The old man with his white hair slicked back exuded an aura that couldn't be taken lightly. He looked more like a knight than a butler.
"You called for me, miss."
"Yes. How did it go?"
The head butler, accustomed to getting straight to the point while working for the Schwartz family, calmly replied.
"You ordered him to be brought, miss."
Diana rose from her seat, smiling in response. Though she didn't show it, she was quite nervous right now.
Even though she had Rodrick's permission, the actual master of the house was the duke.
She was a woman who knew etiquette. She had to meet the duke in person and request his patronage.
To survey the situation in the capital, she inevitably needed to borrow the duke's power.
Walking down the heavily silent corridor without a sound, Diana felt like she was going to meet the final boss.
Standing in front of the door that exuded an intimidating aura, the head butler turned back and questioned her with his eyes behind his rimless glasses.
'Are you ready to enter?'
Sssup. Taking a deep breath, she composed her nervous expression and put on a haughty face.
The butler's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sudden change in atmosphere.
He had heard that she was a princess famous for not setting foot in social circles.
Wasn't there talk even among commoners joking about how flawed a princess who never left her mansion would be?
The young lady before his eyes now was not the flawed, unsightly noble they spoke of.
She had the demeanor befitting the sister of the future crown princess, known as the flower of high society. Indeed, baseless rumors were not to be trusted.
Her pink eyes shone calmly beneath slightly upturned eyes.
The head butler, snapping back to his senses at her gaze, knocked on the door.
"Your Grace, Lady Beatus has arrived."
"Oh, sister-in-law!"
As the head butler was knocking, Felice approached happily from the side.
He seemed to have business in the office, carrying a stack of documents under his arm.
"Why did you come here alone? Where's my brother?"
Rodrick had left to reorganize the knights. For some reason, he was reluctant for her to meet his father. She was sneaking in after he had interfered several times.
"Come in."
As the office door opened, Diana answered Felice with a slight smile and entered.
Felice quickly followed behind Diana.
Scratch— Scratch—
Despite the many people in the spacious room – aides and servants – only the sound of quill pens scratching paper filled the office.
Already several minutes had passed. The duke, moving his hand amidst piles of documents, said nothing.
Was this a punishment? It was rude to a guest. Ahem. Felice cleared his throat, watching the duke's reaction.
The quill pen that seemed unlikely to stop suddenly halted. The duke raised his gaze to Diana, then turned to his son.
Though the middle-aged duke had retired from the battlefield, his eyes were still sharp.
Felice swallowed dryly at that keen gaze. Yet he maintained a smile on his face.
"Father. Sister-in-law has just woken up and is still weak."
At the implicit question of whether he would keep her standing like this, the duke looked at Diana askance, as if measuring her. It was just like Rodrick.
"Princess."
Declan Schwartz, the head of the Schwartz family boasting middle-aged charm, had a weighty voice that could press down on people.
The arrogant eyes of one standing at the pinnacle looked down at her as if testing.
Diana moved calmly like flowing water, not yielding to that gaze.
"Greetings, Your Grace. Diana Beatus pays her respects."
She placed a hand on her chest, raised the hem of her dress with the other, bent her knees, and bowed her head. That graceful figure was flawless.
"Thank you for inviting me."
"I don't remember inviting the princess."
It must be those useless sons of mine stirring up unnecessary trouble. I gave no permission. He seemed to be saying exactly that.
"I believe allowing me to stay in the castle was tantamount to an invitation."
"..."
His eyes said, 'So? If you have something to say, say it quickly and get out.' Wow, this father and son are really alike.
Though his light sky-blue hair was the same as Felice's, his deep blue eyes were identical to Rodrick's. Diana drew courage from that familiarity.
"Your Grace. I beg your forgiveness in advance for my rudeness."
"..."
"What? What do you mean, sister-in-law?"
After exhaling a deep breath, she stepped forward boldly.
"Father."
She approached swiftly and slammed her hand on the mahogany desk with a bang.
"Please give me your son!"
The duke merely looked at her with an expressionless face. The shock came from those around them.
She was making up for the missed proposal like this. Her lips curled up in satisfaction. She had wanted to do something like this.
'She's crazy.' Such a vulgar exclamation escaped from among the aides.
A moment later, the duke's eyebrow rose crookedly. Even this expression was exactly like Rodrick's.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.