Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

Outside the north of Wangdu Ultz, a place where the liveliness of a flourishing Paft country is utterly unprecedented.

Claire was visiting the land with Vik and his neighbors.

"... It's a beautiful day."

"Oh. It was so sunny a year ago."

"Right."

The conversation between the two stops there. Even though it is still far away in the summer season, the wind is breezy as it strokes its cheeks.

Claire took her hat when she reached the destination following Vique. And after seeing Veek slowly place the flowers in his hand, he places the white flowers gently himself.

Still new, that stone was engraved with the name of his half-brother.

"Another year, that's fast."

Claire nods down to Donnie's words, which she had refrained from behind.

"Yeah, it feels like yesterday."

"I still think"

Vik groaned pompously.

"At that time, I was wondering if I could do something more..."

"... you did a great job"

"And Claire."

Though Claire was worried about the contemplative look on Vike's face, she is even relieved by the return of her usual confident grin.

"Sure, I can tell you that."

"Claire's been working undercover."

And to the words of Lewis and Keith, Claire blushed her cheeks.

"That verse is really... sorry to worry"

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Dion was on his own with white flowers. This is a special place where only the graves of political prisoners are placed. I cannot enter without the permission of the state.

With the exception of him, who was found to have contributed to preventing a coup d 'état to the royal family, all members of the old Mead family have been deported from the country. Right now, he was the only one in his family who was eligible to visit this place.

It was always bright and Dion liked by everyone, but things are only slightly different when we talk about the house.

At first, it was refreshing at any time because Claire's charm was working, but after the charm and her personality reconciled well, she more often gave the look that she felt more guilty than necessary.

That was even the case when someone praised me for its competence.

Right now, I can't even see the look on his face standing in front of the grave from Claire's place, but I can't feel the usual shankiness from standing.

……

Claire is, for once, Dion's master. I wanted to be his supporter myself, as Vike stood around thinking about Keith and the others, but the smile wall is thick anyway.

I wanted Dion to know at least that I could be happy, and Claire's chest was full of creeps.

"Dion, what about you?

Donnie speaks openly where everyone was reluctant to be in his place. Dion stretched his spine in an instant and looked back at this one.

"Yeah! It's over. Yikes! Shall we go?"

The face was the usual refreshing smile.

◇

On the way home.

Dion spoke to Veek, who was led to a private room in a castle town restaurant reserved for dinner and removed his eye-catching hood.

"... His Royal Highness Veek"

"? What?"

Vik smiles softly at Dion, suddenly in awe. But you perceived his intentions, you seem to dare have the eyes of the First Prince.

"Thank you so much for this one. How can I thank you?"

"... oh. Naturally. I intend to formally appoint you as my queen's sidekick in the future. What if you haven't graduated from Royal School?"

This spring, Dion had decided to return to Royal School, something unusual in view of his position, although he would start over midway through sophomore year.

Naturally, it is also true that there were opposite voices in the Royal Palace. But it seems that Vik went thriving to His Majesty the King and persuaded him.

"All you have to do is lay down some manners and give him the title! Truth is, I wish we could adopt you..."

To Donnie's words, Dion shakes his head.

"I'm really okay with that. I won't bother anyone. Holla, shall we toast? Oh, a toast, isn't it?"

Claire stares at Dion laughing at Nico. When his eyes met, Dion shook his head sideways with a smile on his face. Vik doesn't miss that little exchange.

"... Something wrong? Claire."

"Yep..."

Claire gets lost wondering if we can talk about this. But I made up my mind that it would be for Dion to serve me.

"Dion already said no to me... Actually, I'm being interviewed by the Baron Lene family about wanting to adopt Dion"

……

Vik puts down the glass he had in his hand. The other three also pay attention to Claire in a surprising manner.

"Lately, Isabella's been coming to me like every day, isn't she? Dion sent Isabella on my behalf the other day. At that time, the impression seemed very good. Baron Lehne doesn't have a boy, and if I tell you a little bit about Dion's situation, he wants you to seriously think about adopting him."

Claire continues, turning to Dion.

"I haven't been that close in this life either... but the Lehnes are really great. He warmly welcomed me into being humble... You have a right to be happy, too. I don't want you to think about it right away."

"Claire. I'm not a good person to be happy with. I mean, Claire's just too happy to have chosen me as her escort. So look up."

When I noticed, there were tears in Claire's eyes of toppling and subtracting. I'm not sympathetic to Dion's position. No matter what you say, I regret it doesn't sound like anything. That's all, though he takes sincerely the sins his house has committed.

"Dion. I know exactly what you're thinking. But I really want to put you on Claire's side. The reason is that it is the most appropriate and most secure. … If you keep doing this, you will be awarded the title for unwanted reasons."

It was supposed to be serious, but Keith couldn't because his master makes weird threats.

"... What's the reason for not being mean, for example?

"Isn't that it?" Always refreshing "or something."

At Doni's light mouth, Lewis rides.

"There's something called 'make it look light, it's actually very serious'?

"Oh, that's what it feels like"

I can't do this for real, Keith looks away.

"And then, everyone likes me, or something. Honestly, or something. You're smart, but you're a hard worker... and so much more."

Claire joined in lightly, so I was surprised with her. But in the end, I'm just listing the good things about Dion as I enjoy crying, and the place is engulfed with warm laughter.

After laughing the whole way, Veek re-compartmentalizes.

"... So, what do you say? Let Claire tell you this, you wouldn't be poking around on this spot right now, would you?

With a cheek cane, but a sharp gaze like never before. Lewis and Donnie laughed together, looking at him as the first prince but feeling just a little jealous in there as well.

"... not quite, to my lord. The goal is to graduate from Royal School in two years. I'll try my best to get rid of anything else that said it was a trace of the Mead family.... also for the Baron Lehne family"

To Dion's acknowledgment, Claire snorted and squeezed her palm tightly. Tears fall on the cobbles made on his knees.

(Finally, a step...)

On its bush overlapped the palm of Veek, who was sitting next to him.

"All right. Today, after the toast."

"I like that!

Doni's voice echoes in the private room, unable to hide his joy in the determination of his disciples.

This restaurant is busy. Even in private rooms, you can hear fun voices coming from the outside. Claire is really glad I'm here, though it was something Lewis booked for me drawing on the idea of Vike and Dion not wanting to get too snug.

Let us never forget that a dear friend took a step in this deliberate space. I want to be sure to keep this joy, sound, smell, even raw warm temperatures. Claire swore so, wiping her tears.