Lawrence, apparently not minding whether the atmosphere in the reception room was tense or relaxed, bluntly addressed the Duke and Duchess of Lanchester.

“So, how was the territory? Rumors of the music festival in the Duchy of Lanchester even reached the royal capital. They say she toyed with the princess of the Kingdom of Clauton and Brandon Lanchester, and gave a performance that left everyone utterly astonished?”

“?! Do- do you mean me?!”

Avril blinked, as the story was far too removed from the truth.  However, Dylan didn’t particularly deny it.  He simply drank his tea, looking displeased.

“Among those who were toyed with and left stunned, would you add Fernand Brandner?”

“Fernand?  Did that playboy do something?”

“Yeah.”

From the way they spoke, the two seemed to be somewhat acquainted with the heir sent by the Brandner family to the recent music festival. Avril listened quietly as she brought tea to her lips.

The tea served at the royal palace was delicious.  Released from the earlier tension, she savored it leisurely as Dylan continued speaking.

“He approached Avril out of a personal grudge against me and tried to humiliate her.  It would have been bad enough if he was only trying to tarnish the ducal family’s reputation, but targeting her?  There’s something wrong with that man.”

“I see.”

“However, Avril was several steps ahead.  Fernand was beaten at his own game.”

“Ahaha. Of course she would.”

Avril watched as Lawrence gave an enthusiastic response and Dylan recounted the events with a cool expression.  She tilted her head.  Honestly, nothing came to mind.  She had only desperately tried to conduct herself properly at the music festival.

“Am- Am I that skillful…?”

As Avril kept blinking her eyes, her husband gave her a worried look.

“Yet, even after being utterly shocked and crushed, he looked at Avril with great interest, which is rather troublesome.”

“Your wife is truly fascinating.  Wherever she goes, she easily charms difficult people.  As can be seen from how Alexandra was captivated by her simply from hearing anecdotes of her from her tutor, she truly was born a wicked woman.”

His Highness Lawrence is quite good at flattery.

Avril couldn’t possibly believe they were talking about her, so she felt nothing but awkward. She again brought her tea to her lips and sipped it.  Delicious.

“If we refer to how this started, it is your fault, Lawrence.  Where is your sense of responsibility?”

“To hold a grudge over a request from so long ago, Fernand Brandner is quite small-minded.  As I expected, I most likely can’t entrust him with anything important.”

“I think his anger is only natural.  You proposed a political marriage to one of his lovers without telling him anything.  Even if the purpose was to maintain the balance of power, a normal person would be angry.”

As Avril listened to their conversation, she somehow began to grasp the reason why Dylan and Fernand seemed to be on bad terms during the music festival.  Her tea was also going down well.

I see. In the past, something happened between Lord Dylan and Lord Fernand because of an unreasonable request from Prince Lawrence.  Lord Dylan proposed a marriage to Lord Fernand’s fiancée…?  So that was why Lord Fernand was so unusually fixated on me and tried to embarrass me?  Is that the situation?

“Well, I am reflecting on it.  But my atonement will only be for the two of you.  I will no longer force any more long-term assignments in neighboring countries onto the newlyweds, so rest easy and enjoy each other’s company to your heart’s content.”

“…!?”

Avril, who had been quietly sipping her tea, choked violently at the unexpected words.  In any case, she was relieved that she hadn’t sprayed it toward the Crown Prince.

Dylan, concerned, asked, “Are you alright?” while handing her a napkin and rubbing her back.  It was embarrassing and she felt apologetic.  She let her eyes wander as she reddened and Lawrence gave her a meaningful smile.

“Ahaha.  This perhaps isn’t something I need to express so openly but seeing you both be so affectionate with one another is pleasant.”

“…No, the cat…”

“The cat?”

Lawrence asked back at the words Dylan unintentionally uttered.  Dylan’s expression was one of regret as he stopped talking.

Avril, having realized he was referring to Blue, set down her teacup and promptly began introducing Samuel’s beloved cat.

“A boy named Samuel from the Marquis of Brandner has come to us for etiquette training, and that child found a very cute kitten.  However, that cat refuses to sleep unless it is together with Lord Dylan”

““……””

A blank, stunned silence fell over the reception room where a tense exchange had taken place only moments ago.

Avril continued.

“We named the cat Blue, and the three of us sleep together.”

“A… cat?  Lady Avril, despite being newlyweds, you are sleeping together with a cat?”

Alexandra, apparently unable to hide her shock, asked.  Avril simply and honestly nodded.

“Yes.  Oh, however, I believe it has only been Blue and Lord Dylan sleeping together since we’ve returned to the capital?”

“Yeah.  It’s impossible for two people and one cat to sleep at all.  Even if I stretch out my hand, I cannot reach my wife.  The cat is there.”

Having had everything revealed, Dylan nodded in despair.  Then, Lawrence’s pale amethyst eyes, rarely fazed by anything, widened.

“…!  Ahaha, ahhahaha. right, right.”

Alexandra’s face twitched, and she sharply smacked her fiancé’s back.

A surprisingly loud sound rang out, but Lawrence’s laughter didn’t stop.

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