After finishing breakfast, Phineas and Selphius left for the academy. Bored, I wandered around the garden to alleviate my boredom and found the small library in the mansion. It wasn't as large as the central library, but there were quite a few books worth reading.
'One to read, another to read.'
As I placed the books I wanted to read on a small cart, Rebecca, who had been following me, asked quietly.
"It's a nice day. Would you like to read outside?"
"Outside?"
"Yes, if Her Highness the Duchess is fine with it, I'll prepare tea and snacks under a large tree where the sun shines well."
That doesn't sound bad. I nodded while taking out another book.
"Then, could you also prepare a light pie?"
"I'll prepare an apple pie."
Rebecca seemed excited that she could leave the library, which was far from her usual domain. She smiled broadly and hurried out. I chuckled and moved to the last bookshelf. A thick book caught my eye. It was the genealogy of the Lapholeon Dukedom. I recalled the story of the first Duke of Lapholeon, who started as a common soldier, rose to become a general, and was eventually granted the title of Duke and the duchy.
'He beheaded several kings in war and presented their heads to the emperor, and beheaded rebels and presented their heads... He accomplished many feats.'
It was clear that the genealogy had continued from that time.
'Can I read this?'
I quietly reached out and opened the first page of the book. The first thing I saw was a slightly faded portrait.
"…Terdeo?"
Seeing the faded portrait, I involuntarily called out Terdeo's name. The face in the portrait was so similar to Terdeo that I almost mistook it for him. No, it was so identical that it gave me goosebumps.
However, a different name was written below the portrait. I traced the name of the first Duke, which was smudged with ink, with my thumb and muttered softly.
"Ainhardt Orphe Lapholeon."
Ouch. My head throbbed as soon as I said the name. Was it because I had been buried in the books for too long? I pressed my temples, which ached, and heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw a butler knocking on the library door. The butler, who seemed surprised to see my frowning face, hurried over.
"Her Highness the Duchess, are you unwell? Should I call Phineas sir?"
"No, my head is just a bit throbbing. It's fine now."
"Ah. The master rarely uses the library, so it might not have been cleaned properly. It also smells musty. I'll instruct the staff to clean it thoroughly today."
I nodded and glanced at the book in my hand. The portrait of the first Duke, looking straight ahead, seemed to be staring at me. I looked into the eyes of the first Duke, Ainhardt, and then closed the book resolutely.
"Is it heavy? I'll help you tidy up."
"Sure, thank you."
I handed the genealogy of the Lapholeon family to the butler. My gaze naturally fell on the invitation in his hand.
'That's...'
I immediately recognized the origin of the invitation and frowned.
"Another invitation?"
"Yes. Since His Grace the Duke is out, I brought it. Should I place it on His Grace's desk?"
It was another invitation from Dodorea, who never stopped sending them. As I reached out, the butler handed me the invitation. The neat handwriting caught my eye as I tore open the seal. [Dear Duchess of Lapholeon.] Not the Duchess of Lapholeon you want to kill? [I've invited you to tea parties, wedding celebrations, salon memberships, and personal gatherings, but you've always declined.] Even just reading the introduction, I could feel an overwhelming aura of hostility. [Every time I invite you, you claim to have aches and pains all over your body and refuse.] Hmm. The next sentence is also full of hostility. It almost feels like a challenge rather than an invitation. [I understand that you must have a condition that causes you to have a major incident whenever you leave the mansion.] Oh, you understand? Are you finally going to stop tormenting me? But as I read the next sentence, I opened my mouth in disbelief. [So this time, I've decided to visit the mansion where the Duchess is staying without even inviting you.]
"What kind of nonsense is this, like a commoner becoming an emperor?"
A commoner can't become an emperor, so it's just nonsense. The butler, curious about my reaction, leaned in.
"What's the matter?"
I ignored the butler and continued reading the next sentence with trembling eyes. [If the Duchess has been discarding my invitations without reading them, you won't be able to read this content either. Or if you read my invitations and ignored them, this invitation will serve as a notice of my visit to the mansion.] Oh, this is crazy. Normally, Terdeo would have burned it without reading, but I'm glad I read it today. If I hadn't known about this content, I might have been caught off guard and relaxed! Before reading the next sentence, I quickly instructed the butler.
"Send a reply to the royal family immediately, saying I'm sick. Tell them I can't even walk because I can't move a finger. So, tell them not to come."
Then I quickly read the next sentence. The following sentence made me drop the invitation in horror. [By the way, by the time you receive this invitation, I will already be at the Lapholeon mansion.] The butler, who was about to leave the library, picked up the dropped invitation and looked at me. Before he could speak, a polite knock came from the library door.
"Her Highness the Duchess."
Creak. My head, stiff like a wooden doll, slowly turned. The maid who had knocked on the library door bowed respectfully and said in a chilling voice.
"Her Highness Princess Dodorea has arrived at the mansion."
Crazy. My face turned pale as if I couldn't breathe.
"Did you tell her I'm here?"
In response to my question, the maid's eyes darted around. She tilted her head and whispered.
"I told her that Her Highness the Duchess has recovered well."
Damn, damn...
"Finally, we meet."
As soon as I entered the reception room, Dodorea, who had been sitting gracefully, turned her head. Her piercing gaze made my spine tingle. Should I just pretend to faint again here?
"Your complexion shows that you have indeed recovered."
My face must look too good for that.
'How do I get rid of her from the mansion?'
All my attention was focused on this problem. I suddenly looked down at the familiar ring on my finger. It was the ring with the Levran Wine Guild's seal, which Cersia had given me to use freely when she was in danger.
'Should I say I have business with the wine guild and leave?'
If I can't drive her away, I can leave. ...No. I don't want to use Cersia's kindness and favor like this.
'I'll use it only in a real emergency.'
I lifted my head confidently, looking at the ring.
'This is my mansion. Why should I leave? I can't keep running away every time the princess visits. This is my territory!'
I clenched my fists and walked to the opposite side of Dodorea with a forced smile. Yes, I thought we would eventually meet. And I'm confident I can hold my own in a verbal sparring match.
"Since the visit of the esteemed Princess, I must show my best face, even if I die tomorrow."
"I didn't know inviting the Duchess for tea would be so difficult. It would be easier to have tea with the emperor of the distant Ashlea Empire."
"I prefer difficult women over easy ones."
Dodorea smiled faintly. She rested her chin and tapped her red lips with her index finger, as if finding it amusing.
"Would you like to have a more comfortable conversation if we clear the room?"
"No."
Oops. I rejected it too quickly again.
"Do you prefer discomfort? I didn't know that."
"Living comfortably seems like a luxury, so I decided to live uncomfortably."
I don't even know what nonsense I'm saying. All I want is to get this dangerous princess out of my sight as soon as possible.
"Is that so?"
Dodorea smiled, resting her chin. She leaned forward, tapping her left cheek with her index finger. The smell of old parchment, not flowers, wafted from the approaching Dodorea.
"It would be better to send me away before I cause a commotion here."
Dodorea whispered softly, so only I could hear. Her green eyes were filled with madness.
"It's better to be obedient when I treat you with respect. If I wanted to kill you, I would have sent an assassin instead of coming here to talk."
Seeing her regretful expression, she must be serious.
"I won't eat you. I won't kill you. I won't hit you. So, let's talk when I say. Okay, Duchess?"
She's definitely crazy. Dodorea, seeing my frightened expression, smiled sweetly and sank into the sofa. She then asked loudly, as if for everyone to hear.
"Let me ask again. I want to have a comfortable conversation with the Duchess. Should we clear the room?"
I looked at Dodorea suspiciously. When our eyes met, she smiled broadly and sipped her tea calmly. She was the epitome of elegance.
'If she came to kill me, she wouldn't have passed through the mansion entrance so confidently.'