I Am a Princess Responsible For Settling Circumstances

By name, it was the first time I had been spoken to by the Duke of Nightfellow.

"Hello, Duke of Nightfellow. Not at all. I take care of your son. I'm just being helped."

Somehow I return my greetings.

"Above all, then."

"Isn't it a terrible thing to say about my son and my strange son?"

The Duke's gaze is off of me and he heads to Derek. The Duke nodded as he stroked his jaw.

"Then is the foolishness right"

"... would mean the same thing"

Derek sighed. Even though Derek and I are friends, we've only had enough conversations to count with that father, the Duke of Nightfellow. That counting conversation is also via Celius. If it was the first time I myself had been spoken to like this by the Duke of Nightfellow, it was also the first time I had seen Derek and the Duke's parents and children having conversations.

"So foolish. About your engagement."

The Duke cut out the fact that there was no context at all, as if it were a public discourse. I grabbed one cup of drinks that the servants were handing out around, and Derek, who was carrying it in his mouth, put it away.

"Oh, are you okay?

"... I thought you said no to that one."

"Of course, I said no properly"

"Then..."

"But he was inspired by the story that His Highness Octavia had a lover. There was another medical examination. I've seen you dance with His Royal Highness at the opening. Or should I say that's why?

Ahead the Duke, who turned his face, stared at a middle-aged aristocratic man and a young lady who would be his daughter. The aristocratic man looked familiar. At the very least, I slapped him in the head as someone I had to remember - he should have been the Earl who belonged to the so-called Celius sect.

He says he's already woven up about a man's mistress.

I was upset by what the Duke had said.

My, uncertain part.

A matter that I know by my head but which I am likely to reject with emotion. I felt poked there.

Chilari and Derek saw me and returned it to the Duke.

"I don't have anything like that."

"Don't take it lightly that you mentioned your mistress on purpose from the woman's side. If I say no from your mouth, they're not going to give up."

"... I get it."

Derek exhales as he perceived it.

"Sil, bad. Take it off a little. - Okay. As I said earlier, I don't know who's glaring at me. Don't be alarmed."

"Be careful."

He pressed me, and then walked out.

I dropped off Derek's back like that, and the Duke laughed bitterly.

"My son, like the mother of Lord Burkes."

The upset was pulling its tail. It only took a little, extra time to respond.

"... I think it's because I don't rely on you. Your son is well taken care of."

"My son has a little sweet spot for the Duke's house. It's easy to get emotional."

"I think I'm an advantage."

"If you change your view, Lord Burkes is right. Sometimes I also envy my son. At the same time, I can't help but feel teething."

- White or black?

Duke of Knightfellow - The commonly said word was associated with regard to a person named Leif Knightfellow.

The Duke thinks that ratings are divided exactly the opposite by people.

Residents thoughtful and merciful. A demon without blood or tears.

Words line up that I don't think are pointing at the same person. That's not why the Duke's personality is broken. Probably a simple thing. The Duke is kind to his side. I will not condone my enemies.

It depends on which side of the world you will be human, whether you think of the Duke as white or black.

I still don't have a pin. I think it's because I'm neither.

As Derek has consistently been neutral about Master Octavia, the Duke takes a neutral position on my being.

... I have not welcomed or denied it.

And even with the same neutrality, Derek's and the Duke's, it feels like it means something different. Of course, I don't feel hostile at all. But that's...

"Duke of Nightfellow. Were you here! Let me say hello."

One of the invitees called it that and approached the Duke. Then the people who seemed to have been peering at the opportunity continued one after the other. There are many people who want to connect with the Duke of Nightfellow.

For that response, the Duke took the people and started moving.

"So, Lord Burkes. - Again."

... Again?

I returned the meeting, and the words, which may be just a social decree, hooked me up a little and immediately gave me my face. The Duke of Nightfellow, by the way, hadn't seen this one.

Leaving Derek and the Duke, the situation returned to shaking out.

Alone. Far away, I feel my skin peeking at the way out. Whether there is a real family in it or someone who might be connected to it.

- Be careful. Don't fail to be vigilant.

I also asked Master Octavia to help me by saying I couldn't. We have to make sure we get our harvest and go home.

... but you're weak.

Still feeling his gaze, he walks to the corner of the hall.

From there, I looked at the invitees.

No one can rely on it to feel like it's a real family.

Someone sent me information, and there are signs of contact.

Waiting for me to go somewhere unpopular? Should I leave the hall and go somewhere?

It's possible to do that if Derek's eyes stay out of the way.

However, if you really had a clue and could see your family, what if it was a trap?

If I can handle it one-on-one, if I get attacked multiple times, can I deal with it alone?

Even if we move out of sight, it's not until we know they're safe...

Think about it, time has passed for a while.

- Katan, and I heard something fall from nearby. The direction in which the sound occurred - look next to the right.

Cane. A wooden cane made of elegance was falling.

A girl in a water coloured dress is trying to pick up the wand. Yet the girl's hand does not hit a place with a cane inside.

"Go ahead."

I approached him and picked up the wand. Pass to the girl. When I touched the wand, my little white hand gripped the wand as relieved.

"Thank you"

The grin and the girl laughed. I guess I judged it from the position of my voice. My face was pointed in my direction. But I lifted my face, and those blue eyes did not reflect me.

I think the years are like eleven or two at best.

- Even if you're an invitee, can't you be alone?

Most of the time when a child of this age is attending a quasi ball, parents and brothers are bringing him in. Even if the person was invited, there would always be an adult companion, it should have been...

"Who's your escort? Shall we look for him?

Now the girl laughed, tilting her neck and tickling. Silver hair shakes like cotton wool.

"You're worried about me. I have a squire, so I'm fine. Now, he's picking up drinks for me. I'm here to leave a message."

"Then good."

But you might want to wait with me until your squire gets here.

"Um... my name is Lilithana. What's your name?

When people who don't know each other introduce themselves to each other at a ball or a quasi ball, saying only their names without mentioning their surnames is when they want to have an unidentified conversation. Similar to wearing a mask at a masquerade.

"I'm Sil."

"You're Master Sil!

Lilyshana's face shone all the time.

Sil, speaking of who you are, better or worse, in the Wang capital - not to mention the aristocracy, you know it among children about Lilithana's age. But Lilyshana didn't seem to know. Son of a nobleman from afar for the Council of the Horses? So I guess I'm oblivious to the circumstances of the King's Capital these days.

In response, I noticed myself feeling happy, and I laughed bitterly in my heart.... I can't do this.

"Is Master Sil accustomed to such a quasi ball?

"I... I don't know if I want to get used to it. What about Lilithana?"

"I am the first. - Even if you can't see it, you can feel the gorgeous atmosphere and it's fun. I have never thanked the Duke of Nightfellow more than once."

"To the Duke of Nightfellow?

Lilyshana nodded.

"Yes, the Duke invited me yesterday because he was vacant."

... are you available? Yesterday?

Instead, after Master Octavia decides to attend tonight's semiball, it should be enough that the person who tried to get the invitation arrived.

"... ah!

Lilithana raised her voice. He moves out his wand and leg in a way that he can't wait.

"Lilyshana?"

"The footsteps. It belongs to my squire. I'll pick you up."

"Lily -"

At least try to see Lilithana and her squire reunite, chase them.

In that first step,

"Oops, excuse me"

A drink was sprinkled by me, along with a deliberate voice of apology.

With the cup in my hand, it was a red-haired young man who hit me.

She has a narrow body and wears a mask of the same color as her hair.... mask and enjoy socializing. Tonight at the semi ball, it's a hobby held between banquets. Some of the invitees prefer to remain masked, not just for the duration of the feast. The youth was like one of them.

I can smell the wine from the area where the cup was placed.

It just barely comes in color. White wine.

He looked at my dress wet with alcohol and glanced at the young man enough to tell even over the mask.

"This is terrible. I was looking at it approximately. - Let me get you dressed to apologize. Dear Sil Burkes,"

…………

Just harassing me?

No, if this is, like, contact with me from Someone.

Find Lilithana with your eyes. Young man - looks like he was able to rendezvous safely with a squire figure. I speak to my squire with a trusted smile. Lilyshana is fine.... What do I do?

"-Ma, if you don't get lost and follow me now, I'm talking about how short of a head you are."

The red-haired young man changed his mind and whispered.

Then I whisper as if I were to wipe the white wine on my clothes with a handkerchief.

"I'm the Duke of Nightfellow. Your Excellency said 'again' to Master Burkes on purpose, didn't he?

... Said.

However, this young man should not have been around when he broke up with the Duke.

- Is it the real use of the Duke himself?

- Did you learn the content from the invitees who were listening to that conversation and use it?

A young man left. Let me try to shake a hand towel that contains moisture.

"There doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it to the extent that I wiped it with a hand towel. I still think you should get dressed. Would you like me to apologize?"

A little while later, I snorted.

"- Right. Sweet for your words."

Guided by a red-haired young man, he arrived in a room reserved for men actually used for dressing in 'Paradise in the Sky'. It's not unusual for me to go when I'm served wine on a courtesy dress. It's just - the person I've been waiting for inside, it's weird to be there.

If you want to get dressed, you should use a room reserved for nobles. Even with these eyes, I still feel incredible somewhere.

Welcome, Lord Burkes.

"... thank you for inviting me"

Besides, why do you need to call me this way? If you'd just talked to me, it would have been enough in the hall.

It was with dark gray eyes on my dark hair - the Duke of Nightfellow - who smiled calmly at me.

"Hey, you weren't lying about your Excellency calling you. Oh, if you don't know me, and you think I'm a passing person, it's fine."

Saying it in a distracting voice was a red-haired young man with a mask on.

- There will be a way of saying it.

The Duke of Nightfellow sighs deeply. In addition to its facade, this kind of trick makes you feel very similar to Derek and a parent and child.

The difference is... Derek doesn't suspect me, even if he calls me like this. I don't believe that much about that father, the Duke.

"No, but that's the point, isn't it? My lord. Oh, yeah. Listen. During the feast, I invited His Highness Octavia's Guardian Knight to dance, but he refused!

"What are you... doing"

"No, you emphasised your duties, so you chilled that you found out I wasn't a pure invitee. Oh, it's not cool. No weapons at all. I look weak from anywhere, even though I'm a delicate prince. I didn't even feel alive while I was dancing with His Highness by chance afterwards! Your Highness almost stepped on me once!... Did I get stabbed in the nail with that? My lord, what do you think?

"Did you dance by chance? You're acting too much out of order."

"Because, my lord. I always want to meet. Men and women are welcome. However, only in aesthetic form! Beauty is the property of mankind!

"... Baldo will mourn"

"My father would have commanded garden security, wouldn't he? Go back to preach to me... it might come... No, I don't want to be. Too solid. Father, it's your fault you're here."

"Baldo is fine with that. People have a role to play."

"Is that why I'm acting like this? Fine, though. So, did Barks feel relieved, too? Duh?"

Swallow. I opened my mouth.

"- Duke of Nightfellow. What brings you here? … is it not tasty when Derek finds out?"

At that time, I was upset about something else and I didn't think anything of it. Now it feels like the Duke has guided Derek to leave me alone.

"My son is a friend of your lord. It's too close in the mood. Knowing that I am about to rely on you from now on will surely get in the way. That's why I asked my son to stay away from Lord Burkes."

... What are you trying to ask me to do?

"What do you want me to do?

"Before we do that, I have a few things to check. Why did you try to attend this semiball alone?

That was something I had only revealed to His Highness Octavia.

The Duke continues the conversation without any concern that I will not answer.

"Isn't it because some kind of information came to you?

…………

Stare at the Duke.

- When this man, my real family, attends Count Reddington's semiball, give him information?

Quietly, the Duke shook his head to the side.

"Let me tell you without misunderstanding. I don't even know what that information is about. However, we tried to get the information to you."

"... to me, to arrive?

If so.

Do you know who gave me the information?

- It's a kind of rat.

"Hey, Mi."

"Disturbing molecules that are difficult to resist. Indirect enemies of Esphere. There are many different ways of saying it, but it is certain that it is an enemy to be swept away. If left unattended, it interacts with a different species, reproduces and increases the nest. If you don't knock down the Great Nest, it's slight even if you reduce it. But it's hard not to come out of that nest."

"… yet a rat is about to come into contact with me, out of the nest"

The Duke snorted a small laugh as if praising the students. but soon disappears.

"- I thought Lord Burkes was a kind of rat."

The facing duke, similar to Derek, was a man with a soft, serene waist. I realized it was because of the look on my face. When the look you make disappears, all you have left is a stabbing cold on your face as neat as a statue.

There was a tremor in my body.

"If the royal family is bewildered by love and leans toward the country - for example, Lord Burkes befriended His Highness Celius at the behest of a rat? We can disrupt national politics through His Highness."

Moment after moment, anger occupied my head.

"Celius doesn't do anything stupid like that. I'm not the kind of person who bends politics with love for me."

"... I hope so"

Grab a fist. My appeal does not resonate with the heart of the Duke of Nightfellow in particular. That's what I figured out somehow. My teeth itched.

"Did the Duke call to see if I was a kind of rat?"

"My lord. It's too harsh on you, Barks. Be gentle with the beauty! Don't worry, Barks. Because the suspicion is beautiful and clear! White or black, if you say so. It was just that he was after Barks. That's why His Royal Highness Celius is so vigilant."

Red-haired young man pinches his mouth.

If this is true, they don't think I'm a disturbing molecule...

The Duke of Nightfellow leaked a bitter laugh.

"His Highness Celius is strictly protecting your lord. Don't let anything suspicious pass so you don't get annoyed with anything extra. No matter how many rats try to feed it, there's no island to mount it."

The man who delivered the information to me is probably the end of what the Duke calls a rat. I can't reach Dayuan where I caught him. - Rather than catching him, the Duke chose to let him achieve his purpose.

"... the Duke helped the rat. Is that what you mean?"

"Those who don't usually get their tails out are in Lord Burkes' custody. And the information arrived, and you suddenly decided to attend the semiball. [M] There must have been something in the information that would move you. - What matters to me is that you can feed the rats."