Avril’s eyes darted around as she held the romance novels tight to her chest.

Samuel, who had been intently staring his elder brother and the lady-in-waiting from her side, sighed in exasperation. It wasn’t child-like in the slightest.

“Elder Brother, I am told that the royal palace is where you work. Father will you scold you again if you act too freely.”

“Hahaha. I’m choosing women that Father won’t find out about, so it’s fine.”

“Elder Brother, you really…”

Samuel’s gaze was one of resignation. Apparently, this was a regular occurrence. Avril could understand why Samuel had described his brother as a “playboy.”

I thought Lord Fernand was strangely following me around because of a grudge against Lord Dylan, but he apparently has intimate interactions with women on a daily basis…!

As Avril had an appointment with Alexandra, she bowed thinking that she should excuse herself quickly.

“Then, please excuse me here.”

“About you’re coming to the castle as Miss Alexandra— No, Her Majesty the future Queen’s conversation partner, is that only temporary?  Or were you formally selected?”

Even though she was about to start walking away, she was stopped. Fernand’s manner of speaking was incredibly light, yet his voice was filled with seriousness. Avril tilted her head deliberately.

“I don’t know. I would have to ask Her Majesty the Future Queen.”

“I see. Miss Alexandra may look glamorous on the outside, but she’s very rigid inside. She only keeps those she approves of herself by her side. At a more fundamental level, she rarely approves of people in the first place.”

His telling her this while giving a wry smile gave the impression that he was sizing her up.

Blue, who had run off but seemed to have found no one following him strange, returned and began to playfully rub against Avril’s feet.

Fernand noticed and while keeping the same carefree smile crouched down so as to reach out to pick up Blue. Blue, however, gave the hand a glance and then turned away with a displeased “Hmph.” Fernand gave a wry smile.

“Oh. I seem to be disliked.”

“Elder Brother, you really are disliked by animals.”

“Hahaha. Samuel, so you’ve started saying things like that now.”

Fernand, having been rejected by Blue, stood up with a wry smile.  He then smiled at Avril.

“If that Miss Alexandra really chose you as her conversation partner, then my interest is piqued even more.  After all, wouldn’t that make you a woman who, despite being a villainess, captivated Dylan Lanchester and was acknowledged by the rigid Alexandra Lindberg?”

“Her Majesty the Future Queen has been very kind to me. However, I don’t think that means I have been acknowledged. We might simply be ordinary friends who lend and borrow books with each other like this.”

Avril showed him the romance novel she was holding, trying to convey that they were close friends who discussed personal matters. Fernand’s composed expression changed to one of shock.

“This… Lady Alexandra gave this to you…?”

“Yes. She lent me one of her treasured books.”

She explained with a composed expression. Fernand’s eyes widened even more.

“No, this is for beginners…”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She made an inquiry after Fernand seemed about to say something, but he merely gave a profound smile as though evading the subject. He looked pleasant and Avril didn’t sense any hostility, but he would not tell her at all why he was smiling.

She had thought such during the music festival, but the way Fernand closed the distance between himself and others was something Avril had never experienced in her life until now. Just as Dylan had been concerned of, he was probably a person who deserved to be treated with caution.

It seems best not to get involved with him any further…

“Lord Fernand Brandner, please excuse me now. Samuel, let us go!”

“Yes. It seems like nothing good will come of you getting involved with Elder Brother.”

“Right…!”

“Oh, you’re leaving already?”

Without even listening to Fernand’s call for her to stop, Avril broke into a light run and escaped from his sight.

Having overcome an unexpected obstacle, Avril finally reached the courtyard where she had arranged to meet Alexandra.

“Lady Alexandra, you’ve already arrived! I’m so sorry for being late…”

Avril tilted her head after saying all that. She was supposed to have tea with Alexandra alone today, but there was another young lady she didn’t recognize.

Alexandra, who had been waiting in the space prepared in a gazebo, let out a troubled sigh.

“Thank you for coming, Lady Avril. I’m sorry, this lady suddenly imposed herself on us.”

At the end of Alexandra’s gaze was a young lady Avril was meeting for the first time. The young woman, who had a glamorous appearance, was for some reason giving her a rather confrontational look.

At informal and very private tea gatherings such as this, it was not unusual for the attendees to change suddenly on the day itself. Although Alexandra’s dissatisfied manner of speaking felt somewhat strange to her, Avril greeted the young lady.

“I’m Avril Lanchester. I’m here as Lady Alexandra’s conversation partner company. I am pleased make your acquaintance.”

Despite having been quite plainly told by Alexandra that she was “being a nuisance,” the young lady who had forced her way in was not discouraged.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess of Lanchester.”

She proceeded to introduce herself. Thus, the unplanned tea party began.

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