“… … A lady?”

Sensing something strange, Delphina, who heard what I muttered out of nowhere, turned to me and asked back.

“Yeah? Brother, what did you just say?”

“Did you just say lady? To Wipe?”

“Then would you have called your brother or Prince Antonio a lady? Besides me, the only woman in this room is Ms. Wipe.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Me and Prince Antonio both looked into each other’s eyes, lost in words, exchanging glances.

Even without explanation, I was able to exchange a lot of emotions in those eyes.

That Prince Antonio and I had misunderstood the relationship between Delphina and Wipe from the very beginning.

“What’s so strange about telling Wip that she’s a lady… … what?”

Feeling something strange, Delfina also exclaimed a questionable exclamation while checking the way Prince Antonio and I exchanged glances.

It didn’t take long for the quick-witted sister to get a glimpse of the situation.

“Brother… . And Prince Antonio… .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“Could it be that you two knew that Wip was a man?”

It was a question that even ten mouths could not answer.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

“How could you mistake the gender of an older woman, brother? Can you guess how humiliated Wipe must have felt just now?!”

“I’m sorry, Wip. I really thought you were a man from the first meeting until now.”

“No, Senior Conrad. It’s my fault for not telling you properly in the first place.”

“… Prince Antonio is also a bit disappointed. I didn’t know how someone with good eyesight couldn’t have this most basic sense… .”

“There is no excuse. It seems that he forgot how to look at her with a cold gaze because of his personal feelings.”

“Seriously, how could both of them be mistaken like this… .”

Prince Antonio and I bowed our heads side by side to Wip with Delfina in front of us.

To be honest, there were quite a few excuses to make excuses.

The first reason was that it was a short, short haircut, not the typical long elf hair style like Xian-senpai or Eldrika.

The second reason was that he was as tall as an average elf man and had a flat body that barely showed any female characteristics.

The third reason was that it was difficult to understand even with her voice because she had a neutral voice and, of course, she did not speak well.

In addition, he could have spit out any number of valid reasons, such as going to the spear club, which had an overwhelmingly higher proportion of men than other departments.

“Is there any reason why you had to find out like that?”

“… No, it just looks like my eyes are knotted.”

For some reason, it seemed that Delphina’s sermon would continue if I made an excuse, so I just quietly accepted my mistake.

“… I’m really sorry that I misunderstood Miss Wipe.”

Prince Antonio seemed to be the same. Although not the eldest son, it was quite strange to witness the royal family being scolded by the viscount young lady.

Besides, seeing that he couldn’t hide his strange joy as soon as he found out that Wip was a woman even in the midst of that, Prince Antonio seemed genuinely happy that his love affair had just disappeared.

On the one hand, I also considered myself fortunate.

The moment the relationship between Prince Antonio and Delphina went wrong and there were more things to take care of inside and outside the Perdalos estate, there was a possibility that the real Perdalos family itself would collapse.

It would be a funny story that the family collapsed due to a prince’s heartbreak, but more important than that would be the sense of responsibility that Delphina would feel.

The moment she found out that the family was ruined because of her, her sister would surely be in for a big shock.

Now, I should just be thankful that it went off without a hitch.

“… By the way, Prince Antonio.”

While I was about to finish the story like that, Delfina opened her mouth to Prince Antonio again.

“Well?”

“Suddenly, I was curious. Why does Prince Antonio always ask about my male relationship?”

“… … Great.”

At Delphina’s fireball-like questions, Prince Antonio cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

“Didn’t you say that you would inspect all the engagement letters that came to me the other day? Even at the last prom, did I block the opportunity to socialize with other men? Until today… . Isn’t something a little strange?”

“… … .”

“It may be a presumptuous ceremony, but honestly I doubt you want something different from me.”

“… Is that so?”

Observing Prince Antonio revealing his true intentions in real time was something to be proud of.

“… In fact, I already noticed it to some degree.”

“… … !!”

At Delfina’s words, Prince Antonio’s eyes instantly widened.

Could it be that the younger sister, who had not even a millimeter of talent for noticing the favors approaching her, finally noticed it?

Unintentionally having a very interesting sight, I held my breath and waited for the words to come out of Delphina’s mouth.

As long as Delfina brought out the words that she had noticed Prince Antonio’s feelings, it was as if the answer that would come out was fixed.

Because, Delphina would never come up with an offer that would be against her.

‘Unfortunately, I’m not a vessel worthy of Prince Antonio’s favor.’ If I was going to give the same answer, I probably wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.

Especially at this sensitive time when he borrowed 10,000 gold coins for the Perdalos Territory development project.

She was the younger sister who knew the weight of the burden on her back and shoulders better than anyone else.

So, what can come back from that mouth is probably an affirmative answer. Rather, there was a possibility that he would give a good answer, even exaggerating a little, saying, ‘I have been admiring Prince Antonio for a long time.’

In many ways, she was a very talented little sister who was very good at buying favors.

I never thought I would have a brother-in-law relationship with Prince Antonio so quickly.

Of course, since status is status, it would of course be difficult to continue or get engaged right now, but just confirming a tentative relationship was practically the same.

All that remains is for Delfina to inherit the Perdalos estate and successfully complete the mission to develop the planned city to make Perdalos a count family.

It was because the Maginot line, in the position of the imperial family, where they could marry without objection from their vassals was a nobleman with the status of a count.

If it went that far, Prince Antonio and I were wondering how we should rearrange our titles in the future.

Unfortunately, the words that came out of Delphina’s mouth were not an answer to Prince Antonio’s affection.

“I know too, Prince Antonio. The fact that I have a great duty in this planned city development project.”

“… Yes, as Delphina said, I have been telling you for a long time… … Hmm, what?”

“You must be worried that I might ruin the planned city development project by taking up time for dating or other schedules.”

“… … .”

“It’s not a development project that costs a penny or two, and since there is a whopping 10,000 gold coming and going, it’s understandable that Prince Antonio is nervous.”

Prince Antonio, who was ready to hear the answer to his confession, stopped talking and stiffened like a gargoyle as Delfina talked about the planned city development project.

… This is an unexpected development.

“As the prince entrusted me with the project, it is urgent for me to renovate and develop the Perdalos estate. I will spread Prince Antonio’s achievements throughout the empire by building a perfectly planned city that no one will find fault with!

Also, until the magical circuit called the Perdalos Territory Planned City Project is completed, I won’t waste time on useless things such as love affairs, engagements, and marriages! Never, not even for a second!!”

“… … uh, uh, uh.”

It was a moment of infinite pity for Prince Antonio, who, like Stella, who had recently participated in the ball, spat out words one syllable and looked embarrassed.

Moreover, the planned city construction project was only an excuse for Prince Antonio to install a warp gate in the Perdalos domain, not the goal.

It would not have been so important except for the success of the planned city construction project. It would have been the biggest purpose to shorten the time when you just come to meet someone you love.

There must be plenty of other ways for Delfina, who is already a spear expert, to rise to the rank of count.

But on the contrary, Delfina considered the role more important and declared that she would not pay attention to the relationship between a man and a woman that Prince Antonio wanted.

Even the mercenary who had carried out the bankruptcy request couldn’t have looked more depressed than the current Prince Antonio.

“Eh… .”

I was dumbfounded at the sight, so I let out a low sigh and saw Wipe sitting to my right.

Come to think of it, Wip is also a member of the student council from this semester.

After living in the student council for a month or two, Wipe, who must have gotten used to it, asked in a low voice about the atmosphere inside the student council.

‘Wipp, just in case, did you say that in the student council?’

‘If Antonio is doing a favor to Delphina-senpai and asking something that Delfina-senpai doesn’t understand, then usually it is.’

‘I see… .’

‘It’s a little bit sad because it’s like watching an effort to plant a lotus flower on land.’

Whether Delfina will notice Prince Antonio’s favor first, or whether Prince Antonio will not be able to stand it and speak up first.

Even I, who had seen the future once, could not know the outcome.

“Oh right, Wipe.”

“Yes, Senior Conrad.”

“Come to think of it, what happened to the cafe alone with Delfina?”

I found out that she wasn’t Delphina’s lover, but in fact, it didn’t make much sense for Delphina, whose time is money, to take Wip for a leisurely walk like this.

Wipe responded right away.

“Because I spent a long time in the forest of the world tree, I can’t concentrate well in a stuffy room. After recognizing that, Delfina brought me to a cafe with a terrace and helped me handle my work more efficiently.”

“Ah, that’s right. Well, the air in the forest of the world tree is good, so it might be stuffy inside the concrete building.”

“Actually, the three of us used to go out together, including Hilla. It’s just that Mr. Hilla has other schedules today, so he couldn’t attend.”

If only Hilla had been there, I don’t think Prince Antonio’s misunderstanding would have gone this far.

Or rather, it might have been fortunate that she wasn’t here and now I have a chance to easily clear up misunderstandings.

Anyway, it was enough that nothing went wrong and it ended safely.

“… Delphina, so what I mean is that you don’t have to focus on what I asked you to do, giving up your youth at the peak of your blooming age.”

“No, Prince Antonio. I will definitely make this opportunity given by the prince into my own. I will not betray the prince’s expectations, so please trust me and wait for me.”

“So that… .”

Of course, as a price for not trusting Delfina, Prince Antonio made it even more difficult for him to progress in his relationship with his sister.

To be honest, it was self-sufficient.