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~Chapter 20~
The mansion was in an uproar because the magic detector had broken.
[This has never happened before.]
After the servant reported it, Orland immediately told Damian. As soon as he heard the news, Damian tightened security all around the mansion.
He also replaced every servant who managed the facilities and sent a request to the Magic Tower to check the broken detector.
[It just seems to be a malfunction.]
Luckily, there was no serious problem, but Damian checked security even more carefully, since Astia’s safety was at stake.
Because of all this, Damian couldn’t pay attention to Astia for a while.
Raniel took this as her chance and started visiting Astia all the time.
“My lady, how can someone of your rank not have a single connection? Even if you’ve been sick, a noble lady should have at least attended a tea party once.”
“You’re here again?”
“Of course. I thought I should teach you.”
Earlier, Raniel had tried to criticize Astia’s manners, but lost for words when Astia showed perfect etiquette—so perfect she could have passed for royalty.
Astia still remembered Raniel’s blushing face.
Maybe this was her revenge.
Now Raniel started bragging about all her social connections.
“I attended a tea party at the Count Hardis’s house… and lately, the young lord of the Hardis family—he’s the talk of society…”
“Oh… really?”
Astia pretended to listen while playing with Ruby. Raniel’s nonsense was getting old.
At first, Astia responded, but now even that felt like a bother.
“Ruby, I still have the four-leaf clover you gave me.”
“Pyu?”
“I’m going to keep it forever.”
She showed the clover Ruby had brought her. Ruby pressed her small hand with his paw as if he was pleased.
“…Are you even listening? I said I’m getting attention from the famous Lord Hardis.”
“And?”
“What?”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“W-well! You’re like a bird in a cage. I just want to help you learn about the other nobles.”
Astia clapped her hands like she realized something.
“You’re so kind to share your social connections with me, Lady Raniel. I’m overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness…”
“…Ha. Finally, you get it? That’s why I said I’d be your friend.”
Raniel looked down at Astia with a smug, obviously condescending smile.
Astia didn’t care, barely hiding her laughter.
But then, Raniel said something that made Astia’s mind go cold.
“Now I see the duke is truly amazing. He cares so much for a princess who isn’t worth much. Even wise people make mistakes sometimes.”
“…What did you say?”
“I said he’s amazing.”
Raniel twisted her face into a mean grin as she mocked Damian. Astia was just about done putting up with her.
Astia let out a soft laugh and spoke slowly.
“Lady Raniel.”
“Yes? Did I say something wrong?”
Raniel lifted her chin, her smile smug and crooked.
Astia tilted her head, looking innocent.
“I don’t know much about social life, so could I ask my brother for advice based on your suggestions? Since I don’t know Lord Hardis, maybe now’s a good chance to learn more about noble society.”
“W-what are you saying?!”
Astia kept going, using her innocent appearance to her advantage.
“I thought it would be good to hear my brother’s refined opinion, too. Honestly, I’d trust Duke Damian more than you.”
“T-that’s… Anyway, you can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“J-just listen to me, my lady.”
“No.”
Raniel’s face suddenly froze. She strode up and grabbed Astia’s arm tightly—hard enough to make Astia lose her balance.
“You have to listen to me.”
It was clear Raniel was warning her to stop.
But Astia didn’t miss her chance. Raniel had crossed the line from the start—no one from a mere viscount family had any right to order a duke’s daughter around.
Astia relaxed her body, and she lost her balance—
Crash!
“Kyaaah!”
They both fell to the floor with a loud noise, and Raniel ended up pinning Astia down, holding her arms tightly.
“Pyu!”
Angry, Ruby jumped on Raniel’s face and then ran to Astia.
“Ati!”
At that moment, knights, servants, and a furious Damian burst in.
When they saw Astia on the floor with Raniel holding her down, everyone was shocked.
It looked like Raniel had attacked Astia.
Astia glanced up at the trembling Raniel and smiled with her eyes.
‘Oops. My mistake.’
Raniel read her lips, gasped, and let go of Astia’s arm.
“B-brother…”
Astia’s violet eyes filled with tears.
Her voice trembled as she spoke, her weak, shaking figure looking pitiful.
Raniel stared at her, completely stunned.
“What do you think you’re doing…?”
Damian quickly sized up the situation, his voice dangerous.
Everyone looked at Raniel with cold faces.
“I-I didn’t do anything…”
The whole room was tense as ice, and Raniel’s face went pale.
Raniel and Viscount Castea were thrown out of the mansion right away.
The Rovellito house sent a letter to the Castea family—almost like a threat, sealed with the duke’s crest—accusing them of endangering the princess and failing in their duties as vassals.
They lost all their power and money overnight, though thanks to past help, they didn’t completely fall to ruin.
Other vassals were angry at first, but after hearing the whole story, everyone cut ties with the Castea family.
Astia had a hard time calming Damian, who looked ready to chase them down with a sword.
“Ati, I don’t like it when people like that are still breathing.”
“But… they’ve basically lost everything. Isn’t that enough?”
“You’re too soft-hearted, Ati…”
“No one but you, brother!”
“Really?”
Astia sighed quietly at Damian, whose smile wouldn’t go away.
If she didn’t stop him, there would be too many victims.
So, with that, the incident ended, and the servants and Damian threw a small party for Astia to cheer her up.
They made cookies, tea, and cake with their own hands.
Damian even filled her wardrobes with pretty jewelry and dresses, as if he’d bought out the whole boutique.
“There’s a festival soon in the territory, but… I wanted to do this for you.”
Damian stayed up all night to finish his work and spent the whole day with Astia.
She thought it was silly to throw a party for something like this, but spending the day with everyone from the family actually lifted her spirits.
After a simple party, she and Damian took a walk in the garden.
“It’s too bad I’m so busy these days. I wish I had more time with you.”
“Me too, brother.”
Damian kept smiling.
“Pyu.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to let the rabbit down?”
“Oh, Ruby likes being held in my arms.”
“…I see.”
Damian glared at Ruby, but when Astia looked at him, he smiled brightly.
“Should I make the garden bigger? Or just buy more land and turn the whole estate into a garden?”
“…Huh? No, that’s too much!”
Astia answered without thinking, then realized what he meant and quickly waved her hands.
But Damian looked around the garden, muttering to himself.
“Ati likes pretty flowers, so I’ll fill half the land with them…”
No way! Turning the entire estate into a garden was too much.
“Brother, if the garden gets too big, it’ll be hard to walk around. I like it just the way it is!”
“…Ah, I didn’t think of that.”
Damian nodded, admitting she was right.
“I heard they’re making carriages powered by magic soon. I should invest in that.”
“I’ll let you know if I need one after I grow up.”
“Will you? Alright…”
Astia thought she’d finally convinced him, but Damian was already planning to invest in magic-powered carriages for the future.
‘Is he going to buy a country someday, too?’
Well… as impossible as it sounded, she wondered if he really could buy a small country.
Her head started to ache.
