Julia asked inwardly, smiling inwardly as if she was puzzled. Then Iris opened her eyes wide and put down her teacup with a loud noise.
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"...Your Highness the Grand Duchess."
The refined eyes that were raised upwards trembled. The expression was extremely cold, and the voice was stiff like someone fighting.
In the past, it would have seemed like something that was just plain unpleasant, but strangely enough, now it was completely different.
"...Are you panicking?"
Julia chuckled, thinking that perhaps she had been wearing colored glasses all along. She felt the blue eyes staring at her grow wide again, nervously.
Well, I guess I'll stop here now.
"I don't like it, I love it."
"Yes?"
"I really, really, love lemon cookies."
Julia took a bite of a cookie while casually saying that the weather was really nice today. The refreshing taste of lemon mixed with the softness of the cookie, made her mouth tingle.
"Hahaha! Your Majesty, your jokes are really good. To the point where even Madam was fooled!"
Duke Hyde burst into laughter at Iris, who was dumbfounded. Julia, who had finished off a small cookie, smiled brightly and put one in Iris' hand.
"Thank you, it's so delicious. Madam, you should try some too."
"...Your Majesty."
Oh, crying again!
Julia was startled and quickly handed her the warm wet towel on the silver tray.
Iris held a cookie in one hand and a wet towel in the other, and wiped her still-cold, upturned eyes. If only she hadn't sniffled, she didn't look like she was crying, but rather like she was going to pick a fight.
"Madam, please stop crying. Aren't you feeling tired?"
Duke Hyde patted Iris with the corner of his mouth hanging over his ear. Iris nodded, sniffling, and emptied the cup of tea Duke Hyde handed her before speaking to Julia.
"Dinner will be better than cookies.."
So, he meant that they should eat dinner together. Although it wasn't very friendly, Iris's desire to look good in front of Julia was clearly evident.
Julia smiled at Iris, who was watching her carefully.
"Great."
Iris's expression, which had been tense, suddenly brightened at those words. Julia's heart also pounded at the sight.
Although they were still awkward, Julia was very happy about this change in their relationship. She was even happier because she had always wanted to be close to Iris since she was little, and she never imagined that it would happen after 12 years.
"Hmm. Does Your Majesty have a particular favorite dessert?"
"No, I eat anything."
"Oh! Then how about ginger caramel cookies? The chef at the royal palace recently developed these and they are really delicious."
"...Except for the ginger."
"Oh. Then the raisin cookies..."
Julia and Iris continued their conversation, shyly, like children meeting for the first time. It was warm, but whenever things got awkward, Duke Hyde would intervene like licorice, and the tea time continued pleasantly.
As time passed, the teapot became empty.
Knock knock.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness. Everything is ready."
"Oh, you worked hard!"
Although Hyde Mansion was famous for being large and spacious, the royal couple's sudden visit meant that the rooms were only cleaned up by the time tea time was over.
"Yes. I'll see you at dinner."
Since there was still some time until dinner, Julia, who had not yet recovered, decided to get some rest before dinner.
As Julia greeted the Duke and Duchess with a smile and stood up, the maids of the Duke and Duchess of Hyde's house lined up and bowed.
"Your Majesty, we will serve you."
"There is no need for that."
Endymion suddenly appeared, walking across the drawing room. Duke Hyde jumped up and greeted him.
"Your Majesty. I was already worried and was about to go and check it out! How did it go?!"
"We will discuss that later."
Endymion spoke to Duke Hyde expressionlessly and stopped in front of Julia.
"I will bring you there, Your Majesty."
Endymion reached out his hand to her. The maids who had been trying to support him quickly stepped back.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Julia readily accepted Endymion's outstretched hand, greeted him, and left the drawing room.
***
The room wasn't that far away, but the mansion was so big that it took a few minutes to walk. But maybe because she was relaxed, Julia was still quite tired even though she was walking slowly.
Finally, as Julia was walking down the long marble hallway, she let out a sigh without realizing it. Suddenly, both feet lifted off the ground.
“Ah!”
"Stay still."
Endymion, who had put his arms behind Julia's knees and lifted her up, began to walk briskly as if it wasn't tiring. She could feel the maids following behind her letting out small exclamations.
"Thank you, Mion."
Julia smiled awkwardly and put her arms around his neck. It was her first time doing something like this, so she was surprised, but it felt good to be carried by his wide arms and hold him securely.
There was no answer, but when she looked up, she saw Endymion slightly lowering his eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered thinly like butterfly wings.
'Anyway, siblings are equally affectionate in silence.'
Julia forced down the corners of her lips that were naturally rising and smiled quietly. As she quickly and comfortably reached the room, wrapped in Endymion's arms, the maids disappeared into the bathroom for a moment to prepare for their bath.
Endymion placed Julia down on a large, soft bed.
"Hey, Mion. How did the hunting competition go?"
Julia asked cautiously, sitting on the edge of the bed. Endymion knelt down on one knee and straightened Julia's tangled skirt, saying.
"All future plans have been canceled. Duke Soare has been immediately taken to prison, and the Princess has also left, so she will be taken to prison soon. An investigation into those involved is also scheduled."
"I see."
Treason will lead to destruction regardless of status, so no matter how connected they are to Tirve, they will not be able to avoid that fate.
There was a moment of silence. Julia lost in thought, looked down at Endymion, who was loosening the bandages tightly tied around her ankles, and then opened her mouth.
"What on earth happened? Groven definitely showed up, but then disappeared without a trace in an instant."
Everyone is fooled by Chiara's words and thinks Julia is lying, but Endymion isn't. He believed her words without a moment's hesitation and eventually exposed Chiara's plot one by one. Thanks to that, everything was resolved well, but the question about Groven still remained.
"I heard that there are cases where mutants appear among the demons. The one you saw was a mutant Groven, so it may have special abilities. Anyway, I ordered them to focus on investigating that part, so don't worry."
"I guess so?"
Julia smiled brightly at Endymion's calm explanation. It was because Endymion trusted her without doubting her for even a moment.
Still...
'It seemed like it didn't want to kill Chiara.'
A demon that behaves like that would be a pet, not a mutant. And it wouldn't be Groven, who has low intelligence.
She felt like she had to look into this from a 'that' perspective.
'Of course, unofficially.'
Because it would be bad if it were known.
While Julia was lost in thought for a moment, Endymion, who had already removed all of the bandages and untied all of the bandages on her wrists, raised the corners of his lips slightly.
"Yes. Now just worry about getting better."
"Yes. I got it."
By the way, it had already been a week since the coming-of-age ceremony. Julia collapsed backward and buried herself in the bed.
"Oh, really. I even got new shoes ready to dance with you at the coming-of-age ceremony! If my ankle isn't fully healed by then and I can't wear them, I won't be able to dance with you."
"Why? You can just wear something else."
As she playfully grumbled in a bright mood, Endymion suddenly frowned and asked. Julia giggled and began to complain in a complaining tone.
"No. Without those shoes, it would be too hard to dance with you! You're so tall that my neck always hurts when I stand face-to-face with you. I told you that after dancing with you at the last ball, my neck and shoulders almost hurt so much that I almost died. That's why the shoes I prepared this time are specially made of 15 cm heels..."
As Julia chattered cheerfully, there was a knock on the door and a maid cautiously entered through the open door.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry, but the only clothes that Your Majesty can wear right now are the Duchess's clothes, so I will call the mansion's tailor to have them altered. I ask for your understanding..."
"Oh, of course it's fine! I'll tell the Duchess thank you."
Julia jumped out of bed like lightning and smiled elegantly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Then, could you please tell me your measurements? I will immediately notify the tailor and have them all made new."
The maid, her face brightening, came over and asked.
Normally, this would be handled by the chief maid, who was close to the Queen, but since the visit was so urgent, none of the maids from the Queen's palace were there. Julia tried to answer absentmindedly but then made a face of embarrassment.
This was because Julia had never bought or made clothes herself, not even once, not when she was young or after she got married. It was always the women below her who made them for her!
"Or you can tell me your underwear size."
The maid noticed the awkwardness and added thoughtfully, although it didn't help much.
"Oh, so, um..."
It was when Julia was speechless and embarrassed.
"Agnes, Tethys, Alos."
Endymion said, picking up a book from the table. It was a three-size book for women's underwear.
"The Queen is not feeling well right now, so let's make her a little more comfortable."
"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty! Then, Your Majesty, I will come back to see you soon!"
The maid disappeared in relief, having received the answer she wanted. Endymion sat down comfortably on the sofa and began to turn the pages of the book.
After a few seconds, Endymion looked up, realizing that Julia's gaze was fixed on him.
"Why?"
At the calm voice, Julia's wide-open purple eyes fluttered slightly.
"... How do you know my underwear size?"
A bedroom filled with silence. Endymion stopped turning the pages of a book and just blinked silently.
What, what... Why isn't he answering?
Julia stood up hesitantly and moved as far away from where she was sitting as possible.
"Surely you…!”
"Hunting clothes."
The moment she cried out in amazement at the certainty of the silence, the answer came back quickly.
"What?"
"You asked me to give you a hunting suit. I asked your maid because of the measurements."
Julia paused at the plausible story. Now that she think about it, she had forgotten she had said that.
Did you call me and ask me privately? Leticia? Chloe? Or Eva?
"I tried to keep it a secret, what a shame."
Endymion sighed and turned the page again. Julia, who had been tilting her head with a puzzled expression, found Endymion with his lips sticking out in a pout.
Perhaps he was trying to surprise her with a gift when she had forgotten to mention it. He was trying to prepare it secretly, but he got caught in the beginning and looked sullen, just like when he was a child.
Julia finally let down her guard and approached Endymion, bursting into laughter.
"I'm sorry. I almost had a strange misunderstanding again."
"Misunderstanding?"
"No, it would be weird if you knew my underwear size that I don't even know. It seems a bit perverted..."
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