Chapter 40

After finishing our meal, Lauro and I returned to our room.

"Princess Asaria, I'm sorry."

"Hmm? What for?"

"Earlier, I let my emotions get the better of me and emitted a killing aura, causing you trouble."

In the room, Lauro bowed before me as I sat down.

Well, it really was a killing aura, wasn't it?

Actually, it wasn't a big deal at all.

In fact, I was grateful because he had cut through the troublesome situation for me.

"It's fine, no problem. Besides, it's heartwarming to see that you, as my personal knight, are so proud of your role."

"…I see, I'm glad to hear that."

Lauro turned his face away, slightly embarrassed.

He must have released that killing aura because he didn't want to give up his position as my personal knight.

He's like a guard dog, really cute.

But still, that killing aura was a bit too much, I suppose.

While Lauro and I were resting in the room, there was a knock on the door, and the maid Maimi came in.

"Princess Asaria, the duchess is calling for you."

"My mother? I understand."

Lauro and I left the room and followed Maimi to where my mother was waiting.

In one of the most beautiful rooms in the fortress, my mother was sitting on a sofa, and across from her, on the other side of the coffee table, was my brother Ivan.

Was my brother also called by Mother?

"Asaria, you came."

"Mother, I'm glad to see you looking well."

Duchess Melissa St. Spencer, my mother.

The only one in the family with black hair, she has very beautiful, silky hair.

Her face resembles mine, or rather, I resemble her, with slightly upturned eyes that make her look very beautiful.

She's in her late thirties, but she looks almost the same as she did when she was young, maintaining her beauty.

She has a dignified beauty and a seductive charm, and I think she is a very beautiful woman, even as my mother.

"Yes, you too. So, is the man over there your personal knight?"

It's been a while since I last saw Mother, and this is the first time she's meeting Lauro.

"Yes. Lauro, please introduce yourself."

"Yes. I am Lauro Apazil, serving as Princess Asaria's personal knight. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Mother looked Lauro over from head to toe as he bowed politely.

"…So, Asaria, you like cute boys, do you?"

"Wha…?"

I could hear Lauro's voice of confusion at Mother's words.

Sigh, Mother's bad habit is starting again…

"Mother, I didn't choose my personal knight based on appearance."

"Oh, really? But appearance is important, isn't it? You'll be together all the time, after all."

Mother, as a duchess, is perfect in social settings, but with us, the family, she's quite casual and likes to talk about love like a young woman in the city.

My brother Ivan also closed his eyes with a face that said, "Here we go again…"

"Besides, didn't you find Lauro yourself? Didn't you choose him based on his looks?"

…She's saying almost the same thing as Eira, who approached me at a tea party before.

Mother is purely curious and not at all malicious, which is why it's a bit troublesome.

"No, that's not true. While Lauro is indeed very handsome, I wouldn't recommend him as a personal knight for me or my brother just because of that."

I could feel Lauro react slightly, but I continued.

"Of course, Ivan wouldn't recommend such a person as a personal knight for his sister Asaria."

"…Yes, I believe I have chosen someone suitable to be the personal knight of a duchess's daughter."

"Hehe, that's true. If you, as a brother, chose for your sister, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Mother, please don't say any more."

"Yes, I understand. You're a shy one, aren't you?"

Huh? Why is my brother blushing?

I didn't quite follow the flow of the conversation.

"Besides, Mother, you should be able to recognize Lauro's strength."

"Yes, he's amazing. He will definitely surpass the current head of the family in his prime."

Mother said this with certainty, looking at Lauro.

Mother, who became a duchess due to her abilities, is the best at manipulating magic among us and has exceptional observational skills to discern magic.

Lauro, who was told by Mother that he would surpass the current head of the family, might not fully understand the extent of the praise.

"Lauro, take good care of Asaria. If you so much as scratch her, I'll tear off your manhood."

"Understood."

…Eh, Mother, didn't you just say something really harsh?

And Lauro, who answered without hesitation, what's going on with him?

"Alright, let's get to the main topic. The reason I called Ivan and Asaria here is…"

The topic changed, so I couldn't ask about the harsh conversation earlier.

"From now on, I want you two to visit other fortresses and pay your respects."

"Pay respects, you say?"

My brother tilted his head in confusion.

I've never heard of paying respects to other fortresses either.

At least, I didn't do it before I returned.

"Yes, it's more like paying respects to other ducal families rather than visiting their fortresses."

It's common for ducal families to pay respects to each other in social settings, but visiting the fortresses they are responsible for is a first.

"Why suddenly now?"

"I thought it was troublesome too, but it's an order from the royal family. Remember, Asaria, you went to help the Modenes ducal family at the eastern fortress recently?"

"Yes, I went with Lauro."

"Right, that's the trigger. The royal family wants the four ducal families to get along better and work together to protect the empire."

I see, indeed, I received the Royal Rose Medal because the ducal families helped each other.

The royal family, especially the current emperor, highly respects the four ducal families and understands their importance to the empire.

…Then why does the Crown Prince Lewis, the first prince, think the Spencer ducal family is inferior?

Did the emperor fail in his education of the first prince?

"Since we can't ignore an order from the royal family, you two will be visiting other fortresses. I know it's troublesome, but please do your best."

"Understood, Mother."

"I have no problem with it, Mother."

My brother and I nodded, and Mother smiled.

"Yes, for this time, I want you to visit the Modenes ducal family in the east and the Aegis ducal family in the west."

We won't be going together, but to different fortresses.

"Do you have a preference?"

"I'd like to go to the Aegis ducal family in the west."

I answered immediately to Mother's question.

There's Prince Alexis at the Modenes ducal family in the east.

I don't dislike him, but… he proposed to me.

I haven't met him since the proposal, so I feel a bit reluctant to see him, and I don't really want to go to the eastern fortress.

"Alright, then Ivan, you can go to the Modenes ducal family in the east?"

"Yes, no problem."

I remember my brother was acquainted with Prince Alexis.

Since they are both heirs to ducal families and future heads, it would be beneficial for them to get along.

In fact, this aligns very well with the royal family's intentions.

"Then, please start your journey tomorrow morning."

We both replied, "Yes," to Mother's request.