By Zephyria 
As soon as Ivan spoke, Ruben’s hand flinched.
Only then did I understand that Ivan had signaled me for help. No matter how audacious this fellow was, these weren’t words to be easily spoken in front of Ruben. I let out a hollow laugh.
Ivan continued to explain in a calm tone, his eyes still half-lowered.
“A Marquess of a kingdom like yours can easily obtain a copy of the Sierran Empire’s Nobility Yearbook, even if it’s only distributed within the Empire. It’s true that I graduated a year after the Second Prince, and it’s not particularly unusual for academy seniors and juniors who are traveling abroad to meet by chance and greet each other.”
“…That’s true.”
“Therefore, as a price for the honor of being able to join us, I asked him to favor the Eldos Merchant Guild. I used the excuse that I wasn’t confident in preparing a suitable banquet and had to ask for his help.”
“…”
Ruben offered no reply. Ivan remained unperturbed.
“Then, Marquess Murray’s eagerness got the better of him, and he asked if he could bring the Third Princess and Fourth Prince to the meeting. I agreed on the condition that they wouldn’t mention it to anyone else.”
“…”
After hearing the entire story, Ruben let out a sigh of relief and ran a hand over his face with the hand not clasped with mine. However, he didn’t ponder for long before nodding in agreement.
Rubel had ordered me to find a way to meet the young children of King Yulan secretly in the near future. While it was vexing that he used Ruben as bait to secure his own gain, it was for the purpose of creating a diversion, so it wasn’t something to scold him for.
“…Alright. What’s the date?”
“There’s no benefit in delaying, so we’ve set it for a luncheon tomorrow.”
“And the means of entry?”
“I’ve informed them that we will be traveling by Carriage from the Eldos Merchant Guild. You will prepare here, but I will arrange for you to switch Carriages once.”
“Excellent.”
Only after receiving the praise did Ivan lift his head. His deep chestnut eyes shone with intelligence. With a proud demeanor, like a cat that had caught a mouse, he recounted what he had done.
“I’ve firmly requested Marquess Murray not to ask for anything excessive, stating that I’m merely receiving favors due to my connection as an academy senior. So, there shouldn’t be any inconvenience. If Marquess Murray’s side wishes to arrange a separate gathering…”
“Yes. I’ll handle that.”
“Understood.”
A moment of silence passed.
Ivan, having moistened his throat with Tea Water, asked if I had anything else to say, so I brought up the story of receiving Ranunculus from Marianne. Even after hearing that Marianne and Benjamin were safe and heading towards Felix, he asked nothing further. He simply nodded and gave a brief reply, “I see.”
Knowing how much Ivan usually talked when he was alone with me, his reaction felt somewhat stifling. Just in case, I observed Rubel’s expression, but the child, as always, was looking at Ivan with a kind and gentle face, showing concern. I couldn’t fathom what Ivan had deduced.
Even a simple luncheon required careful handling when meeting high-ranking nobles from another kingdom.
As soon as we finished the tea, I tidied up and stood.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day.
My steps were cautious, each one deliberate due to the ill-fitting stride. It had been a long time since clothes fit so snugly at the shoulder seams and thigh seams. I was surprised, wondering when and how the clothes had been prepared, as I hadn’t had my limbs measured since arriving at this mansion.
Rubel, dressed as elegantly as a crane today, helped me get dressed.
Today, the child had half of their long hair tied up and the other half left down. The tied hair was braided into a bun and secured with a silver branch, adorned with sparkling jewels that glittered with every sway, blinding me.
Over a dress shirt and vest worn in the Sierran style, a shawl was draped over the shoulders, this one in the Yulan style. The bright fabric, unadorned with fringe, shimmered subtly with every ray of light, appearing truly precious. The thin fabric flowed like a cloak along the angular shoulder line, stopping just below the hip, drawing my gaze to the long legs.
I was dressed similarly to the child. The shawl draped over my shoulders was only slightly darker in color than the child’s, but the shape and style of the garments were so similar that it was immediately clear they had been made together. I had been inwardly bothered by the remark that Ruben, being unmarried, had become a precious bait. I made a strenuous effort not to smile, pleased that the child didn’t hide their affection through their clothing.
Marquess Murray’s residence was a single-story building in the capital, and the grounds were smaller than I expected. I recalled that Sierran Empire Count residences were usually about this size and examined it carefully. Instead of trees, a generous amount of coral was planted in the not-so-spacious garden, which caught my eye.
Marquess Murray, who came out to greet us personally at the main gate, welcomed our party with great joy.
“My heavens, I feel like I should kiss at the feet of a Goddess! Thank you so much for allowing me to host Your Highness today. I will consider this day the greatest honor of my life. I am Anton, the head of the Murray family. Anton Murray.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome. We’ve come quietly today, so let’s skip the introductions.”
“Ah, of course! Naturally. I will escort you inside first.”
His eagerness to lead the way, acting like a servant, was quite peculiar.
…Wasn’t he a Marquess? The man with the shining blond hair had remarkably few signs of age on his face. He didn’t look like someone with grown children and grandchildren.
Furthermore, the silk and jewels he wore, while luxurious, often contained colors that didn’t quite match. He had clearly put on everything he owned to show off to his esteemed guest.
I followed behind, blinking, bewildered by his attire, demeanor, and social graces.
“My grandchildren are also eager to meet Your Highness. They’ve been waiting since yesterday evening. Both of them resemble my son, who is the King’s Consort, and are very beautiful and radiant.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You may or may not know, but my son, much like myself, or rather, he was rumored throughout Yulan to have a far superior appearance to me. By maintaining himself so well, didn’t he make a most excellent marriage?”
“Indeed.”
“However, meeting Your Highness here today, I realize I’ve been living like a frog in a well. Even from afar, your noble bearing was so dazzling that tears welled up.”
…So he received the Marquess title by having his son become the King’s Consort.
Watching the middle-aged man flirt with Ruben, I was dumbfounded. In the Sierran Empire, nobles recognized each other as unique when they wore matching attire. Was there no such custom in Yulan? I began to feel resentful towards the innocent Ruben, and just then, I hastily turned my gaze to the wall.
Most of the paintings hanging in the corridor depicted the sea. Blue sea, black sea, red sea… Among them was a painting of a sea that shone golden in the center. My steps slowed without me realizing it. Rubel linked his index finger with mine and pulled me along. I walked beside Rubel again.
A large door opened.
Everyone present stood and bowed. The grand chandelier in the elaborately decorated banquet hall was the first thing that caught my eye. Like the buildings in Songbrue Port, the walls were plastered with crushed white sand, making them gleam white wherever light touched them.
The meticulously prepared dining table was long and narrow.
A dish of large, black shellfish, cooked whole in their shells, was piled in the center like a tower. A large fish, still with its head attached, was served with its flesh filleted, and a soup containing various crustaceans added color to the table on ornate plates.
The other dishes served alongside were mostly sea fish rather than land meat. Despite it being the middle of winter, flower decorations were placed everywhere, making most of the items on the table look like decorations rather than food.
As Marquess Murray guided us, Rubel was seated at the head of the table, and I took the seat to his right. To my side sat Ivan and his wife, according to protocol, and in front of me sat Marquess Murray and his family. Then, servants stood three paces behind, ready to assist with the meal according to the number of guests.
The two seated in front of Ivan and his wife were very young.
They were tiny children, almost too young to be rivals. The elder child looked about ten, and the younger about eight. With bright blond hair and light green eyes like Marquess Murray, they resembled twins. Their fair cheeks were flushed with joy and anticipation, and they smiled constantly.
“The child seated next to me is the Third Princess Estria Merlin Yulan, and this child is the Fourth Prince Vicente Merlin Yulan. Both are very intelligent and cute. And kind, too.”
“Hello, Your Highness, Sir Knight!”
“Hello!”
Rubel accepted their greetings with a gentle smile.
“Yes. It is an honor to meet you both.”
At this, the children giggled uncontrollably.
Even if he were a Prince of the Empire, it was proper etiquette to treat royalty from other kingdoms with respect. However, the children seemed delighted that the wonderful Prince, whom even their grandfather treated with such reverence, was being so kind to them.
The children also showed great interest in me. Compliments about my hair color and appearance continued at length. Seeing the young ones blush and their eyes sparkle, my heart softened considerably, and I indulged their affectionate chatter like a doting parent.
Skilled and adept servants prepared the seafood for easy eating. When I paused, curious about a dish, they would preemptively explain how it was cooked, what kind of fish it was, and where it was caught, which was pleasant.
Ivan also joined the conversation freely. Rubel would occasionally interject with words of concern for Ivan. Rubel showing off his familiarity with Ivan wasn’t for Ivan’s sake but for mine. Knowing how distant they had been, I found their cordial demeanor quite astonishing.
The atmosphere remained warm and friendly throughout the luncheon.
Most of the stories Rubel and Ivan brought up were about Yulan’s tourist attractions. Rubel even eloquently described the appearance of a lighthouse he had never visited. Marquess Murray and the two children, captivated by Rubel’s eloquence, let out exclamations of wonder several times.
As the gathering progressed, not a single word was spoken about legends or Divine objects. I assumed there was a reason Ivan and Rubel remained silent, so I refrained from saying anything unnecessary. I merely added a few compliments about the food on the table, making my presence known.