“Oh, she’s bright and kind. She has a stout heart, but she has a strong sense of caring for the weak. …I must take care of myself at best. If anything happens to me, that girl will be the Duchess of Yurinova, but there are too many things I don’t want that gentle girl to know.”


    “I will protect you, Your Excellency, so that nothing will happen to you. I promised the Young Lady that I would.”


    Ivan, the squire, said cheerfully as he arranged the top of his office desk.


    “Oh, yes, of course.”


    Alexei smiled.


    <i>Nothing must happen to Big Brother…</i>


    The other day, Ekaterina burst into tears. While she had wowed Aaron, the mine manager, with her astonishing insight just before that, she became like a little child when she became worried about her brother’s safety. This difference made her all the more endearing.


    It was called “Gap Moe”.


    “The youngdy is kind to everyone, but it’s adorable that she adores His Excellency the most.”


    “Ivan, don’t put those papers away.”


    Staring at the squire, Novak took the papers Ivan was trying to clear from his desk.


    “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you had finished.”


    Ivan was smiling as usual, but there was no mistaking the hint of a slight tongueshing.


    And Alexei shared the same feeling.


    “Your Excellency. You mustn’t put it off when selecting who your engagement partner will be.”


    “…it’s still okay for now.”


    “We are alreadyte. If you are considering an engagement partner after you graduate from the academy, it can be done without any problem, as you can choose from younger daughters, but for women, they should be of the same age or older. If you want to choose a good match for her, she must be currently in school. If you are thinking of the best interests of the Young Lady, you should take care of it as soon as possible.”


    “Well, but if she is as beautiful and noble as the youngdy, any man will jump at her, even if she is engaged to someone else. So, there’s no need to rush.”


    Novak stared at Aaron, the mine manager, who interrupted him.


    “How can you let such an unfaithful man near the youngdy?”


    “…I’m sorry, you’re right.”


    Aaron shrugged and pulled away.


    Novak piles on the words to Alexei, who still seems reluctant to say any word in retort.


    “As His Excellency said earlier, the youngdy will end up as Yurinova’s sessor with no wife and children. Even if she is married, she will continue to be the heir, depending on the situation. If she is engaged to or married to the wrong person, Yurinova could be struck by a greater disaster than Prince Alexandre’s reign. The engagement of the youngdy is a serious matter for this family. Your Excellency understands this. Then, there is the youngdy’s talent. If she marries into another influential family, it would be a shame to give her talents to another family. The Imperial Family or a branch family. I think the choice is between the two.”


    After speaking sternly, Novak sighed softly.


    “As a subject of the Imperial Family, I would like the Young Lady to marry into the Imperial Family, if possible. Who could be a more suitable daughter to be the empress, the mother of the people? And if she marries into the imperial family, she will be the best pir of support for Yurinova in the development and practical application of the rainbow stone magic circle.”


    Novak Continued.


    “However, since she has expressed her refusal to marry only into the Imperial Family, and since Your Excellency has given approval, we have no choice but to do so. Either choose one of the branch families, or take a worthy son-inw and set up a new branch family. Then the youngdy can continue to support His Excellency close by.”


    “…I guess that is also a choice.”