Seeing that Seo Yeon couldn’t readily give an answer, it seemed she was going to refuse.

If Seo Yeon refused, I would have no one else to ask for help with the maidservant duties, so my energy drained away even before I heard her reply.

“I’m sorry if I’ve burdened you too much.”

I said this almost in resignation, but Seo Yeon’s answer was unexpected.

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“I said I’ll do it.”

I hadn’t misheard.

“Really?”

“Yes. But I have a request. Please be a little understanding if I make mistakes.”

I barely managed to suppress the urge to jump up and down with joy.

“Of course. I wouldn’t have anyone else to ask anyway. Thank you so much.”

“I should be thanking you for needing me.”

“How comforting it is to have someone I can talk to freely.”

“Actually, I feel the same. And…”

Seo Yeon smiled shyly mid-sentence, then continued.

“As you said, Lady Duchess, to gain the twins’ acceptance and grow closer, it’s probably best for me to come to the palace.”

“I don’t know what you’ll think, Seo Yeon, but I was worried Hersia would feel lonely once she started her business. Being able to spend every day with you feels like I’ve gained a best friend.”

“A best friend? I’m truly grateful if you think of me that way.”

Seo Yeon tightly clasped my hand with tearful, moved eyes.

Then, Hersia and Roen shot us sidelong glances from beside us. Roen, especially, wore a disappointed expression.

“This is really unfair! You don’t have to be physically beside someone to be best friends. I’ll always pray for all of you at the Grand Temple.”

Hersia also looked resentful, as if agreeing.

“Include me in that best friend group too. I won’t be able to visit often because I’ll be busy earning a living, but I don’t want to live forgetting any of you.”

Thus, quite suddenly, a “best friend circle” consisting of Seo Yeon, me, Hersia, and Roen was formed.

“Even if we live apart, let’s promise never to forget each other.”

“Of course!”

“I’ll be heading to the Grand Temple soon, so I’ll see you there, Lady Roen.”

Roen looked at me as if asking what was happening.

“I have to go meet my grandmother.”

Roen smiled at me with hopeful anticipation.

“I’ll wait for you, Lady Duchess.”

“I’ll also go to the Grand Temple to offer prayers.”

At Hersia’s words, Seo Yeon chimed in too.

“I’ll come too, Lady Roen.”

Though I knew I’d miss Roen terribly once she left for the Grand Temple, it was time to part, however reluctantly.

Roen leaned close and whispered to me as if something had just occurred to her.

“By the way, should I tell Lady Hersia about Gillian? What do you think?”

Only then did I recall Gillian’s situation. How would Hersia react to him being confined not in the ruined palace, but in the rebuilt one?

“Since she’ll find out eventually, it’s better to tell her now.”

When I nodded, Roen informed Hersia that Gillian would be living in the rebuilt former palace, just as before.

Naturally, Hersia looked utterly confused.

“Why… why is it being handled like this?”

Seo Yeon was equally curious.

“Given the Duke’s character, not only is he sparing Gillian from execution, but he’s even rebuilding the palace to confine him?”

“I don’t know the exact reasons, but there must be some purpose behind it.”

Roen was certain Sikar wouldn’t do something without reason. I felt the same.

Still, since this wasn’t good news for Hersia, we couldn’t help but feel awkward.

“Lady Hersia, you must be quite shocked…”

Hersia didn’t answer immediately. She suddenly hugged her shoulders as if feeling cold.

“I’m… a little scared.”

It was understandable, given she’d spent her whole life under Gillian’s pressure.

“How about meeting Gillian sometime later? Maybe if you confront him once and clear the air, you’ll feel better.”

Hersia shook her head slightly.

“I’m still afraid of Gillian.”

“Hersia… I understand.”

We all gently patted Hersia’s shoulders as she bowed her head in unison.

The commotion caused by the men up front quickly lightened the mood.

Apparently, Reidox had told Jeremi to donate to the almshouse.

“This money is off-limits!”

“What would someone living at the temple need money for, anyway?”

“This is the money I received as payment for escorting Princess Veronia all the way to the Snow Mountains.”

Ah, she meant the money received from Sikar.

“This time, the Duchess is donating all the congratulatory gifts she received. You should contribute something too.”

“But this money is still off-limits. I need it to buy magic water.”

As the two continued to bicker, Sikar, annoyed by the noise, tried to shoo them away. So Kian resolved the matter with a single sentence.

“Then donate only half.”

Jeremi was reluctant even about half, but since everyone was collecting donations, he couldn’t keep refusing outright.

Still, when signing the pledge, he didn’t go quietly.

“Reidox, you donate half your fortune too! This is literally all I own!”

Roen said she had already donated all the money she received from Sikar to the Grand Temple.

It was truly astonishing how Roen, a priestess with no greed, and Jeremi, a magician overflowing with material desire, could get along so well.

The boisterous night was passing. We had to say our reluctant goodbyes.

“Lord Jeremi, see you again soon!”

“It’s been delightful! I probably won’t return to the capital again, but I’ll always pray for Recador’s eternal peace and prosperity.”

Well… it wasn’t particularly comforting to hear a non-priest magician promise prayers.

After finishing our bittersweet farewells, everyone boarded their respective carriages and departed. Sikar said he’d drop Kian off and return.

Once everyone had left, the palace suddenly felt hollow and empty.

Then I distributed shawls to the maids and cloaks to the male servants.

Mei Li, especially, was overjoyed, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Please continue to count on me, Mei Li.”

“Lady! Count on me? It’s my absolute duty to serve you well from now on! I should be the one asking for your trust, Lady.”

“Andrea, I’m counting on you too.”

Andrea smiled faintly and lowered his head slightly.

“I’ll wear it well, Lady.”

Meanwhile, I noticed Durion limping as he walked.

“Durion, what’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“I-it’s fine, Lady.”

As Durion entered the room with an embarrassed expression, Mei Li immediately came over and whispered to me as if she’d been waiting.

“Earlier, Lord Durion told the steward, ‘If you’re bored, why don’t you just marry me?’ and got smacked for it.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Goodness, he deserved it. It was astonishing his face remained unscratched by Vika’s nails.

Or at least, he must have taken a solid hit to a sensitive spot. Ah, perhaps that’s why Durion is walking like that now—because he got properly struck in a vital area.

“Um, and Lady…”

“Go on, I’m curious.”

Mei Li, clearly itching to gossip, told me all the events that had happened in the palace today. After all, maids are always the fastest sources of news.

Among them, the most interesting tidbit was undoubtedly about Kian.

“So His Highness personally put shoes on Lucy’s feet?”

“Yes! He really did. When did he grow so mature? He’s practically a full-grown man now.”

He’s still only ten. Since cherishing and protecting Lucy is Kian’s destiny, it’s not surprising at all.

Thanks to Kian’s adept handling, no one will dare speak ill of Lucy from now on.

A week later, a thank-you letter arrived from Hersia.

Duchess!

I received the dress you sent. I was so surprised by the sudden gift! Thanks to it, my business preparations are now in their final stages. I’ll visit you once I open my shop!]

But nowhere in the letter did it mention when the wedding would take place.

I couldn’t tell whether it was due to family opposition or other circumstances, but I had no spare energy to worry about Hersia—because Kian’s fiancée had just been decided.

As expected, the final decision made through the council of ministers was Lucy.

We weren’t particularly surprised since we’d all known this was coming.

In fact, we’d already assumed Lucy was chosen some time ago and had begun preparing the engagement ceremony schedule.

“She’s the heroine—make it splendid.”

At Sikar’s remark, Reidox asked as if puzzled.

“The heroine?”

Sikar, realizing his slip, quickly corrected himself.

“If she becomes Queen of Recador, she can be considered Recador’s heroine.”

“How dull of you.”

“You’re about to become family—watch your words.”

Reidox stammered in surprise.

“Huh?”

“It’s true. Family.”

Reidox was speechless, astonished to hear the word “family” coming from Sikar’s mouth.

This was entirely thanks to the coaching I’d given Reidox before their meeting.

“Don’t make any mistakes with the Marquis today. Remember, he’ll soon become our family.”

Of course, Sikar wasn’t thrilled about having to be polite to Reidox, but after I glared at him, he sighed and promised to behave.

So during his conversation with Reidox, Sikar kept glancing at me as if asking, “Am I doing well?”

Each time, I had to nod reassuringly.

Seo Yeon whispered quietly to me, making sure Reidox couldn’t overhear.

“How do you plan to proceed with His Highness’s engagement ceremony, Lady Duchess?”

Of course, following the original story would be ideal. But I felt it was more important to consider Kian’s perspective.

So I shared my honest thoughts.

“His Highness’s wedding must be held at the royal palace. But the engagement ceremony could be held at the Snow Mountains. I’d prefer it there—I want the Princess to witness her son’s engagement.”

As expected, Reidox frowned.

“Impossible. There’s no precedent for such a thing.”