Rishe suddenly remembered.

In all her years as a maidservant, Myria had only ever spoken to her while sleeping on the bunk with her.

“You know, Rishe. I have a power that I couldn’t tell anyone about.”

“I can’t tell you what kind of power it is now that I can’t use it anymore because I promised my dad I wouldn’t… But it’s real.”

A clouded look surfaced on Myria’s face, who usually appeared innocent and had countless winsome expressions, talking about it.

There is no magic and there is no such thing as a curse. Typically, I would have expressed such an opinion…

Rishe couldn’t say for sure. In the first place, she, of all people, was someone who has been living her life on the several loops with mysterious powers.

It was then she pondered what words she should say to Myria.

“――!”

She could feel the air turning tense.

It was only for a moment, and no one else noticed it, but she was sure she felt it and turned around.

His Highness Arnold!

Arnold, who seemed to have finished his exchange with the Duke, was looking at them from a short distance.

Somehow, the look in his eyes was bone-chilling. However, his gaze wasn’t directed at Rishe.

His ruthless gaze was focused solely on Myria.

Why?

It wasn’t the kind of gaze someone would give to a girl he has never met before. The cold eyes reminded her of a certain person.

Five years later, he bore the same expression as “Emperor” Arnold Hein…

Arnold, who would burn down churches in the future, slowly started walking towards them.

Rishe reflexively looked back at Myria. She seemed to have missed Arnold’s attention to her.

“I-I’m going back to the carriage now. Thanks for the … stuffed bear!”

“Oh, Myria-sama!”

The girl sprinted off quickly and her back disappeared into the carriage.

The duke looked at her and bowed deeply. She plucked the hem of her dress, returned the bow, and let out a breath.

“Rishe, we’re leaving. Come here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Arnold resumed his usual blank expression. When he called her over, Rishe quietly returned to the carriage and sat down across from him.

Looking out the window, she saw that the Duke wasn’t in the carriage, but was waiting on one side of the road.

Even though the carriage was carrying the substitute maiden priestess, that was a Duke’s carriage.

They probably planned to keep their distance for a while before setting out so as not to keep up with the royal family of another country.

We’re likely to reach the Grand Shrine first.

With that in mind, Rishe glanced at Arnold.

The look he gave just now… Could it be that His Highness is aware of “that thing”?

She raised a brow, chewing over the certain condition of the Duke of Jonal.

I think that’s unlikely to happen at all, but it’s His Highness Arnold… I should probe, even if a little overtly.

Rishe stared at him.

Then Arnold, who was about to resume his paperwork in the moving carriage, spoke.

“What?”

“You looked scary when you looked at Myria-sama just now, you know.”

He probably didn’t expect her to speak straight to the point. Arnold lifted his gaze from the document and looked at Rishe.

“No, I don’t think it’s any different than normal.”

No, it’s not. Your Highness always has a much calmer expression.”

“…”

“Well, what’s wrong?”

Rishe flinched at the odd timing of his frown. But even if he scowled, she thought he’d take the conversation further down the road.

“You’re the only one who’s ever said that about me.”

“I don’t think so…”

“That’s enough.”

When Rishe inclined her head, Arnold placed the papers he was holding in his hand next to his seat.

He rested his cheek on the window sill, his eyes downcast, before adding.

“It wasn’t for any good reason. I just don’t like kids.”

I see. So that’s how it is.

At this juncture, she decided to take it one step further.

I’m sure your third sister is around the same age.

“Even though she’s a child, Myria is ten years old. As I recall, Your Highness’s third sister is about the same age, right?”

“I’m not interested, and I don’t remember.”

Really…?

Arnold said so, but today’s Rishe wouldn’t believe him.

After all, even with his younger brother, Theodore, his ostensible behavior was different from his inner thoughts.

When she didn’t hide my suspicious gaze, Arnold briefly sighed and then said with a blank expression on his face.

“– Just because they’re blood related doesn’t mean that everyone can have an unconditional affection for each other. Blood ties have no effect on whether or not you can establish a good relationship.”

“I think you’re absolutely right about that.”

Rishe herself couldn’t understand her parents. Arnold’s opinion that even family members could be strangers was dead on.

But then again, I think he was referring to his father rather than his sister…

Arnold, who was looking out the window, was staring at a point.

As Rishe looked in that direction, she saw a majestic stone building in the distance. That was the Grand Shrine, their destination.