If youve seen footprints, Im sure that those are my footprints.

Valore!

Arya called his name low shrill. Valore held a poker face in a teasing manner as if nothing had happened. Arya asked him in an urgent voice.

Why are there footprints of the Prince left inside of the palace of Princess Sienna?

I had gone there to give a wedding gift to older brother Carl and Lady Sienna. I apologize for causing this misunderstanding.

No, its okay.

A congratulations gift you say

Carl muttered cynically.

I really wanted to give my brother a wedding gift. Its my only brothers wedding, and I wanted to give it to you.

Ill thank you, then. I just want you to refrain from visiting Siennas palace while Im away. What if I had misunderstood because of something like this? I dont want my wife to be hurt by insulting rumors.

Valore replied in a bitter tone to Carls words, When will Prince Carl return to the front? I heard that Castros recent provocations have been frequent. Without Prince Carl, there would be problems with the command lines.

If the front lines are going to collapse that easily because theres no one in command, then they are not worthy of being called the front-line units. Fortunately, the commanders under our command are excellent, so its okay.

Ive heard that power varies considerably depending on the existence of the Prince. The fact that Prince Carl is on the battlefield makes his soldiers highly motivated and tactical enough to deal with a large number of enemy troops with even a small number of allies. I think it would be better for Prince Carl to be there to soothe the uneasy public at a time when an all-out war with Castro will break out. Im sure your emperor thinks so, too.

It was such a heart-wrenching story. Everyone sitting at this table knew it was a sound of trying to keep Carl away from the capital somehow.

Im thinking of going back soon, though. Im sorry to Sienna, but I cant leave the battlefield empty for long.

Is that so?

The face of Queen Arya was flushed. Sienna, who was anxious to see if he was going to stay in the capital until the end, was also relieved. Without compromising Aryas power first, she was not confident of him leaving her before doing so and heading straight for the ongoing full-scale war. Of course, as Carl said, he could do well on his own, but she didnt want him to get hurt.

The meal time, which seemed quiet and well-behaved, was filled with conversations with hidden blades, was long over. Sienna left the palace with Carl and asked him, What the hell is wrong with you?

I dont know what youre asking.

In there, you treated me like you really love me. I was so embarrassed.

Why is that something youre going to be embarrassed about? I think I only did what was perfectly natural for my wife.

Well, because you werent acting as your usual Carl-like self

Act as my usual self you say Im not sure what you think of me. But Im sure Ive said this to you before that Im going to lead a proper marriage life with you. Ill fulfil my duty even if theres an end to it in five years. Im also hoping the same from you, too.

Sienna seemed as though she was going to lose her mind from the rapidly beating sound of her heart due to Carls words.

What a madman!

Ha-ah.

Sienna sighed deeply. It was the third day since Carl left the palace under the pretext of war. In fact, he didnt go to the east side of the border with Castro, but instead to the south side of the Hegea River.

It was short, but the time she stayed in the palace with Carl seemed as though they were really like a couple. A good couple in fact. She was bewildered by the distinctions from the past.

Carl and Sienna spent their times leisurely eating breakfast together and taking walks in front of the palace gardens. Of course, those times were not awkward. But she felt like she was building a sand castle to tear down.

It was uneasy. It was incomprehensible to know whether he really loved Duchess Fair or not. What does it mean to be nice to her?

Is he aware of how cruel this is? How scary it is to make one have useless hope like this

When the time came when Carl had to put a halt to the warm affections he was giving away and had to leave her side, she was afraid of making the same foolish choices as before.

I will treat you as cold and cruel as before.

Ha-ah.

What is it? It hasnt been that long since youve gotten married, but youre already letting a sigh out, I see?

Brother?

Youre the one who told me to come to the palace, but youre breathing out a sigh all your own. Whats the matter?

She burst out laughing at Jamies half-baked remarks.

What with that, that strange tone?

Jamie sat in the chair opposite of her with a disgruntled face. Then Hain looked at him with sharp eyes. Jamie said, poking his mouth, How dare I speak to Her Majesty, when I am just a lowly article of the periphery? I have to be polite. You may have been born and raised in the Waters family home, but you are now part of the noble royal family of the Great Laifsden.

She burst out laughing at Jamie, who was talking with a disgruntled face. It was because he looked very awkward like a man in a dress that didnt fit him.

Just relax. Because its awkward to listen to.

How can a knight who has not been given a title yet have the ability to so easily speak to Her Majesty the Crown Princess?

He said while keeping in mind of Hains presence. It seemed clear how much Hain would have warned him to be polite. Her brother was apparently rather annoyed by excessive etiquette education. Sienna said in a voice full of laughter, Just speak comfortably. Its true that Ive married into royalty now, but I am still from the Waters family anyway. Ill become sad if we end up creating a distance from each other if you continue being like this.

At the end of the conversation between the two, Hain came forth and said, It is true that you were once the Duchess of the Waters Family and her brother, but you are now a member of the imperial family. You cant tell a nobleman to speak informally to you. It could be seen as an insult to the imperial family.

Hains words were not wrong, but she could not talk in such a manner with her brother for such a reason.

Then you can use honorific language in someone elses presence and talk comfortably when were alone.

Jamie, who was sitting next to Sienna, nodded to her words with a satisfied face.

Thats brilliant.

Puhaha, that tone is really awkward. Dont talk like that in public. That sounds more funny to say it like that.

Only

Jamie didnt answer Siennas words but just shrugged. Hain, who saw those two, said with a look of helplessness, If thats what you want to do okay. However, be careful when you have eyes from outside. Then Ill prepare some simple refreshments.

This king right here likes things with a lot of butter, so Ill leave this request to you, please. My brother likes them greasy.

Yes, I will.

Hain sometimes looked out of place, but she was doing her part as a maid of honor. If it werent for her advice, Jamie and Sienna would certainly have used a comfortable way of speaking without paying attention to other peoples eyes.

It wasnt until Hain left the drawing room that Jamie heated and puffed up.

That maid, the girl named Hain, is really fastidious. Im just here to see you, but shes been explaining for an hour about the etiquettes I should show in front of you. I know aristocratic etiquette, and when I said Id look at you, Id have done that, so I opened my eyes up and stared at you. But Im a nobleman, and Im not afraid to

Brother, shes a noble. In terms of morals, shes in a higher position than you, brother, who has no title yet.