Time passed quickly, and before long, it had been over two weeks since Letier returned to the estate.
During that time, she consistently reported to the cosmetics shop she’d been neglecting, checking inventory and managing sales.
Sometimes, she brought in new ingredients to test them herself, and often she joined Lucy and the other staff in endless meetings.
Occasionally, when she had time to spare, she spent it with her father, and as the lady of the Lenever estate, she took care of repairs around the mansion and made decisions about needed purchases.
In short, she was living very busy days.
“Was I always this busy?”
Now that she had quickly resumed her roles as the head of the cosmetics shop and as the lady of the Lenever estate—since her mother was no longer present—the memories of the palace were slowly fading from Letier’s mind.
But sometimes, when all her work was done and she returned to her room before the sun had set—
And the red glow of the sunset poured into her room through the low window—
“……”
There were days when someone’s eyes would suddenly come to mind.
“My lady, you worked hard again today.”
“Huh? Oh… yeah.”
Startled out of her thoughts while staring at the sunset, Letier quickly turned around.
She’d been lost in thought without realizing it, so her reaction was unnecessarily dramatic.
“What surprised you so much?”
Lucy placed a glass of water on the table behind her and spoke.
Letier, embarrassed by her own suspicious reaction—as if she’d been caught doing something wrong—shook her head.
Why does he keep coming to mind?
“What were you thinking about?”
“Just… just some old memories.”
“Old memories?”
“It’s nothing important.”
Though Lucy looked puzzled, Letier didn’t want to say more.
As if trying to collect herself, she shook her head again and sat down on the sofa by the table.
Standing in front of her, Lucy opened a report and began to speak.
“Tomorrow, the supplier for our cosmetic containers is scheduled to visit Lenever Manor. There was that leakage issue with the toner bottles from last time—apparently, they’ve fixed it!”
“Okay. Thanks for your work today, Lucy.”
“Oh, not at all.”
Lucy gave her a cheerful smile and then left the room.
Letier watched her disappear down the hallway, then let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the sofa.
She was definitely busy, but for some reason, she couldn’t focus on her tasks the way she used to—and that felt strange.
Tap tap—
Just then, a small and unfamiliar sound caught her ear as she lay sprawled on the sofa.
It sounded like someone politely tapping on the window.
And the moment she registered it, her first thought was confusion.
This was the third floor…
Letier quickly turned her head.
“What was that?”
She waited quietly, but the small sound didn’t come again.
She was about to turn her head back, thinking she must have imagined it, when a slightly louder sound followed.
Tap tap!
With a mix of curiosity and annoyance, Letier got up and walked toward the window.
“Huh?”
Given the location of the room, it obviously wasn’t a person. Maybe it was an animal?
Sure enough, there was a small bird sitting on the windowsill.
The little bird, with bright blue feathers, flapped its wings at Letier as if annoyed by how long she’d taken to appear, stirring a gentle breeze in front of her.
“Little bird! What’s the matter?”
“Ppip!”
The small bird opened its beak and chirped.
Letier reached out, finding it adorable—but then noticed a small note tied to the bird’s leg.
It was clearly a letter, and clearly meant for her.
Letier hesitated for a moment, then turned back into the room. She tilted the glass of water Lucy had brought onto a wide dish, pouring out a bit.
Then she waved toward the bird at the window.
“Little bird, come drink this! Wherever you flew from, you must be exhausted.”
As if it understood her words, the bird fluttered over and landed in front of the dish.
It eagerly dipped its beak into the water and began to drink, and Letier took the chance to untie the paper from its leg.
“Let’s see…”
She unfolded the crumpled paper and narrowed her eyes at the contents.
Her violet eyes moved slowly from top to bottom.
Neatly and elegantly written, the document was filled from edge to edge—it was an entry permit for the Kingdom of Eustian.
“An entry permit…”
Stamped at the bottom was the seal of the Trillante Empire.
And below that, a small note was attached—a short letter from him, one she might have been waiting for all this time.
****
Duke Lenever was in a very sour mood.
And with good reason—his one and only beloved daughter was preparing to leave once again.
To make matters worse, she hadn’t even been back home for that long.
“Ahem…”
“Your Grace, is this about Lady Letier?”
Gilbert, who had been walking behind him, peeked forward and asked.
Duke Lenever didn’t respond. He simply stared down at the ground ahead of him.
Seeing his drooping shoulders, Gilbert gave a knowing shrug.
“Your Grace, the Kingdom of Eustian isn’t exactly a dangerous place, is it?”
“It’s not that I don’t know that.”
“And it’s not like she’s going for just anything—this is about her cosmetics business. Plus, didn’t the prince himself issue the entry permit?”
“I know.”
Duke Lenever’s voice rose slightly.
Strictly speaking, the Kingdom of Eustian was known to be relatively safe.
Only citizens of the Trillante Empire were granted permission to enter the heavily secluded Eustian Kingdom, and in exchange, the kingdom received the Empire’s elite military protection.
“Then why are you so upset?”
Duke Lenever lowered his head again, his face gloomy.
His daughter, Letier, was not his possession.
She had the freedom to go wherever she pleased.
But still…
“Don’t tell me you’re just feeling hurt because Lady Letier is leaving?”
“……”
“Your Grace, you can’t keep Lady Letier by your side forever…”
“Didn’t I say I know that!”
Duke Lenever snapped, his voice trembling with emotion.
But Gilbert, who had stayed by his side for many years, didn’t even flinch and continued speaking.
The duke’s small and delicate frame did nothing to make his anger threatening in Gilbert’s eyes.
“Even if she’s not leaving right this minute, she’ll be married in a few years regardless. Think of this as a rehearsal—a chance to get used to some distance between you and her.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
Duke Lenever shouted again, and this time, his eyes welled up with tears.
After losing his wife, he’d cherished and protected his precious daughter as if she were a fragile treasure that might shatter at the slightest touch.
He’d given her everything she wanted, all in the name of raising her without regrets.
But now she was leaving again…
Sniffle…
“Huh? Your Grace, are you crying?”
“I am not.”
“But aren’t you?”
“There’s dust in my eyes.”
Gilbert watched his master’s back as the duke blinked awkwardly and began walking again.
“Sigh… our dear duke…”
He followed quickly behind, vowing to himself that he would gently suggest to Lady Letier that she comfort her father before she left—so he wouldn’t feel too heartbroken.
****
“So, you’re saying the prince personally issued the permit?”
“Yeah…!”
“Because you asked him to help you find new ingredients?”
“Yeah…!”
“And since the prince happened to be going to the Kingdom of Eustian anyway, he invited you to go with him?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly it…!”
Letier nodded with the most sincere expression she could manage.
It wasn’t the purest truth, with not a single lie mixed in—but it wasn’t a total fabrication either.
She couldn’t exactly tell Lucy or Ephron about the prince’s secret or the empress’s true nature, so this was the best she could do.
“My lady, thanks to you, I’m really having all sorts of new experiences,”
Lucy said while rummaging through the wardrobe.
They’d only just unpacked not long ago, and now it seemed they’d have to pack even more than before.
“I told you, Lucy, if you want, you can stay here in the estate…”
“How could I possibly stay behind while you go off alone?”
Lucy placed both hands on her hips and raised her voice.
Her expression was firm.
“But someone has to stay and manage the cosmetics shop and the factory.”
“I’ve already handed over everything to people I trust.”
“Lucy… are you sure you’re not giving up something you love because of me?”
“My lady!”
Lucy turned to her with a stern face.
Caught off guard by her intensity, Letier nodded without thinking.
“I loved running the business with you, my lady. Doing it alone means nothing to me!”
“Lucy…”
“And besides, it’s the Kingdom of Eustian, isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to go there at least once.”
“My lady, I feel the same.”
Ephron, who had been standing in the hallway, suddenly stepped in.
After hearing the unexpected news that they would be heading to the Kingdom of Eustian, he had quietly drawn his sword and started polishing it.
For him, being by Letier’s side—no matter when or where—was simply a given.
Letier looked at Lucy and Ephron in turn, then recalled the contents of the letter that had arrived with the entry permit just a few days ago.
Lady Letier.
As I mentioned before, I’ll soon be leaving for the Kingdom of Eustian.
On the way, I plan to stop briefly at the southern border of the Trillante Empire and stay for a few days at the Videros Hotel located there.
If you are considering my proposal favorably, let’s meet there.
The specific time and place are as follows.
