Avril, having finished telling her recollection, sighed.

“I lived confined within a mansion in a rural town, leaving me no opportunity to learn about the world except through my father’s work documents and the peerage directory.  Yet it seems Lord Dylan has gone through terrible experiences. I can even understand his proposing marriage to a villainess.”

Samuel, sitting beside her, solemnly lowered his head. “I apologize for the trouble my frivolous older brother has caused. To begin with, he already had a fiancée, so having his lover stolen away was already an impossibility.”

Avril quickly stopped him and turned back to Alexandra.

“So then, why did you tell this sort of story?”

“The Marquis of Brandner family has great influence in high society. That man is trying to nominate Duke Lanchester as Crown Prince. You understand this time, correct?”

Avril nodded, inwardly smiling wryly at Alexandra referring to her fiancé and future husband as “that man.”

“Yes, history shows that the nomination of a successor from a collateral line causes disputes. Even if it’s Lord Dylan, I believe it’ll be unavoidable.”

“As expected, you understand quickly. The number of people who approach Duke Lanchester with malice may increase. And it is also possible that Lord Fernand will take advantage of this opportunity and try to bring him down. Both that man and Duke Lanchester naturally understand that.”

Alexandra’s assessment sent chills down Avril’s spine.

Even at the music festival held in the ducal territory, he involved himself in such a strange way. In a situation where Lord Dylan is expected to be designated as Crown Prince, and has many enemies around him, there’s no telling what Lord Fernand might do. That is what she is telling me.

As she was thinking this, Samuel awkwardly raised his hand.

“Um… is it alright to discuss such things while I am present?”

“It’s fine. I let you hear it on purpose.”

Alexandra, with her smile that was full of composure, exuded an alluring aura that made one wonder where the rumors of her being a rigid and inflexible had come.

Discussing this in Samuel’s presence seemed unnatural at first glance. However, if considered as a warning toward the Marquis of Brandner family, there couldn’t have been a better way.

With Samuel being a child, conveying that the royal palace is on guard like this would cause the least friction.

Avril was impressed, thinking, “As expected of Lady Alexandra,” but then Alexandra leaned closer as if to imply this next part were the main topic.

“Well then, Lady Avril, is it alright for you to let Duke Lancester and that kitten named Blue sleep together, just the two of them?”

“Ehh?”

Unable to grasp the sudden shift in topic and its intent, Avril blinked in confusion. Alexandra, however, paid it no mind.

“You picked up Blue immediately after returning from the Kingdom of Claughton, didn’t you? And you’ve since been sharing a bed with the kitten every night, correct? Really? I can hardly believe it.”

Avril tilted her head, not understanding why Alexandra was so full of curiosity and so worried.

“Except, if he’s not with Lord Dylan, he becomes violent and angry. It becomes a serious problem.”

As Avril explained, Samuel, who had been listening with a serious expression, silently rolled up his sleeve for Alexandra. Deep, red scratches were clearly visible on his soft, pale arm.

“That looks painful. What happened?”

“Blue, having been driven out of the master’s bedroom, got angry, scratched my arm, and bit me.”

“…”

Avril meekly explained to Alexandra, whose face was twitching.

“He became really angry, it was quite serious. It happened a few days after we returned to the royal capital. As our location had changed, we decided to try having Blue sleep with Samuel.”

“And this is the result.”

The contrast between Samuel’s polite way of speaking and the wounds on his arm was striking, making it seem even more painful. Avril explained the situation of that night.

“At that time, I was in the bedroom with Lord Dylan when I heard Samuel’s scream and rushed out of the room. By the time I arrived, he was already covered in blood.”

“…Samuel and Dylan are both quite pitiful.”

“Blue is usually a very sweet and well-behaved child.”

“I see…”

For some reason, Alexandra’s gazed into the distance. Avril also recalled that night with the same distant look in her eyes.

That was meant to be a night the two of them could spend together after a long while. Dylan had also just returned to the townhouse and, despite still being busy with various matters, finished early and came to the husband and wifes’ bedroom while Avril was still awake.

The two were drinking and talking peacefully in the dim light when they heard Samuel’s scream. The rest was as Samuel had described.

“Yes, as it happened just before they went to sleep, it cut into their sleeping time. They are quite pitiable.”

Alexandra’s expression clearly changed when she said that.

“Hey, you were listening to what was said earlier, weren’t you? That the Duke Lanchester is an extremely popular man.”

“Yes, women were approaching him constantly and it was difficult for him, to the extent that he needed a villainess by his side, I believe?”

“If you understand that, then unless something is done about the current situation, even he might lose patience… well, perhaps not, but I feel sorry for him.”

“It is as you say.”

Certainly, he would not be able to rest well if he were always together with the cat. As she nodded along, Alexandra smiled. She made no attempt to hide her keen interest.

“I suppose it can’t be helped. Very well, I’ll teach you various things.”

“Thank you very much?”

What in the world is she going to teach me? As Avril tilted her head, Samuel stood up while maintaining an elegant smile.

“As I am child, I would likely be an intrusion to what comes next. I will be waiting in the hallway, so could you call for me once you are finished?”

“Oh my, what a perceptive and considerate child. As expected of the fifth son of the Marquis Brandner family.”

“That is praise beyond my worth. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Without pause, Samuel bowed beautifully and left the room. Grace, who had been watching him with a fond smile, followed after him.

“Now then, shall we begin? To start, marital relations don’t necessarily have to be at night.”

“Hmm?! Wa…wait please?”

Avril, having been completely caught off guard, finally understood what this discussion was about.

Ah… huh?!

She had completely misread the flow of their earlier conversation. Reflecting on it, it was undoubtedly that kind of topic no matter how it was considered.

However, both Grace and Samuel, who might have been able to help her, had left the room. Here, she was alone with Alexandra and with no means of escape.

Left behind in her confusion, Avril ended up receiving thorough instruction from Alexandra.

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