After visiting the Magic Tower, Ceres returned to the shop, only for Jay to send her straight back home. It was more an order than a request for her to rest. Ceres had no choice but to comply.
“Milady!”
“.....?”
The moment Ceres stepped inside, she saw Butler Colin hurrying toward her. She tilted her head in confusion.
“Is something wrong?”
“We have guests.”
“Guests? Who?”
“Well, the Dukes...”
The Dukes?
At Colin’s answer, Ceres immediately thought of two people. Since he had said “Dukes” in the plural, it seemed that Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein had both come to visit.
“When did they arrive?”
“About an hour ago.”
An hour...
That must be why Colin looked so restless. They were Dukes, after all, and he had left them waiting for an entire hour.
Ceres quickly followed Colin into the drawing room. The two Dukes were sitting comfortably on the old chairs.
No, there were three Dukes...?
...He came too?
She had expected only Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein, but Duke Schweiss was there as well, sitting with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
“There’s our Ceres!”
“You’re here, my dear.”
As soon as Ceres entered, Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein got to their feet and greeted her warmly. She smiled faintly at their welcome. Her gaze soon shifted to Duke Schweiss, who had opened his eyes and was watching her.
“I heard you were ill.”
“Ah...”
Ceres glanced at Butler Colin, who stood beside her. He gave her an awkward smile before lowering his head.
“They asked why you haven’t been attending the Academy lately.”
Ceres looked back at the three Dukes.
How did they know I hadn’t been going to the Academy?
“That wasn’t the first time.”
“What?”
“I mean, the first time we went looking for you.”
Ceres wondered what that meant, but she soon understood.
“We waited for you every day.”
Duke Nora had gone to the Academy for four days in a row, hoping to see Ceres. But he couldn’t find her anywhere until the third day. Thankfully, he managed to meet her on the fourth.
“I waited so long for you. I was so sad when you never showed up.”
Duke Nora pretended to wipe away a tear and sniffled dramatically.
“But to think you couldn’t come because you were sick.”
And how you were in the Black Forest too....
Duke Nora had first learned about it at the palace. Worried, he asked Butler Colin about it today, only to find out that Ceres had been sick all this time. She was so unwell that she couldn’t even attend the Academy.
“I’m fine now.”
Ceres gave Duke Nora, who looked ready to cry, a bright smile in an attempt to reassure him.
“Are you feeling any pain anywhere else?”
“No.”
Duchess Elkein still looked concerned and guided Ceres to a seat. Once they sat down, Duke Schweiss let out a small sigh.
“Did that man bring you to the meeting despite knowing you weren’t feeling well?”
“...Yes.”
“...Wow, that man...”
Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein’s expressions hardened as if they had just realized something. Their irritation toward Grand Duke Persia seemed to flare up again. The same displeased look appeared on all three of their faces.
They say someone you dislike always finds a way to make you dislike them even more.
“I’m already fine. There’s no need to worry. I only went with him because I had something personal to take care of.”
“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Hm?”
Ceres looked confused when Duke Schweiss personally poured her a cup of tea and held it out to her. His movements were calm and composed, almost unnervingly graceful. Ceres stared at his hands without realizing it.
“I’d like to pay off that debt for you.”
“...Debt?”
His words immediately brought her back to reality.
Debt? What debt? Does he mean the one Kainel is holding...
“That idio—ahem. Not him. I mean me. I’ll pay it off.”
“Wasn’t that already settled? I told you I was the best person to handle it.”
The moment Duke Schweiss finished speaking, the other two Dukes quickly joined in.
Ceres could only blink repeatedly at their words.
What is happening right now?
“I said I’ll do it.”
“How many times do I have to tell you two to leave this to me?”
“Geez, it’s only right that I pay off our Ceres’s debt...”
Clap!
“......”
“......”
“......”
At the sound of Ceres clapping her hands, the three of them fell silent at the same time. She looked at the three Dukes staring blankly at her.
A long sigh escaped her lips.
“You’re talking about my family’s debt, right?”
“Yes.”
“I heard Grand Duke Persia has the debt documents.”
“I’ll find them and get rid of them.”
“.......”
Ceres hadn’t known them for long, but she understood now why the three of them were friends.
They’re surprisingly alike.
Once they fixated on something, they couldn’t think about anything else. They didn’t even ask for her opinion and were too busy arguing among themselves.
“It’s my debt.”
“Exactly. It’s our Ceres’s debt, which means it’s our debt too.”
No, how did you come to that conclusion?
Ceres sighed softly at Duke Nora’s ridiculous logic, which he delivered like it was the most natural thing in the world. The other two Dukes simply nodded along in agreement.
“I’ll take care of it myself. I’d appreciate it if the three of you stayed out of this.”
The three Dukes’ eyes widened. Her firm expression was completely different from the way she had acted until now.
“No, my dear. How are you going to handle it on your own?”
“That’s right, Ceres. Can’t you let me help you?”
Duchess Elkein and Duke Nora looked at her with wounded expressions.
“Why would you go and make things harder for yourself...?”
At that moment, Duke Schweiss suddenly raised his hand, preventing the two Dukes from grabbing Ceres. After watching her in silence, he asked calmly.
“Is that truly what you want?”
“Yes.”
Her answer was firm.
“...Very well.”
Duke Schweiss nodded and rose from his seat.
“What? Beibei, are you really leaving like this again? You’re not even going to try persuading her?”
“Haa, I told you not to trust him. Should I just hit him?”
“Yeah, go ahead. I won’t stop you this time.”
Even with the two Dukes complaining behind him, Duke Schweiss didn’t so much as react. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped.
“......”
He turned around and looked at Ceres, who had stood up to see him off. Slowly, he walked back toward her.
Tap.
He patted her shoulder. The gesture was a little... no, extremely awkward, as though he wasn’t used to showing his affection. After that, he quietly left.
“Ceres, stay a little longer and talk with us.”
“Yes, dear. I can’t bring myself to leave like this.”
The two Dukes seemed intent on persuading her further, repeatedly motioning for her to come sit down.
Hmm.
But Ceres didn’t hear a word they said. Something else had caught her attention.
Why does he have that...?
Just moments ago, when she was standing close to Duke Schweiss, she noticed something strange around his neck. It was an old, worn necklace with a broken eagle pendant hung from it.
The sight left Ceres tilting her head in confusion.
.
.
.
Chapter 41: Broken Wings
“Your Highness, Marquis Merial has arrived.”
Crown Prince Aseraian was reviewing the documents for the upcoming Imperial Council when his attendant’s announced the news.
“Let him enter.”
A short while later, the door opened, and an elderly man stepped into the office.
“Your Highness.”
He had a warm and gentle appearance that immediately put people at ease. Even the smile on his face was comforting.
“Welcome, Marquis.”
Crown Prince Aseraian stood from his seat and greeted him.
Marquis Judro Merial. He was the father of the late Empress and the maternal grandfather of both Crown Prince Aseraian and Cheion, the current Tower Master.
“Are you feeling better now?”
At Aseraian’s question, Marquis Merial’s smile grew even warmer.
“Haha, it is all thanks to Your Highness’s concern.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
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