Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

"Dear Claire, what is it? I don't seem to have a good complexion."

Lydia says worryingly before the afternoon lecture begins.

"It's okay. I'm just a little sleepless."

Claire's response contained a great deal of lies. Actually, I barely slept last night, not a little.

The reason is the phrase to the effect that 'I want to tailor my dress for the next night's club' left by Vik when he left.

'Tailoring a nightclub dress to an unmarried woman' is a duty only allowed to her fiancée, in addition to her parents, in the Paft State. Claire, who is hardly immune to the sex affair, just seemed to think that Vik's words were like propositions.

No matter how many times I quashed that convenience couldn't have happened, this word immediately came to my mind. Repeating it, it was morning.

(I don't know the truth because I'm leaning over and I haven't seen Veek's face...... But I don't think it was a joking voice)

"Is it true? If you don't feel well, you should go home."

"Dear Lydia, thank you for your attention. But it's really okay."

"Are you sick?"

From behind Lydia, Veek shows his face. Claire felt blushing at the appearance of Teng himself, who caused the lack of sleep. I'm ashamed, I can't see my face properly.

"No, I'm fine."

"... well..."

There is subtle air flowing between them. No heart, or Veek has fewer words than usual.

……

"Dear Claire. Why don't you come home with me in my carriage today? Sometimes we can talk slowly."

At Lydia's invitation, who perceived something from the two of them, Claire was to go home with Lydia.

"So, something happened with His Royal Highness Vik."

When the door closes aboard the carriage, Lydia asks Claire. I'm sure it sounds very worrying, but I can't hide what's shining my eyes.

"Something..., yeah, what to say"

Claire becomes suspicious of behavior. That should be it, too. Claire has never told Lydia about her relationship with Vique in detail before.

In my first life, I explained the backdrop to what happened after the night club to find the Queen, and I got the words of blessing from Lydia, who had already guessed a lot. But this time, I didn't know what to tell you.

"You can tell by watching the two of us.... I am not allowed to marry in love. Let me tell you a happy story."

Claire opens her mouth to the way Lydia looks lonely.

"Actually... I was told yesterday that I wanted to tailor my dress at the next night's club."

"To whom?"

"My lord."

……

"... isn't that hardly a proposal!!

Lydia, who is usually supposed to be quiet, holds both cheeks in the palm of her hand and makes her face crimson and screams. I'm glad this isn't the school lecture room, Claire sincerely thought.

"Actually, I just think so too... but Your Highness always makes me better, and that maybe it's part of it"

"Dear Claire... My father told me that when Claire was from Noston Country, she boarded the same carriage as His Highness."

"Yeah, it was a long trip, so you picked someone to talk to."

"I didn't tell you this before because I didn't have the timing, but that's unusual in itself. Your Highness understands your position very well, and did not leave any prestigious lady on your side."

Claire felt that way from Keith and Lewis's mouth. But I'm still not sure about Veek's emotions. Lydia continues toward Claire, who looks confused.

"You may be anxious without a clear word, but that seems to me to be the best of His Highness at the moment. Your Highness, who does not have a fiancée, is allowed to make free love. But in order for His Highness to propose, you must first show His Majesty the King. Unless you're sorry, you're not allowed to propose."

"To His Majesty the King... as you see..."

"Yeah. It's not a formal glance, it's a greeting at a nightclub or anything. Anyway, it's imperative that you introduce him to His Majesty the King and get permission to propose marriage first."

Claire recalls the words' Introduction to His Majesty the King 'that came out of Veek's mouth last night.

(That...!

When one connected, Claire had too much on her mind. All, suppose it wasn't just kindness. When I thought so, I felt dizzy.

―――――

When I asked Lydia to take me by carriage to the outer palace, she had received a letter from her aunt Anne.

"Claire, welcome back. I got your letter."

says Dion, who returned from Veek's office.

After Dion quit Royal School, Claire's time at school was helping Keith and the others. This was done because Asberto signed the employment contract between Dion and the Martino family.

Dion, whose old belly blackness had become more refreshing and humane than he could imagine, was establishing his position at the Royal Palace.

"Thanks. I'll call you in a little while, will you wait?

Copy that.

That was a long-awaited reply about how the Martino family took Charlotte. My head still seemed to boil when I thought of Veek, but Claire washes her face with cold water when she dresses from her uniform and changes her mind.

Cut the seal in an attempt to keep an eye on the contents of the letter before Dion arrives. Written in the letters of my aunt was what I expected.

First of all, that it was Claire's mother, not her father Benjamin, who wanted to pick up Charlotte. My mother was worried about the environment Charlotte lived in, and she always broke her heart wanting to do something about it.

And that means my grandmother Florence was strongly opposed to it.

The letter had been concluded with the words' I want to talk to you when I see you ahead, at least by Charlotte's christening ceremony '.

"I want to meet and talk to you... maybe I have more important information"

Concon.

"Yes."

"I thought it was time they called me"

Claire says as she urges Dion, who came in at the right time, to sit down.

"... my sister, Charlotte."

"Oh. Um, troubled lady and famous around here"

"... yeah... that's..."

I'm so sorry, swallow the word and Claire goes on.

"You may find some tips to stop Charlotte from going wild. I'm going to go to Noston soon with metastatic magic.... as an escort, would you follow me?

"Of course it is! But... do I need to do something that roundabout?

"What do you mean?

Dion suddenly becomes a serious face.

"I guess the color of the magic she plans to wake up is white? Mine's a step down, blue. Claire gave it back to me, but if it's about one different color, it's fine this time."

……

Tensions run to Claire, who sensed what Dion intended.

"... I would do anything for Claire and Her Highness."

Dion-like refreshing smile, but I'm not laughing behind my eyes.

It meant using a curse on Charlotte and creating distortion in her magic.

According to Lewis, once 'shared', everything becomes interfered with by that opponent when using magic. When I use it, the color becomes cloudy and I can no longer use the power of the Spirit, and when they use it, my magic is taken. Just as Claire has gone backwards, involving Dion.

I never thought of Claire, but if Dion was on my side, I could take that kind of means.

Not long ago Claire thought about the future of the Noston Nation, not just Charlotte's personal circumstances. "That's it! I may not have listened."

But there was no feeling of wonder and strong rejection in Claire, who had been hurt by loved ones and had witnessed the breakdown of relations between the two countries.

"Thank you, Dion. I'm glad to hear it, but I'd like you to stop your abandonment tactics. Take care of yourself more…"

"I'm not abandoning you. It's just too unusual for Claire to return the favor."

Dion is already laughing at Nico, as his sharp eyes lied earlier.

"... but first, I want to explore my own ways. Using a curse on my sister is a real, real last resort."

"Okay, well, let's start with a visit to Noston."

"Yes."

Claire wrote a reply to her aunt Anne to the effect that she wanted to visit the Royal Palace of the Noston Nation in confidence.