“Right. we would need to return to the academy in three days. So you’re saying that if anyone who threatens her with their status, then you would step in.”

“Not bad Terence. In four months, Leila would turn 12 and in five months the academy would hold another enrolment test. So you would have to protect her from the shadows as you have always done. Until then, I suppose she will be in my care.”

“How do you know about that….? Never mind. I find that if I question every bit of information you possess, I’d go insane.”

“Fufufu~ why thank you for your understanding.”

With that, Leila and Leo felt a huge burden off their shoulders. Leo had then told the three that he would have a word with his parents on the subject, and while they were at it, Charlotte told Leo a few things that he should say to help out with the plan.

He found out that, despite her saying she hated politics, that she was incredibly good at making schemes.

(I prefer to call it a plan. A plan, alright?)

Two days later, Leo and Terence left for the academy and Leila would often visit Charlotte on her own.

The days passed without any problems until a certain someone came to look for trouble.

While practically begging her father, Charlotte was given permission to come along with him to the capital. While he went to do his work, Charlotte made a visit to Leila’s home.

Compared to her mansion, it wasn’t that big, but it was still a mansion nonetheless.

 As soon as she heard from the servants that Charlotte had arrived, Leila rushed downstairs to great her.

The marquise and his wife were also home and they became acquainted with one another. As for Leila’s older sister, she had also gone to the academy. The relationship with Leila and her parents could be said to be good, but as for her sister, it seems like she’s hated for some reason. Or is it because her sister is also head over heels with Leo?

(Uwaa~ being popular sure is tough. I’m glad I don’t have that problem.)

Living in the countryside at her fief, it had been a pleasantly quiet lifestyle. After having a short chat with her parents, the two girls went to Leila’s room.

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“Let me guess, its Marionette, isn’t it.”

“Well…yes.”

“What is it this time?” Charlotte sat with her legs crossed and her arms folded.

“Em, it seems like she’s started a rumor about you having an affair with Terence.” Leila gathered all her might as she said that while gripping the hem of her dress.

“….” At the moment, Charlotte had a rather stupefied expression on her face. Yes, that was just stupid. “PFFT-! Pahahaha!” she began to roll around on the bed while gripping her stomach as tears even came out laughing hysterically “Haha! Are they stupid? Oh lords have mercy. To think that that was the best they could come up with. Are they stupid? Haa, and here I thought something terrible happened to you. Leila dear, please don’t startle me like that next time, okay?” she gave her a pat on the shoulder while still not having completely gotten rid of the laughter.

“This isn’t a laughing matter! If because of me your reputation get’s damaged-!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, Leila dear, if its rumors you’re concerned about, then you are wasting both of our time. A rumor is a rumor, whoever wishes to belief that let them do as they wish. I have no intention of stopping her if that is all she is capable of. It’s like telling me to convince the whole world that I’m not in love with that guy. That would just create even more suspicion. I also have no idea how they even managed to come up with something as ridiculous as that. What are they trying to do anyways? I don’t even see any connection with what any of that rumor had o do with her jealousy. Pffft-”

 “But-!”

“Look, all that matters is that you guys belief me. That is enough. Though, if Terence finds it troublesome, he’ll have to deal with it himself. I wish him good luck on that.”

“Lotte, aren’t you a little too carefree? You are still the daughter of a duke.”

“I suppose it isn’t in my nature to worry too much about unnecessary things and neither should you.”

“Even so, what if this gets in eth way of getting married in the future?”

“Rumors are just rumors. If we don’t do anything too drastic, they will eventually die down. If the king had to pay attention to all the rumors surrounding him, he would have turned grey long ago. Anything else?”

“Lady Charlotte~~”

At that moment, without warning, the door to Leila’s room swung open and an annoying figure came flying inside. Before he could even touch her, Charlotte jumped off of the bed and spun around, kicking him right in his abdomen.

“Tsk. What do you want now? Or more importantly, why are you even following me around!?”

“Eh~~ could it be that you forgot our promise?”

“Erm, Lotte, who is this?”

“THIS is an annoying bug that keeps stalking me wherever I go. Pay no attention to it as it is but an insect.”

“O-okay….?”

“How cruel of you~”

The young boy that looked the same age as Charlotte clung onto her leg, as if the kick before had never occurred. Brown caramel hair and green azure eyes, he had changed his appearance so that he looked the same age as her to make following her easier. Yes, that was ‘Ran’.

(As it turns out, his personality is actually that of an M and a Loli-con. This is a deadly combination!)

Deadly annoying for her, that is.

“….what is it now?” she clenched her fist to calm her rage as she glared at him. Before she left the mansion, he had also come along with her along with Iris and Lilly as her attendants. But, she had clearly told them to wait outside.

“Oh, yes. A message came for you my lady. Or actually, for the both of you, from the queen.”

“”The…queen…?””