“… “What is it?”
Gerald, who had been looking very thin for the past few days, opened the door slightly and stuck out his face. If the news was not to his liking, he would lock the door again.
“What is that attitude? How hard did this father work to fulfill your request…?”
To please Byron, he had to give him his favorite drink, and after a lot of effort to keep an eye on him, he finally got permission. But my son has such a grumpy face.
“The guest in the annex gave permission. He said it was okay to go out with that little boy!”
“… … Really, father? “It’s not a lie, is it?”
Gerald asked, looking at the Count with distrustful eyes.
He clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that someone would think he had been deceived his whole life.
“Okay, boy. So hurry up and eat. If you keep doing this, your mother will catch me and eat me.”
The Count sighed, remembering the scary face of his wife who was crying out for divorce. What would have happened by now if he had not received Byron’s permission? Just imagining it gave him goosebumps.
And that was the time when Gerald came out of his room for the first time in a few days, filling his stomach. The news of his departure was also relayed to another person, Ayla.
“Yes. “Father, what did you say just now?”
“From what I heard, there was a big festival coming soon in the capital. This father had promised, and it seemed like a good opportunity. He told me to go out and have some fun.”
When Ayla asked again, doubting her ears, Byron answered condescendingly, pretending to be very considerate.
At first, she thought she heard it wrong, but when she heard it again, it said, ‘You can go out to play in the city.’ So Aila had a big question mark in her mind.
Now that she thinks about it, he says he would let her go out. She heard it, but later she learned something so shocking that the story about going out disappeared from her mind for a long time.
But to go out suddenly like this. And that was on a festival day.
Ayla had only heard of the festival but had never actually seen it in her life. She had no idea what the atmosphere would be like.
If only she could escape Byron’s surveillance and blend into the joyous festival atmosphere.
Maybe she, too, can live like a normal person. Even if it’s just for a day.
Keeping worrying about the curse on her body didn’t change anything, and if I was going to go anyway, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to enjoy the festival in peace.
However, the anticipation that had been blooming inside her was shattered by the following news:. It was because she did not like the person she was going with.
“And I know that because I ended up going with your son.”
For some reason, it seemed like such a good proposal, but there was a trap. It was also a very big trap.
Going to the festival with that irritating person, Gerald. It made her wonder if Byron was doing it on purpose to annoy Ayla.
However, for the first time in a while, she couldn’t resist what Byron was doing for her, saying, ‘I don’t like it.’
If she did that, she would be ignoring her father’s sincerity, and she could only guess how much she would be tormented.
“… … okay.”
Ayla was reluctant but had no choice but to nod obediently. But Byron didn’t seem to like that either.
“It looks like you like going out to play with that kid.”
It was sarcastic as if to say, ‘Is it okay for you to date a man just because you’re a girl?’
Ayla pursed her lips in embarrassment. Byron couldn’t figure out what she wanted to do.
“… … No, I… … All I need is for my father to be by my side. I wish I could go with my father.”
She quickly put her mind to it, chose the line that would satisfy Byron the most, and spit it out. It was a line that a girl who only knew her father would say.
And the choice she chose was the correct answer. Byron smiled slyly and quite liked her answer.
“Yes, my daughter thought so. But this father is a little… now.” Because that’s what it’s like to go out. Do you understand, my daughter?”
Byron asked, combing her hair with his fingers.
Ayla endured the touch and nodded with a faint smile on her lips.
Even so, she couldn’t understand the reason. She understood that Gerald wanted to go out with her, but she was wondering why Byron accepted that.
Isn’t Byron not disposed to accept such a bold demand without gaining anything?
“I heard that guy has been very annoying. “He promised he wouldn’t do it again after we went out together just once, so just bear with it this time.”
And that question was resolved not long after. Byron said this while stroking her head.
‘… … Then I can endure it for a day.’
It was questionable whether that guy who had no answers would keep his promise.
Ayla nodded, saying that she understood.
* * *
“Wow, it’s a boat! It’s a real boat!! Joseph, look at that! “It’s huge!!”
A port in the southern part of the Peles Empire.
Winfred, who found the ship he was going to board, pointed to the ship and shouted in a very excited voice.
“”Your Majesty, I’m embarrassed. Please stay safe.”
Thanks to this, the chamberlain standing next to him was covering his open face with both hands.
Although it was not his first time coming to the sea or seeing a ship for the first time, the crown prince, who was at a curious age, had his eyes sparkling from the moment he heard that he would be leading a delegation to a foreign country.
“But this is my first time seeing a ship that big. This is my first time going abroad!”
When he was young, he had vacationed at a villa near the beach and had gone on a cruise on a lake, but this was a completely different experience.
Although it was explained several times that this was his first very important diplomatic mission as Crown Prince, Winfred was excited as if he were going on a trip for sightseeing.
“Isn’t Joseph good too? I’m so excited!”
“Hmm, well, sometimes something like this is okay.”
Although he spoke sternly, the chamberlain was a little excited.
Once he arrived in the Inselkov Kingdom and diplomacy officially began, he would be busy assisting the crown prince, but until then, it was not much different from a vacation on a luxury cruise ship.
Winfred chuckled softly, saying he knew that would happen, and walked towards the huge ship. He was just walking, but in fact, his steps were light, as if he were flying above the clouds.
Winfred, who was running excitedly, stopped in place when he spotted a familiar face among those watching the crown prince’s procession.
“… … Director Epocher?”
Candice, who should be at the Duke’s house, was in the crowd.
Just before the delegation left, the one-month ban on visits was lifted, and they visited the Duke’s house to see Noah and Ophelia, but Candice Epocher was staying at the Duke’s house at that time.
Since it was a temporary visit to take care of Ophelia’s health until the child was born, it could be thought that the purpose was achieved and that they were now at the port to return.
However, given Candice’s personality, it was a little strange that she did not even hint that she was planning to return to Winfred, with whom she had become quite close.
“Oh, what did you call me just now?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I got the wrong person.”
When he looked closely, he saw that she resembled Candice, but her face was a little different. Moreover, unlike her with her long, long hair tied up, the woman here had her gray hair cut neatly and neatly.
The thick glasses that Candice always wears as if they were a part of her body were nowhere to be seen.
“That’s not it… … . Wow, is His Highness the Crown Prince of the Pheles Empire talking to you now? I guess I took care of my sister well.”
And the answer that came back from the woman was truly unexpected.
“sister?”
When Winfred tilted her head and asked, she introduced herself with a toothy grin. It was very similar to Candice Epocher’s smile.
“I’m Natalia Epocher. I’m Director Candice Epocher’s younger sister.”
Oh goodness, what kind of coincidences are there?
Winfred opened her eyes wide and looked at the woman, who introduced herself as Natalia. Although the details were a little different, she looked exactly like her older sister, Candice.
“I didn’t know the director had a younger brother. Why is there something in the empire?”
When Winfred asked with a puzzled expression, Natalia answered with a grin.
“I heard that my sister’s friend who lives in the Empire gave birth to a baby, but I can’t shamefully let her see the baby’s face alone! I also want to take a look. Her friend, who is both working and not, also brought gifts from her parents’ home.”
It seemed like the face wasn’t the only thing that Candice and Natalia had in common. It was distracting, no… Her cheerful personality also resembled a routine.
“Ah, I’m planning to go to the Weishafen duchy. He was just visiting the baby a few days ago.”
He wanted to brag about seeing Noah to everyone, but when he met someone who said he had visited the Empire to see the baby, he excitedly told the story.
How cute she was. Noah had different hair and eye colors than Ayla, but it was still strange to see traces of her older sister’s resemblance to her small face.
As he smiled brightly thinking of the cute baby, Natalia twisted her body as if she was truly jealous.
“I can’t wait to see it too. How cute it is!”
And then.
Winfred and Natalia were talking at the same time.
“Your Highness, the departure time is getting closer.”
“… … “Natalia, His Royal Highness is probably busy too, so I’ll leave you alone.”
One was Joseph, the chamberlain who was urging Winfred, and the other was a man with white skin and a delicate appearance with long brown hair.
“Oh, I… This is my husband, Austin Epocher, Your Majesty. “I held on for too long. I’m sorry.”
Natalia scratched the back of her neck and apologized, and her husband Austin, whom she introduced, was embarrassed but greeted her politely.
“no. I was so happy that I didn’t even notice the passage of time. When you go to the Duke’s house, please be sure to say hello to me.”
Leaving behind such a short but impressive meeting, Winfred set off on a voyage to the Kingdom of Inselcorp.
