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Edgar had a slightly early dinner and set out with Creed.

Leonel, feeling bored, whined and insisted that he and Enya be included, but this time, they had to be left behind.

“Today, I’ll just give you a simple tour of the Main Building. You need to know it if you want to meet the lady.”

“Is it okay for me to just barge into the Main Building?”

Even if they were implicitly allowed to stay here, those who resided in the building were practically outsiders.

From what I gathered a moment ago from Leonel and Enya, it seemed like wandering around outside wasn’t a big deal; however, stepping into the residence of the Grand Duke’s family felt a bit excessive.

“Usually, it would be tough. But if I’m with you, it’ll be fine.”

“So that means I need a fence.”

“Ha ha, the way you’re talking is amusing.”

Yet it wasn’t an entirely wrong remark, so Creed could only chuckle.

Although technically granted permission to stay here, it didn’t mean complete freedom.

There were lines to be drawn, and some restrictions in place.

One of the most notable restrictions was entering the castle grounds uninvited, especially since most kids coming in were commoners.

As long as Creed was around, getting into the castle wasn’t an issue, so it wasn’t a big deal.

In fact, aside from a few exceptions, most residents of the castle were warmly welcomed by Helene whenever they visited, often sharing snacks or playing with the free time servants.

“By the way, the lady’s room is over there. Can you see it?”

“…The one at the end?”

Following the direction of Creed’s finger, I had to tilt my head back to see a balcony jutting out at a considerable height.

‘They really live up high.’

I suddenly realized the disparity in status.

Even as nobles, being the daughter of the Grand Duke seemed to be something entirely different.

With that altitude, even walking up there would be quite the task.

“It’s going to be tough to meet her secretly at this rate.”

“Unless the lady comes out, it will indeed be difficult. But the issue is, those days are rare.”

“Rare, you say?”

Was there really an issue with her occasionally stepping outside the building?

When Edgar looked at Creed with a puzzled expression, Creed ruffled Edgar’s hair while wearing a bittersweet smile.

“What I’m saying is, being born into a good family comes with heavy responsibilities. You get what I mean, right?”

“…So that’s what it means.”

Only then did Edgar seem to grasp it, nodding slightly as he stared intently at the balcony he had just seen.

Although Ariel had claimed she hadn’t been outside for three weeks, I had simply understood that she hadn’t gone out into the town or anything like that.

However, it could very well mean she had been cooped up in this castle for three weeks straight.

‘That’s harsh.’

Just how strict could the Grand Duke’s upbringing be?

Or perhaps this was an issue of how to treat people, rather than an educational policy.

The fact that Helene, of all people, remained by her side and it had come to this clearly indicated that she was wearing heavy chains around her ankles.

“Creed, is there any chance I could go out freely beyond the castle?”

“Yeah. Did you see those little rascals earlier? They carry passes and come and go freely, so you shouldn’t have a problem.”

It seemed that as long as I didn’t recklessly step inside the Main Building, I had considerable freedom elsewhere.

Curious about when I could get my hands on one of those passes, I asked if I could get it today, and after receiving a clear answer, I broke into a smile.

Then, just before entering the Main Building through the back door, I glanced at the balcony I had just seen, smiled faintly, and followed Creed.

—

After finishing dinner, Ariel returned to her room and immediately took a seat in front of her desk.

Even though she had returned to her family home, which should have been the most peaceful place, her daily routine was set to become busier.

Looking at the pile of books stacked on her desk was enough to make her sigh deeply.

However, she couldn’t put it off any longer as she had other tasks to complete for the next day.

Gathering her resolve, she picked a book that seemed to be at least six times thicker than her hand and opened it.

It contained information about the prominent families of the Empire along with personal details about their members.

She needed to memorize this thoroughly and take an exam the following day; only then could she move on to the next phase.

There was no time to relax. She was merely assigned new tasks.

‘There’s magic education after this, and then what comes next?’

Probably lessons in cultural refinement or sword training.

Some might think it a bit early for a fourteen-year-old girl, but that only applied to noble ladies who grew up like sheltered flowers.

She had to grow into a warrior capable of traversing the battlefield like her father and face the northern tribes one day.

For that, it was vital to build a body capable of fighting on the battlefield early on, and to develop sufficient strength.

Magic education was one of those similar categories.

“House Roktael… considered one of the top Count families even in the central region, and the head is…”

Since she found that reading aloud helped her memorize better, Ariel started to read the words aloud, turning each page.

Soon, one flipped page turned into two, then ten, and finally dozens—even hundreds.

After finishing one book, she immediately moved on to the next, now skimming through the words without reading aloud.

She didn’t forget to jot down any information she thought she might easily forget in a separate notebook.

How much time had passed?

Exhausted, Ariel let out a deep sigh and leaned back in her chair.

She then picked up a small bell that was perched on the edge of her desk and weakly shook it.

“Yes, my lady. Did you call for me?”

The door opened, and Shuri appeared, bowing her head as she asked what was needed.

“Bring me something to drink and some snacks. I’m so drained.”

“Just a moment, please. I’ll bring it right away.”

Ariel usually preferred fruit soaked in honey or drinks made from blended fruits, but when she was deeply focused, she preferred tea.

Naturally, Shuri knew this well, so she headed to the kitchen to prepare the tea leaves and hot water, skillfully beginning to brew it.

As the fragrant aroma of tea filled the room, Ariel’s expression finally relaxed.

Ariel got up from her seat, trudged over to her bed, and flopped down like a corpse, which made Shuri, who was watching, chuckle softly.

After all this time observing her, it was painfully clear how heavy the position of a Grand Duke’s daughter was.

Even if the entire world offered her all the wealth, she wouldn’t dare to take it on.

Seeing the pile of books stacked on her desk, it was evident just how remarkable her master truly was.

“My lady, please drink the tea and gather your strength.”

“Uh-huh… I will.”

Ariel, stirring like a caterpillar on the bed, picked up the teacup resting on a small table beside her bed.

The tea was prepared to the perfect temperature for immediate consumption.

As she breathed in the rich aroma, the fatigue of the day seemed to lift slightly.

Thinking of the tasks that awaited her afterward made her feel like her exhaustion was doubling, but she decided to avert her gaze from reality.

“When are you supposed to meet with Edgar?”

“I don’t have a particular schedule. Besides, I don’t really want to meet that guy.”

With her lips protruding, chugging tea, Shuri couldn’t help but think she resembled a disgruntled duck.

A not-so-cute duck.

But not in an ugly way; more like an ugly duckling in terms of being unable to be honest with her feelings.

Why was she trying to hide it so much even when others could see it so clearly?

At moments like this, it struck her just how much younger her master was.

This cute side of her was far more endearing than the usually taciturn and busy demeanor, making it quite enjoyable to watch.

“You can go rest now. I’ll finish up this and go to bed myself.”

“I’ll wait outside, so please call me before you sleep. Once I’m done tidying up, I’ll rest as well.”

“You really don’t listen, do you?”

Not wanting to argue any further when she already insisted on it, Ariel nodded appropriately, sending her away while she bit into a piece of cookie and surveyed her room.

While the decor was somewhat extravagant, there were no particular possessions making it feel rather bleak.

Without even common stuffed animals that girls her age typically played with, the place was filled with nothing but books and other items, creating a desolate atmosphere.

‘I want a doll.’

Ariel put down her teacup and flopped back onto the bed.

With no doll to cuddle, she embraced a large pillow, her own size, tightly while lost in thought.

The chilly night air crept in through the fully open window, but for some reason, she didn’t feel like caring at that moment.

‘Should I ring Shuri again?’

Being alone made her feel oddly lonely, and strange thoughts began to arise.

She had to close the window too; wasn’t it better to call Shuri back and ask her to keep her company? Just as she pondered this—

Thud.

“Phew, I thought I was going to die.”

“!?”

Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone’s footsteps on the balcony, and someone muttered in a disgruntled tone.

‘How did they climb up this high?’

Thinking they might be an assassin shocked her into silence.

She needed to call Shuri immediately…

But first, she thought to check who it was, so she quietly raised her body, stealthily approaching the balcony.

As the figure slowly came into her view, Ariel’s mouth could only drop open in shock, and she pointed a trembling hand at the person as if she had seen something she shouldn’t.

“Oh wow, that scared me. Hey, if you’re here, at least make some noise.”

“What? How did you get here…?”

With an unidentified paper bag in one hand and a stuffed animal in the other, it was none other than her childhood friend.

 

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