Chapter 7: 7
Inside the Raspede Marquis family’s carriage heading to the royal palace were not only Bertille and Leandre, but also Casimir and Tristan.
Before departure, the two had insisted on accompanying them and ended up coming along.
No one spoke inside the carriage, making the journey quiet as they were simply carried along by its swaying.
Upon arriving at the royal palace, her brothers got off first.
When Bertille was about to step down last, a rough, bony hand was extended toward her.
Tristan was staring up at her intently.
“This is the royal palace.”
In other words, since there were eyes on them, he wanted to escort her as her brother.
When they had left the mansion, she had refused his escort when boarding the carriage, so this time he had told her in advance.
“I couldn’t care less about your appearances.”
When Bertille said that with a smile without taking his hand, Tristan let out a small, “Ah…”
Perhaps he remembered her words criticizing how they behaved differently depending on whether people were watching or not.
Her brothers now paid attention to her regularly.
However, Bertille did not accept it.
It seemed he properly understood that her words were also a rebuke toward those who had been skilled at keeping up appearances despite not truly getting along with her.
When Bertille stepped down on her own, Tristan clenched his hand tightly and lowered it.
Ignoring that, Bertille looked up at the royal palace.
As she had regularly come here for tea with the second prince as his fiancée, it was a familiar sight.
While Bertille had rarely been able to see him unless she came to the palace, he had gone out of his way to visit the marquis residence to see Minori, despite his busy position.
“Members of the Raspede Marquis family, we have been expecting you.”
Turning her gaze forward without any particular sentiment toward a place filled with few good memories, she saw the second prince’s attendant bowing.
Guided by the attendant, they proceeded through the palace.
Then, an unexpected figure approached from down the corridor.
Luciazel Benoit Hubert.
A young duke who rarely left his domain.
With black hair, violet eyes, and refined features, he was unmarried and unengaged, making him a popular match among noble ladies.
It was surprising enough that he was in the royal capital, but even more so that they would encounter him like this when Bertille came to the palace.
Luciazel, who had been calm and slightly looking downward, raised his eyes.
“Lord Leandre, it has been a while.”
“It has indeed, Your Grace.”
Although Leandre was older, Luciazel was already the head of his house, and his rank as a duke was higher than that of the Raspede Marquis family, so Leandre spoke respectfully.
“It is rare to see all four siblings together.”
After finishing his greeting with Leandre, Luciazel’s gaze shifted to Bertille and the others behind him, prompting the twins to bow.
Bertille’s body, trained strictly in etiquette, moved on its own as she performed a graceful bow.
Luciazel’s gaze then remained on Bertille.
“Are you here to see His Highness today?”
“Yes.”
“Then I should not detain you. I shall take my leave.”
Their exchange ended surprisingly quickly, without the usual probing or lengthy formalities typical of nobles.
Bertille briefly watched his retreating figure before facing forward again.
As they all continued walking, Tristan also turned back, watching Luciazel with interest.
“It’s rare to see the Duke of Hubert here.”
“His Majesty summoned him in hopes of obtaining advice regarding the otherworlder.”
“Ah, I see.”
One of the Hubert family’s ancestors had been an otherworlder.
The heir of the Hubert ducal family at the time had taken in an otherworlder and eventually married her.
Because of that history, he had likely been called upon for information.
“It has also been confirmed that the otherworlder who married into the Hubert family in the past and the current otherworlder are from the same homeland.”
“That’s quite the coincidence.”
“Indeed. Perhaps because of that, Lady Minori seems to feel a sense of familiarity and has been asking His Grace various questions—”
The attendant suddenly stopped himself mid-sentence, as if realizing something.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Well, more importantly, His Highness has been eagerly looking forward to meeting Lady Raspede. Since receiving your letter, he has been restless and unable to sleep properly… though, to be honest, he was already like that even before, but in the past few days, he has been especially excited, even having your favorite sweets prepared with great enthusiasm.”
“Yet it seems he was spending his time meeting with the duke until just before this.”
At Bertille’s pointed remark, a heavy silence fell, as if the air had frozen.
The attendant’s face turned pale, and Tristan and Casimir sent her looks as if to say she need not point that out.
It was hard to imagine that the second prince, who had discovered and taken in the otherworlder, would not be present at an audience meant to receive advice about her.
Judging from the attendant’s reaction, her assumption was correct.
“The Duke of Hubert rarely visits the royal capital, so it was difficult to adjust the schedule, and it had to be arranged at this timing… however, His Highness does not disregard Lady Raspede! Wishing to see you as soon as possible, he arranged for the earliest possible—”
“I understand. His Highness is a very busy person.”
When she replied that way, the attendant let out a relieved breath.
Watching him with a cold gaze, Bertille quietly exhaled.
(As for my favorite sweets, it’s probably…)