Luke lost the 'someone he thought of as family'.
What a cruel thing.
“They say that life is inherently tough and difficult.”
“...”
“Right now, you and I have the power to at least give others some breathing room. How about giving a little bit?”
Dorothea added in a leisurely, soft voice.
“Someday, this good deed may come back to you as another fate and destiny.”
“It won’t help me even if I look at that worthless life a few times.”
Luke turned his head away from the snickering Dorothea and walked away.
It seemed like he had seen everything she had wanted to show him, so he was ready to go back.
Before opening the door, he grabbed the handle and added softly.
“They have nothing to do with me, and raising them wouldn’t be of much help. There’s no need to bring them up.”
Dorothea watched Luke's back disappear as he opened the door with a faint smile on his face, then turned her expectant eyes toward Philip, who had entered the room.
“I didn’t finish eating the scone earlier, but now...”
“Eating too many snacks is bad for your eating habits.”
Dorothea rolled over, her body drooping at the soft but firm rejection.
“Living is not easy after all.”
It's a problem whether you receive love or not.
Aiden Highclere's scream echoed throughout the training grounds.
Rolling silently in front of him was Freed, who had been guarding Dorothea.
“No matter what, how can you treat someone sent by the Prince like that?”
It was something that could easily be seen as disrespectful to the Seventh Prince.
“It’s something Sir Aiden can do. Besides, since the 7th Prince doesn’t say anything, there’s no reason for the others to step forward.”
If it had been Richard, he would have been furious, saying that Aiden was trying to persecute the Prince's people and undermine his authority.
Luke didn't seem to care much about how the Highclere family treated Freed.
“Young Lady is really amazing.”
Someone shook their head with a weary look on their face.
One of the nobles who had been clicking his tongue took his eyes off the training ground and looked around.
“Now that I think about it, not only the Lady Highclare but also all the Young Ladies who came with her as friends are missing.”
"Ah..."
The young baron, who had been unable to put down the papers in his hands even while eating, frowned.
“I went to inspect the surrounding area with His Highness the Third Prince.”
“Around the castle? With His Highness the Third Prince?”
A look of doubt appeared on the face of the person asking the question with a trembling face.
The fact that it's only Richard and not anyone else is making it feel like its purpose and meaning are fading away.
At that moment, a strange light passed over the faces of the nobles who were conversing.
They looked up and exchanged glances, then looked down at the documents in her hands and the shabby plate next to her.
'How did things turn out like this?'
It was clear that they had come down here to take on an important role, but they were not happy with the fact that a Young Lady was the person in charge of leading them.
In addition, the situation became even more blatant after the young lady cleverly lured the Prince in intending to suppress them.
Because of that, she was half-deliberately procrastinating on her work.
Things changed when Dorothea appeared at one point with half her face gone.
While the rest of the party worked day and night, looking over documents, making plans, and reviewing budgets and plans, Dorothea went out to play with Richard under the pretext of 'recuperating'.
While they were busy working, barely able to satisfy their hunger with a few pieces of bread on their plates, unable to even have a proper meal, she was busy preparing a lavish meal of delicacies from the mountains and the sea from morning to night to nourish her body, claiming that it was to recover her health.
“There’s something wrong with this...!”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?”
The problem was that they were already in ant hell.
Someone muttered, running a hand down a tired face.
“If you do things half-heartedly now, what will we hear?”
“The problem is that Yeong Lady's complexion isn’t fake. She is the ones who go out and play and eat up food, but if you look at her condition, it’s not us who’ve been to the gates of the underworld from overwork.”
Their pale face, haggard from days of hardship, was no match for Dorothea's pale, bloodless face.
“Think of returning to the capital in this state and meeting His Majesty.”
Their faces are shining brightly, but if Young Lady goes in alone, they will be at odds with the Marquis of Highclere…
“Since His Majesty has not shown sincerity in the work he has put so much effort into, I will be accused of disloyalty.”
Deep sighs and silence filled the room.
And after a while, everyone silently opened their eyes and began to do their best at the task before them.
It was very sad, but there was nothing they could do.
“Thank you again today, Your Highness."
“What. I will never spare any expense for Lady's speedy recovery.”
Marilyn, who was behind him, lowered her head to hide her tired face as Richard laughed heartily.
No one raised their face as if they were all feeling the same way.
Richard looked at them with a very pleased look on his face.
'Those who are by Young Lady's side have discerning eyes.'
It was not such a flaw to bow one's head involuntarily before a royal family with such dignity as oneself.
Rather, those who bow down before a man of low birth like Luke, who only knows how to swing a sword, are the cowards.
“Anyway, Young Lady, don’t worry and just rest. If it’s work, shouldn’t it be left to others?”
“I have nothing but admiration for Your Highness’s wisdom.”
After her collapse, Dorothea ate meals rich in rare ingredients 'with Richard's money' every day as nourishment, and took walks to places with breathtakingly beautiful views.
'As expected, those who have spent money know how to spend it well.'
It was a frustrating thing for other hard-working nobles, but they couldn't argue about it.
No matter how much she ate delicious food, looked at beautiful scenery, and did her best to take care of herself, Dorothea's complexion showed no signs of improving.
“I will do my best to help Young Lady recover your health until you get better."
Richard wants to use that as an excuse to spend money and have fun.
Of course, the nobles who worked hard would intend to make the results their own achievements.
Dorothea returned to her room, pretending not to know the Third Prince's transparent intentions.
“I told you to call a therapist.”
Dorothea shrugged her shoulders at the words spoken by Dane, who had been following her.
“Even if I call him, he probably won’t know how to do anything.”
It took some time to fill her exhausted body with life again.
No special treatment could immediately return her body to its original state.
'If it's sorcery, then I don't know.'
However, she decided not to use that method.
“Are you planning on guarding my doorstep today too?”
“Philip is going to be busy for a while. And your escort is being taken care of by your uncle. He won’t have time to take care of you either.”
Everyone shook their heads at Aiden's misdeeds, but only the Highclere family knew.
What a great favor Aiden is doing.
Even Aiden, with his simple-minded ways, knows that Dorothea's deteriorating health is not the fault of her bodyguard, Freed.
Still, the reason he is pushed day and night is to further elevate his level.
To protect his precious niece from at least any threats from external enemies.
Dorothea's gaze turned to Dane's hand, which was fiddling with the sword belt at his waist.
“You can go to the training ground. If you want to be escorted, the knights in this castle can do it...“
“Yes. What do you think of me?”
One of Dane's eyebrows went up.
Dorothea's mouth snapped shut, unable to finish what she was about to say, at the faint anger in her voice.
“I know I’m not as smart as Philip, nor am I as capable of helping you as the others around you. Even Uncle Colin knows you better than I do.”
“...”
“Do you think that I’m not of much help to you, so you can just stay away from me and do whatever you want? Seeing how you are?”
Dorothea, who had been listening to the voice full of anger at the helplessness of not being able to do anything, asked softly.
“Who said it doesn’t help?”
“...”
“If you weren’t of any help, I would have written to Edwin long ago and asked him to take you home.”
In fact, things were made much easier thanks to Luke showing up at just the right time.
“You are different from Philip or Uncle Aiden.”
Unlike Dane, Philip has no powers to protect himself from danger. So it was difficult to ask him to approach the forest or to escort the young ladies.
Aiden has great skills, but he doesn't listen to others, so communication is difficult.
“I’m glad and relieved that you came here with Luke.”
Dane's neck turned bright red at the rare, honest compliment.
“You, you. Saying something like that so casually...!”
“That’s true. It’s my true heart.”
If it weren't for Dane, Dorothea would have put in a lot more effort to complete the painting she wanted.
Luke, unlike Dane, would not have simply followed her wishes.
Even though he has been treated as an outcast since birth, a Prince is still a Prince.
Since he was a person with a high price, he must have suffered considerable losses.
“If I had known, I would have come with you sooner. If you need me, just call me.”
“Yes, I’ll ask you if I need anything in the future.”
“Yeah. Well, if it’s your request, I can do it...“
Dane, whose shoulders were already high in the sky, licked his lips and tilted his head as he looked at the back of Dorothea's head as she returned to her room.
“But why didn’t you tell me to go with you when we left in the first place? Did you think I wouldn’t want to go?”
Dorothea glanced at the closed door, muttering, then took off the shawl she had been covering herself with and placed it on the chair next to her, responding softly.
“That’s because you have a cheap mouth.”
Edwin, who can also open his mouth, is smart.
Since he is the eldest grandson of the Marquis, he rarely leaves the capital, so he will be able to hear about Dorothea's every move through Dane.
"Haha."
Dorothea quickly raised her head at the sound of laughter coming from somewhere.
"Hi?"
Count Kiel, whose whereabouts had been unknown for some time, appeared from a corner of her room.
He had his long hair tied neatly and was dressed in a way that made it easy to hide.
“I came here despite my rudeness because the surrounding area is so impenetrable. Would it be okay if I talked to you for a bit?”
Dorothea nodded as she faced his beautiful smiling face.
Perhaps he had some news that would satisfy her.
The plate was supposed to be completely empty, but... The maid looked at Dorothea with a pitiful look when she saw that there was quite a bit of food left.
The young-looking maid moved her lips as if she wanted to say something to Luke, but ended up leaving the room without saying anything.
Dorothea glanced up at the Prince standing there with a blunt face and spoke kindly.
“I’ll explain to you that I didn’t lose my appetite because of you.”
“It doesn’t matter what those people think.”
What do you mean by the thoughts of the employees?
Luke glanced at Dorothea, who shrugged and sat up straight, then added.
“Regardless of the reason, attempting to harm the Prince is treason. The Prince’s nanny did it out of personal feelings, and they went along with it.”
“Do you remember the day before? The day I first entered the palace and met His Majesty.”
“...”
At that time, Luke had entered the city as a triumphant general, attracting everyone's attention, and Richard was very displeased with his younger brother who had not only returned from the battlefield alive but had also made a great name for himself.
His discomfort did not stop at disliking the Seventh Prince but naturally extended to Dorothea, who was entangled with him.
“The maid who tried to take me to the Third Prince’s palace at that time, as well as her family, all died, but the punishment Richard received was only a few months of imprisonment.”
“So what?”
“For them, their homes would be torn apart, people would die overnight, and their lives would fall apart, but for the Third Prince, it would be nothing more than being tied up in the palace for a few months or not being able to enjoy grand banquets.”
As it has been so far, so it will be in the future.
“Isn’t that too unfair to them?”
“You seem to have forgotten, I am also a Prince.”
“I haven’t forgotten. It’s just that the fact that you are a Prince doesn’t really matter to me.”
Luke felt as if the slightest bit of resentment he had was flying away as he was dumbfounded by the reckless and outrageous words spoken by the girl in front of him.
“You talk to me as if I have no status.”
“No way.”
Dorothea continued, her chin resting on her hand as if in deep regret.
“After all, I know what kind of person Richard is, and I know what kind of intentions they had in cooperating with Madam, but I saved his life. I even plan to bring him to the palace without harming a single hair.”
It's like closing your eyes to someone who clearly knows that they are guilty of the greatest original sin.
“It was something that wouldn’t have succeeded anyway. Even that earnest desire was dashed, so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem to be punished for it.”
Covering up the incident was the least she could do.
It's not enough to call it that, but maybe you could call it the last remaining conscience.
“After all, my position is more important to me than right or wrong.”
Dorothea, who had been muttering with her chin resting on her hand, glanced at his still-cold face and smiled.
“If you don’t want to consider their circumstances, what about something else?”
The gray eyes that had been staring out the door turned to Dorothea.
“Please consider my circumstances.”
“...”
She and him met when they were at their most helpless and insignificant, struggling to survive.
And now, beyond just surviving, he lives to grab something a little greater, and she lives to protect the precious things she has grabbed.
“It might be hard to believe, but I care about you quite a bit.”
The once brightly shining gray eyes were still dry and bleak.
As she looked into those empty eyes that held nothing, she often wondered if it was the fact that she had brought up the only person Luke trusted as a child that had left him feeling so empty up until now.
At the time when she met what was truly her 'family', Luke lost the 'someone he thought of as family'.
What a cruel thing.
“They say that life is inherently tough and difficult.”
“...”
“Right now, you and I have the power to at least give others some breathing room. How about giving a little bit?”
Dorothea added in a leisurely, soft voice.
“Someday, this good deed may come back to you as another fate and destiny.”
“It won’t help me even if I look at that worthless life a few times.”
Luke turned his head away from the snickering Dorothea and walked away.
It seemed like he had seen everything she had wanted to show him, so he was ready to go back.
Before opening the door, he grabbed the handle and added softly.
“They have nothing to do with me, and raising them wouldn’t be of much help. There’s no need to bring them up.”
Dorothea watched Luke's back disappear as he opened the door with a faint smile on his face, then turned her expectant eyes toward Philip, who had entered the room.
“I didn’t finish eating the scone earlier, but now...”
“Eating too many snacks is bad for your eating habits.”
Dorothea rolled over, her body drooping at the soft but firm rejection.
“Living is not easy after all.”
It's a problem whether you receive love or not.
***
Aiden Highclere's scream echoed throughout the training grounds.
Rolling silently in front of him was Freed, who had been guarding Dorothea.
“No matter what, how can you treat someone sent by the Prince like that?”
It was something that could easily be seen as disrespectful to the Seventh Prince.
“It’s something Sir Aiden can do. Besides, since the 7th Prince doesn’t say anything, there’s no reason for the others to step forward.”
If it had been Richard, he would have been furious, saying that Aiden was trying to persecute the Prince's people and undermine his authority.
Luke didn't seem to care much about how the Highclere family treated Freed.
“Young Lady is really amazing.”
Someone shook their head with a weary look on their face.
One of the nobles who had been clicking his tongue took his eyes off the training ground and looked around.
“Now that I think about it, not only the Lady Highclare but also all the Young Ladies who came with her as friends are missing.”
"Ah..."
The young baron, who had been unable to put down the papers in his hands even while eating, frowned.
“I went to inspect the surrounding area with His Highness the Third Prince.”
“Around the castle? With His Highness the Third Prince?”
A look of doubt appeared on the face of the person asking the question with a trembling face.
The fact that it's only Richard and not anyone else is making it feel like its purpose and meaning are fading away.
At that moment, a strange light passed over the faces of the nobles who were conversing.
They looked up and exchanged glances, then looked down at the documents in her hands and the shabby plate next to her.
'How did things turn out like this?'
It was clear that they had come down here to take on an important role, but they were not happy with the fact that a Young Lady was the person in charge of leading them.
In addition, the situation became even more blatant after the young lady cleverly lured the Prince in intending to suppress them.
Because of that, she was half-deliberately procrastinating on her work.
Things changed when Dorothea appeared at one point with half her face gone.
While the rest of the party worked day and night, looking over documents, making plans, and reviewing budgets and plans, Dorothea went out to play with Richard under the pretext of 'recuperating'.
While they were busy working, barely able to satisfy their hunger with a few pieces of bread on their plates, unable to even have a proper meal, she was busy preparing a lavish meal of delicacies from the mountains and the sea from morning to night to nourish her body, claiming that it was to recover her health.
“There’s something wrong with this...!”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?”
The problem was that they were already in ant hell.
Someone muttered, running a hand down a tired face.
“If you do things half-heartedly now, what will we hear?”
“The problem is that Yeong Lady's complexion isn’t fake. She is the ones who go out and play and eat up food, but if you look at her condition, it’s not us who’ve been to the gates of the underworld from overwork.”
Their pale face, haggard from days of hardship, was no match for Dorothea's pale, bloodless face.
“Think of returning to the capital in this state and meeting His Majesty.”
Their faces are shining brightly, but if Young Lady goes in alone, they will be at odds with the Marquis of Highclere…
“Since His Majesty has not shown sincerity in the work he has put so much effort into, I will be accused of disloyalty.”
Deep sighs and silence filled the room.
And after a while, everyone silently opened their eyes and began to do their best at the task before them.
It was very sad, but there was nothing they could do.
***
“Thank you again today, Your Highness."
“What. I will never spare any expense for Lady's speedy recovery.”
Marilyn, who was behind him, lowered her head to hide her tired face as Richard laughed heartily.
No one raised their face as if they were all feeling the same way.
Richard looked at them with a very pleased look on his face.
'Those who are by Young Lady's side have discerning eyes.'
It was not such a flaw to bow one's head involuntarily before a royal family with such dignity as oneself.
Rather, those who bow down before a man of low birth like Luke, who only knows how to swing a sword, are the cowards.
“Anyway, Young Lady, don’t worry and just rest. If it’s work, shouldn’t it be left to others?”
“I have nothing but admiration for Your Highness’s wisdom.”
After her collapse, Dorothea ate meals rich in rare ingredients 'with Richard's money' every day as nourishment, and took walks to places with breathtakingly beautiful views.
'As expected, those who have spent money know how to spend it well.'
It was a frustrating thing for other hard-working nobles, but they couldn't argue about it.
No matter how much she ate delicious food, looked at beautiful scenery, and did her best to take care of herself, Dorothea's complexion showed no signs of improving.
“I will do my best to help Young Lady recover your health until you get better."
Richard wants to use that as an excuse to spend money and have fun.
Of course, the nobles who worked hard would intend to make the results their own achievements.
Dorothea returned to her room, pretending not to know the Third Prince's transparent intentions.
“I told you to call a therapist.”
Dorothea shrugged her shoulders at the words spoken by Dane, who had been following her.
“Even if I call him, he probably won’t know how to do anything.”
It took some time to fill her exhausted body with life again.
No special treatment could immediately return her body to its original state.
'If it's sorcery, then I don't know.'
However, she decided not to use that method.
“Are you planning on guarding my doorstep today too?”
“Philip is going to be busy for a while. And your escort is being taken care of by your uncle. He won’t have time to take care of you either.”
Everyone shook their heads at Aiden's misdeeds, but only the Highclere family knew.
What a great favor Aiden is doing.
Even Aiden, with his simple-minded ways, knows that Dorothea's deteriorating health is not the fault of her bodyguard, Freed.
Still, the reason he is pushed day and night is to further elevate his level.
To protect his precious niece from at least any threats from external enemies.
Dorothea's gaze turned to Dane's hand, which was fiddling with the sword belt at his waist.
“You can go to the training ground. If you want to be escorted, the knights in this castle can do it...“
“Yes. What do you think of me?”
One of Dane's eyebrows went up.
Dorothea's mouth snapped shut, unable to finish what she was about to say, at the faint anger in her voice.
“I know I’m not as smart as Philip, nor am I as capable of helping you as the others around you. Even Uncle Colin knows you better than I do.”
“...”
“Do you think that I’m not of much help to you, so you can just stay away from me and do whatever you want? Seeing how you are?”
Dorothea, who had been listening to the voice full of anger at the helplessness of not being able to do anything, asked softly.
“Who said it doesn’t help?”
“...”
“If you weren’t of any help, I would have written to Edwin long ago and asked him to take you home.”
In fact, things were made much easier thanks to Luke showing up at just the right time.
“You are different from Philip or Uncle Aiden.”
Unlike Dane, Philip has no powers to protect himself from danger. So it was difficult to ask him to approach the forest or to escort the young ladies.
Aiden has great skills, but he doesn't listen to others, so communication is difficult.
“I’m glad and relieved that you came here with Luke.”
Dane's neck turned bright red at the rare, honest compliment.
“You, you. Saying something like that so casually...!”
“That’s true. It’s my true heart.”
If it weren't for Dane, Dorothea would have put in a lot more effort to complete the painting she wanted.
Luke, unlike Dane, would not have simply followed her wishes.
Even though he has been treated as an outcast since birth, a Prince is still a Prince.
Since he was a person with a high price, he must have suffered considerable losses.
“If I had known, I would have come with you sooner. If you need me, just call me.”
“Yes, I’ll ask you if I need anything in the future.”
“Yeah. Well, if it’s your request, I can do it...“
Dane, whose shoulders were already high in the sky, licked his lips and tilted his head as he looked at the back of Dorothea's head as she returned to her room.
“But why didn’t you tell me to go with you when we left in the first place? Did you think I wouldn’t want to go?”
Dorothea glanced at the closed door, muttering, then took off the shawl she had been covering herself with and placed it on the chair next to her, responding softly.
“That’s because you have a cheap mouth.”
Edwin, who can also open his mouth, is smart.
Since he is the eldest grandson of the Marquis, he rarely leaves the capital, so he will be able to hear about Dorothea's every move through Dane.
"Haha."
Dorothea quickly raised her head at the sound of laughter coming from somewhere.
"Hi?"
Count Kiel, whose whereabouts had been unknown for some time, appeared from a corner of her room.
He had his long hair tied neatly and was dressed in a way that made it easy to hide.
“I came here despite my rudeness because the surrounding area is so impenetrable. Would it be okay if I talked to you for a bit?”
Dorothea nodded as she faced his beautiful smiling face.
Perhaps he had some news that would satisfy her.
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