Arriving at the mansion and having dinner, I looked at the finely folded envelope on the silver tray in front of me and asked.
Yuta and Kellerhan were also examining the letter with curious expressions.
“Yes, it just arrived in front of the Miss.”
Harold, who brought the letter, answered. Next to him stood Magda with her hands folded.
“This…”
With a careful hand, I pointed to the dazzling golden pattern on the envelope.
“It’s the Imperial emblem, isn’t it?”
Magda and Harold looked at each other and nodded at the same time.
“Why did the Imperial Family send me a letter?”
“His Imperial Majesty sent it. He said he wanted to invite you to a small tea party. He also will introduce you to people your age.”
The Emperor’s invitation, a small tea party, friends of the same age…
Ah, it was that.
I could see why the Emperor sent me an invitation belatedly.
Because the same thing happened in my previous life.
The Emperor summoned me, who was engaged to Heiner, and held a tea party to deliver the message to the nobles: “I’m taking such good care of the daughter of the Viscount and Viscountess Schwires, who lost their lives in the Void.”
As I recalled the incident, I trembled without realizing it.
It wasn’t a very good memory.
Duke Lodgemund prepared to attend the tea party and thoroughly imprinted on me how I should behave in front of people and my position in Lodgemund.
Besides, the Emperor…
He didn’t even notice the look in my eyes, next to Heiner, desperately asking for help, harboring one last hope.
For all the Emperor wanted was to find a new explorer to go to the Void.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Magda asked as my expression wasn’t good.
“Hm? Yes, I’m fine.”
I didn’t want Magda to worry, so I said with a bright smile on purpose.
“I’m just nervous because I think I have to appear in front of a lot of people.”
“The Miss is so mature, so I’m sure you’ll do well.”
She gave me a friendly smile and encouraged me.
I felt comforted from the experiences from my past life by her kindness.
Yeah, now that there are people who take good care of me, nothing like my past life will happen.
Besides, I no longer need the Emperor’s help.
So let’s do it well.
I’ll attend the tea party to show them how I live well as a member of Barmuth.
That was the moment I thought about it.
“You don’t want to go?”
Kellerhan’s voice was heard.
“N-No?”
I shook my head in bewilderment, yet he didn’t believe me.
“Your expression looks like that, though.”
Perhaps it was because he had done a lot of criminal papers, so it was no business for him to see through a child’s expression.
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go.”
Kellerhan made a sound as if it was nothing.
He’s probably the only one in the world who says to the Emperor’s invitation, “If you don’t want to, don’t go.”
Without a word, I opened the invitation and checked the contents.
Nothing has changed from my previous life either.
As it was sent to Barmuth, the text of the invitation was slightly different, but it wasn’t to the point of concern.
I put down the invitation and opened my mouth, looking at Kellerhan.
“Even if I don’t want to go, I have to go.”
“You’re my daughter-in-law.”
Kellerhan frowned.
“You don’t have to force yourself to do something you don’t like.”
“Because the Duke has received me as your daughter-in-law, I think that I really have to go.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m still young, but I know what His Imperial Majesty meant by sending this invitation.”
I gave him the invitation.
The gap between Kellerhan’s brows grew deeper.
“I also know that if I decline this invitation, the Duke, not me, will have to be rebuked by His Imperial Majesty.”
In the first place, the Emperor sent me, the only daughter of a viscount, to Barmuth to show people that he would never abandon the dead in the ‘Void’.
This tea party, where it will be announced to the public that not only verbal but real engagement has been made, and that I have become a preliminary Grand Princess, is a necessary extension of that sympathy.
But I can’t believe he said I wasn’t going there.
It was nothing like going directly against the will of the Emperor.
“The Duke is in a bad situation on my behalf, can I really rest in peace?”
I spoke with emphasis.
“I’m going. I’ll go and let everyone know that I’m doing well in Barmuth.”
Kellerhan wiped his face with one of his hands at my words.