The Duke was having a stressful day. It had been hard for him lately. With the growing age of his daughter, talks of other nobles, hinting for marriage has increased.

The crown prince was always pushing for marriage between him and Amelia. From a logical viewpoint, it was the perfect marriage. A potential Grandmaster rank warrior marrying an equally talented mage.

However, Amelia disliked the crown prince to a fault. Therefore, Duke Edward had to repeatedly put off any talks of an engagement. He was rather thankful that the King was silent on the entire matter.

Of course, it was not known to the Duke that the King had been instructed to back off as much as possible on any matters involving Kyle’s family.

Edward had been pestered by the crown prince very early in the morning. He apologized to his daughter in his mind as he gave a vague reply about Amelia going away on a holiday during the break.

He thought that it would have been the end of the matter for quite some time. Therefore, one can imagine the surprise he received when Captain Ruby walked into his study with a passed-out Amelia on the same day.

Ruby laid out Amelia on the long couch in front of the desk, and turned to look at the surprised, worried and angry Duke.

Duke Edward, being an experienced person of high position, calmed down immediately. Partially due to having assessed that Amelia was unharmed, he asked the silent guard captain.

“Speak, Captain Ruby!”

The sentence being a little more forceful than he intended to, Ruby flinched a bit before answering.

“Yes, your excellency. It was like this……”

After having listened to the captain’s report, the Duke was silent for quite some time.

“Where is the crown prince now?”

“We left him at the site of the incident. I do not have any more information on his wellbeing.”

“Would be nice if he died there…” The Duke muttered a rather dangerous line, barely audible to anyone.

Edward walked over to his daughter and inserted some mana into her, waking the sleeping girl.

Amelia stirred a bit before opening her eyes. She looked around the room confused from the change. Gradually recalling the fight between Alex and Quin, she shot up and approached Ruby.

“Sister Ruby! Where’s Alex? Is he OK? Did Quin hurt him? Where is he now?!”

Edward cut in before Ruby could answer.

“He’s fine. His family is back in the city. He also said he’s coming to see you tomorrow.”

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The Duke turned to Ruby. “You may go. Keep me updated if the crown prince is seen.”

Ruby gave a nod to the Duke as well as the confused Amelia before exiting the room, leaving the father and daughter alone.

“My daughter.”

“Father, I want to go see Alex.”

The Duke sighed deeply. It seemed that he expected this from his daughter.

“Amelia, answer me this. Do you like Alex?”

The abrupt question left Amelia stunned on the spot.

“Don’t tell me he’s merely your shield, Amelia.” The Duke squinted at his speechless daughter.

“W-what do you mean father? He’s my friend, of course I like him!”

“You know what I mean, Amelia.”

Amelia’s face blushed hard while she failed to answer, not daring to look her father in the eye.

“Haa…I’ll talk to your mother…” The Duke looked at his daughter’s expression and sighed. How could he not understand what his sole daughter is thinking!

“Go rest in your room, I’ll get someone to call you for dinner.”

“…Yes, father…”

Amelia left the room slowly under the gaze of her father. She felt happy and scared at the same time. She couldn’t help but look forward to Alex’s visit tomorrow.

The Duke sighed once more, proceeding to sit back down behind his desk. He tapped his fingers on the table while thinking. He wrote some words quickly on an empty parchment and sealed it with the Duke’s emblem.

“Pass this to the secret royal guard.” He muttered softly and held up the letter.

With no warning or sound, the letter promptly vanished from the Duke’s hand.

***

Bill, the gardener, opened the door while being quite puzzled as he watched the wagon enter the mansion.

Kyle climbed off the driver’s seat and helped Vanessa get off the carriage.

“Daddy! Hug!” Little Kaylee wanted to copy her mother, being embraced by her loving father. Kyle happily complied and carried the little girl off the carriage. He gave Vanessa a knowing look after Kaylee climbed down from his hug.

Vanessa smiled back and led her daughter into the house.

“Let’s go freshen up sweetie.”

“Will you tell me a story mommy?”

“Sure, sweetie.” “Yay!”

Kyle smiled with a helpless expression when he thought about how she would react to the news. Ignoring Alex’s cramped face, they had discussed their relocation and decided to break the news to the little girl in the carriage, while the sweet little angle was still asleep.

Kaylee had a few friends in the neighbourhood and it might be sad for her to leave them so suddenly but it could not be helped, since it was bound to happen sooner or later. Of course, all this occurred while Liz blocked her ears, thinking if the family treated her as if she was invisible.

“Liz, please get Aunt Mary and Aunt Laura to prepare us a quick dinner. Alex! Don’t be in a daze. Help me with the carriage.”

“Ah-Ah right…”

Liz gave a nod and headed into the detached building while Alex got a move on after Kyle’s reminder.

After dinner. Everyone gathered in the living room under Kyle’s instructions.

“Everyone, I have some news to tell.” Kyle looked around at the crowd sitting around the large coffee table as he said.

“Our family of three will be leaving this city for an unknown amount of time. It could be ten or twenty years.”

Kyle observed the changes on everyone’s faces before continuing.

“I won’t be letting you all go. Unless you wish to leave. Alex may still live here from time to time. So, I need people to housekeep.”

“Ah, Liz will be coming with us. It would be good for her to stay with Kaylee.”

After Kyle explained his intent to Mary, Liz and the rest, he waited for them to make their decisions.

Kaylee sat on Vanessa’s lap, playing with an animal doll in silence. Vanessa gave Alex a glare, which the boy shrank back from. Alex was going to see Amelia in the morning. He still did not know what he should do, making Vanessa rather agitated.

“Master Kyle, if it’s ok with you, my husband and I would like to continue working in the mansion.” Mary and Bill were the first to agree to the proposal. The rest following quickly after. Except for one.

“Ma, master Kyle…I have a request…” Liz, the youngest maid hesitantly spoke while looking up from time to time towards Alex.

Kyle smirked while he waited for the shy young maiden to speak, thinking that this ought to be a good punishment for Alex.