This morning, instead of David, it was Duke Raven who came to greet me.

  After I acknowledged his presence, I immediately asked him.

  “What kind of competition is your son entering?”

  When I asked my question, he looked into my eyes immediately. He was perplexed at first.

  However, he recovered instantly.

  He asked with caution.

  “Could you elaborate more, your highness?”

  After that, I briefed him on our previous conversation.

  At the end of my tale, he weakly said to me.

  “I see. He is at that age, after all.”

  After that, he let out a sigh.

  I wished to let him go as it was; however, I had to confirm something with him.

  I was not sure about it.

  Did I enter a competition and forget about it?

  Or did someone register in a competition without telling me?

  I did not want to miss out on something.

  Thus, I urgently asked him.

  “So, what kind of competition is he entering? And what does it mean, I withdraw from it?”

  Hearing my question like that, he closed his eyes.

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  After a while, he opened it.

  Then, he looked at me as he asked with a stern voice.

  “What do you think about Lady Aria?”

  Hearing that, I frowned at him.

  “Why does she have anything to do with it?”

  I asked him with a displeased voice.

  Why was everything related to her?

  Why did everything revolve around that girl?

  Then, unlike how he had responded before, he spoke to me softly as he looked at me.

  “You still do not view her positively, right?”

  “...” I did not reply to him.

  I could neither confirm nor deny it.

  My experience with him last time still haunts me.

  As if he perceived my thought, he let out a soft laugh.

  “I believe it answers your question.”

  He spoke with a tired voice.

  Only then did I really realize that they were talking about the competition for the suitors.

  It meant everyone was competing for her.

  I really could not understand them.

  Why did they go to such lengths to compete for her affection?

  What did they see in that girl?

  She would not be able to compete with my sister.

  So, I asked him a similar question as last time.

  “... what is so special about that girl?”

  However, this time, my voice truly expressed my confusion.

  Seeing my confused face, Duke Raven extended his hand to caress my head.

  Then, with a soft smile on his face, he gently spoke to me.

  “The emperor will tell you directly. Before that... This is the letter from Her Highness.”

  At the end, he handed my sister a letter.

  After that, I read her letter in silence.

  It was a string of insults followed by another string of insults. I could not believe it was from my gentle sister. However, this handwriting and style are definitely hers. At the end, the last sentence: “You should go and apologize to her in this instance, my stupid brother.”

  I knew who she was referring to. But why was she so concerned about it?

  As I finished reading my sister’s letter, I turned to look at him.

  As he met my gaze head-on, he spoke in a clear voice.

  “His Majesty is coming next week. If you have questions, you should save them for that time. However, you won't have much time, so choose your questions wisely.”

  For the father to come here personally meant that what I did was beyond small matter.

  After that point, I began to doubt myself.

  Was I in the wrong?

  Did I make a mistake in my judgment?

  Then, unintentionally, I asked him.

  It was a subconscious action.

  “What is that girl doing?”

  Hearing my question to him like that, Duke Raven was surprised.

  I could see it in his face.

  Then, with a weak smile, he replied.

  “... She is doing her best as usual.”

  After he said that, he left immediately.

  I could not stop him on time.

  I really wanted to ask him more about my father.

  However, in the end, I could only stare at my sister's letter.