/
“Then, of course not.”
“Estella is very sociable, so she’ll get along well. Arianne is… laugh a little, That way, people will be comfortable with Arianne.”
“That’s right. Because I laugh a lot.”
“… When I’m gone…?”
It was a very subtle voice.
A hatch was drawn over Arianne’s blunt face.
“Don’t say such things! Why did you come all the way here!”
Arianne was gasping for breath, but when she noticed Estella running around the restaurant, she straightened her voice.
Seeing that, Eve thought.
I can’t do it today.
It seemed too early to bring up the story of the child’s father.
Instead, Eve smiled pretty again and spoke.
“Do you want to have a dog?”
“… Suddenly?”
“I think Estella will like it. I wish it was a white little puppy. What do you think?”
Arianne nodded silently.
anything is in favor If it’s something Eve can attach to.
“Let’s just go in. It’s cold at night.”
“Let’s go see the puppies tomorrow morning. Juliet’s house has a puppy. I heard her mother is so small.”
“Great.”
“Then I’ll bring you one. Shall I bring two?”
“Bring just one, Eve. I’m afraid to run after the dog.”
Arianne spoke softly and patted Eve’s dry back.
Eve was pushed by Arianne’s hand and went up the stairs, calling Estella.
Arianne sighed and checked the restaurant one last time.
“What is that?”
Arianne narrowed her eyes and stared at the large figure shimmering in the alley.
‘Did I see it wrong?’
Arianne tilted her head and followed Eve and Estella.
“Arianne! We will have a dog!”
Estella, who was very excited, heard the sound of running around.
‘Oh my. I think that’s enough for her.’
***
Samuel’s finger tapped the desk.
He felt himself getting more and more sensitive.
While he was up all night looking at the documents and working, the anxiety and fear were building up one after another for Samuel.
What Samuel had been looking at before was a dark purple button on the end of his sleeve.
‘This is pretty, Samuel.’
It’s all Vivian
It was the cufflinks that she put on Samuel’s sleeve, saying that she had chosen it herself.
Was it the first day, the second day, or the third day after we got married?
I can’t remember.
I was nervous because it was the day that I was just putting the prestige of the duke on my back and entering the palace for the first time in years.
So what did I answer?
“Hah…”
The nobles, who had been arguing at the breath that Samuel’s indifferent face exhaled, flinched.
Besides, next to him sits the Duke of Endless with his eyes closed and his arms crossed.
But when people looked at Samuel, he was thinking of Vivian.
Remembered her.
What did Samuel say to her who blushed and asked if it was pretty?
‘I’m busy. You have to leave now.’
Samuel put his finger on his forehead.
Why are these things only showing up now?
Poor Samuel Rubentas. Do you deserve to be with Vivian?
When he did not respond, the voices of the nobles began to rise again.
“Your Majesty, we have to put an end to this. The arrogance of the kingdom of Anatole is skyrocketing. They must have forgotten who we are is!”
The situation of the authorities can be said to be divided into the Southern faction and the moderate faction.
Even today, the line Southern factions, who are wary of Anatole, a small country facing the south, insist on war.
“No, no, Your majesty. We cannot allow the people of the Empire who are still in the scars of the war of 100 years ago to suffer any more wars. It’s only been 100 years, my lord. Consider the people of the Empire who are just now forgetting the fear of war.”
Count Sylvester said.
Count Sylvester, who guarded the law, and Count Brooke, who guarded the administration, belonged to the moderates.
They are on the one hand to keep Anatole in check through diplomatic.
On the other hand, Earl Terra, who protects the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Earl Robert, who protects the Ministry of Finance, belonged to the Southern Jin faction.
‘You’re fighting too tiredly.’
Samuel raised his head crookedly.
As Samuel’s cold face turned toward the floor toward the nobles, those who were fighting like dogs quickly shut their mouths.
Among those who remained silent from the beginning was Paul Theodore.
It was also the way to enter the palace after three weeks as he returned from the mission of bringing Lily Rubentas, the last descendant of the imperial family, to her mother’s house.
He briefly told Noah what had happened in the meantime.
After hearing Noah talk with tears in his eyes, Paul concluded.
‘Let’s not touch it.’
There’s no way you’re looking good by touching Samuel.
Of course, in the past 7 years, Samuel has never been in a good mood, but I think he said it was more serious these days.
Did I mention that the bottles are piled up like a mountain and you drink like an alcoholic?
‘Crazy, crazy.’
It was obvious that he had a rough face and couldn’t sleep well.
So you’ll be fine when you used to it.
Nevertheless, he attends the meeting with a normal face.
‘It would be foolish to come to such a degree.’
When Samuel became Crown Prince, Vivian was the happiest.
Vivian won’t like it if Samuel breaks his duty.
If you’re going to regret it like that, why the hell would you do that to her?
A friend who doesn’t understand him.
Paul turned his head and looked at his father.
Count Theodore, who holds the Knights Templar, is neutral.
Paul hated seeing his father throw himself into the mud and get involved in factional fights.
If that happens, the cool and upright emperor, Samuel, will also put Paul on the same line as the hostage.
“Can I say a word?”
A heavy bass sound cut through the air.
The nobles, who looked into each other’s eyes, kept their mouths shut.
“The reason why the story of the Anatole Kingdom has come out like this is because of the princess who decided to return to her home country at will.”
“That’s right.”
“But didn’t diplomatic ambassador Anatole promise?”
“Yes?”
Samuel removed his face from his fingers and stood up.
Water-colored hair naturally flowed to the side following the slow movement.
It was as natural as ice melting in spring, but there was a sense of alienation.
It was because of his sharp purple eyes, which were revealed through the length of his hair that slightly obscured his eyes.
“The diplomatic ambassador Anatole made a promise to the imperial family. A new ‘hostage’ will arrive soon.”
Samuel’s right hand touched the cufflinks.
The meaningless hand gestures were somehow cool.
It was given to me by Vivian and it was worn out because I wore it every day.
Paul’s eyes turned to it.
‘Ugh.’
There was no news from those dispatched to the search team today.
‘Give me something. That child will wither to death alive.’
“Ambassador Anatole promised us two months. If the hostage doesn’t come….”
His ferocious gaze swept over the people.
“Someone has to take responsibility. Sir Paul.”
“Yes, my lord. As ordered, I sent a couple of imperial knights attached to the back of the princess who was leaving.”
Samuel answered.
“That’s right.”
“… I didn’t know that His Majesty had already written his hand. If the promise is not fulfilled after two months….”
“Sir Terra. The Empire has already made a lot of arrangements for Anatole. A minister of diplomacy who broke the example of a subordinate country and behaved arrogantly, a princess who behaved arbitrarily, and finally, a tribute that has not been uploaded for a year. Because of this, the neighboring countries should not look down on the Empire.”
Samuel’s voice was concise.
It had been a long time since the tribute was pushed back on the pretext of drought and flood.
But Anatole’s royal family was always wealthy.
Enough to buy new sailing ships from other countries.
Samuel was a planner who guessed everything and prepared in advance.
So there’s always plenty of room.
There was only one person who made him nervous, Vivian, who had left him.
Samuel frowned at the pounding pain in his chest.
“… I will follow their will.”
“What’s next on the agenda?”
As the meeting continued, Samuel’s fingers remained on the cufflinks.
Every little thing seemed to be the reason for Vivian’s departure and fueled Samuel’s fear.
He pricked his ears and waited for Noah to come with the news of her, but it was quiet for 7 years.
I couldn’t decide if this was fortunate or unfortunate.
I just thought.
‘You’re alive, Vivian…’
Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have contact.
Thanks to the news that Vivian did not deliver, Samuel could guess that Vivian was alive.
***
Chirp—
The little white bird, who sat on the window sill of Samuel’s closed room and tilted his head, whined and pushed the window.
The window swung open as the white bird let out a sigh and clashed a few times.
A white bird roamed over Samuel’s head, who was still asleep today surrounded by a bottle of wine.
A white bird landed on Samuel’s chest and flew up again, but Samuel did not wake up.
The white bird clapped its beak as if pathetic and left the room.
One white feather remained where the bird sat.
The feather soon permeated Samuel.