Cedric retired after drinking a cup of tea with the Emperor. He then went to the manor of the Marquisate Rosan as originally planned.
The butler was extremely surprised by the visit of the Grand Duke Evron.
And he was even more surprised by the fact that the person he had come to visit was not Lawrence nor Miraila, but Artizea.
"The Lady went out."
"Where did she go?"
The butler got nervous at his question.
Cedric finally realised how badly Artizea's position was in this house.
Artizea was the sole heir of the Marquess Rosan, so she would succeed the title in two years.
But even so, the butler didn't even know where she'd gone.
The butler begged him repeatedly to wait a moment before approaching the maids.
Cedric stayed in the foyer and waited.
He was angry. This was inconceivable in the Grand Duchy Evron. Cedric had lost his parents tragically during his childhood, but his vassals cared for him as if he were their own son or grandson.
Even the day he returned from the funeral, his house was still his home.
The day he felt oppressed by the Emperor, the day he thought he could do nothing, even the day he simply wanted to surrender, and seek comfort with his broken heart, his house was still his home.
It was a place where he could rest peacefully, and a place where he felt protected.
His butler and servants were not just employees to him.
Cedric regarded them as his family, they took the place of his late parents. They cared for Cedric as if he were their own son, their grandson, or even their brother.
As Cedric waited standing, the butler of the Marquisate Rosan panicked and did not know what else to do.
Artizea's trusted maids would not reveal where she went lightly.
In the end, Cedric had to wait almost an hour before he received an answer.
"Forgive me, Your Grace. I was informed that Lady Artizea has gone to the ball at Count Enda's estate. If you wait a little longer, I will ensure that she returns immediately."
"Are you in a superior position to Lady Artizea in this house?"
"Pardon?"
The butler blinked his eyes. Cedric spoke coldly.
"As far as I know, Lady Artizea is the successor of the Marquisate Rosan. Can you, a butler, tell her when to come and go?"
"Oh, no."
The butler quickly bowed his head and made up an excuse.
"I wanted to tell you that the young master Lawrence will soon return, Your Grace can converse with the young master. In the meantime, I will escort Lady Artizea back…"
The excuse made Cedric even angrier.
"I must have been mistaken."
"Eh?"
"I thought I was talking with the butler of the Marquisate Rosan, but you seem to be Lord Lawrence's butler."
When Cedric said it, the butler's face turned pale.
The butler had forgotten it because no one had pointed it out, but the master of the Marquisate Rosan was really Artizea.
Although he was one of Miraila's henchmen, it was true that as the butler of the Marquisate Rosan, he had said some things he should not have.
"I apologize."
The butler bowed politely.
Among the fussy and inflexible nobles of high society, there were those who were obsessed with etiquette and formalities, no matter who the person with the real power was.
On top of that, Cedric hated Miraila.
The butler felt cornered. And he thought the only way out of this situation was to apologize.
He never imagined that Cedric would defend Artizea. He didn't even understand why he had come to see her.
Artizea had had some good ideas lately, earning Miraila's praise.
However, in the butler's mind, Artizea was just Miraila's punching bag.
"I will tell Lady Artizea about this."
Because it was not his own house, Cedric said these words and left the Marquisate Rosan.
「I just want to inherit the Marquisate Rosan completely and become independent…. Please remain formally married to me for only two years and protect me, Your Grace.」
That's what Artizea had told him.
Cedric seemed to understand what she meant by 'protect me'.
***
Artizea, who attended the ball on Count Enda's estate, stood aside as if it were an adornment.
A ball like this, held at noon, was not a place to enjoy.
"Hello, Lady Artizea."
Artizea wanted the time to pass quickly to leave, preferably in silence and without exchanging greetings with anyone.
However, it was not strange that things were not as she wanted.
It was the beautiful Lady Atiyah who greeted her.
"Why do you look so depressed? You are early, but you have not yet danced to a single song."
"Someone has to stand still to decorate the walls."
"Oh, my. I'm sorry to hear that. All the men who have come to this ball are discourteous and heartless. I can't believe they haven't asked you to dance with them, not even a single song."
Everyone looked in that direction.
Cedric removed the long sword he carried and handed it to a servant.
The people even stopped whispering, and only the sound of music could be heard in the quiet hall.
"Your Grace, what brings you to this place so suddenly?"
Said Countess Enda, bowing politely.
Cedric Evron was a man who ignited the hearts of countless girls with his handsome appearance and manly attitude, but he had never had a dance partner.
He did not attend balls or parties at all, unless it was a ball at the Imperial Palace that he was obliged to attend.
But he had appeared here, at a social meeting of young men and women.
'What effect would his participation in this ball have?' She was thinking about that.
"I need to meet someone, and I was told that person is here. I apologize for coming without an invitation. May I come in?"
"Of course, there is no place in the high society of the Crates Empire where Your Grace cannot enter."
Said the Countess Enda.
Despite the complex and critical political situation in which he found himself, Cedric was one of the best candidates for a husband.
He was young and had already inherited the title of Grand Duke. He was also rich and a military hero on his own merits.
Cedric Evron could be a kingmaker. If he chose to swear an oath of loyalty to Lawrence or Roygar, the current scenario for succession to the throne could change completely.
'Who has he come to meet?'
'It can't be a woman, can it?'
Such questions ran through the minds of those present.
But Cedric seemed completely unaware of it, crossed the hall and headed straight for Artizea.