Maybe it’s because he’d been overdoing it for the past few days, or maybe it's because he hadn’t slept well last night.
His body was sore.
"Are you okay?"
Anna worriedly handed him a glass of cold water.
He drank water.
"I’m all right."
Because it hadn’t been a waste of time.
Furthermore, he had a meeting with the other dukes today.
If he was lucky, he might even get an ice crystal there.
"Anna, is the carriage ready?"
"Everything is ready. Wolf went ahead and is on standby."
He’d met countless people; why was this so nerve-wracking?
Was it because he thought that it would all be over once this was done?
That they’d be able to live their lives without being bound by a fate created by the original novel.
Hope welled up.
"I hope it's over soon.”
"What?"
Maybe she heard him speaking to himself. Anna looked at him with a puzzled expression.
He smiled and shook his head.
"Nothing."
He gazed ahead.
Enoch, who was waiting with the coachman at the entrance of the castle, called out to him.
"Duke."
Enoch was smiling brightly today, showing off his exceptionally fine black hair.
"Are you ready?”
He wasn’t taken aback by that question.
Like a thoroughly prepared butler, Enoch spoke of today's destination without hesitation.
"All preparations are complete to head to Duke Herace Gray’s townhome."
As usual, it went smoothly.
The carriage was silent and had reached its destination Rosenta was lost in thought.
In front of the townhouse was a butler.
However, he did not immediately guide them inside.
It was as though he wanted to signal that Rosenta should go in alone. Rosenta cautiously brought this up.
"I have been asked to pass along a message that you all should talk without outside guests for the sake of confidentiality."
It seemed to be a rushed addition. Rosenta hadn’t received any word of this.
But he had guessed as much.
They probably wanted to ask about yesterday's disturbance. Normally, he would have avoided talking about his private life because he hated doing so…….
He was also in a hurry.
"Enoch, wait here."
Enoch bowed his head politely, with one hand on his chest.
It meant he understood.
When the butler saw this, he opened the door. There were three pairs of eyes staring at the entrance.
"You're all already here."
There was still plenty of time, but they’d all arrived so quickly.
Rosenta looked around.
There was only one empty seat. He walked towards it.
Soon the door could be heard closing.
Then, a barrage of questions poured out as if they had been waiting for this time.
"Duke Estella, are you really and truly romantically involved with Lady Vivienne?"
"Not at all, Duke Gray."
"Then why did you take her home yesterday?"
He made his reasoning clear to Herace.
"She's my friend. Isn’t it normal for me to step in?"
"That's true, but...….”
"The Duke is not one to run away and abandon his friend in a difficult situation, so you understand where I’m coming from, right?"
Herace closed his mouth tightly. It would mean that it was difficult to affirm or deny Rosenta’s question.
Instead, an answer came from elsewhere.
"Loyalty is a good thing."
It was Nike.
She asked Rosenta a question when their eyes met.
"Have you checked it?”
It was a question that only the two of them could understand.
Of course, Rosenta had no trouble comprehending what she was referring to. There was only one thing that required confirmation.
‘She must be asking if I checked the paper I received at the banquet.’
"Yes, I checked it thoroughly."
Herace and Eleph's gaze landed on them.
Herace’s eyes glistened with particular interest, and he actively questioned them.
"Hmm. What are you two talking about?”
Nike didn’t really give an answer. After a slight smile, she only quietly lifted her teacup.
At that, Harris turned to Rosenta.
"Thank you for the gift."
It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't the interesting answer that Herace had expected.
Therefore, the interest gradually faded from Herace's eyes.
Soon he turned his head and changed the subject of the conversation.
"Since we have a saint in our empire, why don't we take this opportunity to invite her to each of our territories?"
***
The conversation generally flowed into stories about the saint and each fiefdom.
They talked about what they needed from one another and about the future. It felt a little bit like bartering.
In particular, Rosenta listened to Eleph regarding what he needed most.
But nothing was gained.
"The cold is getting worse these days."
The weather was beyond Rosenta’s control.
"Because of the blinding snow, food is becoming scarce."
"We'll send some to you from Terrian. Could you please provide me with ice instead?"
The Estella Duchy was not as rich in food as the other duchies. Its power was derived entirely from its family name.
It couldn’t be helped.
Almost giving up, he waited and waited for the end of the trade negotiations disguised as a meeting.
The waiting finally ended.
Finally, Herace, who was also the host, announced the conclusion of the meeting.
"I think we’re done talking, so let's prepare to leave."
The first person to rise at those words was Eleph Snow.
After a brief silence, Eleph left after a short greeting.
"I'll leave first."
Rosenta quickly stood up to follow after him.
"Then I'll get going, too."
At that moment, he locked eyes with Nike.
Her orange eyes narrowed. As though she had read the intent behind his actions.
Then she slowly raised the corners of her mouth and called Herace.
"Duke Gray."
"What is it?"
"Please sit down and talk with me a little more."
Herace, who was trying to get up, faltered and sat back in his chair.
Rosenta bowed lightly and left the room.
Eleph's upright back could be seen walking ahead in the hallway. Rosenta immediately quickened his pace and approached him.
He called out to Eleph, "Duke Snow."
Eleph stopped at the sound of his name being called.
"There’s something I’d like to personally ask you so, at the risk of being rude, I called out to you."
His gray eyes, which looked blunt but straightforward, stared at Rosenta.
Whenever Eleph blinked slowly, his white eyelashes fluttered and danced.
"I am in need of an ice crystal."
"……That’s a rare thing that isn’t easily found."
"I know. Of course, I'll reasonably reimburse you."
Rosenta said ‘reasonably’, but there wasn't much in the form of material valuables he could give.
There was only one thing.
An offer to, someday, unconditionally offer up his skills when needed.
Rosenta quickly made up his mind. He tried to bring up the proposal in earnest.
But before he could even open his mouth, Eleph spoke first.
"I'll give it to you."
"What?"
"Something reasonable reimbursement, you don't have to provide it."
That white hair glistened.
The sparkle also lent a strange light to those gray eyes.
Although his eyes were impenetrable, they reflected gentle waves of light.
"Just because it's rare doesn't mean we need it."
Elef looked at Rosenta with eyes that showed no greed.
"I'll send the crystals through my people."
Then, as if he would give them without any conditions, he walked away.
Rosenta was puzzled, but the conversation with Eleph seemed to have ended without incident.
After barely processing the situation as best he could, he moved outside to where Enoch would be waiting.
Enoch, as expected, was just around the corner.
"Duke."
The closer he got, the more notice Rosenta took of the coat on his arm.
It was a coat he’d seen somewhere.
"Enoch."
"Yes."
The color, velvety texture, and pattern of the coat. All of this resembled the coat he’d worn to the banquet a while ago.
No, it absolutely was that coat.
But after lending that coat to Vivienne, it had not been returned yet.
"Did you retrieve it?"
"Yes."
It was an unexpected response. That's why it made his head hurt even more.
There’s no way Enoch would have brought it back without causing a problem.
"What did you say when you went to get it?"
Enoch's pale eyes curved like a snake’s.
After sticking out his red tongue once, he insidiously spoke with venom.
It was a familiar expression.
It was unusual. Rosenta took a deep breath in preparation.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"There was no one in the room in the first place, so there was nothing to say."
"You secretly broke in...….”
Rosenta stopped talking and closed his mouth.
He had to be careful what he said because there might be other ears listening.
Rosenta laughed at how amazingly ridiculous this was.
"Ha."
"I'll put it back if you want."
‘You're breaking in again to put it back? What if you run into someone else?’
It was nonsense.
"I’ll use a familiar...….”
Rosenta didn't even have to hear him finish.
He covered Enoch's mouth with his palm so that he could no longer speak.
"Stop speaking nonsense."
Even though his mouth was blocked, Enoch moved his mouth as if he was in a good mood.
Rosenta glared slightly at Enoch and pulled his hand away.
"Let's talk about the rest back at the mansion."
The conversation with Enoch was postponed and he walked toward Nike, who was just coming out of the townhouse.
"Duke Cardia."
"You haven't gone yet; you're still here?"
"I've been waiting."
"Why is the Duke of Estella waiting for me? I'm very curious.”
‘Should I say that I’d like to buy some plants? Or that I’d like to visit soon?
Rosenta had a thousand thoughts.
But he couldn't say it so openly. There must be a reason why the two duchies had been secretly trading.
After much thought, he said it in a roundabout way.
"I want to acquire something."
Fortunately, Nike understood this ambiguous answer at once.
"I see.”
Her orange eyes flashed, and she immediately set the date.
It was a quick decision.
"When is convenient for you? Oh, let me correct that. Duke Estella is always welcome."