* * *

Ethan’s guests were the Second Prince Ilior de Crombell and the Third Prince Eleon de Crombell.

“Have a seat, both of you.”

He sat down on a chair in the office and greeted the two of them. It was a great honor for the Imperial family to visit the mansions of the nobles. It was customary to decorate the mansion in an extravagant manner and greet with the utmost courtesy, but Ambrosia did not do that. Because it was an informal visit.

“Countess Millen, is she okay?”

Before Ethan could even sit in his seat, Ilior asked about Sarah’s well-being. It looked so urgent that Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“She’s well protected by Ambrosia, so don’t worry.”

“But I have to see her face once…….”

“She’s fine. Like I told you, Your Highness.”

Ethan firmly cut off Ilior’s words, which still had lingering feelings. Then he bit his lips and sat down on his chair. Whenever they asked how Sarah was doing, Ambrosia remained silent. The same was true of breaking the news to Count Millen’s family.

‘Damn, I can’t get myself together.’

Ilior took a deep breath, swallowing the swear words to himself. He still remembered and remembered that moment. The moment when Sarah pushed his body away and received the light from the magic stone with her whole body. The image of her as she collapsed, red blood dripping from her mouth and eyes, kept replaying in her mind. At that time, the Third Prince, Eleon, knew Ilior’s frustration, so he gave his chance first.

“My brother wants to express his gratitude to Countess Millen.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s working just fine. It would be shameless for our side to send a thank-you note instead of doing that in person.”

Eleon nodded his head calmly and continued.

“Having saved the life of the prince, the Imperial family owed her. If she asks His Majesty to give her a new title in recognition of the merits of Countess Millen, he will do so right away.”

“……Tsk.”

Ethan clicked his tongue heavily and narrowed his brow. He wondered why these brothers, who had been at odds with each other because of the battle for the throne, came to Ambrosia holding hands. They seemed to have a common goal.

“Why do you want to meet face to face?”

At Ethan’s question, Ilior immediately opened his mouth.

“I think it would be reassuring to see her in person.”

“Even if I said she was fine? Unless you think Ambrosia is speaking lies against the Imperial family, step down.”

“I owe her my life, Duke.”

“……”

There were times when his sense was sharp. There were times when he felt that way for a variety of reasons, such as when something was about to harm him, when something bad was about to happen. For Ethan, this was the moment. Someone was coveting what was his.

“Then, if you confirm that she is safe, will you back off?”

“I promise.”

Ethan readily agreed. Ilior frowned and nodded his head again and again.

“Great.”

Ethan also nodded with satisfaction, and this time looked at the Third Prince, Eleon.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, will you join us?”

“I won’t refuse.”

Eleon also nodded. It was because there was no reason to refuse. He had to find out more about Sarah, who had discovered Elexa and invited him to the mansion.

‘Claude’s nanny is sweet and nice. I’m not scared. I want to play there again, please. Okay?’

His lovely son, Elexa, was busy begging with tears in his eyes whenever he saw his father. As he was a fool when it came to his son, who was too cute and adorable to ignore, he wanted to check out what kind of person she was this time. Ambrosia already had all the power in their hands to the point where they didn’t care about the Third Prince’s illegitimate child, but the other families were different. Since he couldn’t figure out what Countess Millen was up to, Eleon wanted to see and confirm her in person. Whether it was worth entrusting Elexa to her, or whether she was the type of person who could wield his existence as a weakness. To find out more carefully, he had no choice but to see her in person.

“Since you said that you are curious about the safety of Countess Millen, there is nothing you can do about it. Come here.”

Ethan got up and walked towards the large window in the office. Ilior and Eleon cast their puzzled glances at Ethan, who did not leave the office. But he only beckoned and nodded, suggesting that they should come over there.

“…….”

It was Ilior who took the first step. As he stood next to Ethan and looked out the window at the direction he was pointing, Sarah Millen was there.

“Countess Millen…….”

When Ilior muttered blankly, Eleon also approached the window and looked down. Under the office window, Ambrosia’s magnificent and spacious garden was clearly visible. And beneath it, Countess Millen and Claude were wriggling and working hard on something.

“What are they doing now?”

“They’re in class.”

Ethan looked at Veron standing behind him and asked.

“What did they say they were going to learn today?”

“They’re studying botany.”

Hearing Veron’s reply, he looked back at the garden and saw that Claude had a notebook in his hand. The child was writing something eagerly as he watched Sarah point with her finger. And while Claude was concentrating on taking notes, Sarah was picking a handful of flowers and secretly putting them in the child’s hair.

“They’re having a great class time, both of them.”

Ethan said so and smiled lightly. Sarah’s gesture of decorating the child’s hair with flowers was very careful, looking at Claude’s countenance. The hand of the viewer was sweating automatically. As soon as Sarah tried to put the last flower in Claude’s hair, the child turned around. Then Sarah froze, keeping the same posture as she tried to put the flowers in.

“Oh no, she got caught.”

Ethan’s low voice was heard with a smile on his face. He said so and opened the window. Then the laughter of Sarah and Claude from outside could be heard all the way into the office.

“Nanny, I hate youuu!”

“Ahaha! I’m sorry, Young Master Claude!”

Outside the window, Claude, who brought his hand to his head, realized that his head had become a vase and was rushing to Sarah.

“……!”

Ilior, who was watching Sarah and Claude in that voice, swallowed his breath without realizing it. He realized that he was enchanted watching the scene.

“Ahahaha!”

Sarah laughed loudly and ran to May and hid behind her. May seemed to hide Sarah, but quickly stepped aside and opened the way. At that moment, Sarah’s face was colored with betrayal, and this time she hid behind Ronda.

“Come here, Nanny! You’re so cowardly to hide behind Ronda!”

Claude jumped with his hand filled with the flowers that he had pulled out of his head. Sarah, who quickly hid between Ronda and May, was cheeky. Rhonda looked at Claude and Sarah with a troubled face and soon lifted the child with great determination.

“……Ack, Ronda!”

And she put Claude in Sarah’s arms. Claude, who finally got Sarah, started planting the flowers on her head again.

“Kkyah―, it tickles. Young Master Claude!”

“Ahaha!”

Both laughed loudly as their faces turned red. On Ronda and May’s faces, laughter also bloomed as they watched the scene.

“……”

“……”

It was a very peaceful, fairytale-like scene. They felt like they were peeking at a part of a happy daily life that someone had eagerly dreamed of. Ethan closed the window in the office and could no longer hear that laughter, but nevertheless, it seemed to ring in his head. He said as he looked out the window with a dazed face and looked at Ilior and Eleon.

“Are you satisfied with it now?”