As the gentleman continued to laugh, those beyond the glass doors within the grand hall began to take notice of him.

“Ar-are you all right…?  Shall I get you something to drink?”

With the gentleman appearing to be on the verge of choking, she signaled Samuel with her eyes. Just as her cute attendant was about to return to the grand hall from the balcony, the gentleman finally lifted his face from the railing

“Thank you, but I’m fine. You may have already realized this, but Martina was an assassin sent by my ambitious son-in-law—my daughter’s husband. I told him to stop though; Martina is a gentle girl.”

“I see?”

While murmuring in acknowledgment, Avril called up the family tree regarding Martina and the Count of Ronsard in her mind.

I believe Countess Ronsard came from a family descended from the royal house.  Let’s see, the family name was… the House of Duke of Gondran? Duke of Gondran… eh!

She finally realized the identity of the gentleman before her. He was one of the people Dylan was seeking out today, a member of the royal family with the right to claim the throne.

Avril could only blink her eyes repeatedly, to which the Duke of Gondran responded with a dignified smile. He likely understood that Avril had realized his identity.

“The Crown Prince and his wife are shrewd, but I can’t discern what they’re thinking… They probably wouldn’t give someone like me a second thought anyway, so I renounced my right to the throne, citing the exhaustion brought on by the epidemic. Yet my son-in-law won’t stop yapping and is even trying to make my dear Martina pretend to be a wicked woman. I’m completely at my wits’ end.”

Through his explanation, Avril understood that although he had initially renounced his claim to the throne, he was troubled by the behavior of Martina’s father. At the same time, it was also clear that he was unable to judge the characters of Lawrence and Alexandra.

Avril tilted her head, having grasped the situation.

“Then, if the Crown Prince and his wife are people worthy of your trust, there would be no need for you to renounce your right to the throne…?”

“Yes. I suppose that’s how it is. Hence I attended this evening party because I wanted to hear the truth of this matter from the rumored villainess herself. You’re here for much the same reason, aren’t you… Duke Dylan Lancaster?”

Avril turned around at the sudden mention of her husband’s name. There he stood. Now that she knew the identity of the refined, laughter-loving gentleman, she understood that Chris had gone and brought him over.

“Duke Gondran, it’s been a long time.”

Dylan bowed respectfully at the playful smile, but he stopped him with one hand.

“No need for formal greetings. I am here incognito today.
“I appreciate your coming all this way, but our conversation has already finished.”

What have I done!? Even though I had so much time to persuade him… If only I had realized who he was!

His face was unknown to her, he was dressed in clothing close to ordinary attire, and he had not even introduced himself. Being able to deduce who he was from that information alone would have been an extraordinary feat. Even so, having missed such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Avril could only feel dejected as the gentleman spoke.

“The reason I went to the trouble of coming to hear what happened from the rumored villainess herself is because, after hearing about the tea party, I thought the Crown Prince and his wife—the new King and Queen—might have some promise.”

Dylan’s solemn expression changed as he listened.

“Then—”

“I will discuss my relinquishing my right of succession with His Majesty the King. If only to reduce the number of young ladies who, like Martina, are forced to approach Duke Lancaster against their will.”

““!!””

Both Avril and Dylan gasped at the same time.

In other words, does this mean the Duke of Gondran will reconsider the nomination of Crown Prince?

While Avril was moved, the gentleman released the balcony railing and returned to the grand hall. Despite the simple clothing he wore, the noble air that somehow drew the eyes of others remained unchanged from when he had first come over.

Then, just before completely stepping away from the balcony, he glanced at Avril as if remembering something and chuckled.

“As with Martina, I don’t think you’re suited to being a villainess either.”

“Eh?”

That was the first time anyone had ever said such a thing to her. Avril was more than a little shocked. Duke Gondran continued with a smile.

“You’re not suited to being a villainess, but you could certainly be a woman charming enough to topple a nation. Even if the Duke of Lancester can avoid becoming the Crown Prince, it won’t change the fact that the House of Lancaster will be assigned a place in the line of succession. Well, in any case, you’ll have all sorts of difficulties ahead of you, so best of luck to you.”

“…Come again?”

Avril saw Duke Gondran off.  Then, trembling, she looked up at Dylan.

“I’m not… suited to being a villainess…?”

“That’s the part you’re shocked about?”

“I had vaguely understood that I wasn’t suited to the role, but this is the first time anyone has actually said so to me. I’m extremely shaken.”

“It’s all right. Samuel and I don’t think that way in the slightest.”

As though pulled by a string, she turned to look at Samuel at those words. Her cute etiquette apprentice gave a firm nod. She didn’t want to think that he was just being considerate.

That was when Chris, who had been observing the whole scene from a step back, whispered to her.

“Lady Avril and Samuel, rather than a villainess and her servant, you look more like a tutor and her student.”

“!?”

Avril’s foolish-sounding cry faded into the night sky.

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