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“Are you okay?”

“Young Lady, be careful.”

With Ray supporting her from behind and Claude holding her waist from the front, Iva’s eyes trembled in bewilderment. 

She wished they would all disappear so that she could just fall over. 

Her eye’s widened at the embarrassment of being trapped between the two men, and as she tried to regain her composure, Ray’s hand quietly slipped away.

He took a step back and observed Claude and Iva. The perfectly matched silhouettes made his heart ache, and he found himself biting his lower lip.

“Are you hurt?”

With Ray stepping back, Claude held Iva even more tightly in his arms, looking into her eyes.

“No, I’m fine.”

Quickly pulling away from his embrace, Iva stood upright.

“I showed an ungraceful side. Thank you for catching me. Your Highness.”

“As long as you’re not hurt. Can you make it alone?”

“Just a minor stumble. I will take my leave now.”

Politely bidding farewell, Iva carefully walked away, making sure not to trip again, and left the garden.

Now, only the two men remained in the garden.

Claude looked down at the hand that had held Iva’s waist, and Ray gripped his sword tighter.

They both contemplated their time with Iva, each with different emotions.

“Ray.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What did you think of the Lady just now?”

“…I’m not sure, Your Highness.”

Ray avoided looking at Claude and evaded the question.

“Oh? I quite liked her.”

“….”

“A while ago, she suggested that we go to the countryside and get married. I thought she was just bright, but it seems she’s quite quick-witted.”

Upon hearing the word “married,” Ray seemed to struggle to breathe, but he kept his emotions hidden.

“She’s so amusing. I never know what she’ll do next.”

While Claude’s eyes sparkled with excitement at Iva’s memories, Ray’s expression darkened.

“Did Lady Iva ask His Highness to go to the countryside first?”

Ray asked in a low voice, attempting to conceal his trembling emotions.

Claude, gazing in the direction Iva had left, replied, “Yes, very boldly.”

Rai realized that the look in Claude’s eyes now was the same one he’d had when he was preparing for his date with Iva, which made him feel more disturbed.

“I recognized her right away, even though she was wearing a mask.”

Claude, unaware of Ray’s feelings, continued his words.

“Even if she was fully covered, I would have recognized her. Everything about her is unique.”

To think, Iva who felt Ray’s feelings were a burden to her, would purpose to His Highness to go to the countryside, even using words akin to a marriage proposal.

Ray, who didn’t know what had happened that day, frowned as his heart throbbed.

“Do you love her?”

“Huh?”

“Do you really intend to marry her?”

Claude covered his mouth with his hand, a habit he had when he wanted to hide his expression. 

Ray knew this behavior well, as Claude often did it when he was feeling too sad or too happy.

“I think I might want to keep seeing the Lady who is so unpredictable. But marriage isn’t something you decide on your own, right?”

Even though Claude pretended it was nothing, all of his actions and tone seemed to convey that he was interested in Iva.

Ray acted with his all might, pretending not to notice.

“For now, let’s focus more on the party. But in case something happens…”

Maybe I should try becoming the Young Rural Head, as Lady Iva said.

Just imagining it made Claude smile.

“I think running away while holding the lady’s hand wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”

“Your Highness should remain in the palace. Running away to the countryside doesn’t suit you.”

It was only then, Claude finally looked at Ray, who was standing there with a cold expression. Although it was just a joke, he felt a bit taken aback by the stiff expression on Ray’s face, showing that he was slightly annoyed.

“Ray? Do I really look like the type to run away?”

“No… No, not at all.”

“You, who knows my jokes the best, why are you getting upset?”

Avoiding Claude’s gaze, Ray bowed his head.

“…I apologize.”

The image of Claude running away with Iva and holding her hand tightly kept replaying in Ray’s mind, making his feelings complicated.

“For now, I know that preparing for the party is the top priority. I won’t run away, so don’t worry.”

Claude, thinking that Ray was concerned about losing a friend at the palace, patted his shoulder lightly before taking the lead and walking away.

Ray composed his confused heart and followed Claude.

* * *

Five days before the party, in the western hall garden.

For the first time, all of the members of the preparation team of the party to welcome the Fenet delegation were assembled.

There were ten knights sent from the Knights’ Order and fifteen support staff members.

Iva stood on a small podium, speaking in a loud voice for everyone to hear.

“I am Iva Blanche. I have been entrusted with the responsibility for this party. Nice to meet you all.”

Everyone paid attention to her polite greeting.

“We have about five days left. We must prepare a party that will be remembered for a lifetime. For that, we need all of your help.”

Fel distributed the papers that Iva had prepared, handing out one copy to each team member.

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