After Liliane recovered, Duke Balthazar came to visit her and check on her condition.
Since his grandson had turned his secret hideout into a pile of snow dust, he stated that he intended to return to the family headquarters soon.
Vernis...this world that lacks the lowest moral standards.
However, Lillian was so transfixed by the gifts that filled the room that she forgot to curse the empire.
“Your Excellency the Duke, what is this…what is this all about?”
“Heh, what a girl you are! Is it possible for me to come visit with an empty touch?”
The Duke crossed his arms, and seemed to be striving to avoid looking at her due to his extreme embarrassment.
“I don't know what little ladies like these days. I don't understand fashion!”
“…….”
“If there's something you don't like, throw it away. Someone will definitely pick it up.”
Who would dare throw away gifts like that? And who has the nerve to take it in the first place? ....
The gifts were truly a strange and heterogeneous mixture.
Some were rare medicinal herbs, others were bright bouquets of flowers.
There were sugary sweets of the kind that young children might really like.
And even shawls of delicate lace that astonished Lillian, even though she belonged to one of the five major families...
Evidently he brought whatever he saw that seemed good or valuable to him.
Lillian had never received anything like this from Duke Teilhard.
“Thank you. Since you gave it to me, I will never give it to anyone, and I will use it all myself.”
“Kah, kah. The person who should be thanked is... this old man, not the missus.”
The Duke gave a fake cough.
“…Even though I fell into the trap of that petty bastard, I did so because I showed a vulnerability.”
“Your Excellency the Duke”
“I almost committed a heinous act against the lady and my grandson together.”
“It is enough that you do not do this in the future, and that we talk a lot from now on.”
“...Kh. But, are you really engaged to His Highness? Are you really okay with that?”
Lillian thought for a brief second about that question.
'I didn't say it was a contract engagement, did I? 'It's just to disguise the villain's label.'
Engagement has great meaning for nobles.
But it can be annulled at any time before marriage.
'I agreed with the villain on the engagement with that in mind.'
Um, yeah.
“Yes, please take good care of me in the future.”
“Ha! Wow! I never imagined that I would live to see a Teilhard grandson as my future great-grandchild. Ha.”
His reaction was ambiguous, you didn't know if he was happy or upset.
But at least, Lillian wasn't upset.
She always thought that the elders would hate her as soon as they saw her.
Lillian walked with the Duke down the corridor of the drawing-room.
When she looked through the large glass window, she saw the rock dragon happily digging the ground.
“Your Excellency, is that magic servant the same one who was there?”
“...cough, nope”
“…?Is it another servant?”
What a waste.
If it were him, I would have asked him for a piece of his tail rock as a joke.
The Duke sighed deeply.
“Not different, but completely regenerated… and has no memories of before.”
It appears to have been reset. How did that happen?
'So, it seems that the previous one was 'Barkan 1', and this one is 'Barkan 2'.
Lillian waved her hand.
The magic servant wagged his tail. Watching it in the daylight, it looked cute in its own way even though it was a block of rock.
But before she can get any closer or do anything...
“Is your conversation over?”
Came a sleepy voice.
The villain was approaching with a smile on his face and his arms crossed.
But Lillian was not fooled.
'What else is wrong with this man today? …’
After he made that weird offer to write the Death Note together —
“Duke, Lillian is not your granddaughter. Do you intend to mix up the lineages and make a mess of the family tree?”
“Huh... really... looks like I'll have to pay the dowry on my part.”
“Pay as much as you want. “Lillian would be happy if she got more money.”
—I thought they had finally made a truce.
But it seems that the villain has become more angry and quarrelsome.
* * *
Evren was not happy with the Duke's visit to Lilian.
Honestly, he wanted to fire him.
'This woman's kindness towards everyone is exaggerated...'
He now realized with certainty—that he and Lillian were two complete opposites; He doesn't care about anything at all, while...
'Lillian Taillard is truly a butterfly'
A butterfly he doesn't want to smash anymore.
He wants to stop watching her, but she is the butterfly that everyone covets.
Since hearing those words, he had become extremely disturbed just by Lillian speaking to any other being.
And so, after almost dismissing the Duke, Lillian gave him a mild reproach: “I was told that you spoke well when I was ill. Why did the relationship between you return to square one?
“Please leave the Duke’s story. And hold my hand
“…….”
"Let's go. “Consider it a picnic while you hold the wheel.”
Lillian looked at him with a look as clear as glass.
But she held his hand in the end.
“...Do you find me ridiculous?”
“……? How did you know?
He stared at the side of Lillian's face.
He knew very well that the Tillards were famous for the beauty of their offspring.
But why does she look so beautiful all of a sudden?
“Lillian”
“Yes?”
"What did you do today?"
“……?”
Lillian answered seriously, counting on the fingers of her other hand: “I met the Duke a little while ago, and before that I made some artifacts, then I went out for a walk, and now I control…?”
"truly? "This is strange"
“……?”
“Nothing has changed”
There was no change in Lillian's usual activity.
'I don't seem to feel this way just because of the tag either.'
But why is she so beautiful?
“Hmm...”
His face frowned even more at this incomprehensible phenomenon.
If she was beautiful like that, she would definitely catch the attention of others...
More than this curiosity...
“Your Highness. Your Highness, do you hear me?”
“I was talking about going to the Imperial Palace.”
I hear everything.
This is the feature of a Rank S body when it is at rest.
“Yes, there is also the matter of punishing Marquis Somnes...”
Lillian smiled brightly: “Just in time, the ‘Beginning Spring Banquet’ will be held, right?”
“...Are you good at dancing? You’re the one who sits all the time.”
"Haha. Since I'm not good at dancing, we'll skip that and focus on seizing only the essential opportunities."
Lillian's eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence: “It's gradually time, isn't this a good opportunity for us to start detonating surprises one by one?”
* * *
'Beginning of Spring Banquet'
As is the custom of Vernis, which loves direct expressions, a banquet was being held to mark the arrival of spring.
Naturally, the banquet held in the Imperial Palace was the most elegant.
Because it is an occasion that only the chosen elite can enter, including the Five Great Families.
However, the Tillards were enjoying this event like real butterflies.
As if what the family is currently going through does not concern them at all.
Although Ramio was unable to attend...
In fact, if a mature man says he won't come because the banquet bothers him, that's his own business.
With the change in times, young people are no longer necessarily obligated to attend these events, as many means of entertainment are available, unlike in the past.
Karkin also fled to the gambling halls, taking into account the recent events.
On the other hand, Iris was busy vilifying others with her acquaintances.
“By the way, it is said that Miss Lillian is still in the north after breaking off her engagement, is that true?”
“Ah-”
Iris had a somber expression on her face.
She was feeling really depressed because of the lingering discomfort in her chest…
“It seems that my sister, yes...”
“How cruel, how stubborn.”
“She loved the young Duke so much... It's too bad that she kills her own magic like this-”
But before Iris could finish her words—the late crier’s call rang out in the ballroom: “His Highness Prince Evren enters now!”
Duke Teilhard thought annoyed: What is wrong with that boy, and why has he been frequenting the capital so much since last time...,
“…And in his company, Miss Lillian Taillard also enters!”
At that moment, the Duke almost shattered the wine glass in his hand from the strength of his grip.