“...What is it?”
Gerald, his face quite gaunt after a few days, opened the door slightly and peeked out. He seemed ready to lock the door again if the news wasn't to his liking.
“What kind of attitude is that? This father went through so much trouble to grant your request...!”
To please Byron, he had to offer him his favorite drink, and after careful consideration and painstaking effort, he finally received his permission. But his son, he said, had such a calm expression.
“The guest at the annex gave permission. He said you could go out with that little girl!”
“...Really, Father? You’re not lying, are you?”
Gerald looked at the Count with distrust and asked.
He clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that if anyone saw him, they would think he had been deceived his entire life.
"Yes, you little punk. So hurry up and eat. If you keep this up, your mother will catch me and eat me."
The Count sighed, recalling the face of his terrifying wife, who had been clamoring for a divorce. He wondered what might have happened to him by now if he hadn't gotten Byron's permission... Just imagining it sent shivers down his spine.
And just as Gerald was leaving his room after a few days, eating, the news of his departure reached the other person, Aila.
“Yes? Father, what did you just say?”
"I heard there's a big festival coming up in the capital soon. Your father had promised you something, and it seemed like a good opportunity. I told you to come out and have fun."
When Aila asked, doubting her ears, Byron answered with a look of great thoughtfulness.
At first, she thought she had misheard, but when she heard it again, it still said, "You can go out and play in the city." So, Aila had a big question mark in her mind.
Now that she thinks about it, she remembers him saying he'd let her go out. She did hear that, but then she learned something so shocking that the idea of going out was long gone from her mind.
But why go out so suddenly? And on a festival day, at that.
Aila had only heard of festivals, but had never actually seen one in her life. She couldn't even imagine what the atmosphere would be like.
If only she could escape Byron's surveillance and blend in with the festive atmosphere.
Maybe she, too, could live like a normal person, if only for a day.
Continuing to worry about the curse on her body wouldn't change anything, and since she was going to go anyway, it didn't seem like a bad idea to just enjoy the festival in peace.
But the anticipation that had been building within her was shattered by the following news. She didn't like the person she was going with.
“And, since you're going with this guy’s son, I know that.”
It seemed like such a good offer, but there was a catch. A very big catch.
That annoying guy, going to the festival with Gerald. She began to suspect Byron was doing it on purpose to annoy Aila.
However, she could not rebel against Byron's efforts to do something for her by saying, "I don't like it."
If she continued to do so, she would be treated with disrespect for her father's sincerity, and it was easy to imagine how much more she would be tormented.
"...Yes."
Aila nodded obediently, though reluctantly. But Byron seemed to be displeased with that.
“It seems like you like going out to play with that kid?”
It was as if he was whining, 'You're a woman, so you think it's okay to date a man?'
Aila bit her lip in embarrassment. She couldn't figure out what he wanted her to do.
“...No, I... just need you to stay by my side. I’d be happy to go with you.”
She quickly thought about it and blurted out the line that would satisfy Byron the most. It was the kind of line a girl who only knew her father would say.
And the choice she made was correct. Byron smiled wryly and seemed quite pleased with her answer.
"Yes, I knew that my daughter would do that. But this father is a bit... unwilling to go out right now. Don't you understand, my daughter?"
Byron asked, running his fingers through her hair.
Aila resisted the touch, nodding with a faint smile on her lips.
Even so, she couldn't figure out why. She understood that Gerald wanted to go out with her, but she was puzzled as to why Byron had accepted it.
Wouldn't Byron be in a position to accept such a reckless request without gaining anything in return?
"I heard he's been a real nuisance. He promised not to do it again after you hang out just this once, so just bear with it this once."
And the question was soon answered when Byron stroked her head and said.
‘...Then I can endure it for a day or so.’
It was questionable whether that guy, who had no answers, would really keep his promise.
Aila nodded, saying she understood.
“Wow, it’s a ship! It’s a real ship!! Joseph, look at that! It’s huge!!”
A port in the southern part of the Peles Empire.
Winfred, who had found the ship he was going to board, pointed to it in an excited voice and shouted.
“...Your Highness, I am ashamed. Please, keep your dignity.”
Thanks to this, the chief steward standing next to him was covering his flushed face with both hands.
This wasn't his first time at sea, nor his first time seeing a ship. The Crown Prince, always curious, had been staring at him with sparkling eyes from the moment he heard he was leading a diplomatic mission abroad.
"But this is my first time seeing such a big ship. And it's my first time going abroad!"
As a child, Winfred had spent his vacations at a villa near the seaside, and he had even gone on a boat cruise on the lake, but this was a completely different experience.
Although he explained several times that this was a very important diplomatic mission, the first of its kind for the Crown Prince, Winfred was as excited as if he were going on a trip for pleasure.
“Isn’t Joseph great, too? It's so exciting!”
“Ahem, well, sometimes this kind of thing is okay.”
Although he spoke sternly, the chief Steward was actually a little excited.
Once he arrived in the Inselkov Kingdom and officially began diplomatic relations, he would be busy assisting the Crown Prince, but until then, it was not much different from a vacation aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Winfred chuckled softly, saying he'd known it, and walked toward the massive ship. Though he was walking, his steps felt light, as if he were flying above the clouds.
Winfred, who was running excitedly, stopped in his tracks when he saw a familiar face among those watching the Crown Prince's procession.
“...Director Eposher?”
Candice, who should have been at the Dukes' house, was caught up in the crowd.
Just before the delegation departed, the month-long ban was lifted, and they visited the Duke's residence to see Noah and Ophelia. At that time, Candice Eposher was staying at the Duke's residence.
It could be assumed that she had come to the port to return after a brief visit to look after Ophelia's health until she gave birth, having achieved her purpose.
But it was a little odd that Candice didn't even hint at returning to Winfred, with whom she had become quite close.
“Hey, what did you call me just now?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I think I misjudged you.”
Looking closely, she resembled Candice, but her face was slightly different. Furthermore, unlike her long, tied-back hair, this woman's gray hair was neatly and neatly cut.
The thick glasses that Candice always wore as if they were a part of her body were nowhere to be seen.
“That’s not it.. Wow, did His Highness the Crown Prince of the Peles Empire just speak to me? I guess I really did well raising my older sister.”
And the answer she got back from the woman was truly unexpected.
“Sister?”
When Winfred tilted his head in question, she introduced herself with a toothy grin, a smile so reminiscent of Candice Epoch.
“I’m Natalia Eposher. I’m Director Candice Eposher’s younger sister.”
Oh my gosh, what kind of coincidences are these?
Winfred's eyes widened as he studied the woman who introduced herself as Natalia. Though there were slight differences in details, she was truly a sister, just like her older sister, Candice.
“I didn’t know the director had a younger sibling. Why are you in the empire...?”
When Winfred asked with a bewildered expression, Natalia answered with a smile.
"I heard my sister's friend who lives in the empire had a baby. I can't just leave her alone to see the baby's face! I want to see it too. I also brought some gifts from my friend's parents."
It seemed that Candice and Natalia's similarities weren't limited to their faces. Their distracted, no... cheerful personalities were also strikingly similar.
"Oh, I'm planning on going to the Duke of Weishaffen. Actually, I just came back from seeing the baby a few days ago."
He wanted to brag to everyone about seeing Noah, and when he met someone who had traveled all the way to the empire to see the baby, he was so excited that he started telling the story.
How cute he was. Noah and Aila had different hair and eye colors, but it was truly amazing how he still had traces of her sister in his small face.
As Winfred smiled bashfully at the thought of the cute baby, Natalia curled up in a fit of genuine envy.
“I want to see it too. How cute it would be!”
And then.
Winfred and Natalia spoke to each other at the same time.
“Your Highness, it is getting close to departure time.”
“...Natalia, His Highness the Crown Prince must be busy too, so I’ll leave you now.”
One was Joseph, the chamberlain who was urging Winfred on, and the other was a man with long brown hair and a pale, delicate appearance.
"Ah, I... This is my husband, Austin Eposher, Your Excellency. I've held you back too long. I apologize."
Natalia scratched the back of her neck and apologized, and her husband, Austin, whom she introduced, greeted her politely, though shyly.
"No. I was so happy I didn't even realize how much time had passed. If you ever go to the Dukes' house, be sure to say hello to him."
After such a brief but memorable encounter, Winfred set sail for the Kingdom of Inselkov.
Gerald, his face quite gaunt after a few days, opened the door slightly and peeked out. He seemed ready to lock the door again if the news wasn't to his liking.
“What kind of attitude is that? This father went through so much trouble to grant your request...!”
To please Byron, he had to offer him his favorite drink, and after careful consideration and painstaking effort, he finally received his permission. But his son, he said, had such a calm expression.
“The guest at the annex gave permission. He said you could go out with that little girl!”
“...Really, Father? You’re not lying, are you?”
Gerald looked at the Count with distrust and asked.
He clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that if anyone saw him, they would think he had been deceived his entire life.
"Yes, you little punk. So hurry up and eat. If you keep this up, your mother will catch me and eat me."
The Count sighed, recalling the face of his terrifying wife, who had been clamoring for a divorce. He wondered what might have happened to him by now if he hadn't gotten Byron's permission... Just imagining it sent shivers down his spine.
And just as Gerald was leaving his room after a few days, eating, the news of his departure reached the other person, Aila.
“Yes? Father, what did you just say?”
"I heard there's a big festival coming up in the capital soon. Your father had promised you something, and it seemed like a good opportunity. I told you to come out and have fun."
When Aila asked, doubting her ears, Byron answered with a look of great thoughtfulness.
At first, she thought she had misheard, but when she heard it again, it still said, "You can go out and play in the city." So, Aila had a big question mark in her mind.
Now that she thinks about it, she remembers him saying he'd let her go out. She did hear that, but then she learned something so shocking that the idea of going out was long gone from her mind.
But why go out so suddenly? And on a festival day, at that.
Aila had only heard of festivals, but had never actually seen one in her life. She couldn't even imagine what the atmosphere would be like.
If only she could escape Byron's surveillance and blend in with the festive atmosphere.
Maybe she, too, could live like a normal person, if only for a day.
Continuing to worry about the curse on her body wouldn't change anything, and since she was going to go anyway, it didn't seem like a bad idea to just enjoy the festival in peace.
But the anticipation that had been building within her was shattered by the following news. She didn't like the person she was going with.
“And, since you're going with this guy’s son, I know that.”
It seemed like such a good offer, but there was a catch. A very big catch.
That annoying guy, going to the festival with Gerald. She began to suspect Byron was doing it on purpose to annoy Aila.
However, she could not rebel against Byron's efforts to do something for her by saying, "I don't like it."
If she continued to do so, she would be treated with disrespect for her father's sincerity, and it was easy to imagine how much more she would be tormented.
"...Yes."
Aila nodded obediently, though reluctantly. But Byron seemed to be displeased with that.
“It seems like you like going out to play with that kid?”
It was as if he was whining, 'You're a woman, so you think it's okay to date a man?'
Aila bit her lip in embarrassment. She couldn't figure out what he wanted her to do.
“...No, I... just need you to stay by my side. I’d be happy to go with you.”
She quickly thought about it and blurted out the line that would satisfy Byron the most. It was the kind of line a girl who only knew her father would say.
And the choice she made was correct. Byron smiled wryly and seemed quite pleased with her answer.
"Yes, I knew that my daughter would do that. But this father is a bit... unwilling to go out right now. Don't you understand, my daughter?"
Byron asked, running his fingers through her hair.
Aila resisted the touch, nodding with a faint smile on her lips.
Even so, she couldn't figure out why. She understood that Gerald wanted to go out with her, but she was puzzled as to why Byron had accepted it.
Wouldn't Byron be in a position to accept such a reckless request without gaining anything in return?
"I heard he's been a real nuisance. He promised not to do it again after you hang out just this once, so just bear with it this once."
And the question was soon answered when Byron stroked her head and said.
‘...Then I can endure it for a day or so.’
It was questionable whether that guy, who had no answers, would really keep his promise.
Aila nodded, saying she understood.
***
“Wow, it’s a ship! It’s a real ship!! Joseph, look at that! It’s huge!!”
A port in the southern part of the Peles Empire.
Winfred, who had found the ship he was going to board, pointed to it in an excited voice and shouted.
“...Your Highness, I am ashamed. Please, keep your dignity.”
Thanks to this, the chief steward standing next to him was covering his flushed face with both hands.
This wasn't his first time at sea, nor his first time seeing a ship. The Crown Prince, always curious, had been staring at him with sparkling eyes from the moment he heard he was leading a diplomatic mission abroad.
"But this is my first time seeing such a big ship. And it's my first time going abroad!"
As a child, Winfred had spent his vacations at a villa near the seaside, and he had even gone on a boat cruise on the lake, but this was a completely different experience.
Although he explained several times that this was a very important diplomatic mission, the first of its kind for the Crown Prince, Winfred was as excited as if he were going on a trip for pleasure.
“Isn’t Joseph great, too? It's so exciting!”
“Ahem, well, sometimes this kind of thing is okay.”
Although he spoke sternly, the chief Steward was actually a little excited.
Once he arrived in the Inselkov Kingdom and officially began diplomatic relations, he would be busy assisting the Crown Prince, but until then, it was not much different from a vacation aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Winfred chuckled softly, saying he'd known it, and walked toward the massive ship. Though he was walking, his steps felt light, as if he were flying above the clouds.
Winfred, who was running excitedly, stopped in his tracks when he saw a familiar face among those watching the Crown Prince's procession.
“...Director Eposher?”
Candice, who should have been at the Dukes' house, was caught up in the crowd.
Just before the delegation departed, the month-long ban was lifted, and they visited the Duke's residence to see Noah and Ophelia. At that time, Candice Eposher was staying at the Duke's residence.
It could be assumed that she had come to the port to return after a brief visit to look after Ophelia's health until she gave birth, having achieved her purpose.
But it was a little odd that Candice didn't even hint at returning to Winfred, with whom she had become quite close.
“Hey, what did you call me just now?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I think I misjudged you.”
Looking closely, she resembled Candice, but her face was slightly different. Furthermore, unlike her long, tied-back hair, this woman's gray hair was neatly and neatly cut.
The thick glasses that Candice always wore as if they were a part of her body were nowhere to be seen.
“That’s not it.. Wow, did His Highness the Crown Prince of the Peles Empire just speak to me? I guess I really did well raising my older sister.”
And the answer she got back from the woman was truly unexpected.
“Sister?”
When Winfred tilted his head in question, she introduced herself with a toothy grin, a smile so reminiscent of Candice Epoch.
“I’m Natalia Eposher. I’m Director Candice Eposher’s younger sister.”
Oh my gosh, what kind of coincidences are these?
Winfred's eyes widened as he studied the woman who introduced herself as Natalia. Though there were slight differences in details, she was truly a sister, just like her older sister, Candice.
“I didn’t know the director had a younger sibling. Why are you in the empire...?”
When Winfred asked with a bewildered expression, Natalia answered with a smile.
"I heard my sister's friend who lives in the empire had a baby. I can't just leave her alone to see the baby's face! I want to see it too. I also brought some gifts from my friend's parents."
It seemed that Candice and Natalia's similarities weren't limited to their faces. Their distracted, no... cheerful personalities were also strikingly similar.
"Oh, I'm planning on going to the Duke of Weishaffen. Actually, I just came back from seeing the baby a few days ago."
He wanted to brag to everyone about seeing Noah, and when he met someone who had traveled all the way to the empire to see the baby, he was so excited that he started telling the story.
How cute he was. Noah and Aila had different hair and eye colors, but it was truly amazing how he still had traces of her sister in his small face.
As Winfred smiled bashfully at the thought of the cute baby, Natalia curled up in a fit of genuine envy.
“I want to see it too. How cute it would be!”
And then.
Winfred and Natalia spoke to each other at the same time.
“Your Highness, it is getting close to departure time.”
“...Natalia, His Highness the Crown Prince must be busy too, so I’ll leave you now.”
One was Joseph, the chamberlain who was urging Winfred on, and the other was a man with long brown hair and a pale, delicate appearance.
"Ah, I... This is my husband, Austin Eposher, Your Excellency. I've held you back too long. I apologize."
Natalia scratched the back of her neck and apologized, and her husband, Austin, whom she introduced, greeted her politely, though shyly.
"No. I was so happy I didn't even realize how much time had passed. If you ever go to the Dukes' house, be sure to say hello to him."
After such a brief but memorable encounter, Winfred set sail for the Kingdom of Inselkov.
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