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Translated by Raizu Edited by Schwartz13
[―――Deborah Dalkian?]
Randolph frowned as he glanced over the black-framed notepaper handed to him.
[I see, she’s playing around with you. Yet this letter has no legal power, so I don’t think you need to bother to deal with her.]
He scoffed. But when he noticed Connie looking down apologetically, he put his finger on her forehead and groaned softly, as though he had a headache.
[
..you intend to participate?]
[No, umm, refusing is going to be awkward
..and I might find out something about Scarlet, after all.]
She unintentionally lined up words that sounded like excuses. Randolph sighed and confirmed the information in his hand, further furrowing his brows.
[The date and time is the fifth part of the upper stem of the seventh moon Diana―――the day after tomorrow. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?]
[
Hn?]
[I am scheduled to meet with the director of the Trade Policy Bureau that day. If only I knew about this a week earlier, I could’ve adjusted the schedule
]
[
Hnnn??]
Hearing what he said, Connie blinked repeatedly. Did he mean―――
[By any chance, did you intend to come with me?]
[Of course. I would have come with you]
Her question was met with Randolph’s straight face, to which she couldn’t react. Randolph let out a small sigh and put the notepaper back on the table.
[Do you really have to participate?]
[Yes
]
For some reason, I feel like I can’t stand still, and my back naturally curls up. I am certainly aware of the risks. However, if there is even the slightest possibility that it will lead to the truth behind Scarlett’s death, I still want to participate. And you’re not alone. I have Scarlet with me. Connie thought.
[
..Deborah Dalkian is an insidious woman. Her methods are different from Scarlet Castiel.]
The remark made Connie involuntarily look up, causing her eyes to meet his piercing blue. She turned to Scarlet, only to find the ghostly maiden had a seemingly troubled face instead of replying to Randolph.
―――Hold on. Connie’s face stiffened.
Maybe, just maybe, she made a terrible choice here.
When she’s overwhelmed by indescribable anxiety, Randolph pulls her back to reality.
[Listen, I just want you to be careful.]
[Fuu aa
]
She’s getting dizzy. Connie felt like she needed to just lie down and sleep the problem away. Things should resolve themselves once she wakes up the next morning, right?
[Now then, it’s about time we get going. Are you ready?]
[
.to do what?]
Randolph blinked his eyes when he noticed that Connie seemed to be oblivious.
[
I believe I sent a letter, but
]
―――a letter?
[Haaa
!]
Connie swallowed her breath and quickly turned her gaze to the storage desk. Towering over there was a near-collapsing mountain upon mountain upon mountain of letters―――
There was a sea of unread news that had been completely forgotten due to the invitation from Deborah Dalkian.
[

eeee let see.]
Connie started having cold sweats. She knew it’s got to be there, somewhere

It’s got to be there, somewhere.
Randolph nodded lightly as he slowly alternated between Constance and the pile of envelopes, and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
[It’s true that there was no reply, but I suppose you were preoccupied.]
[I’m sorryyyyyyyy
!]
No matter how the tale is spun, Connie was at fault. So she bowed at a sharp 90 degrees at lightning speed. Randolph raised his eyebrows as if he was a little troubled by this.
[
Actually, we are going to meet someone. This old friend of mine seems to have heard about the engagement from somewhere. He really wants to see my new fiancée. Do you mind?]
Of course―――was what Connie would like to say. But she had one concern. Who is this person who can make that Randolph Ulster feel inclined to respond to the summon? To be honest, she had a bad feeling about it.
[
..speaking of which, where will we go?]
Connie asked timidly out of fear, but the answer she got was quite simple.
[To Elbaite.]
[Er, yes, and
?]
[Yes, to Elbait, but
]
Randolph tilted his head curiously as he watched Connie stiffen.
『Oh dear』
Scarlet, who had rested her chin in indifference until then, fluttered into the air. Looking back at Connie, who was still stiff, the corners of her mouth lifted happily.
『I can finally meet that black-bellied woman』
Elbait―――Elbait Palace. If Connie’s memory is correct, it was the noble palace where the famous Crown Prince and his wife lived.
=====
Constance Grail, dressed in plain clothes, stood in a long hallway-style audience room inlaid with gold carvings and crimson curtains. A huge, elaborate chandelier like a statue hung overhead, and the ceiling was painted with three brightly coloured Goddesses.
Sitting on a luxurious throne covered with glossy crimson velvet just like the curtain, the person quietly uttered a voice.
[―――Raise your head.]
When she lifted her head as instructed, there was a smile on his face with a thin beauty that could be mistaken for a woman.
[I take it that you are Constance Grail?]
Scarlet Castiel’s ex-fiancĂ©e, who overcame many obstacles and pledged eternal love to a Viscount’s daughter Cecilia Ryuze, the first Prince Enrique, whose story suddenly became the object of admiration for noble daughters, looked down at Connie from a higher throne.
Then, the bright reddish-purple eyes slightly wandered and hesitated.
[
that’s right, um, how to say it, well―――]
『You are surprisingly ordinary』
Scarlet seemingly stole the words away from the prince’s mouth, but Connie pretended she didn’t hear them at all and stared at Enrique with an expressionless face. Both kept staring at each other. Silence fell. Enrique gently averted his gaze from Connie.
[That’s right. I think Cecilia will come soon―――]
His Highness suddenly clapped his hands on his knees and suddenly changed the topic. After all, for some reason, the Prince tried to avoid eye contact with her. As Connie tilted her head whilst keeping a straight face, she heard footsteps coming from somewhere. Someone was running in a hurry―――that kind of sound.
[Ah, here she is,]
Enrique muttered without changing his expression.
[I’m sorry to be late—-!]
The next thing that jumped into sight was a woman’s thick, honey-like hair that flowed down her back and her twinkling rose-coloured eyes. She has supple stretched limbs and a surprisingly lovely face. Connie’s eyes widened.
[――― Randy!]
When Cecilia Adelbaide noticed the person standing next to Connie, her face flashed brightly. It’s a vivid expression that would probably make anyone fall in love with her. However, for some reason, Randolph Ulster, who was the target of that jewel-like smile, was reacting with a cold gaze as if he was looking at a pest.
[I missed you!]
Randolph glared at her wordlessly as he deftly dodged the Crown Princess, who was trying to hug him with a wide smile on her face. Vermin downgraded to vermin. Connie shivered at the coldness of his gaze. Your Excellency is super scary. But then the Crown Princess turned to Connie, pretending not to care at all. In an instant, her big rose-coloured eyes opened wide.
[Wow! What a surprise! So plain and modest! So cute!]
―――Did the Crown Princess just call her cute?
Connie’s eyes widened again. Maybe this woman is actually a good person. She unintentionally thought about such a thing, but the cold voice saying, 『That’s not a word of praise.』 dragged her back to reality.
―――Crown Princess Cecilia, who had not sat on the throne, bent her knees beside Connie and looked at her. The Princess had a terribly innocent expression on her face. When people say lovable, they’re probably referring to her. Connie absentmindedly thought so.
With a smile on her face, the Princess pointed at Randolph and said to Connie:
[Well, this person looks scary, I can say that he’s actually far scarier than you think, and he’s ridiculously serious, unnecessarily strict, and doesn’t smile at all. But, deep down he is probably not that bad of a person. At least I think so! That’s why, please, be sure to give him plenty of love——!]
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